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Bflo_Soldier

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Forum: NHLSep. 20, 2022 at 1:16 p.m.
Forum: NHLSep. 12, 2022 at 12:34 p.m.
Thread: Prospect Discussion Thread #3
I posted <a href="https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/3636365">NCAA players - Top Hobey Baker candidates, top prospects, top first-years and more</a> ...sort of my preview to NCAA hockey this year.

Thought folks in this thread might like. I have cut and pasted some of these lists below.

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My top-5 Hobey Baker Favorites going into season (listed alphabetically):

Alex Campbell (NSH)
Matt Coronato (CGY)
Luke Hughes (NJD)
Matthew Knies (TOR)
Scott Morrow (CAR)


My Hobey Baker darkhorses (listed alphabetically):

Jakub Dobes (MTL)
Dom Fensore (CAR)
Alex Lafrerriere (LAK)
Jake Livingstone (undrafted)
Wilmer Skoog (undrafted)


My Pre-Season All-Americans (1st team, listed by position):

F: Matt Coronato (CGY)
F: Alex Campbell (NSH)
F: Wilmer Skoog (undrafted)
D: Luke Hughes (NJD)
D: Jake Livingstone (undrafted)
G: Devon Levi (BUF)


My Pre-Season All-Americans (2nd team, listed by position):

F: Matthew Knies (TOR)
F: Riese Gaber (undrafted)
F: Ryan Tverberg (TOR)
D: Zach Metsa (undrafted)
D: Jacob Bengtsson (undrafted)
G: Erik Portillo (BUF)


Best NHL Prospects in NCAA (forwards, listed in order):

1. Logan Cooley (ARI)
2. Matt Coronato (CGY)
3. Matthew Knies (TOR)
4. Cutter Gauthier (PHI)
5. Frank Nazar (CHI)


Best NHL Prospects in NCAA (defense, listed in order):

1. Luke Hughes (NJD)
2. Brock Faber (MIN)
3. Scott Morrow (CAR)
4. Corson Ceulemans (CBJ)
5. Sean Behrens (COL)


Most UNDER-rated prospects in NCAA (forwards, listed alphabetically):

Blake Biondi (MTL)
Trevor Janicke (ANA)
Jay O'Brien (PHI)
Ryder Rolston (CHI)
Ty Smilanic (MTL)


Most UNDER-rated prospects in NCAA (defense, listed alphabetically):

Ethan Edwards (NJD)
Brent Johnson (WAS)
Mike Koster (TOR)
Luca Munzenberger (EDM)
Guillaume Richard (CBJ)


Most OVERRATED prospects in NCAA (listed alphabetically)

Tristan Broz (PIT)
Jack D. Hughes (LAK)
Mason Lohrei (BOS)
Robert Mastrosimone (DET)
Luke Tuch (MTL)


Best UNDRAFTED prospects in NCAA (listed in order)

1. Jake Livingstone, RD, Minnesota State
2. Yanev Perets, G, Quinnipiac
3. Wilmer Skoog, C, Boston University
4. Jacob Bengtsson, LD, Lake Superior State
5. Riese Gaber, RW, North Dakota
6. Zach Metsa, RD, Quinnipiac
7. Maxim Andreev, LW, Cornell
8. Parker Ford, LW, Providence
9. Spencer Meier, RD, St. Cloud State
10. Akito Hirose, RD, Minnesota State


Best DRAFTED prospects in NCAA who could elect free agency next Summer (listed in order)

1. Ryan Johnson, LD, Minnesota (BUF)
2. Henry Thurn, LD, Harvard (ANA)
3. Jackson LaCombe, LD, Minnesota (ANA)
4. Domenick Fensore, LD, Boston University (CAR)
5. John Farinacci, C, Harvard (ARI)
6. Aidan McDonough, C, Northeastern (VAN)
7. Nicky Leivermann, LHD, Notre Dame (COL)
8. Ben Brinkman, LHD, Minnesota (DAL)
9. Jay O'Brien, C, Boston University (PHI)
10. Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, LW, Northeastern (NSH)


Most Notable Transfers in NCAA (listed alphabetically)

Cole Brady (NJD) (Arizona State --&gt; Massachusetts)
Tristan Broz (PIT) (Minnesota --&gt; Denver)
Connor Kelley (CHI) (Minnesota Duluth --&gt; Providence)
Artem Shlaine (NJD) (Connecticut --&gt; Northern Michigan)
Ty Smilanic (MTL) (Quinnipiac --&gt; Wisconsin)
Carter Berger (FLA) (Connecticut --&gt; Western Michigan)


