Nazar and Hayes will both surpass Kurachev and Reichel this year in the depth charts this year.

Also if he gives you a chance to snag say Eiserman at 11 then I think you probably make that deal.

I'm not convinced any of his success last year was sustainable and you'd be better overpaying for DeBrusk than running him out another year.
- fattybeef

Nazar, I guess I can see. What have you seen in Hayes' game that makes you so confident?

Ok! My bad

- MjulQvist

Joking aside, lots of people look older or younger than they are. Unless they’re joking, or a conspiracy nut, I have no idea why this is even being suggested?

I am not gonna sugar coat my FINAL evaluation on Levshunov on this board. Now that it seems Scott Powers has reported that Cayden Lindstrom was now out of the conservation at #2 overall.
Everytime I watched a Michigan State game, I tried to objectively pull more than the brilliant skating and fluidity in his game; I came away so many times seeing a conservative still learning maturely built kid, who is able to help string together attacks, but always unremarkable with no display of dominance in the college game, just a prospect with good instincts as an attacker and has the ability to handle his end, close on puck carriers, smart and conservative in his current college play. The viewings were tough for me.
I so want to add another dominant forward, so I need my mind to see more Miro Heiskanen, or Cole Maker, or even Charlie McAvoy / Aaron Eckblad in his play. It has been a very unfulfilling visual for me on him.
He seems like an excellent human being, but one where the boxed are left unchecked. After he is selected, he can easily stay at Michigan State one more year, or turn pro and play in Rockford and some with the parent club.
But this kid is not arriving on the draft stage with superhuman-like ready to go defense, offense, or a solid finished game. No booming point shot, crushing aggressive hits or dynamic threathening carries that he finishes.
He can still get bigger. He has the chops to carry and set up offensive flurries, but isn’t showing a natural progress to get at ‘em.
He not a punishing defensive presence who already poses problems to attackers.
He is a big kid who has lots more to learn. (He starts with a high end package that seems much higher than former #1 Owen Power)
The idea is projecting and actually reaching the status of the top defenseman selected means expectations that the pieces do more than project as a player, and that he actually becomes that player.
(If you take him second, and the expectations are never met, you don’t have to play high Cap along the way, I guess.)

I just, well second overall to be more excited with the upside. I guess you more likely feel that when your team takes a forward?

This is going to be my busiest time, so I am going to do things during the draft differnetly-I am gonna watch to enjoy, and comment on Buzz, and simply work on the site board with out trying to real time it…maybe I will wait a day, and just hang out.
I deserve it. This is probably the last year I deep dive at the kids so heavy and intently.

I don’t believe you could prove it is BS aka propaganda. You may be right, you may be wrong (who knows the next line in that Billy Joel song). We read where Demidov may be assigned to a lower league if he won’t sign before the last year of his current contract. Powerful league teams could be persuaded to loan out his brothers too or they be reassigned. A Demidov compromise could be to sign for just one year over in Russia then bolt. He could then likely play in a top league over there and his brothers not purposely given same treatment (assigned to a lower league).

Now if you are claiming that Montreal Canadiens and or the Canadien/American press - even Russian media reports could be propaganda- yes this could be true. It to say it is completely a blanket propaganda needs to be verified

I would bet that KD would love to take Demidov but is not convinced the knee could become an issue. On the contrary I bet the Montreal Canaduens Hughes, their GM, just is so infatuated he takes Demidov regardless of the supposed knee issue

Please understand that I do believe that you all are pretty smart cookies - you know your hockey and post intelligent analysis. Without listing names, I refer to those who are debating this as propaganda or not as such

Let’s not get mad over this. If you have more
NEW information to enlighten us, then please post it.

