2022 NHL Draft Discussion

[Guilt Trip]

I'm all truth, all the time.

But here, specifically, yes. I think the Leafs should draft a CHL Centre who can score a little and has ok size. Someone, way back when, when looking at the NBA draft noted that for all the money they spend on scouting, most teams would have done better in the draft if they'd simply drafted the highest ranked player from one of a few select college programs instead of playing their hunches.

Drafting a CHL player who can score a bit, to me, is the hockey version of that. The Leafs don't need,  I don't think, anything in particular but what they desperately need is a young player who can come into the lineup and be valuable at whatever position. A CHL forward, I think, is the quickest route to that and, quite frankly, I think most of what we see as weaknesses in the Leafs lineup is a reflection of the fact that they haven't been able to produce those mid-lineup guys.

So my guy is Luca Del Bel Belluz.

I don't disagree with that.

My question to the draft people is, at what point do the Leaf's look to get a potential goalie? we have to start picking the odd one here and there and hope that they hit. How's that russian kid looking?

There isn't one projected in the 1st round so I guess they could with their 2nd pick.
What Russian kid? Leafs have 2 Russian goalie prospects. Both have done well in the MHL over there. I think one of Petruzzelli, Kallgren, Woll,  Dryden McKay will make it....hopefully lol

 

[Bender]

I'm all truth, all the time.

But here, specifically, yes. I think the Leafs should draft a CHL Centre who can score a little and has ok size. Someone, way back when, when looking at the NBA draft noted that for all the money they spend on scouting, most teams would have done better in the draft if they'd simply drafted the highest ranked player from one of a few select college programs instead of playing their hunches.

Drafting a CHL player who can score a bit, to me, is the hockey version of that. The Leafs don't need,  I don't think, anything in particular but what they desperately need is a young player who can come into the lineup and be valuable at whatever position. A CHL forward, I think, is the quickest route to that and, quite frankly, I think most of what we see as weaknesses in the Leafs lineup is a reflection of the fact that they haven't been able to produce those mid-lineup guys.

So my guy is Luca Del Bel Belluz.

I don't disagree with that.

My question to the draft people is, at what point do the Leaf's look to get a potential goalie? we have to start picking the odd one here and there and hope that they hit. How's that russian kid looking?

They have picked them here and there and they've been pretty spotty picks. Zachary Bouthillier? Ian Scott? Akhtyamov? They picked goalies in 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20.

 

[Kin]

I don't disagree with that.

My question to the draft people is, at what point do the Leaf's look to get a potential goalie? we have to start picking the odd one here and there and hope that they hit. How's that russian kid looking?

I'd always be looking at it but realistically drafting a goalie, even if you've got a top 10 pick and he's a surefire stud, is a 3-4 year project. It's definitely not something you can force.

 

[bustaheims]

I'd always be looking at it but realistically drafting a goalie, even if you've got a top 10 pick and he's a surefire stud, is a 3-4 year project. It's definitely not something you can force.

That, and so many great goalies have been mid or later round picks. Scouting goalies has gotten better in recent years, but they're still definitely the harder position for the scouts to get right.

 

[Bullfrog]

Just draft a good player.

That is all. Thanks.

 

[herman]

Just draft a good player.

That is all. Thanks.

you don't want multiple good players?  ;D

 

[Guilt Trip]

I'm all truth, all the time.

But here, specifically, yes. I think the Leafs should draft a CHL Centre who can score a little and has ok size. Someone, way back when, when looking at the NBA draft noted that for all the money they spend on scouting, most teams would have done better in the draft if they'd simply drafted the highest ranked player from one of a few select college programs instead of playing their hunches.

Drafting a CHL player who can score a bit, to me, is the hockey version of that. The Leafs don't need,  I don't think, anything in particular but what they desperately need is a young player who can come into the lineup and be valuable at whatever position. A CHL forward, I think, is the quickest route to that and, quite frankly, I think most of what we see as weaknesses in the Leafs lineup is a reflection of the fact that they haven't been able to produce those mid-lineup guys.

So my guy is Luca Del Bel Belluz.

I don't disagree with that.

My question to the draft people is, at what point do the Leaf's look to get a potential goalie? we have to start picking the odd one here and there and hope that they hit. How's that russian kid looking?

They have picked them here and there and they've been pretty spotty picks. Zachary Bouthillier? Ian Scott? Akhtyamov? They picked goalies in 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20.

Leafs didn't draft a goalie in 2019 but they did the rest of the years mentioned and drafted Peksa last year. They have Woll, Kallgren, Petruzelli and McKay in the system. Not sure what they're going to do with Scott. He just can't avoid injuries so far. I think at least one of these guys is going to make it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Just draft a good player.

That is all. Thanks.

Actually they should draft a great player.

 

[herman]

Unless Owen Beck or Gleb Trikizov is still on the board, I think we are going to be trading down. Everyone after 7-15 is basically the same hockey project with different flavours, down to about 50ish. And there are always good players dropping for whatever reason.

Anyway, trade down with Ottawa or Chicago and get both.

