kipwinger

Ummm...I don't really want to go back and read all this Hicketts stuff so I'm just going to assume that some people REALLY want Hicketts on the team, and some people (correctly) think he's not very good. I'd only add that he was resoundingly outplayed by Hronek last season in the AHL and still got a call up, where he was gifted minutes he didn't earn (Blashill even acknowledged this) and scored enough powerplay points to make some folks overlook how abysmal he looked at even strength. He got badly outplayed in the AHL last season by Lashoff and McIlrath, so I'm not sure why anyone thinks he's better than Ouellet or Jensen. And we're leaving out the obvious fact that despite his supposed "grit" or whatever, the plucky little pluckster from Kamloops is one Tom Wilson forecheck away from death at the NHL level. He's neither big, nor quick, nor overly skilled. He's the Rudy Ruettiger of hockey, and while it makes a good story folks need to remember that Rudy never played an NFL game.

I thought Bouchard was one of the older players in the draft this year?

Unless something crazy happens, one of the dynamic guys (Hughes, Walhstrom, Boqvist) should still be around at 6. If so, I take whoever is available (if all three are available prioritize who the scouts think has the best chance at elite status). If not, I'd trade back (but still in the top ten), get some extra picks, and take whomever is left over out of the non-dynamic guys (Dobson, Bouchard, Tkachuk, Kotkaneimi). The only one I'm not crazy about is Tkachuk, but if the return got us another late first or early second rounder I'd take it. There is going to be tons of talent in that area and I'd like to have as many bullets as I can in that range.

I've always rooted for Frk, so I'm biased here, but I really don't understand not re-signing him. He gave the team 11 goals as a rookie averaging 10 minutes a night. For a team that supposedly wants to score more goals I don't know why you'd turn your nose up at that. I realize he's not great defensively, but I'm not really sure he needs to be given our current roster. I assume this has more to do with making spots for a couple of Ras, Svech, and a UFA or two.

Yikes. http://www.theplayerstribune.com/nhl-daniel-carcillo-steve-montador-video/

They do a series where they study video on each player. There aren't any quick and simply "breakdowns" so to speak, but here's his conclusion: "In a draft class full of top-level projections on defence, Hughes’ elite skating ability is the best quality among them. His puck skills and smarts are tops on the board. As a whole package, I believe that no defender has a better, more diverse tool kit than Quinn Hughes. "

I agree with this, maybe Mantha is a Blake Wheeler type who will put it all together in his late 20's but that's a hell of a gamble. I haven't seen anything to suggest he'll be elite. Very good, yes, but not elite. A guy like Zadina or Wahlstrom has that kind of upside. A year ago Either one of those guys may have gone first or second overall. Zadina even reminds me a bit of Hischier. And if you wouldn't trade a guy like Mantha for a guy like that I don't know what to tell you.

Obviously I'd like to see a Caps win tonight. Both because I want to see Ovechkin lift the Cup, and because I want Don Cherry to die of a hate induced heart attack on the same night.

My office is next door to the Capitals Arena and I'll be outside in the sea of humanity watching the game on the big outdoor screens for the remainder of the series. I'll try to get some pics and vids if the Caps clinch.

Over his career Carlson has been just as good as Doughty at both ends of the ice. He's also better than Erik Karlsson defensively, though significantly worse offensively (but so is Doughty). He is just not as popular as those guys, which may explain why you think he's worse despite his obvious ability.

Not defensive at all. I'm criticizing fans for something they do, which I think is stupid, on a fan forum. Particularly I'm criticizing fans for using it as a way to legitimize taking worse players (who they happen to like) because it seems legitimate despite that legitimacy having been blown completely out of proportion many years ago. So while I don't doubt coaches find it useful, I do doubt it factors into a draft strategy unless that draft strategy is being developed by some fan who needs one extra reason to list Player X over Player Y.

Only if you assume fans can't think for themselves and their thoughts and opinions about the game are implanted in their heads by "experts" and "analysts". Otherwise the s*** that comes spewing out of your mouths is ours alone.

Am I the only one who thinks this who left handed/right handed fetishism has gotten completely out of hand. Roughly 2/3 hockey players across the entire league are left shots. Most players on most teams are left shots. Whether a player is any good or not dramatically outweighs what side he shoots from. It seems like right handedness has become a trump card in the minds of fans trying to advocate for certain players. All else being equal it probably matters a little bit, but since all else is rarely equal amongst kids with differing degrees of skill, it probably doesn't matter as much as skill does.

I mean, I'm not saying he's a bad winger or anything. But he hasn't done anything that Tatar or Nyquist didn't do in their first couple seasons. He just has a higher draft pedigree and he's huge, so people think he's capable of more. I'm just saying I haven't seen it yet. And as a result, I'd be really hesitant to give him big money right now.

Am I the only one who doesn't think Martha is as good as he's portrayed around here? I mean, he's not bad or anything but I don't really see him as definitely a core guy.

Well, that's tricky right ? If I'm reading this guy's message clearly he thinks Svechnikov is playing a responsible game already, doing all the little things right, and therefore he deserves more ice time. I think that's a little different than Jurco or Pulkkinen, for instance, in that they didn't seem to be doing all those little things. And I tend to agree with him, a young guy who's playing the game the right way will rocket up the depth chart in Detroit (see Bertuzzi and Larkin), guys who are doing it part of the time will get part time minutes (see Mantha and AA), and guys who never learn to do it won't play. That's probably the way it should be.