I just have to add, as fans we try to be objective but as a GM with lots of pressure to make the correct call, the GM,s have to worry about their job security if they screw up a major decision. As in life some will be bold and some will decide to be as practical and safe as possible
- jhawk59

Of course that's what I'm implying, Montreal plants story of all the pitfalls of drafting Demidov, the player they would sprint to the podium to select if he fell to 5

I am not gonna sugar coat my FINAL evaluation on Levshunov on this board. Now that it seems Scott Powers has reported that Cayden Lindstrom was now out of the conservation at #2 overall.
Everytime I watched a Michigan State game, I tried to objectively pull more than the brilliant skating and fluidity in his game; I came away so many times seeing a conservative still learning maturely built kid, who is able to help string together attacks, but always unremarkable with no display of dominance in the college game, just a prospect with good instincts as an attacker and has the ability to handle his end, close on puck carriers, smart and conservative in his current college play. The viewings were tough for me.
I so want to add another dominant forward, so I need my mind to see more Miro Heiskanen, or Cole Maker, or even Charlie McAvoy / Aaron Eckblad in his play. It has been a very unfulfilling visual for me on him.
He seems like an excellent human being, but one where the boxed are left unchecked. After he is selected, he can easily stay at Michigan State one more year, or turn pro and play in Rockford and some with the parent club.
But this kid is not arriving on the draft stage with superhuman-like ready to go defense, offense, or a solid finished game. No booming point shot, crushing aggressive hits or dynamic threathening carries that he finishes.
He can still get bigger. He has the chops to carry and set up offensive flurries, but isn’t showing a natural progress to get at ‘em.
He not a punishing defensive presence who already poses problems to attackers.
He is a big kid who has lots more to learn. (He starts with a high end package that seems much higher than former #1 Owen Power)
The idea is projecting and actually reaching the status of the top defenseman selected means expectations that the pieces do more than project as a player, and that he actually becomes that player.
(If you take him second, and the expectations are never met, you don’t have to play high Cap along the way, I guess.)

I just, well second overall to be more excited with the upside. I guess you more likely feel that when your team takes a forward?

This is going to be my busiest time, so I am going to do things during the draft differnetly-I am gonna watch to enjoy, and comment on Buzz, and simply work on the site board with out trying to real time it…maybe I will wait a day, and just hang out.
I deserve it. This is probably the last year I deep dive at the kids so heavy and intently.
- wiz1901

I'm calling it out now, Levshunov is Seth Jones part 2. Has the tools and is Ok to good but just leaves you feeling that he lacks something.

Demidov at #2, EJ Emery at #18 for me

I'm calling it out now, Levshunov is Seth Jones part 2. Has the tools and is Ok to good but just leaves you feeling that he lacks something.

Demidov at #2, EJ Emery at #18 for me
- Black Raven

A puck hog.
Holds on too long.
you have linemates, Ivan

What makes it hard for some people to understand BPA is subjective.
- paulr

So true, I'm not as high on Levshunov as others, only saw 2 or 3 games of his, while good, i saw nothing great (which i readily admit could be a positive for defenseman).

I want guys who can score goals. First i was told i can't have Eiserman, now i can't have Demidov.

realize i preach best available, and i'm sticking with it. Just hope Hawks know enough to say Levshunov is best available.

Really no reason for the Hawks to smoke screen pick unless they really want to trade back, and i just don't think that's where they are, think they are picking the second player.

I guess you would have passed on orr and kane and savard ad infinitum. Levshunov is not 18… just look at the guy. You take the bpa and that is demidov. Levshunov is not even the best defenseman available.
- LFS

This goes through my mind everytime I compare big guys to small guys. Overall, it seems like more big guys are busts but I have no facts that say so?

What makes it hard for some people to understand BPA is subjective.
- paulr

Moreso in hockey than any other sport. Football has stats down to arm and hand size they correlate to the best choice. Are there busts? Always.

Nazar and Hayes will both surpass Kurachev and Reichel this year in the depth charts this year.

Also if he gives you a chance to snag say Eiserman at 11 then I think you probably make that deal.

I'm not convinced any of his success last year was sustainable and you'd be better overpaying for DeBrusk than running him out another year.
- fattybeef

You're not setting a very high barre.

Wiz, do you think Sam ****inson is a better option at 2? Hockey News has them neck and neck and he seems to be the more dynamic weapon. I know you like Buium and Parehk but I worry they could be more of a Sam Girard than a Rasmus Dahlin.


Who do you see as someone who might go between 5-15 that a couple years from now we’ll say ‘can you believe six teams passed on this guy who just won XYZ award?’. Kind of similar to how McAvoy went in the teens. I’m starting to wonder if Iginla is that kid.

