2022 Draft Discussion

[Matthew]

Fraser

[Shoalzie]

Not every GM is a "draft guy". Fraser usually has a half dozen picks per draft in previous seasons. I think of Mike (PIT) and Billy as the GMs that seem to actively want to trade out of the draft entirely.

I'm not mad at Fraser for punting on his draft picks. They're his assets at the end of the day. He could've flipped them for something...even if it was a pick next year to just kick the can down the road.

[Shoalzie]

Tampa is on the clock until 11:18 a.m. Montreal has the final pick and Shep still needs to make his pick. Usually we'll close out the draft when the last pick is finally made or we just give teams until midnight to get their outstanding picks made.

One way or another, the 2024 draft picks will be "available" following the conclusion of this draft.

[Shoalzie]

Please tell me someone saw Pronman's most recent mock draft

MTL - Slaf
NJ - Jiricek
ARZ - Cooley
SEA - Wright

It's crazy to believe Wright falls beyond Arizona. I can see New Jersey taking a dman as they have plenty of centers already, but if Wright is there, they have to have a serious conversation about it. But if Wright is available for Arizona, is he not the better option over Cooley?

Chris Peters released his final mock...

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/2022-nhl-m ... l-version/

He's got Wright to Montreal, Slafkovsky to the Devils but his twist is Gauthier to the Coyotes and then Seattle takes Cooley.

[DApolloS]

I think k Casper makes a good point. Montreal will take Wright. Taking Slaf as a new GM and pissing off the fanbase (and we all know how pissy Montreal fans can be).

Geekie off the board before Savoie is odd. I think that's the first time.ive seen that.

[Matthew]

First time since 2015 that bruyns hasn't had the final pick of the draft?

[Shoalzie]

Steve picked last in 2020...since we never finished that season, I think we went off regular season results.

[Shoalzie]

Shep hasn't checked in for a couple days...sent him a PM about his final pick. We're not in a massive rush but we'll wrap this thing up no later than midnight tonight.

I'm making a small tweak to my Google sheet for drafts starting with 2024 but obviously, the picks are already on Fantrax and I'll get caught up fairly soon.

[Matthew]

Let's get this thing finished

[TheNudge]

I think k Casper makes a good point. Montreal will take Wright. Taking Slaf as a new GM and pissing off the fanbase (and we all know how pissy Montreal fans can be).

Geekie off the board before Savoie is odd. I think that's the first time.ive seen that.

Can’t really compare Conner Geekie game to Savoie but it is quite odd to see Connor getting pick so early.

Here’s what I think will happen in the top 10

1. Habs - Wright
2. New Jersey- slafkovsky
3. Arizona- Cooley
4. Seattle - nemec
5. Flyers- David Jiricek
6. Columbus- Brad Lambert
7. Ottawa - Joakim Kemell
8. Detroit - Matthew Savoie
9. Buffalo - Frank Nazar
10. Ducks - Connor Geekie

[Shoalzie]

That's officially a wrap...everyone have a great weekend.

[CasperX22]

I think k Casper makes a good point. Montreal will take Wright. Taking Slaf as a new GM and pissing off the fanbase (and we all know how pissy Montreal fans can be).

Geekie off the board before Savoie is odd. I think that's the first time.ive seen that.

If the draft was done in November that's absolutely how it would have played out, but Geekie hasn't done himself any favors as the season has played out. He went from a potential top 5 pick to potentially falling outside the lottery. It's going to be very interesting to see who pulls the trigger.

[CasperX22]

Please tell me someone saw Pronman's most recent mock draft

MTL - Slaf
NJ - Jiricek
ARZ - Cooley
SEA - Wright

It's crazy to believe Wright falls beyond Arizona. I can see New Jersey taking a dman as they have plenty of centers already, but if Wright is there, they have to have a serious conversation about it. But if Wright is available for Arizona, is he not the better option over Cooley?

Chris Peters released his final mock...

https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/2022-nhl-m ... l-version/

He's got Wright to Montreal, Slafkovsky to the Devils but his twist is Gauthier to the Coyotes and then Seattle takes Cooley.

That's actually a very plausible scenario. I'd be shocked if Montreal doesn't take Wright. Whether that's the right choice or not they will play it safe.

The Devil's have enough center depth that you can justify taking a winger over a future top 6 dynamic center.

The Cutter hype train is going off the rails that it seems likely he's a top 5 pick now. And it seems like such a Arizona pick.

[kyuss]

where with Arizona pick you also mean terrible pick I guess

[kimmer]

Jiricek is def going to be more exciting to watch than nemec

[TheNudge]

Jiricek is def going to be more exciting to watch than nemec

I’ve heard Flyers possible targets are either Jiricek or Savoie. I think both are will be good but Jiricek has the higher floor.

[Shep]

Sorry. Was away for the weekend and didn't realize I had that late 7th rounder.

My bad guys.

[Shoalzie]

It'll be nice to have a draft before a live crowd as much as the pick-by-pick process is very repetitive:

10-15 guys from each team go up to the podium and thank Montreal for their hospitality and congratulate the champs...
A long-time scout announces the pick...
The kid hugs 25 family members and you can't figure out if the female he hugs either his sister or his girlfriend...
He gets a jersey and hat from someone's kid who works for the organization...

But at least the crowd pop for #1 will be cool.

Heading into this past weekend, I honestly forgot the 1st round was happening Thursday...doesn't make a lot of sense they're doing 2-through-7 on Friday instead of Saturday.

[kyuss]

I am here for Noah

[Matthew]

Oooh shit slaf better succeed or Montreal is gonna eat him and management alive haha