Deep Thoughts • 11/07/2023
Deep Thoughts on July 11 2022
Deep Thoughts
Deep Thoughts: Welcome to another Deep Thoughts which represent my PERSONAL views & don’t reflect ANY Organization that I work with! This edition is my Final one this season & thus is LONG with many different thoughts so unfollow if you don’t want them.
DT: The ’22 Draft is over so let’s get into detail. There were 5 Teams that I thought were the biggest winners of the weekend. Many Teams over the years have left the NHL Draft feeling like their future was secured & been wrong, but for me, these were the 5 that did just that:
DT: I truly believe we'll look back in 5 years & see how Montreal’s trajectory changed in 2 days. Slafkovsky was the home run pick. Mesar is highly skilled. Beck is a lock to be no worse that a 3C. Lane Hutson (Adam Fox light) could QB their PP in 4 years. Oh...and Kirby Dach.
DT: SEA Draft will lay groundwork for “The Build” It helps having 8 picks in Top 100 & Mesar was the fit but Wright is a helluva consolation. Firkus & Goyette can be Top 6 forwards. Nyman scores for a big kid. Kokko is a big/athletic G. Nelson/MacDonald/Jackson were great value.
DT: I’ll discuss trades later but CHI had a tremendous Draft. I don’t see how Korchinski & Naxar aren’t impactful guys. Rinzel is a massive middle pairing D. Ludwinski knows what he is & will excel as a 3C. Getting 6 guys out of our Top 85 bodes well for the Blackhawks rebuild
DT: The "Russian" factor was MIN gain. They got skilled (Top 10 talent) Danila Yurov at 24. At 19, they took the physical/talented Liam Ohgren. Hunter Haight was HUGE value in the 2nd. Those 3 might be a GREAT 2nd line in 5 years. Add in Milne/Lorenz/Spacek & they cleaned up.
DT: Like MIN, WSH risked it & got a Top 7 talent Russian, Ivan Miroschnichenko(Who is healthy). Ryan Chesley will play 2 years at U of Minnesota & will be plug/play. Back to back Swedes in Suzdalev/Persson & HUGE value in Karabela/Gucciardi mean 4 others that have tools to play.
DT: I thought Colorado & Calgary had quiet weekends but it was because of 5 picks between them but Av’s fan’s don’t care b/c they are still drinking & celebrating the Cup & Calgray fans only care about a Matthew Tkachuk contract (Will happen) & Johnny Gaudreau re-upping (Won’t happen)
DT: A Team that had a full compliment of picks that I didn’t think used them effectively was BOS. I like Matt Poitras as a Player but Cole Spicer & Dans Locmelis would’ve been available later & are longshots. The Swift Current/Team Canada goalie Reid Dyck has a chance though.
DT: “Trading Down” is always lauded but I’m not so sure. SJ had the #11 pick with potential “Stars” available & they traded down to get 2 extra 2nds. They got Filip Bystedt, Cameron Lund & Mattias Havelid with the picks. None of the 3 locks & in fact Havelid might be the best.
DT: I can't fathom how the SJ Staff made it through the week with the loss of Bryan Marchment. Mush was a leader on SJ staff, a bigger-than-life character & loved by everyone he ever met (off the ice). It's so tragic & I hope his family can find solace knowing how loved he was.
DT: 2 more on SJ. I LOVE the hiring of Mike Grier as GM & it has NOTHING to do with race. Since Mike retired, he's worked hard & learned without fanfare. He scouted, coached, did Hockey Ops & kept grinding & deserves the job. BTW, I think getting Kunin was a sneaky great trade.
DT: The trades of Alex Debrincat & Kirby Dach are astounding to me. They are obviously in a rebuild. A '97 pure scorer & an '01 huge Centreman should be the cornerstones. There HAS to be something else at play. I LOVED their Draft but it seems like 2 steps back & 1 step forward.
DT: Joe Sakic looked at it carefully & decided that Darcy Kuemper wasn’t worth the money he’d get on the market so he traded 3 picks for Georgiev. I like the move & who can question Joe at this point. Colorado will need the money to pay some of their other core.