A puck hog.
Holds on too long.
you have linemates, Ivan
- wiz1901

He will figure it out. He is always or almost always the best player on the ice. Super High IQ and great vision.

Bedard always had the puck too in juniors.

He will figure it out. He is always or almost always the best player on the ice. Super High IQ and great vision.

Bedard always had the puck too in juniors.
- Black Raven

Actually Bedard distributed pucks along with taking shots...

You could say the very same about Artyom Levshunov: He will figure it out.

and his current FLOOR is noted in the state of Michigan, not in the state of SKA - 1946 confusion

Actually Bedard distributed pucks along with taking shots...

You could say the very same about Artyom Levshunov: He will figure it out.

and his current FLOOR is noted in the state of Michigan, not in the state of SKA - 1946 confusion
- wiz1901

Demidov did have 37 assists in 30 games RS and 17 assists in 17 playoff games. So he does pass.

He just seems to have the most chance to be a star after MC in my eyes. There are some risks with the Russia factor and unique skating style, but swing big at 2. If they pick Lev at 2, I will be cheering huge for the kid and hope I am wrong.

So true, I'm not as high on Levshunov as others, only saw 2 or 3 games of his, while good, i saw nothing great (which i readily admit could be a positive for defenseman).

I want guys who can score goals. First i was told i can't have Eiserman, now i can't have Demidov.

realize i preach best available, and i'm sticking with it. Just hope Hawks know enough to say Levshunov is best available.

Really no reason for the Hawks to smoke screen pick unless they really want to trade back, and i just don't think that's where they are, think they are picking the second player.
- vabeachbear

I love the crazy moves I’ve seen from Demidov but I question if he’s able to play that game, or bring another game, in the playoffs. I like Lindstrom he’s a skilled physical beast but I question his health and his hockey IQ. I have no opinion of Levshunov as I haven’t seen enough of him. I like Eiserman he’s a scoring machine and isn’t afraid of the physical side of the game but question his skating and attitude. And I can go on. Once KD sorts through potential deficiencies and if he can live with them he’ll make the pick, deciding that that guy is BPA, and I’ll be good with that.

Wiz, do you think Sam ****inson is a better option at 2? Hockey Newshas them neck and neck and he seems to be the more dynamic weapon. I know you like Buium and Parehk but I worry they could be more of a Sam Girard than a Rasmus Dahlin.


Who do you see as someone who might go between 5-15 that a couple years from now we’ll say ‘can you believe six teams passed on this guy who just won XYZ award?’. Kind of similar to how McAvoy went in the teens. I’m starting to wonder if Iginla is that kid.
- ObeseOprah

NO

Artyom Levshunov has the most upside of the defenders. He is pretty smartand able at his position, just not "complete" enough to be ready to play in a NHL pair with dominant success (yet).
Sam ****inson is poorer at tracking attacking plays and in his offense he is no where near as much consistency in creating quality looks. Playing with London helps him off the hook b/c others can do it there.
You can’t really say he’ll be a No. 1 defenceman the way he sees the ice. Will he play a style similar to Miro H. but he isn't a shut down defender, and he is not a legimate offensivce guy either.
Being a bigger kid who skates so darn well, he has een able to use his feet and just get away from the average sized guy. There are hockey sense concerns on both O & D and that might be what separates him from being a good defender and a dominent defender.

Teams might differ in their opinions but they do know hesitations, missed opportunities in a player's carries enough to see the differences.

If I had more time I would have you pick a draft year and I would pull the Hockey News Draft issue and show you a litany of poor mocks by Ryan Kennedy there...

Demidov did have 37 assists in 30 games RS and 17 assists in 17 playoff games. So he does pass.
- Black Raven

Watch enough of him, and you see how he DOESn'T use his linemates enough.

He wants the puck and gets past his freshness date on his carries and the looks disappear. A give a go is not a bad thing.

I’m a BPA guy, however many have different opinions on who or what BPA is. To me, BPA is a projection, what is the players floor, and what is his ceiling in say five years. I’m sure that the Hawks are looking at which player will bring the most value in 3-5 years, that’s the BPA.

He will figure it out. He is always or almost always the best player on the ice. Super High IQ and great vision.

