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2023 Draft Discussion

https://thehockeywriters.com/easton-cowan-2023-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

At least he produces. Just seems like a reach at this slot.

https://twitter.com/topdownhockey/status/1674240515410362369
 
Hey let's draft a 3rd round prospect in the first round.  Unbelievably disappointing pick.  This is baffling. This was a trade down pick
 
Cowen was ranked 95th in Corey Pronman's rankings at the Athletic:

Background
Cowan's stock trended up as the season went along. A second-round pick in his OHL Draft, Cowan became an important all-situations forward for a top OHL team this season in London.

Analysis
Cowan is a quick and competitive winger. He plays with a lot of energy and courage, not shying from getting to the net or engaging in after-the-whistle activities. Cowan has good skills, and enough hockey sense to make you think he'll score as a pro, but whether there's enough pure offense in his game is a question, especially as a barely 5-foot-11 player. His scoring in the OHL postseason was encouraging though.

I mean the scouting report sounds good, but obviously projected to go in the 3rd round for a reason.
 
I like the player, lots of jam, but yeah - you probably can get him in the early second round.  Probably could have traded down and got another pick... But we don't know what was out there.  Maybe there wasn't a concrete offer?
 
This definitely isn't a Dubas pick. He's not 22 and playing for a European team who may or may not exist.
 
https://twitter.com/jerome_berube/status/1674240322224676864

https://twitter.com/kpapetti/status/1674241017808052224
What is pro agility

https://twitter.com/mitchlbrown/status/1674242110789398528
 
Nik said:
lamajama said:
We didn?t trade down for him??

I think the reports of them working the phones suggests they tried but probably couldn't talk anyone into it.

I mean that still doesn't justify taking a 3rd round prospect in the first round.  I hope the kid pans out but this is a really suspect move.  Turning Sandin into a 70-90th ranked prospect is not something that a team with paper thin prospect depth should be doing
 
L K said:
I mean that still doesn't justify taking a 3rd round prospect in the first round.  I hope the kid pans out but this is a really suspect move.  Turning Sandin into a 70-90th ranked prospect is not something that a team with paper thin prospect depth should be doing

Well, no. What justifies it is that they clearly think he was the best player available in that spot. Obviously if you can trade down and get better value that'd be my preference but if you can't you're not going to take a player you like less because other scouting services have him rated higher.

Of course, they could be wrong about him but only time will tell us that.
 
I like the sound of the profile and the trending upward. I guess no one wanted Murray and a late 1st for a 2nd or a 3rd.

https://twitter.com/rinkratreport/status/1674244078517600256
 
Nik said:
L K said:
I mean that still doesn't justify taking a 3rd round prospect in the first round.  I hope the kid pans out but this is a really suspect move.  Turning Sandin into a 70-90th ranked prospect is not something that a team with paper thin prospect depth should be doing

Well, no. What justifies it is that they clearly think he was the best player available in that spot. Obviously if you can trade down and get better value that'd be my preference but if you can't you're not going to take a player you like less because other scouting services have him rated higher.

Of course, they could be wrong about him but only time will tell us that.

I was going to say this. I know next to nothing about this draft where I could make even the beginnings of a reasonable guess in this range. Ultimately I only care if he turns into something or not, and I'm also not sure how many teams reach at this slot and it makes sense? Either way I'm really not getting hyped over this guy or even Fraser Minten where we were lauded for trading down for that matter.
 
So glad Dubas was able to recoup the 1st round pick by getting rid of Sandin, who clearly has no future in the league, and then to complete the goodness his successor decides to pick somebody 80 places above his ranking.

If this were alternate shot golf, Dubas tees off with a banana ball into the deep rough and then Treliving skulls it into a water hazard.  What a fiasco.
 
If it makes anyone feel better, the last time I remember the Leafs going super off the board to draft their first round player, it was Nik Antropov.  That turned out alright!
 
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