Predicting Your 2015 Draft Picks.

[CasperX22]

Personally I agree. But call me old fashioned. But something is telling me the Flyers are gonna mess this pick up.

Because? I'd say Hextall made a helluva 1st pick in his first draft taking Sanheim.

[CasperX22]

For the record I think Provorov > Hanifin

Also agree. I've pretty consistently said this lol!

[Fraser]

Hextall is a Flyer through and through, I don't need to tell you the historical importance that team has put on big skilled players. And tgere are a few of them towards the top of this draft class. All have more question marks than Provorov, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him slip as far as 8.

[CasperX22]

Hextall is a Flyer through and through, I don't need to tell you the historical importance that team has put on big skilled players. And tgere are a few of them towards the top of this draft class. All have more question marks than Provorov, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him slip as far as 8.

Hextall is not your typical Flyer. They have a history of hiring guys as part of the Flyers family and got his training in LA. He has put an emphasis on drafting and developing prospects in the AHL two things that the Flyers typically have not done. He also went out and hired a college coach which should speak volumes in of itself that he would hire a college coach over another good ol boy like Burube.

[Matthew]

(#39 BBKL) Jordan Greenway = #57 Edmonton
(#157 BBKL) Martins Dzierkals = #113 Washington
(#163 BBKL) Stephen Desrocher = #160 San Jose
(#167 BBKL) Trevor Moore = #180 Chicago
(#177 BBKL) Dmitri Zhukenov = #153 Tampa Bay



Also, I think you are stereotyping Crouse a little too much, Casper.

[Nick]

Yea I see Barzal going at either #6 or #9 if the current teams that holds their picks stand.

I see the non-crouse consensus top 5 holding.

No way Crouse or Rantanen goes to Philly at 7. Crouse has no hands and Rantanen can't skate .

Brazal hasn't shown anywhere near the level of Crouse or Ratannen. Both of them showed well at u20 this past season - Brazal had a strong u18 showing sure, & in a weaker CHL division he showed his playmaking skills but little else. His shot isn't even good by CHL scoring standards. I get you like him but he's he least tested piece of the 3 you are comparing. Less than 20G in the ChL in draft year doesn't suggest big totals in the show.

ISS & central scouting have Crouse in top 5, no one has Barzal there (8 at highest) & ratenen is the top euro forward, some say top euro in this draft. Just don't see the love for Barzal compared to these two.

[Shoalzie]

With Arizona having 3 picks in the first 32...and the fact I inevitably end up with one new Coyote prospect each draft...I think Carlo goes either 30th or 32nd overall. At worst he'll go early in the 2nd round.

And since I always get a guy who ends up with the Blackhawks, I bet I'll get another one this year. I don't Musil going past the 3rd round...the Hawks pick 91st.

The rest of my picks are a crap shoot. Caleb Jones will probably be the next earliest pick...in the 4th round range.

I can see the rest of my guys going between the 5th and the 7th. I've not had a draft where all of my guys have been picked since 2012...but I finished that draft knowing who was drafted.

[Matthew]

I'd be interested to see mik's predictions on his own draft picks and other peoples euro prospects. Both where he thinks they go in the draft, and what he thinks of them long term.

[CAM]

I have a serious question. How in sweet fuck do you guys have the time to study prospects from all over the world? Where do you get the information? That is why i trade draft picks, not because i dont want any but because i dont have the time or patience to do the research. Its pretty cool that you guys know so much about all these players.

[Fraser]

Being unemployed helps.

[Lee]

Being unemployed helps.

hi5 to the unemployed group.

[Sensfanjosh]

Was a lot easier when I was a student and not working full time, next year I'll be back to lots of draft study time

[Fraser]

Yea I see Barzal going at either #6 or #9 if the current teams that holds their picks stand.

I see the non-crouse consensus top 5 holding.

No way Crouse or Rantanen goes to Philly at 7. Crouse has no hands and Rantanen can't skate .

Brazal hasn't shown anywhere near the level of Crouse or Ratannen. Both of them showed well at u20 this past season - Brazal had a strong u18 showing sure, & in a weaker CHL division he showed his playmaking skills but little else. His shot isn't even good by CHL scoring standards. I get you like him but he's he least tested piece of the 3 you are comparing. Less than 20G in the ChL in draft year doesn't suggest big totals in the show.

ISS & central scouting have Crouse in top 5, no one has Barzal there (8 at highest) & ratenen is the top euro forward, some say top euro in this draft. Just don't see the love for Barzal compared to these two.

What it comes down to for me with Barzal is that I see him as the straw that will stirs the drink wherever he goes. I see him being the type of center that makes his line a threat, no matter who he is necessarily played with. A big example being his time in Seattle, I have a very low opinion of the offensive support that he had to work with, and while I don't have them on hand, I can remember looking at the % of team offence he was generating and the figure was staggering. He has an elite level vision and how he can evaluate plays, he makes effective playmaking options that aren't even obvious while observing the play unfold, let alone being engaged in it. Reminds me of watching a Sedin brother in that regard, but the utter quickness to these plays that he makes are just incredible to watch.

