Deep Thoughts • 18/06/2018
Deep Thoughts Twitter - June 18th 2018 - NHL Draft Preview
Deep Thoughts
With
Mark Seidel
Deep Thoughts: Welcome to another Deep Thoughts which represent my PERSONAL views & don’t reflect ANY Organization that I work with!
DT: Since it is Draft Week, I thought I’d share some thoughts on the Draft while announcing that we've partnered again with @LeafsHub to list our Top 200. It isn’t the Guide we sell to NHL teams w/ comprehensive Scouting Reports, etc. but I’ll tweet out the link when it's posted.
DT: Just a note before I begin about the hundreds of Independent Scouting Services out there putting out rankings. Some are great and some are awful but be aware of who is doing the work, their experience & their credentials. Lots of Cut & Paste lists out there! #JustSayin
DT: A note to media people out there. This is our biggest week of the year for Media Requests & we love to do it but if you want us to contribute to your radio show/podcast/blog/article, send a note and we will schedule it in.
DT: I’m not going to go through our entire list but I thought I’d give a few thoughts on why we have certain guys ranked where we do. Remember, I DON”T CARE where they go this weekend but rather our list is based on where WE rank them as if we were the 32nd team. #ReviewIn5Years
DT: Jesperi Kotkaniemi(4) has created a lot of buzz lately but guys in the League know him well & were hoping he'd fall. No chance after U18s. He reminds me of Scheifele, Karlsson & Laine in that he got SO much better as the year went on & capped it off with great final viewings!
DT: Noah Dobson (5) has captivated us with his play but also his personality, maturity and poise. He is the kind of kid that teams see as a rock on the back end & a potential captain. We fully agree & he should be the 1st Canadian taken. #GoodPeopleComeFromTheEastCoast
DT: It is odd that a potential American superstar like Oliver Wahlstrom (6) seems to get overlooked a bit but his offensive ceiling is VERY high. He has all the tools to become a consistent offensive threat in the NHL & thus he won’t be waiting long on Friday.
DT: Serron Noel (8) is a personal favorite of mine & I don’t think we have seen the tip of the iceberg on this kid. He has better skills than anyone gives him credit for and he can become a cross between Tom Wilson & Blake Wheeler.
DT: Ty Dellandrea (11) has the skills (60+ points), the character and the consistent improvement that Teams covet. I’m sure he won’t go #11 on Friday but I feel very secure that we will look back in 5 years and realize he should have. Remember when Mike Richards fell to Philly? Underappreciated but became a GREAT pick.
DT: Adam Boqvist (13) has scared us for 2 years because he has phenomenal skills & is built for the new NHL but his decision making can be scary. I’m sure a team will jump on him in the Top 10 but he has some warts. From 10-15 he is good value IMHO.
DT: Gregori Denisenko (18) has everyone trying to figure him out. A lot of nights he was Top 10 skilled but then stretches where he would disappear have caused concern. The KHL loves him too which adds to the risk level.
DT: Bode Wilde (20) reminds me of Cam Fowler with the potential to fall for no reason. Bode has enough natural ability to go into an NHL Training Camp & really impress everyone but this NCAA decision needs to be re-examined. He should be in the CHL based on his style, skill set & to answer questions about his ability to dominate against the best.
DT: I know that Sean Durzi (21) has already been through a Draft but this kid made the biggest strides this year of ANY player in the Draft. His skill and offensive ability will fit in perfect in the new NHL & although he won’t go until Saturday, he is a blue chip prospect.
DT: Many people will be aghast that we have Barret Hayton (24) so low but I’ve personally seen him play so many times that I think this is where he fits. He’ll go higher and I hope he proves me wrong because he is a great kid that does a lot of things right but we’ll see.
DT: Akil Thomas (30) has all of the tools to play any way you want and he actually reminds me of Jordan Kyrou in his draft year. Kyrou fell a little bit because there was a slight concern he didn’t play hard all the time. Cerebral players sometimes look like that & Thomas is cerebral like Kyrou & both will have great NHL careers.
DT: With the Import Draft coming on June 28th & the change to allow goaltenders back in, I believe that we'll see 14 goaltenders taken in the first 31 picks & I commend the CHL for the change. The best Development League in the world should have access to all the best players.
DT: Las Vegas has great people involved so I was hoping that they'd win but the reaction of the Caps & Ovechkin has been so refreshing that I’m very happy they won the Cup. The unbridled joy & excitement has been great & it's why we keep grinding to eventually get our piece of it
DT: Speaking of Championships, I was happy to see The Toronto Marlies win the Calder Cup. It was the result of all of the work of the players & the staff but it also validated the vision that Kyle Dubas & Sheldon Keefe had about how the game should be played. They started it in the Soo & finished it at the Ricoh.
