OT: 2023 NHL Draft Open Thread
Well, boys, here we go! Another chance to dream big and swing for the fences.
Coverage begins at 7pm ET, live from Nashville. It's televised on ESPN, though I usually catch the WWP guys' live stream on YouTube. They're generally more entertaining and definitely more insightful.
Red Wings pick #9 and #17. (at the moment!). A trade for Alex DeBrincat appears likely; personally I'd prefer Travis Konecny, but I digress...
I'm preparing by watching SlapShot on Netflix and drinking Bell's light-hearted ale. Who do you want to see go where? There's a lot of smoke regarding Willander and Honzek being targets for Stevie Y, but I'd absolutely love to see this kid wearing the winged wheel:
The numbers on Benson are nice, but you are giving up 6.5” of frame vs Matthew Wood. That’s a tough one
Glad you're drinking Bell's and none of that stinkin' root beer.
Still annoyed at the injustice of Chicago winning the lottery
That kept Fantilli off of Columbus, and for that I am grateful.
Not so fast my friend
You jinxed yourself!
Dear God, those stupid Ducks! Ufer save poor Adam!
Injustice is spot on. I’m tired of the disrespect the D gets.
In many other years, Adam Fantilli would have been drafted #1.
1. Fuck the Hawks
2. I hope that Stevie does something with the 3 second rounders. Either gets a player or moves up from 9 or 17 with 1 or 2 of them.
God Bedard is so young. Not even 18 for another month.
Carlsson to the Ducks. Michigan pipeline to the Blue Jackets probably continues next
Fantilli to the Blue Jackets.
Hoping Babcock works out, against all logic. A lot of our alums are there.
Mike Babcock is doing cartwheels
But only after asking a rookie of his to write a list ranking how good his teammates are at doing cartwheels and then showing it to them.
Does this make it less likely for Adam to leave UM? He expected to be in CA and now ends up OH.
They have some talented wingers, but their center depth is pretty horrid. Adam would slot in as 1C or 2C on Day 1, where the Ducks have Zebras and McTavish at C and could afford to give Adam a development year.
I guess it comes down to whether or not the Jackets think they can compete this year or if they want to defer his ELC for another season but based strictly on roster construct, it is now more likely that he’s gone.
Adam has his own say in this process as well, but we can’t read his mind or the mind of the Jackets GM.
Also, does he want to start his career under first year Mike Babcock?
CBJ fan, here.
A few things relative to this:
1. the moves our GM has made so far scream that ownership has told him it's time to shit or get off the pot. He's been here 10 years and has gotten out of the first round exactly once. This is year three of a declared rebuild. He has Gaudreau, Laine, Werenski, and now Fantilli, along with some players up and coming. He HAS to win now. I think he pushes Fantilli to leave UM and play in the NHL this year. He's at worst our second or third best center right now, and by season's end he will probably be the best.
2. I know most people here don't like Columbus as a concept, but divorce the OSU-ness of it for a second (it's actually a pretty great place to live overall once you trick your brain to ignore the cooler-poopers). There are several UM alums here (Werenski, Blanks, Johnson), and most fans will actually ignore the UM pedigree (Werenski is generally beloved by our fanbase). If he plays like he's capable, he'll win them over.
3. He's going to be on a line with some combination of Johnny Gaudreau or Kent Johnson on one wing, and Patrik Laine and Kirill Marchenko (poor man's Laine, 21 G in 59 GP last season as a rookie) on the other. He's going to be able to do his thing and not have to completely carry a line from day one. In some ways, this is probably a really good situation for him, in that there are a TON of center minutes to be had in the top six, and one thing the Jackets have is legit top six wingers.
In short, if Fantilli is on the fence, my guess is that Jarmo Kekalainen pushes him hard to leave UM. He's going to get top six minutes (Babcock caveats aside, there's literally not another center on our roster that is honestly demonstrably better than Adam right now; shit, we played Laine at center last year just for kicks) and play with guys that will help him get used to the NHL with space, as well as guys who can finish and help him put up points. I don't know what Adam wants to do, but CBJ are going to push him hard to leave school.
Really good take. Thank you! I would it basically boils down to whether he would be 2C or 3C. 2C he goes, 3C he stays (because he’s not a third line center skill set). Will be interesting and a tell about the overall internal view of the Columbus roster.