This kind of offensive skill combined with a strong two-way defensive play, willingness to bock shots and compete level physically on plays despite not having exceptional size. He just screams BBKL keeper to me. With the difficultly of acquiring young centers in this mould, he was my clear target outside of the top 5 in our draft, and quite honestly potentially within it although that would have been tough.

[The BBKL Insider]

so off topic and nothing you guys would be interested in because it's about my team, but i guess Detroit wants Rasmus Andersson. They also dont have a 2nd round pick, maybe a trade down in the first where they pick up a high 2nd?

has scott read any of this

[Sensfanjosh]

Maybe Andersson will be one of their hit 7th round picks!

[Chuck Norris]

Yeah it's on record they've been scouting him heavily. Hakan Andersson is a big fan of his.

[Shoalzie]

The Wings will draft at least one Swede in every draft...set your watch to it.

[Handsome&FairMike]

The Wings will draft at least one Swede in every draft...set your watch to it.

My bet is on Ahl.

Only because I have no idea what team wants/needs him or if I got good value on him haha. Interested to see how useful the draft guides were.

[Nick]

What it comes down to for me with Barzal is that I see him as the straw that will stirs the drink wherever he goes. I see him being the type of center that makes his line a threat, no matter who he is necessarily played with. A big example being his time in Seattle, I have a very low opinion of the offensive support that he had to work with, and while I don't have them on hand, I can remember looking at the % of team offence he was generating and the figure was staggering. He has an elite level vision and how he can evaluate plays, he makes effective playmaking options that aren't even obvious while observing the play unfold, let alone being engaged in it. Reminds me of watching a Sedin brother in that regard, but the utter quickness to these plays that he makes are just incredible to watch.

This kind of offensive skill combined with a strong two-way defensive play, willingness to bock shots and compete level physically on plays despite not having exceptional size. He just screams BBKL keeper to me. With the difficultly of acquiring young centers in this mould, he was my clear target outside of the top 5 in our draft, and quite honestly potentially within it although that would have been tough.

Well.. Matt did play with a 30 goal scorer and Shea Theodore for both his WHL seasons. So it's not like he was alone the way Crouse was this year (until Bennett played 10 games this season or whatever it was). I'd just ensure you're considering and weighing players against the same bar when making the comparisons. Ratanen is very tough aside from his u20 showing because it's big ice and against men in a very limited role - but at the U20 he was all sorts of dynamic, IMO looking like Barkov although didn't put up as impressive as # or use his size as effectively.


I for one would love the Leafs to snag Hanafin, Marner or Crouse in the 4 spot, given Strome is going to ARI in the 3 spot.


-> H&Fmike, I agree, Ahl seems like a red wing pick who way exceeds draft day expectations, which seems like a wings pick

[Fraser]

What it comes down to for me with Barzal is that I see him as the straw that will stirs the drink wherever he goes. I see him being the type of center that makes his line a threat, no matter who he is necessarily played with. A big example being his time in Seattle, I have a very low opinion of the offensive support that he had to work with, and while I don't have them on hand, I can remember looking at the % of team offence he was generating and the figure was staggering. He has an elite level vision and how he can evaluate plays, he makes effective playmaking options that aren't even obvious while observing the play unfold, let alone being engaged in it. Reminds me of watching a Sedin brother in that regard, but the utter quickness to these plays that he makes are just incredible to watch.

This kind of offensive skill combined with a strong two-way defensive play, willingness to bock shots and compete level physically on plays despite not having exceptional size. He just screams BBKL keeper to me. With the difficultly of acquiring young centers in this mould, he was my clear target outside of the top 5 in our draft, and quite honestly potentially within it although that would have been tough.

Well.. Matt did play with a 30 goal scorer and Shea Theodore for both his WHL seasons. So it's not like he was alone the way Crouse was this year (until Bennett played 10 games this season or whatever it was). I'd just ensure you're considering and weighing players against the same bar when making the comparisons. Ratanen is very tough aside from his u20 showing because it's big ice and against men in a very limited role - but at the U20 he was all sorts of dynamic, IMO looking like Barkov although didn't put up as impressive as # or use his size as effectively.


I for one would love the Leafs to snag Hanafin, Marner or Crouse in the 4 spot, given Strome is going to ARI in the 3 spot.


-> H&Fmike, I agree, Ahl seems like a red wing pick who way exceeds draft day expectations, which seems like a wings pick

I am very pro Crouse. Totally different kind of talent so attempt to directly compare the two I find difficult. Crouse has a some facotrs working against him in the top 10 of the draft due to the clear preference a lot of teams are expressing to target defence, combined with another side of teams with absolute glaring holes at C. While everyone will be thinking BPA, I'd be shocked if position didn't factor into these BPA assessments.

Earliest I could see him go would be #5 with Carolina, next chance #7 with Philly. And it goes on from there but it seems that both #8/#9 in CBJ and SJ would draft one of the defensemen if they were available.

NJ was rolling Gomez/Elias/Zubrus down the middle. They really need another young Center to join their young D core. With or without Henrique going back to C. And I would also agree that the Leafs should be targeting either a C or D with their pick. Too many good options there to roll the dice on Crouse. I personally have him going at #7. But it wouldn't surprise me to see him fall as low as #10.