DT: I’ve been asked a lot about @KyleDubas & @ SheldonKeefe lately & here is my response. Kyle is one of the best human beings & hardest workers I know & has earned this job & will do well. It was 2011 when I tweeted and told people that Sheldon was a superstar coach & I feel his best coaching is yet to come in the NHL!
DT: The Hoffman/Karlsson story is troubling on so many levels that it is tough to grasp them all. I know the Hoffman’s have denied it all but if it comes out as a true account, how does a team trade for Mike Hoffman if he continues to stand by his girlfriend? Con’t…
DT: People forget that Players have outside lives & for a team to bring this mix in to the facility is tough. I’m not sure any teams want that & his value will be rock bottom for a good player. Just another headache for good guy Pierre Dorion during these past 90 days.
DT: People anxiously waiting to see where Mark Hunter goes could be in for a long wait. He loves working with the Knights & thus he will be patient for the right opportunity. BTW, I’ve always said that Mark’s best skill is as a Coach so I’m surprised he hasn’t gone down that road
DT: As for the Draft, Montreal is talking to EVERYBODY about their 1st round pick. There are guys there that they like but the opportunity to move down and acquire more assets to help rebuild the franchise is very tempting for them. I fully expect that by Friday night, another team will be picking in the #3 spot.
DT: I really have to commend Cole Perfetti & the Saginaw Spirit for coming together & having him sign. The player deserves credit for keeping an open mind & a willingness to change routes while Saginaw deserves credit for the courage to take him & then recruit the hell out of him!
DT: I’m not sure if Will Culye ever ends up at Penn State but I know that his style fits in the OHL. He is big and rugged & may be a Top 20 NHL pick so waiting for school for a few years doesn’t make sense to me. I expect him to be traded before the season starts.
DT: As for the OHL Draft, the team that won the lottery that day were the Niagara IceDogs. How he fell to #12 is difficult to comprehend because he was going to Flint before Vierling committed but the teams 3 thru 11 went in different directions & the ‘Dogs got the superstar!
DT: Rumours of James Richmond & John Gruden potentially going to the NHL are still out there but the lack of news over the past 4 weeks is starting to make me think that both might be staying in place. We’ve seen late OHL departures but July 1st is the general rule.
DT: Drew Bannister deserved to get the call to jump into the AHL because he did a very good job in the Soo but more importantly, he did it the right way. He was a loyal Assistant in Owen Sound, took over the Hounds & never made it about him & had success. Plus he is a Sudbury guy!
DT: Don’t forget to check out our Top 200 Rankings as part of @LeafsHub draft coverage over the next few days! Have a great Draft week and always let me know your thoughts, opinions, disagreements & ideas!
With
Mark Seidel
Deep Thoughts: Welcome to another Deep Thoughts which represent my PERSONAL views & don’t reflect ANY Organization that I work with!
DT: Since it is Draft Week, I thought I’d share some thoughts on the Draft while announcing that we've partnered again with @LeafsHub to list our Top 200. It isn’t the Guide we sell to NHL teams w/ comprehensive Scouting Reports, etc. but I’ll tweet out the link when it's posted.
DT: Just a note before I begin about the hundreds of Independent Scouting Services out there putting out rankings. Some are great and some are awful but be aware of who is doing the work, their experience & their credentials. Lots of Cut & Paste lists out there! #JustSayin
DT: A note to media people out there. This is our biggest week of the year for Media Requests & we love to do it but if you want us to contribute to your radio show/podcast/blog/article, send a note and we will schedule it in.
DT: I’m not going to go through our entire list but I thought I’d give a few thoughts on why we have certain guys ranked where we do. Remember, I DON”T CARE where they go this weekend but rather our list is based on where WE rank them as if we were the 32nd team. #ReviewIn5Years
DT: Jesperi Kotkaniemi(4) has created a lot of buzz lately but guys in the League know him well & were hoping he'd fall. No chance after U18s. He reminds me of Scheifele, Karlsson & Laine in that he got SO much better as the year went on & capped it off with great final viewings!
DT: Noah Dobson (5) has captivated us with his play but also his personality, maturity and poise. He is the kind of kid that teams see as a rock on the back end & a potential captain. We fully agree & he should be the 1st Canadian taken. #GoodPeopleComeFromTheEastCoast
DT: It is odd that a potential American superstar like Oliver Wahlstrom (6) seems to get overlooked a bit but his offensive ceiling is VERY high. He has all the tools to become a consistent offensive threat in the NHL & thus he won’t be waiting long on Friday.
DT: Serron Noel (8) is a personal favorite of mine & I don’t think we have seen the tip of the iceberg on this kid. He has better skills than anyone gives him credit for and he can become a cross between Tom Wilson & Blake Wheeler.
DT: Ty Dellandrea (11) has the skills (60+ points), the character and the consistent improvement that Teams covet. I’m sure he won’t go #11 on Friday but I feel very secure that we will look back in 5 years and realize he should have. Remember when Mike Richards fell to Philly? Underappreciated but became a GREAT pick.