Bedard always had the puck too in juniors.
- Black Raven

Bedard also wasn't playing against a bunch of guys who are only playing just to avoid conscription in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Nazar and Hayes will both surpass Kurachev and Reichel this year in the depth charts this year.

Also if he gives you a chance to snag say Eiserman at 11 then I think you probably make that deal.

I'm not convinced any of his success last year was sustainable and you'd be better overpaying for DeBrusk than running him out another year.
- fattybeef

If Hayes surpasses Kurashev on the depth chart, that would be a win for the Hawks, as they lack size upfront. Yes, talent trumps size, but always good to have a mix as long as the size has some talent. I’ll take Levshunov, then Sennecke at #18, and Beaudoin at #34 or Connelly, but doubt the Hawks go there.

If Hayes surpasses Kurashev on the depth chart, that would be a win for the Hawks, as they lack size upfront. Yes, talent trumps size, but always good to have a mix as long as the size has some talent. I’ll take Levshunov, then Sennecke at #18, and Beaudoin at #34 or Connelly, but doubt the Hawks go there.
- Angotti

It could be a little awkward if Buium and Connolly were drafted by the same team.

I’m a BPA guy, however many have different opinions on who or what BPA is. To me, BPA is a projection, what is the players floor, and what is his ceiling in say five years. I’m sure that the Hawks are looking at which player will bring the most value in 3-5 years, that’s the BPA.
- Angotti

The two highlighted items are where things turn from objective to subjective though. Floor and ceiling regarding what? What does your team/GM hold in highest regard? Would Marner hold more value than Toews because he can put up more points? Marner's underlying numbers are actually really good, but he seems to be less engaged in the PO's. Some of these attributes are quite hard to measure.

I'll say the one thing that I like most about Bedard is that even though he's smaller, he still fights through traffic and sticks his nose in the scrum. He's not waiting on someone else to make the play for him.

It could be a little awkward if Buium and Connolly were drafted by the same team.
- paulr

Did one injure the other or something? Never heard of anything between them.

I am not gonna sugar coat my FINAL evaluation on Levshunov on this board. Now that it seems Scott Powers has reported that Cayden Lindstrom was now out of the conservation at #2 overall.
Everytime I watched a Michigan State game, I tried to objectively pull more than the brilliant skating and fluidity in his game; I came away so many times seeing a conservative still learning maturely built kid, who is able to help string together attacks, but always unremarkable with no display of dominance in the college game, just a prospect with good instincts as an attacker and has the ability to handle his end, close on puck carriers, smart and conservative in his current college play. The viewings were tough for me.
I so want to add another dominant forward, so I need my mind to see more Miro Heiskanen, or Cole Maker, or even Charlie McAvoy / Aaron Eckblad in his play. It has been a very unfulfilling visual for me on him.
He seems like an excellent human being, but one where the boxed are left unchecked. After he is selected, he can easily stay at Michigan State one more year, or turn pro and play in Rockford and some with the parent club.
But this kid is not arriving on the draft stage with superhuman-like ready to go defense, offense, or a solid finished game. No booming point shot, crushing aggressive hits or dynamic threathening carries that he finishes.
He can still get bigger. He has the chops to carry and set up offensive flurries, but isn’t showing a natural progress to get at ‘em.
He not a punishing defensive presence who already poses problems to attackers.
He is a big kid who has lots more to learn. (He starts with a high end package that seems much higher than former #1 Owen Power)
The idea is projecting and actually reaching the status of the top defenseman selected means expectations that the pieces do more than project as a player, and that he actually becomes that player.
(If you take him second, and the expectations are never met, you don’t have to play high Cap along the way, I guess.)

I just, well second overall to be more excited with the upside. I guess you more likely feel that when your team takes a forward?

This is going to be my busiest time, so I am going to do things during the draft differnetly-I am gonna watch to enjoy, and comment on Buzz, and simply work on the site board with out trying to real time it…maybe I will wait a day, and just hang out.
I deserve it. This is probably the last year I deep dive at the kids so heavy and intently.
- wiz1901

Your honesty is appreciated. Lets hope whomever we take will be a difference maker down the line.

Did one injure the other or something? Never heard of anything between them.
- Chunk

Buium is Jewish and Connolly retweeted a swastika on his social media account.