 

[Bullfrog]

Just draft a good player.

That is all. Thanks.

Actually they should draft a great player.

My key to success: low expectations.

 

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/3341238/2022/06/01/maple-leafs-nhl-draft/
Not going to post the little scouting snips, but here's the list of players Kloke floats

Rutger McGroarty, RW | USA U-18 NTDP | 6-foot-1, 200 pounds
Noah Ostlund, C | Djurgardens-Sweden Jr. | 5-foot-11, 163 pounds
Liam Ohgren, LW | Djurgardens-Sweden Jr. | 6-foot-0, 187 pounds
Owen Beck, C | Mississauga-OHL | 6-foot-0, 185 pounds
Filip Mesar, RW | Poprad-Slovakia | 5-foot-10, 167 pounds
Isaac Howard, LW | USA U-18 NTDP | 5-foot-10, 182 pounds
Jagger Firkus, RW | Moose Jaw-WHL | 5-foot-10, 153 pounds
Ty Nelson, D | North Bay-OHL | 5-foot-10, 196 pounds
Calle Odelius, D | Djurgardens-Sweden Jr. | 5-foot-11, 185 pounds

I've bolded my top choice of the batch and italicized my second that I'm going to try to manifest like I did for Topi.

 

[Kin]

Boy it's a tough choice between Rutger McGroarty and Jagger Firkus for "Which name will be more fun to say if he makes the Leafs".

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

Boy it's a tough choice between Rutger McGroarty and Jagger Firkus for "Which name will be more fun to say if he makes the Leafs".

 

[herman]

Am I remembering correctly that one year Jocelyn Thibault couldn't make the All Star Game due to a pulled groin and was replaced by Ron Tugnutt?

 

[OldTimeHockey]

I don't disagree with that.

My question to the draft people is, at what point do the Leaf's look to get a potential goalie? we have to start picking the odd one here and there and hope that they hit. How's that russian kid looking?

I'd always be looking at it but realistically drafting a goalie, even if you've got a top 10 pick and he's a surefire stud, is a 3-4 year project. It's definitely not something you can force.

Understood. Goalies definitely take, for the most part, more time. I guess part of the issue is visually, it appears that some of the stars hit the bigs pretty quickly. Shesterkin and Vasilevskiy spent very little time in the AHL, but both spent a few years in the KHL. (Yes I know they don't grow on trees, it just happens to be the only game to watch tonight).

I do realize that they have been picking goalies yearly. It seems to be the "well, I guess we'll pick a goalie now" pick, but they continue to be misses. Yes a few of them still have time to grow, but they all seem to be floundering.

Woll has never had a SV% above .900 as a Pro
Scott can't stay healthy and has never had a SV% above .900 as a pro
Previous goalies to that are Garrett Sparks and Antoine Bibeau(both of whom have half decent AHL numbers but have never taken the next step.)

I'd be interested to see how the two Russian goalies progress over the next couple seasons.

 

[Kin]

Understood. Goalies definitely take, for the most part, more time. I guess part of the issue is visually, it appears that some of the stars hit the bigs pretty quickly. Shesterkin and Vasilevskiy spent very little time in the AHL, but both spent a few years in the KHL. (Yes I know they don't grow on trees, it just happens to be the only game to watch tonight).

Shesterkin was Draft+6 before he ever played in the NHL, +7 before he played more than a dozen games and while Vasilevsky was in the bigs quicker, he was still Draft+5 before he even played more than 20 games in a season.

That said I think it's fair to say that where the Leafs have been drafting goalies(Woll is the only one 3rd round or higher) suggests that they're not putting the resources into the position they maybe should considering that it's a postion of need.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Understood. Goalies definitely take, for the most part, more time. I guess part of the issue is visually, it appears that some of the stars hit the bigs pretty quickly. Shesterkin and Vasilevskiy spent very little time in the AHL, but both spent a few years in the KHL. (Yes I know they don't grow on trees, it just happens to be the only game to watch tonight).

Shesterkin was Draft+6 before he ever played in the NHL, +7 before he played more than a dozen games and while Vasilevsky was in the bigs quicker, he was still Draft+5 before he even played more than 20 games in a season.

Tried to say that. Just didn't articulate it.

That said I think it's fair to say that where the Leafs have been drafting goalies(Woll is the only one 3rd round or higher) suggests that they're not putting the resources into the position they maybe should considering that it's a postion of need.

That's kind of what I was getting at. Though Shesterkin being a 4th rounder kind of hurts my point.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/mikemorrealeNHL/status/1532117530545905664
alright... what animal do you think will impress these vultures in these Hunger Games interviews?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

"I'm going to catch this prospect off guard by asking him a very popular question that gets asked not only at every single scouting combine but also in job interviews all across the world... yes yes I'm incredibly clever he'll never see this coming."

 

[herman]

"I'm going to catch this prospect off guard by asking him a very popular question that gets asked not only at every single scouting combine but also in job interviews all across the world... yes yes I'm incredibly clever he'll never see this coming."

None of these guys have had job interviews

I would ask them which NHL player shat upon that car windshield one time.