My Personal Prospect Grades

[Scott]

Now, feel free to add your opinions just remember these are my opinions on guys. Just wanted to start some discussions in here as the draft will be starting in less then 24 hours. I'd love to hear your opinions on why or why not you agree with me on some of the guys listed. Also, if you trust my judgement and this helps you make draft day decisions, even better. The CC was a little slow on putting this together so I decided to do my own, maybe more lists will follow and this gets the ball rolling. So, without further ado:

Taylor Hall - 9.0C (The top offensive player in the draft. A proven winner with a great top end speed, check line type desire, doesn't shy away from the physical stuff, and can put a team on his back. Taylor has generational talent potential. He needs to learn to keep his head up.)

Tyler Seguin - 9.0C (Seguin has shown that his head in the defensive zone is as good as his head in the offensive zone. Great all around game and ability to play in all situations. In my opinion, Seguin is the safest pick of the Hall/Seguin debate and is almost a lock to be an elite contributor for the team he dons the Jersey for.)

Erik Gudbranson - 8.5C (Gudbranson has a mean streak mixed with skill and a tremendous shot. He's very raw and has yet to really develop his overall ofensive game. With work on that, Gudbranson has the potential to be an imposing force that can play on a teams top PP unit. Has some injury history that is a bit of a concern.)

Cam Fowler - 8.0B (Amazing hockey sense and overall ability. A lot say he's in the mold of Scott Niedermayer because of his shifty skating, big, graceful stride, head up puck moving ability, and instincts. He has a very underrated shut down game and prides himself on making the right play. A very safe pick if he's available to when you pick.)

Brandon Gormley - 8.0B (Gormley is elite in the defensive zone with a great stick, poised demeanor and his elite ability to get the puck out. He also is amoungst the best in this draft when ranking hockey sense. Gormley is a good leader and has a very underrated offensive arsenal. Very safe pick.)

Nino Niederreiter - 8.0B (In my opinion, Nino should develop into a top line forward with a nasty side. He has a very well rounded game but tends to turn the puck over a little too often. He has great speed, a big stride, he hits very hard, loves to score goals, and his determination levels will carry him a long way. Could be a top 5 fantasy forward out of his draft class if he continues to develop his all around game.)

Brett Connolly - 8.5D (Connolly has amazing hands and can make plays only a few can make. Connolly has the offensive ability many dream of. Very high bust potential because of injury concerns but if he can stay away from the injury bug, he'll produce at a very high level.)

Vladimir Tarasenko - 8.0C (Most definitely has the skill set to become a top line player. Can score, pass, and skate. He's really small and in my opinion, has a very high bust potential because of the unknown of how he'll translate to the NA game. Then there's the "Russian factor".)

Jeffrey Skinner - 7.5B (not a great skater and smallish but he has elite goal scoring ability. I can't think of a weakish skating small player that is a top line player. PP specialist/2nd line player on a very good team.)

Ryan Johansen - 8.0C (I feel with Johansen's size and puck skills, he has a legit shot to become a scoring, big, strong, power forward. I'm just unsure how he'll fill out his body. Has 1st line potential)

Derek Forbort - 8.0C (Excellent hockey sense and defensive positioning. Forbort isn't the best puck carrier but he makes the right decision 9 out of 10 times. I think he has No.2 Dman potential but with his lack of confidence in his puck carrying and his lack of grit to his game, he could become a very serviceable No.3-4 on a really good team.)

Jon Merrill - 7.0C (Big, not very strong, solid 2-way game and has underrated offensive ability. Needs to put on weight and condition better. Solid No. 3-4 in the NHL)

Austin Watson - 6.5A (Even if Watson's offense game doesn't develop well enough to play a top 6 role, his defensive ability and "balls-to-the-wall" style will make him an elite 3rd line winger and maybe a top fantasy player. I feel if he can prove he can show up on the scoring sheet semi-regularly, a 2nd line role is a definite possibility.)

Alex Burmistrov - 7.5C (Burmistrov definitely has the speed and playmaking to become a very solid top 6 player. Has shown he can play the NA game with a solid year in Barrie this season. Small but is very good at avoiding vulnerable situations and always has his head up. Between 1st & 2nd line potential)

Mikael Granlund - 7.0B (Has shown he can score and is an offense first type player. Very small but very shifty and seems to head to the traffic to show his ability to weeve in and out. All but a guarantee for a top 6 role if he can handle the NA game but I think he can because of his attitude on the ice.)