DT: Adam Boqvist (13) has scared us for 2 years because he has phenomenal skills & is built for the new NHL but his decision making can be scary. I’m sure a team will jump on him in the Top 10 but he has some warts. From 10-15 he is good value IMHO.
DT: Gregori Denisenko (18) has everyone trying to figure him out. A lot of nights he was Top 10 skilled but then stretches where he would disappear have caused concern. The KHL loves him too which adds to the risk level.
DT: Bode Wilde (20) reminds me of Cam Fowler with the potential to fall for no reason. Bode has enough natural ability to go into an NHL Training Camp & really impress everyone but this NCAA decision needs to be re-examined. He should be in the CHL based on his style, skill set & to answer questions about his ability to dominate against the best.
DT: I know that Sean Durzi (21) has already been through a Draft but this kid made the biggest strides this year of ANY player in the Draft. His skill and offensive ability will fit in perfect in the new NHL & although he won’t go until Saturday, he is a blue chip prospect.
DT: Many people will be aghast that we have Barret Hayton (24) so low but I’ve personally seen him play so many times that I think this is where he fits. He’ll go higher and I hope he proves me wrong because he is a great kid that does a lot of things right but we’ll see.
DT: Akil Thomas (30) has all of the tools to play any way you want and he actually reminds me of Jordan Kyrou in his draft year. Kyrou fell a little bit because there was a slight concern he didn’t play hard all the time. Cerebral players sometimes look like that & Thomas is cerebral like Kyrou & both will have great NHL careers.
DT: With the Import Draft coming on June 28th & the change to allow goaltenders back in, I believe that we'll see 14 goaltenders taken in the first 31 picks & I commend the CHL for the change. The best Development League in the world should have access to all the best players.
DT: Las Vegas has great people involved so I was hoping that they'd win but the reaction of the Caps & Ovechkin has been so refreshing that I’m very happy they won the Cup. The unbridled joy & excitement has been great & it's why we keep grinding to eventually get our piece of it
DT: Speaking of Championships, I was happy to see The Toronto Marlies win the Calder Cup. It was the result of all of the work of the players & the staff but it also validated the vision that Kyle Dubas & Sheldon Keefe had about how the game should be played. They started it in the Soo & finished it at the Ricoh.
DT: I’ve been asked a lot about @KyleDubas & @ SheldonKeefe lately & here is my response. Kyle is one of the best human beings & hardest workers I know & has earned this job & will do well. It was 2011 when I tweeted and told people that Sheldon was a superstar coach & I feel his best coaching is yet to come in the NHL!
DT: The Hoffman/Karlsson story is troubling on so many levels that it is tough to grasp them all. I know the Hoffman’s have denied it all but if it comes out as a true account, how does a team trade for Mike Hoffman if he continues to stand by his girlfriend? Con’t…
DT: People forget that Players have outside lives & for a team to bring this mix in to the facility is tough. I’m not sure any teams want that & his value will be rock bottom for a good player. Just another headache for good guy Pierre Dorion during these past 90 days.
DT: People anxiously waiting to see where Mark Hunter goes could be in for a long wait. He loves working with the Knights & thus he will be patient for the right opportunity. BTW, I’ve always said that Mark’s best skill is as a Coach so I’m surprised he hasn’t gone down that road
DT: As for the Draft, Montreal is talking to EVERYBODY about their 1st round pick. There are guys there that they like but the opportunity to move down and acquire more assets to help rebuild the franchise is very tempting for them. I fully expect that by Friday night, another team will be picking in the #3 spot.
DT: I really have to commend Cole Perfetti & the Saginaw Spirit for coming together & having him sign. The player deserves credit for keeping an open mind & a willingness to change routes while Saginaw deserves credit for the courage to take him & then recruit the hell out of him!
DT: I’m not sure if Will Culye ever ends up at Penn State but I know that his style fits in the OHL. He is big and rugged & may be a Top 20 NHL pick so waiting for school for a few years doesn’t make sense to me. I expect him to be traded before the season starts.
DT: As for the OHL Draft, the team that won the lottery that day were the Niagara IceDogs. How he fell to #12 is difficult to comprehend because he was going to Flint before Vierling committed but the teams 3 thru 11 went in different directions & the ‘Dogs got the superstar!
DT: Rumours of James Richmond & John Gruden potentially going to the NHL are still out there but the lack of news over the past 4 weeks is starting to make me think that both might be staying in place. We’ve seen late OHL departures but July 1st is the general rule.
DT: Drew Bannister deserved to get the call to jump into the AHL because he did a very good job in the Soo but more importantly, he did it the right way. He was a loyal Assistant in Owen Sound, took over the Hounds & never made it about him & had success. Plus he is a Sudbury guy!
DT: Don’t forget to check out our Top 200 Rankings as part of @LeafsHub draft coverage over the next few days! Have a great Draft week and always let me know your thoughts, opinions, disagreements & ideas!
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