Guys who could improve their stock this year (listed alphabetically)

Shai Buium (DET)
Sam Colangelo (ANA)
Jack Devine (FLA)
Cooper Moore (EDM)
Keenan Rancier (undrafted)


Candidates for top first-year player (listed alphabetically)

Jackson Blake (CAR) (North Dakota)
Ryan Chesley (WAS) (Minnesota)
Logan Cooley (ARI) (Minnesota)
Sam Lipkin (ARI) (Quinnipiac)
Rutger McGroarty (WPG) (Michigan)
Frank Nazar (CHI) (Michigan)


Candidates for top first-year player (among 2023 draft class, listed alphabetically)

Zach Bookman (Merrimack) (overager)
Gavin Brindley (Michigan)
Adam Fantilli (Michigan)
Charlie Stramel (Wisconsin)
Jeremy Wilmer (Boston University) (overager)
Matthew Wood (Connecticut)


Most fun players to watch play (listed alphabetically)

Brett Berard (NYR)
Alex Campbell (NSH)
Logan Cooley (ARI)
Riese Gaber (undrafted)
Luke Hughes (NJD)
Forum: NHLAug. 4, 2022 at 2:06 p.m.
Thread: Prospect Discussion Thread #3
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>A_Habs_fan</b></div><div>I was talking about Sillinger lol



Seems like you completely cut out Sillinger and the question</div></div>
You were comparing Morrow to Sillinger, which is not even remotely the same situation. It makes sense that guys that are trying to make the NHL aren’t there. Morrow’s going back to college so there’s not really a reason for him to not be there, especially if he’s the “next Cale Makar”

<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>MatthewsFan</b></div><div>You not a fan of Morrow or just too much hype.

I am on that hype train, IMO he is legit. Not saying he will be the next Makar but Morrow is a very gifted player</div></div>
He’s a fine prospect. I just don’t buy that he’s anywhere close to Makar. Like if he turns into a 2RD that’s good, I don’t expect him to be a top 5 D in the league. Unless he’s hurt, I don’t know why he isn’t on this team tbh, but if he’s healthy and able to play and was cut, that’s not a great sign.
Forum: NHLJul. 22, 2022 at 11:18 p.m.
Thread: Team Canada Scandal
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>OldHabsFan61</b></div><div>If we are banned from international hockey I will never watch an international hockey game again and it will be the end of Canadian hockey at a national team level. Punishing kids who are playing hockey right now for the actions of past and present adults is beyond disgusting and has no place even being mentioned as a possibility. Likewise we need a presumption of innocence until we have facts about what happened regarding former or current players. The bordering on slanderous comments from some people about these players is dangerous groupthink and hive mentality. It needs to be shut down</div></div>

I would be lying if I said I was shocked it took us to six posts for someone to make this about themselves in a completely irrelevant context.

Removing Hockey Canada from international events has far less to do with punishing the kids of today and tomorrow than it does punishing a state-funded organization that's maintained at least a solid 15-year stretch of sexual abuse cover-ups. Firing and blacklisting officials and members of Hockey Canada is mere lip service. What inspires genuine change? When Sheldon Kennedy was abused and spoke up, we said never again. When Dan Carcillo was abused and spoke up, we said never again. When Akim Aliu was abused and spoke up, we said never again. When Kyle Beach was abused and spoke up, we said never again.

If the report of "at least one per year" is remotely accurate, then I believe it vile that your primary concern regarding this scandal is that Canada may not be represented in IIHF-sanctioned events and not that lives have likely been destroyed by the inhuman actions of boys that think themselves entitled to whatever they please and the subsequent slush-fund enabled cover-ups from the body that oversees hockey at the highest level in Canada. While a settlement is not a legal admission of guilt, you would expect such a prominent organization to at least contest a charge as libel if there truly was no fault. Context is king here. The moderation team here has done as much as they've can - often on no notice as the story unfolds - to minimize rampant speculation. There shall be no internet sleuths here.