Quinton Howden - 7.0C (Howden has an effortless stride and the ability to break away from chasing defenders with ease. He's a very intelligent player and prides himself on his defensive ability and faceoff skills. Howden has shown he can score aswell with a PPG last year with the Warriors. Howden has the potential to become a very reliable 2nd line, 2-way center if he can continue to score at the pro level. In my opinion, he's at worst a very good 3rd line center.)

Mark Pysyk - 7.5C (His puck moving skills and his ability to skate effortlessly with his the puck and head up has GMs with mid-late 1st round picks salivating. He needs to work on his grit and shut down ability but has the hockey sense to do so. Pysyk has the ability to become a very good No. 2)

Emerson Etem - 7.0B (Loves to score goals and land the big hit. Etem might be the best hitting forward in the 1st round. Etem has a good set of wheels but plays a little wreckless at times. With his aggressive style and ability to compliment highly skilled plays a top 6 role is all but a lock in my opinion.)

Evgeny Kuznetsov - 7.0C (Very underrated defensive game. He's also a very good stickhandler and has a heavy wristshot and loves to use it. Tends to play a little selfish in the offensive zone and is vulnerable to the big hit because he tries to stickhandle in a phonebooth too often. The small NA ice service could be a problem for him unless he learns to keep his head up. Very good skater.)

Tyler Pitlick - 7.5B (I'm unsure why Pitlick is rated so low because in my opinion has a very complete offensive game. Playmaking, scoring, hockey sense is up there with the best in this draft. He also has very good size and stength on the puck. I am going to enjoy watching Pitlick rip up the WHL next year.)

Nick Bjugstad - 7.0C (Big power forward type with good speed. Has the offensive arsenal to play in a top 6 role.)

Riley Sheahan - 7.0C (Has a well developed all around game. Can score and play a top 6 role but can also drop down to the 4th line in a shut down role. Good speed and good size. Reminds me of a Dave bolland type player.)

Jack Campbell - 8.5C (The best goalie in the draft. Amazing athleticism and determination between the pipes. Confidence is second to none matched with an exceptional glove hand and sound technique. I'm going to hate him next season when he's stoning my Knights!!)

Stanislav Galiev - 7.5C (Very underrated all around game. Matched with elusive abilities, great deception, playmaking, and physicality it makes him an interesting prospect. He's already used to playing in NA and has made strides in improving his defensive game.Needs to shot more.)

Jaden Schwartz - 7.0C (Loves to carry the puck and look for the open man. Very much a pass first type player. Good speed and elusiveness, good team player and has leadership qualities. Not a very good shot when he takes it and tends to shy away from the physical stuff. Vey interesting prospect.)

Jordan Weal - 7.0C ( Smallish player but definitely doesn't play that way. Loves dumping the puck into the corner and going after it. Likes to give defensemen fits down low on the forecheck and is great at forcing turnovers ala Gary Roberts. Likes to score goals but in my opinion is a little overrated offensively. Good complimentry player that benefitted from playing with Jordan Eberle.)

Jarred Tinordi - 7.0B (Very big and strong. Loves to play physical and prides himself on the shutdown role. Physically imposing top 4 Dman.)

Beau Bennett - 8.0D (A real wild card this year. Very good all around game and is an offensive weapon, great scorer and even better passer. Bennett has quarterbacked a PP and put together an outstanding rookie season in the BCHL. Needs to fill out his body and get stronger. High risk, high reward type, it will be interesting to see where he goes in our draft and thr NHLs.)

Ludsvig Rensfeldt - 7.0C (I don't know too much about him but he seems like a very solid offensive player. If he comes over, he could be a really solid all around player from what I've read. Was taken 23rd in the KHL draft)

Charlie Coyle - 6.5C (Big kid who is a good skater. Has a very good down low game and loves to play around the net. Needs to improve his defense. Likes to hit and be physical.)

Brock Nelson - 6.5B Good skater, big, strong, power forward type. Likes to shoot the puck and has a heavy wrist shot.)

Jason Zucker - 6.5B (Speedy guy who has a big heart. Can score and likes to muck it up. Not great puck skills but gets his shot off quickly.)

