Below Market Value
Joined: Nov. 2015
Posts: 1,426
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Disclaimer: all scouting is done based off of numbers from EliteProspects.com; I haven't watched any game film on these guys, so take everything with a grain of salt.
1. Dahlin - Obvious #1 pick. Anyone that puts him below #1 should be stripped of their hockey fan card.
2. Svechnikov - Could challenge Dahlin for #1 if he were a center or if he hadn't gotten injured. Still a great player. Will be better than his brother.
3. Zadina - Halifax has a knack for developing elite talent, so I like him a little more than some of the other guys in the draft. Not undersized either, so that's less risk.
4. Tkachuk - We've all seen how effective Matthew is at the NHL level, so I have no reason to think Brady will be any different. Looks like he also plays center according to EliteProspects, so that's a plus.
5. Hughes - Offensively gifted defenseman that is putting up good points at the NCAA level, even as a smaller player. Rank could be affected by his performance at the WJC.
6. Boqvist - Not as high as others may put him, mainly because he's primarily played in the Swedish juniors as opposed to SHL or even Allsvenskan. No doubt he'll be a great player, but I'd like to see him compete at a higher level, and he didn't make the cut for Sweden's WJC roster.
7. Wahlstrom - Good sized C/RW, natural goal scorer going through the US development program. I'm high on players that go through their system. Heading to Harvard next season, so we'll see how he can do against the big boys in the NCAA.
8. Veleno - Given Exceptional Status by Hockey Canada, but he's kinda fallen off the radar. Still put up good numbers as an underager.
9. Merkley - Another dynamic, offensive defenseman (I sense a theme here). Well over a point per game in the OHL. Put up 55 points in 62 games last season on a bad Guelph team, even as a first-year OHL player.
10. McLeod - Being a good-sized C will push him up the draft boards, even if there are more dynamic talents behind him. Wouldn't surprise me if he ended up better than his brother Michael, in fact I'm calling it right now.
HM:
- Dobson - All-around defenseman with excellent size, but not enough WOW talent to crack the top ten. Definitely a top 20 pick, though.
- McIsaac - Average-sized defenseman in this draft. Plays for Halifax in the QMJHL, so obviously I'm going to expect big things from him.
- Thomas - Not much to say about this guy. Good C that can put up points.