2015 Draft

[frankgrimes 1,836]

To me, Dylan Larkin qualifies as an "elite prospect who has the potential to be a franchise player."

I don't put much stock in Hockey'sFuture, but they feel he's the fifth best NHL prospect and the NHL prospect of the year, and I can't say I disagree with them.

Hasn't even played an NHL game yet but for sure has franchise potential . I would be very happy if Larkin becomes a solid top 6 center. No surprise other fans think Wings fans are overrating their prospects

But there really is no question Strome is and will be the better player guy has elite talent and size.

The wings have a bunch of good prospects and some that could ! Be very good Mantha, Larkin .

If the team traded for a top pick it should be for Hanifin sadly we don't have the assets

Edited June 13, 2015 by frankgrimes

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Did a mock draft for the first time for fun which ended up short (5rounds)

These are my picks and just curious if the wings drafts went like this if some of you would be pissed or pleased ... Traded back a few times to get 3 2nd rounders and 2 3rds ...

Nicolas meloche -D

Travis dermott -D

Jens looke - F

Nikita korostelev - F

Brendan guhle - D

Veeti vainio - D

Lucas carlsson - D

Went hard on the d's since it's our biggest need ... Last pick was hard , debated with christian jaros,adam parsells and alexander younan but went with carlsson since he was ranked 19 before dropping and is 17 and already played in the swedish elite league

Edited June 14, 2015 by nyqvististhefuture

[Nevermind 363]

Jeremy Roy seems like a good choice at #19. Said to be a smart, reliable defenseman with good character and work ethic.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Jeremy Roy seems like a good choice at #19. Said to be a smart, reliable defenseman with good character and work ethic.

.....and a very very unappealing surname.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

.....and a very very unappealing surname.

Yes but is it pronounced ROEEEEEE or Waaaahhhhh

[krsmith17 7,191]

Agreed. Roy is probably my number one choice if we keep our 19th pick.

I'd love to move back and still be able to grab Roy later in the 1st, and grab Spencer in the 2nd...

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Hasn't even played an NHL game yet but for sure has franchise potential . I would be very happy if Larkin becomes a solid top 6 center. No surprise other fans think Wings fans are overrating their prospects

But there really is no question Strome is and will be the better player guy has elite talent and size.

The wings have a bunch of good prospects and some that could ! Be very good Mantha, Larkin .

If the team traded for a top pick it should be for Hanifin sadly we don't have the assets

After what he did this year he'd be a top 5 pick in the draft this year

[krsmith17 7,191]

If Larkin was two months younger, he would have been draft eligible in this years draft, and he would have been a top 3-5 pick for sure.

[WingedWheel91 271]

No Larkin would not be picked this year over McDavid, Eichel, Strome, Marner, Provorov or Hannifin.

He would likely be re-drafted in the 7-10 range this year (albeit in an extremely strong draft).

It's like saying if Strome was a little bit younger or a little bit older he would have gone #1 over Ekblad last year, and probably #1 over Auston Matthews next year.

[krsmith17 7,191]

Definitely not McDavid or Eichel, no one would dispute that, but I wouldn't be shocked if he would have been projected to go anywhere after that.

I think it's very reasonable to believe that it could have potentially went down something like this: 1. McDavid, 2. Eichel, 3. Hanifin, 4. Strome, 5. Larkin, 6. Marner...

I think anyone after the first two there are pretty much interchangeable.

Either way, I believe we have a great player in Larkin. One that has the potential to be as good as any of these guys.

Edited June 16, 2015 by krsmith17

[WingedWheel91 271]

It's really an impossible debate to successfully partake in... Draft picks are a combination of talent available, ceiling potential and organizational needs. If Dylan Larkin fell to a team who had great defence prospects, he might get taken over Provorov. If he fell to a team who had depth up the middle but needed help on the wing, no way would they pass on Mitch Marner.

McDavid, Eichel, Strome, Hannifin get taken ahead of him regardless.