Johan Larsson - 7.0C - (His stock is on the rise because of his performance at the U18's. He is known for his all around game and has the ability to be a top 6 winger.)

John McFarland - 7.0D (Has shown in the past he can score but he seems to lock common hockey sense and the ability to keep his compete level up on a game to game basis. Has the ability to be a top 6 forward but is a very risky pick.)

Kirill Kabanov 8.5D (Elite offensive game. Gamebreaker ability. Stock has plummetted due to his attitude. High bust potential.)

Bradley Ross 7.0C (Has a very undeveloped game but a huge shot. Could be a PP unit secret weapon down the road.)

Justin Faulk 7.0D (Very gifted offensively and underrated speed. His level of wanting to score all the time gets him into trouble. He needs to concentrate on his defense if he wants to survive in the NHL.)

Tyler Toffoli 8.0D (Not a great skater, average at best but his offensive game seems very untapped. He has a very high ceiling offensively and he could develop into one of the better weapons in the draft. High bust potential due to his skating and compete level.)

Brock Beukeboom 6.5C (Defensive Dman that likes to hit. Has some untapped offense but it's highly doubtful he'll develop it to play a top 4 role in the NHL.)

[KapG]

fuck that trade burke. Thanks for giving away one of Hall/Seguin.

I can't believe I am still so heated over that too...might have something to do with wishing the leafs would just do a traditional rebuild through the draft for the past like 15 years and then once it looks like its coming to fruition the fucking rug is pulled out from under me for you know how.

I can't believe how much some of you guys know about prospects, your all fucking crazy lol.

[Nick]

It's time to get over that trade, and the idea of a 'normal' rebuild plan... it doesn't exist, just a current fad amongst sports writers and semi-aware fans (IMO).


The ducks did not win the cup through a draft rebuild, pens won a random draw lottery and got a kid named sid (and seriously, they were SOOOOO bad for SOOOOO long, and it worked for 2/6 teams that were that bad for that long), and the hawks were shitty for 10+ years... but how about atlanta? ottawa? clb? Yes Eric Staal was HUGE for the canes win, but that's 1 player from their impact players....


anyways, building the team, getting the right type of players and not just filling holes, I have faith in burke.... move kaberle & finger and suddenly we have 18M in cap space... 5M-6M for kules, hanson & Gunner... thats 12-13M in cap space... anyone doubt that we spend to the cap?

[The BBKL Insider]

i still don't mind that deal,

i'm a big believer in Kessel

[MSP4LYFE]

Completely disagree with your comments regarding Hall and Seguin, for starters Hall is not a "generational type talent", that tag belongs to the Crosbys and Ovechkins of the world, perhaps even a Stamkos, but certainly not Taylor Hall. Furthermore Seguin is not the safe pick, Hall is...Hall has proven his worth in every tournament to date, and dominated the junior scene for three seasons, conversely Seguin only dominated this past season, not to mention that he is younger, less developed and thus harder to gauge in terms of ceiling. In that regard he is the riskier player, and also has the highest upside due to age and limited experience at the OHL level.

Other than that minor difference of opinion its a very good list.

[The BBKL Insider]

Completely disagree with your comments regarding Hall and Seguin, for starters Hall is not a "generational type talent", that tag belongs to the Crosbys and Ovechkins of the world, perhaps even a Stamkos, but certainly not Taylor Hall. Furthermore Seguin is not the safe pick, Hall is...Hall has proven his worth in every tournament to date, and dominated the junior scene for three seasons, conversely Seguin only dominated this past season, not to mention that he is younger, less developed and thus harder to gauge in terms of ceiling. In that regard he is the riskier player, and also has the highest upside due to age and limited experience at the OHL level.

Other than that minor difference of opinion its a very good list.

BING!!!

Exactly why i don't mind the Kessel deal. IMO Seguin won't be any better than Kessel in the NHL. He may not be any worse, but he won't be any better.

[Scott]

Completely disagree with your comments regarding Hall and Seguin, for starters Hall is not a "generational type talent", that tag belongs to the Crosbys and Ovechkins of the world, perhaps even a Stamkos, but certainly not Taylor Hall. Furthermore Seguin is not the safe pick, Hall is...Hall has proven his worth in every tournament to date, and dominated the junior scene for three seasons, conversely Seguin only dominated this past season, not to mention that he is younger, less developed and thus harder to gauge in terms of ceiling. In that regard he is the riskier player, and also has the highest upside due to age and limited experience at the OHL level.