For what it's worth, here's a view of Svechnikov from a scout that writes for The Athletic: " Evgeny Svechnikov As a first-round pick in 2015, Svechnikov is going to be looked upon to be a big piece of Detroit’s future. At first glance on video, he’s one of those guys that as a scout you say: “He looks like a hockey player, he smells like a hockey player but is he a hockey player?” All the tools are there. He’s big, he can skate, he has skill and can handle a puck really well. While watching him skate up and down the ice, it certainly looks like he belongs. But looking at the stats and doing some research, it sounds like the kid is having a tougher transition this year. As a 21-year-old, that can happen. Lately, he has looked more and more comfortable in a Red Wings uniform the more games he has played with the big club. He had his best game against the Philadelphia Flyers and was rewarded with a goal. His biggest strength is in his puck protection. As a big body, he does a really good job using his size to protect the puck from defenders. He made some nice plays in the corners bringing pucks to the net, and by playing a big-man’s game he scored his first career goal by getting to the net. Check out the clips below: I saw some little things that he does well too, details of the game that coaches love from their players. A lot of times, it takes young players a really long time to buy in to these little details (see: Andreas Athanasiou), but they are a huge part to winning games. In the clips below, you’ll see Svechnikov getting pucks out, getting pucks in, making good decisions at the bluelines, good defensive positioning (and nice skill hitting the puck out of mid-air) and finally sacrificing his body to block a shot: I’d love to see more of Svechnikov. If this is a guy that you are planning to have as a big part of your future, the Red Wings should play him more and play him with better players. He has yet to hit 10 minutes of ice time in a game or have more than 15 shifts. He has been playing with Luke Glendening and Marty Frk. I’d love to see him on the wing with Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha, instead of Darren Helm … or with Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist instead of Tyler Bertuzzi. I understand that you have to earn it, as coach Jeff Blashill has pointed out after games. That’s the Red Wings' mantra. But with two weeks now left in the season, let’s see what the kid can do in an elevated role."

Yeah, I was exaggerating a little too much. Probably a stretch to say Murphy was unskilled. He wasn't. But I don't think he'd be nearly as effective in this day and age. The game has changed away from that style of play while the Bobby Orr's and the Paul Coffey's would be just fine. To hear Bouchard compared to Murphy doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me when most of your better defensemen these days are excellent skaters with high end offensive ability to go with their defensive awareness.

I didn't say anyone was "a lock". I said I've seen a number of scouting reports that suggest Wahlstrom has elite upside, I haven't seen any with the same suggestions about Bouchard. Pretty much everything I read about Bouchard comes with a caveat. Wahlstrom is generally regarded as the best pure goal scorer outside of Svechnikov. Again, not a lock, but if people have said Bouchard has that kind of upside point me in that direction so I can get on the bandwagon too.

I'm curious why you think Boucher has that kind of upside? I haven't seen a single assessment of him which suggests that. What do you see that everyone else is missing?

I mean, elite is elite ya know? Like I said, I'd rather have an elite winger than a really good defenseman. I've read just about every scouting report and mock draft available, and the consensus seems to be that Wahlstrom has that kind of upside and Bouchard doesn't. So I think I'd take him and find my defenseman elsewhere. Plus, I don't think our defense is in as bad of shape as others might going forward. Not to mention we're likely to have two 1st round draft picks again next year (assuming Nyquist gets traded), but no guarantee that they'll be as high as 6th. Better to go with the high end skill guy on this one I think.

You're absolutely right. I don't disagree with your assessment at all. It does come down to a stylistic preference. And while I'd rather have Lidstrom than Doughty, I'd also rather have Josi than Pietrangelo, or Karlsson than Ekblad, or Burns than Vlasic, or Byfuglien than Trouba, or OEL than Parayko, etc. etc. etc. Again, I'm not saying this kid is "unskilled". Clearly he's good or we wouldn't be talking about him. I guess my point is that certain skills may be more useful in today's game than others. And given his draft position, I'd rather have a guy with dynamic offense than a guy who does everything well but nothing exceptionally well.

Relative lack of skill as compared to his peers. He doesn't have standout skating, creativity, or handles. He's got a pretty good shot, but we see how far that got Ryan Sproul. Not saying the kid sucks or anything, just that his skill seems to be his shot and his head, and I'd rather he have speed and creativity.

It was a different game back then. You could be slow, and relatively unskilled, (as Murphy was) and still be really good because of two line passing, weaker defensive schemes, small goalies, etc.. Not anymore. I love Murphy the broadcaster. I love that Murphy taught Lidstrom all about positional, efficient, defensive play. And I really love dollar hot dog night. But I wouldn't draft the actual Larry Murphy in this day and age, let alone someone who plays like him but isn't him.

I think I'm all in on Wahlstrom. I wasn't sold earlier in the year, but given that a number of really high end defensemen may be hitting FA soon, I'd rather look to add one of them in free agency and draft a high end scorer. Wahlstrom could be the Kane to Larkin's Toews, keep Mantha and Ras on a "big boy" line, and let Cholo, Hronek, Sambrook, Sulak, and whoever else fill the spots you don't fill in free agency. I'm not really comfortable with Bouchard. We drafted a guy who was probably less skilled than his peers last year, and while early returns are more positive than I expected, I'm not sure I like the idea of doing it again. It's entirely possible that Rasmussen's size and strength are an X factor that can overcome his relative lack of skill (as compared to his draft peers). Without traits like those, I don't see how Bouchard overcomes that lack of skill at the highest levels. With a pick this high I think we need to draft as close to "elite" as we can, regardless of position. I think Wahlstrom has that upside, I don't think Bouchard does. Personally I'd rather have an elite winger than a pretty good defenseman with this pick.