DT: As for Trades to ditch bad contracts, I like Dubas dropping 13 spots to get rid of Mrazeks contract to correct his own mistake better than the price it cost EDM to move Kassian. Dropping 3 sports plus a 2nd & a 3rd was pricey.
DT: The Flyers acquiring Tony De’Angelo & a 7th for a 2nd, 3rd and 4th is good business for Fletcher/Briere. I don’t care about his politics & he showed that he can be very useful this year with Carolina at almost a point per game. Kudos to Carolina for the foresight to sign him.
DT: I see hand wringing over MA Fleury signing & potential signing of Jack Campbell. Both are TREMENDOUS teammates & guys that teammates would die for. You wouldn’t understand unless you’ve built a Team how VITAL & rare those guys are. They will both get extra $$$ b/c of it.
DT: As usual, some very good OHL players didn’t get selected in MTL but got Camp invites which pleases me. These include Beau Jelsma, Owen Allard, Spencer Sova, Evan Vierling, Declan McDonnell, Samuel Mayer, Logan Morrison, Max Namestnikov, Mitchell Martin & Brady Stonehouse.
DT: Furthermore, on the FA invites, don’t be shocked if a couple guys don’t get Contracts like Thornton & Kressler last year. Maybe I missed them but I’m surprised Kocha Delic, Luca D’Amato, Evan Konyen & Owen Van Steensel didn't get invites. Keep grinding & get drafted next year
DT: Anyone that follows me regularly knows that I rail against “Cut & Pasters” WAY too often but in fairness, I should point out some people that do a great job @ChrisPeters @CoreyPronman @BrockOtten @Mckeens @Dobber & the Legend, @BobMckenzie
DT: I’m very happy that Boston has hired Jim Montgomery as their new Head Coach. Jim obviously made a few mistakes & came to terms with his addiction & was given a deserved 2nd chance. As somebody who has also come through addiction, I can attest to how hard it is but it can be done.
DT: Lastly, I’m very happy for Darren Dedobbelaer & his wife & The Great One on purchasing the @NiagaraIcedogs. I like Darren a lot & having Wayne involved will only help our League going forward. And how about those numerous trades Niagara has already made. They are MUCH better.
Deep Thoughts: Welcome to another Deep Thoughts which represent my PERSONAL views & don’t reflect ANY Organization that I work with! This edition is my Final one this season & thus is LONG with many different thoughts so unfollow if you don’t want them.
DT: The ’22 Draft is over so let’s get into detail. There were 5 Teams that I thought were the biggest winners of the weekend. Many Teams over the years have left the NHL Draft feeling like their future was secured & been wrong, but for me, these were the 5 that did just that:
DT: I truly believe we'll look back in 5 years & see how Montreal’s trajectory changed in 2 days. Slafkovsky was the home run pick. Mesar is highly skilled. Beck is a lock to be no worse that a 3C. Lane Hutson (Adam Fox light) could QB their PP in 4 years. Oh...and Kirby Dach.
DT: SEA Draft will lay groundwork for “The Build” It helps having 8 picks in Top 100 & Mesar was the fit but Wright is a helluva consolation. Firkus & Goyette can be Top 6 forwards. Nyman scores for a big kid. Kokko is a big/athletic G. Nelson/MacDonald/Jackson were great value.
DT: I’ll discuss trades later but CHI had a tremendous Draft. I don’t see how Korchinski & Naxar aren’t impactful guys. Rinzel is a massive middle pairing D. Ludwinski knows what he is & will excel as a 3C. Getting 6 guys out of our Top 85 bodes well for the Blackhawks rebuild
DT: The "Russian" factor was MIN gain. They got skilled (Top 10 talent) Danila Yurov at 24. At 19, they took the physical/talented Liam Ohgren. Hunter Haight was HUGE value in the 2nd. Those 3 might be a GREAT 2nd line in 5 years. Add in Milne/Lorenz/Spacek & they cleaned up.
DT: Like MIN, WSH risked it & got a Top 7 talent Russian, Ivan Miroschnichenko(Who is healthy). Ryan Chesley will play 2 years at U of Minnesota & will be plug/play. Back to back Swedes in Suzdalev/Persson & HUGE value in Karabela/Gucciardi mean 4 others that have tools to play.