Other than that minor difference of opinion its a very good list.

Well I sid "generational type potential" which I believe he does. I believe he has room to grow and the heart of a lion. As for Seguin, I fel he'll be the more durable player and will be the more reliable player in all situations ala Jonathan Toews. Hall isn't exactly known for his defensive ability whereas Seguin's is very underrated, that's what I meant when I said "safer". Amaizing offensive ability mixed with already well rounded defensive ability! .. again, imo.

Thanks, I'm looking forward to reading others opinions!

[Shep]

Pretty solid list. I disagree with some but I don't want to say anything because some of them I want to pick

[KapG]

Completely disagree with your comments regarding Hall and Seguin, for starters Hall is not a "generational type talent", that tag belongs to the Crosbys and Ovechkins of the world, perhaps even a Stamkos, but certainly not Taylor Hall. Furthermore Seguin is not the safe pick, Hall is...Hall has proven his worth in every tournament to date, and dominated the junior scene for three seasons, conversely Seguin only dominated this past season, not to mention that he is younger, less developed and thus harder to gauge in terms of ceiling. In that regard he is the riskier player, and also has the highest upside due to age and limited experience at the OHL level.

Other than that minor difference of opinion its a very good list.

BING!!!

Exactly why i don't mind the Kessel deal. IMO Seguin won't be any better than Kessel in the NHL. He may not be any worse, but he won't be any better.

i wouldnt mind it if kessel didn't play like such a bitch and we didn't trade the other 1st and 2nd.

Besides IMO talent at center is FAR more important then on the wing.

[Nick]

Well... insulting Hall's defensive play is off-base... the guy is seriously well rounded... Personally after having watched him LOTS this year, the one and only criticism, as Bob has said from day 1, is that he's fearless... or in criticism form = reckless. Except he's extremely flexible & fit...meaning he's also incredibly durable....


Seguin is interesting for sure, and I have not seen enough to make an accurate statement about his ceiling... but I like what Hall could be!

[armandtanzarian]

Well OV is reckless and we know how durable he is. Reckless means fantasy stud imo.

[Arian The Insider]

Harsh on Watson!!

[Nick]

Harsh on Watson!!

cause u see elite offensive potential? or cause he's your pick

[Shep]

Lol.. how was he harsh on Watson?

[Arian The Insider]

Harsh on Watson!!

cause u see elite offensive potential? or cause he's your pick

pretty much that.

idk i just see alot of offensive scoring potential in him

[Nick]

from 1- 20 game stretch to end the season? he scored 20 goals in the OHL... in his draft year...


I'm loving some people's off-the-board selections

[MSP4LYFE]

from 1- 20 game stretch to end the season? he scored 20 goals in the OHL... in his draft year...


I'm loving some people's off-the-board selections

He scored 20 points in 10 games after being given a chance in the top 6 with Peterbrough, thats nothing to sneeze at.

[Nick]

and how did he look/produce in the playoffs?


i dunno... saying he's got top end offensive skills is silly -> & kinda seems like you either watched too few games or read to few reports... heard that he was a Burke type player... or that Ryan Kesler had similar question-marks about his offensive upside...however Kesler was playing NCAA, was #2 on his team in goals & #4 in points... as a 17 year old... once again... in NCAA..... I like waston... just @ 15/16/17 ... not sub #12


but i'm totally game for you guys selecting him, some of these names that look to be falling are getting rather exciting.

[MSP4LYFE]

and how did he look/produce in the playoffs?


i dunno... saying he's got top end offensive skills is silly -> & kinda seems like you either watched too few games or read to few reports... heard that he was a Burke type player... or that Ryan Kesler had similar question-marks about his offensive upside...however Kesler was playing NCAA, was #2 on his team in goals & #4 in points... as a 17 year old... once again... in NCAA..... I like waston... just @ 15/16/17 ... not sub #12


but i'm totally game for you guys selecting him, some of these names that look to be falling are getting rather exciting.

I saw him play four times live, twice in the playoffs, you?

[Nick]

3 games in pieces + some delayed feeds & highlights, as well as multiple games as a spit prior to the trade... i saw a player who skater well, worked hard and had some skill... nothing like the guys he's being mentioned with though (in terms of skill).