If he starts at 3C (unlikely) he won’t be there long. He’s competing with the likes of Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic, and Cole Sillinger at Center.
Barring any free agent additions, slotting in at 2C behind Jenner to start the year makes the most sense for Fantilli.
Right, and CBJ have the top six wingers to be able to give him de facto "1B" minutes where they can put him with a distributor (Gaudreau/Johnson) and a shooter (Laine/Marchenko) while also giving him more sheltered zone starts and minutes. Gaudreau is still good enough to draw top defensive line coverage, so my guess is opening night would look something like:
Marchenko--Jenner--Gaudreau
Laine--Fantilli--Johnson
You load up to stop Gaudreau at your peril, there.
C'mon, Adam, say you want to wear 45. Make them trade you out of that hellscape.
Will Smith does not know what singing is
Keep my song out your f’n mouth
Poor Carey Price and David Reinbacher lol
Of course Adam goes to Columbus
Carey Price WTF 😂
I never understood why everyone gives platitudes before making their pick. Why congratulate Vegas for winning the Cup? Doesn't make sense.
I remember a few years ago, maybe last year, after all these teams were just talking and talking, Yzerman walks to the podium with his entourage, announces the Wings' pick and walks off the stage. Most baller move ever.
Coyotes with a surprise at 6. Not a surprise that they make a surprising pick, however
how have they never been able to make a half decent looking sweater? it’s almost a statistical impossibility at this point
Holy shit! Salt Lake City took Simashev at 6!
Red Wings are pretty much guaranteed to have a stud available at 9. Of course, Yzerman may take someone projected to go later and he’ll turn out to be a genius. But things are falling nicely for the Wings
Why is the little rat Bettman on the stage when he does nothing lol
Not 100% sure but, I’m just glad I don’t have to hear him talk
Keeps him from getting booed every time he opens his pie hole.
No shortage of options for the Wings. Michkov goes to Flyers and Leonard to Caps. Center is a big need but some quality wingers available as well.
Wings get their center in Nate Danielson
Haven't been watching the draft coverage and don't follow Canadian amateur hockey much (or at all). What's your thoughts on this pick?
Your only thought should be I will never question Steve Yzerman
I don’t follow prospects but The Hockey News Draft Preview issue says he is best case Nazem Kadri
He’s a “safe” pick, though he was mocked later (anywhere from 13th to 25th). Doesn’t have any singular dominant trait, but is a really good skater. A little too conservative offensively.
All in all, he’s a solid two-way forward that’s going to take a couple years to crack the roster and likely caps out as a 2C or 3C and a good penalty killer.
So Joe Veleno. Ugh.
You’re generally limited to an extent on what you’re getting at pick 9. The guys projected to be stars are off the board, and you’re looking at a bunch of guys projected to be 2nd/3rd liners. Obviously some will exceed or fail to meet those projections, but the projections are what we have to go on at the moment.
There were a few high ceiling options that come with some more risk, but Yzerman elected to go with a more well-rounded pick with a lower ceiling. It is what it is. Personally, with five picks in the top 50, I would have preferred to take a stab at one of the higher ceiling guys and hope like hell they pan out. But if you get a ~60 point 2C/3C and top penalty killer out of it, there’s something you can work with there. Hopefully they can find some way to address the scoring issue because Danielson doesn’t project to accomplish that.
Was on a bad team, so numbers didn’t look amazing. Sounds like a high floor, low ceiling pick. Some fans are pissed. But I think if they get one of the higher ceiling players at 17, it’ll be fine.
Trust the Yzerplan
Stevie has a type, but I'm not so sure about that one. Dvorsky was a much safer bet.
Agreed. Feels like a bit of a reach.
From what I’m reading, Danielson is the epitome of a safe pick. Dvorsky with a much higher ceiling but also potential for not reaching it.
From my vantage point, when you’re in the top 10, your picks have to be more than just safe picks. A Danielson equivalent can be had much lower. I’m not going for the pitchforks, but I’m not thrilled either. I’m just ambivalent. I was not expecting a lot out of this draft.
The Wings have five of the top 50 picks. I’d prefer they take a stab with the top 10 pick, where you’re more likely to find a star, and take safer picks a little later