DT: I thought Colorado & Calgary had quiet weekends but it was because of 5 picks between them but Av’s fan’s don’t care b/c they are still drinking & celebrating the Cup & Calgray fans only care about a Matthew Tkachuk contract (Will happen) & Johnny Gaudreau re-upping (Won’t happen)
DT: A Team that had a full compliment of picks that I didn’t think used them effectively was BOS. I like Matt Poitras as a Player but Cole Spicer & Dans Locmelis would’ve been available later & are longshots. The Swift Current/Team Canada goalie Reid Dyck has a chance though.
DT: “Trading Down” is always lauded but I’m not so sure. SJ had the #11 pick with potential “Stars” available & they traded down to get 2 extra 2nds. They got Filip Bystedt, Cameron Lund & Mattias Havelid with the picks. None of the 3 locks & in fact Havelid might be the best.
DT: I can't fathom how the SJ Staff made it through the week with the loss of Bryan Marchment. Mush was a leader on SJ staff, a bigger-than-life character & loved by everyone he ever met (off the ice). It's so tragic & I hope his family can find solace knowing how loved he was.
DT: 2 more on SJ. I LOVE the hiring of Mike Grier as GM & it has NOTHING to do with race. Since Mike retired, he's worked hard & learned without fanfare. He scouted, coached, did Hockey Ops & kept grinding & deserves the job. BTW, I think getting Kunin was a sneaky great trade.
DT: The trades of Alex Debrincat & Kirby Dach are astounding to me. They are obviously in a rebuild. A '97 pure scorer & an '01 huge Centreman should be the cornerstones. There HAS to be something else at play. I LOVED their Draft but it seems like 2 steps back & 1 step forward.
DT: Joe Sakic looked at it carefully & decided that Darcy Kuemper wasn’t worth the money he’d get on the market so he traded 3 picks for Georgiev. I like the move & who can question Joe at this point. Colorado will need the money to pay some of their other core.
DT: As for Trades to ditch bad contracts, I like Dubas dropping 13 spots to get rid of Mrazeks contract to correct his own mistake better than the price it cost EDM to move Kassian. Dropping 3 sports plus a 2nd & a 3rd was pricey.
DT: The Flyers acquiring Tony De’Angelo & a 7th for a 2nd, 3rd and 4th is good business for Fletcher/Briere. I don’t care about his politics & he showed that he can be very useful this year with Carolina at almost a point per game. Kudos to Carolina for the foresight to sign him.
DT: I see hand wringing over MA Fleury signing & potential signing of Jack Campbell. Both are TREMENDOUS teammates & guys that teammates would die for. You wouldn’t understand unless you’ve built a Team how VITAL & rare those guys are. They will both get extra $$$ b/c of it.
DT: As usual, some very good OHL players didn’t get selected in MTL but got Camp invites which pleases me. These include Beau Jelsma, Owen Allard, Spencer Sova, Evan Vierling, Declan McDonnell, Samuel Mayer, Logan Morrison, Max Namestnikov, Mitchell Martin & Brady Stonehouse.
DT: Furthermore, on the FA invites, don’t be shocked if a couple guys don’t get Contracts like Thornton & Kressler last year. Maybe I missed them but I’m surprised Kocha Delic, Luca D’Amato, Evan Konyen & Owen Van Steensel didn't get invites. Keep grinding & get drafted next year
DT: Anyone that follows me regularly knows that I rail against “Cut & Pasters” WAY too often but in fairness, I should point out some people that do a great job @ChrisPeters @CoreyPronman @BrockOtten @Mckeens @Dobber & the Legend, @BobMckenzie
DT: I’m very happy that Boston has hired Jim Montgomery as their new Head Coach. Jim obviously made a few mistakes & came to terms with his addiction & was given a deserved 2nd chance. As somebody who has also come through addiction, I can attest to how hard it is but it can be done.
DT: Lastly, I’m very happy for Darren Dedobbelaer & his wife & The Great One on purchasing the @NiagaraIcedogs. I like Darren a lot & having Wayne involved will only help our League going forward. And how about those numerous trades Niagara has already made. They are MUCH better.
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