I doubt the world nor the victims of these abuses are bothered at all if you abstain from watching international play should Hockey Canada find itself slapped with a ban. Hockey Canada should crumble and if the IIHF decided to ban Canada from any sanctioned events until that happens, I think the sport is a better place for it. These are unforgivable actions. It is morally bankrupt to allow an entity like Hockey Canada to continue existing in the wake of the pending investigations. The registration fees that my parents paid, you may have paid, your neighbours, your family, your friends, any Canadian has paid to put their children through this sport of ours has been silently enabling unspeakable acts of violence. At what point does human decency start to take precedence over the "sanctity" of the sport? At what point do the human beings on the receiving end of these atrocities start to matter more than a two-week tournament over the Christmas holidays?
Forum: Other LeaguesMay 25, 2022 at 12:58 p.m.
Thread: Which Universities are most likely to have a DI Hockey program in the future?
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>TZ11</b></div><div>By that I'm talking about Universities that have large / successful programs in other sports (Football or Basketball) and either have an infrastructure in place to start a Hockey program or could afford building it up.</div></div>

Here's a list I put together a while ago of places i think could support D1 hockey...

Rutgers University, University of Cincinatti, University of Southern California, UCLA, North Carolina State, University of Maryland, University of Washington, University of Illinois, Indiana University, Syracuse University, US Naval Academy, University of Pittsburgh, University of Miami (FL), West Virginia University, Liberty University, Boise State, University of Colorado
Forum: NHLJun. 2, 2022 at 3:25 p.m.
Thread: Prospect Discussion Thread #2
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Db1899</b></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The last 5 F drafted in the top 5 that share a very similar profile in the model to Logan Cooley are Rick Nash, Brayden Schenn, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nathan MacKinnon and Aleksander Barkov. Whichever team in the top 5 he falls to should be delighted. <a href="https://t.co/fJ1OQCYFEq" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">pic.twitter.com/fJ1OQCYFEq</a></p>— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByronMBader/status/1532427422968074241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">June 2, 2022</a></blockquote>

</div></div>

I'd pump the brakes. Schenn and RNH aren't in the same conversation as those other three names so there's clearly a wide range of outcomes being looked at here.

I'd be curious as to how they're calculating his NHLe. By my math his USDP numbers result in an NHLe of just over 27.
Forum: NHLOct. 28, 2021 at 1:56 p.m.
Thread: Early look at a few KHL players who could draw interest in 2022
Nikolay Goldobin GP20 G10 A13
Never really got a chance with SJS or VAN. Potential to be a capable top-six forward, with his slick skating and remarkable burst of speed.

Nikita Mikhailis GP23 G9 A15
Small winger who hasn't really produced a ton of points till age 26. Very similar to Damir Zhafyarov who got some interest from CHI.

Konstantin Okulov GP19 G5 A12
Decent size at 6’0″, 183 pounds, and is not afraid to use the body. Okulov is a bottom 6 scoring winger who can make a difference in limited ice time. Think Barabanov but with a better shot.

Sergey Tolchinsky GP17 G3 A13
Undersized forward with a ton of skill. Quick hands, quick feet and ability to create plays at full speed make him a dangerous player. And a former Soo Greyhound

Denis Alexeyev GP21 G6 A9
Above average passer with KHL production that closely resembles Ilya Mikheyev at that age. Alexeyev wins well over 50% of draws, produces at even strength, and does so with far less ice time than Mikheyev had. U16 to the U20 WJC in 16-17, where he was teammates with Kirill Kaprizov and Denis Guryanov.

Jakob Stenqvist GP22 G4 A9
Right shot defenceman with a big frame, ’2″ and 179lbs. Last year played with Assat with Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen. Jakob lead Assat Defencemen in scoring, he was tied for second in points amongst all skaters. This year he is playing with Severstal Cherepovets of the KHL. I have been super high on him since Dallas did not sign him. He is someone I hope the Leafs could sign.


SEL
Julius Nattinen GP9 G5 A6
Former 2nd rounder (2015 ANA), put up 71 points in 52 OHL games as a 19 year old. 55 points in 54 games in 2019-20 was also 3rd in all Liiga scoring, and his 33 goals were first in the league by 6. Just behind him with 53 points was Jesse Puljujarvi. There have been comparisons between Nattinen and Kubalik. Both got drafted to the NHL and spent 2 seasons in the OHL, putting up disappointing numbers in the latter season. They then returned to their home leagues, dominated and in Kubalik case, came back to NA and found success. Currently plays in the Swedish elite league with Vaxjo and Leafs prospect Pontus Holmberg, again, someone I hope the Leafs look at signing.

Michael Spacek
Former WPG draft pick, went unsigned, has points in 8 straight games for Frolunda, with 11 points in that span. Played pro in Czech in his draft year, then played 2 seasons in the WHL. Led Red Deer in scoring in 16-17.

Averaged over 0.5 p/g in the AHL on his 3 year ELC, but wasn't qualified by Winnipeg.

He's also produced for Czech at the WJC and World Championship