Quoting: EnglishFitzPercy
Next year's draft is incredible in terms of high end talent, but depth is similar and anyway, it can still change. In any case, the hit rate for prospects drafted in the 25 and 40 range is very close. A 2022 draftee is closer to the NHL than a 2023 draftee, which is a factor for teams looking to compete soon.
I'm not an insider, I can only rely on what's being reported, so yes, reports.
Helleson projects to be a 5th/6th D and he's not a top 5 prospect for Colorado who has a bottom half prospect pool, so yeah, decent prospect.
Reporters never name the executives they speak to, but it's been reported by Lebrun, Marek & Friedman, NRD.
1- Setting aside that claims about which draft is better or deeper, and what the "hit rate" for a certain range of picks, are nothing but way too early speculation about teenagers and an average that is not always applicable, and that 2022 draftees will automatically be closer to the NHL is again both presumptive and case by case... are you actually suggesting that Montreal is going to compete sooner? Heh, good one.
2- Link one such REPORT, please. I'll bet dollars to donuts whatever you link is not a report at all, but just wiggle word guess-floating nonsense.
3- Yeah I get The Athletic, too. It's not gospel, those rankings shift every season. And what they didn't mention is that his trajectory is going up at a higher than usual rate. Helleson was further down the list last year. Things are always changing. Some players improve, other don't. He very much does.
4- See #2. And I don't even recall LeBrun (the only one of those three who is worth more than a nickel) saying any such thing in his print articles.