That being said, I do agree with you in that I believe Larkin will be a great Detroit Red Wing one day... But last year at this time I would say almost everyone (myself included) felt the same way about Anthony Mantha (our cant miss 6'4" goal scoring prospect, with a lethal and accurate shot, plus great skating ability) and what % of people feel that way today? He already has forum dedicated to potentially trading him... before he's ever played a game for the Wings.

[krsmith17 7,191]

It's an impossible debate to successfully partake in... But all of those guys would go ahead of him regardless?... No one knows where Larkin would go in this draft, but I believe he would be a top 5 pick for sure after his breakout season last year.

Mantha will be fine. People need to relax on this kid. I just hope Holland stays true to his word and gives him "more time to develop".

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Lol talk about overrating Larkin , there is no way he even touches the top 5 in this draft class: McDavid, Eichel, Hanifin, Marner, Strome, Crouse should be set. Maybe 7 but I think Werenski or maybe that Russian kid will own that position .

I don't care about what position he would be wings for him at 17 and now have to develop both guys Larkin and Mantha.

Mantha will be fine and make Mr. Players are cattles eat cow.

[WingedWheel91 271]

KRSMITH17 - You can argue semantics if you choose, but it doesn't take an NHL scout to understand if Larkin was being drafted next weekend - it wouldn't be before McDavid, Eichel or Strome.

I would estimate that most people would concede Hannifin on this list as well.

I would personally take Marner (most people really have no idea how good this kid is) and Provorov (another top 6 pick - write it down if you wish) over Larkin - but like I said, it's impossible to truly determine where he would go because too many variables come into play.

I think people on this website (to no surprise) are truly underestimating how good the top 10 in this draft will be, and are overestimating Dylan Larkin before he's ever played an NHL game.

Edited June 16, 2015 by WingedWheel91

[amato 3,210]

Mantha will be great. Can't wait to see what he can do with a full season. I think breaking his leg set him back a lot more than he thought it would and I imagine that was frustrating for him.

That trade Mantha thread, other than media over hyping him being available "for the right deal" or whatever, is more about the potential return a top prospect could net than it is about writing off Mantha. Every player is available "for the right deal."

[krsmith17 7,191]

WingedWheel91 - ....... nor did I say that he would be drafted before McDavid, Eichel or Strome... I already told you the likely order "I" believe it would have gone, and that has him being drafted after those 3 guys as well as Hanifin...

I don't think anyone is underestimating how deep this draft is at all. It will likely be the best draft class since '03, maybe even better...

Sure, there are people that are probably overhyping Larkin, but that's the fun of being a fan, is it not? This kid is AWWWESOME!!!

[WingedWheel91 271]

lol I have no doubts he'll be good, I just think this team needs to explore any and all opportunities to acquire building block (franchise) players... In my opinion, Strome has a higher ceiling than Larkin. If Arizona says they will consider trading it, well we aren't going to acquire a player like that with our draft picks, and they aren't available as free agents, so why not go all in?

If a scenario exists where you can acquire that pick without giving up Larkin - I would do it all costs.

[krsmith17 7,191]

If we're looking to move up in the draft (we aren't, but it sure is fun to fantasize...) I'd want to trade for the 8th-12th pick, not the 3rd. It wouldn't be half as costly, and we need a defenseman so I would go after Werenski.

What do people think it would cost to move up and draft this kid? I'd offer our 19th overall, Nyquist / Tatar, Ouellet / Marchenko and Kindl... Not enough?

[Richdg 267]

getting closer. rumors and hopes by fans abound..... we all keep waiting and waiting and waiting..... will ken "stand pat" holland make a big move? or just a little move by moving back and adding a 2nd? it is fun to dream......

PS I doubt Mantha gets moved. In fact i expect him and Larkin to work on the same line in GR next year and feed off each other. I wouldn't be surprised if mantha has a 30 goals in 50 games type of start and becomes our "trade deadline pick up". As good as Larkin has looked he needs time to get bigger and stronger. A full year in GR then make the RW's for the 16/17 season out of camp.

[kipwinger 8,520]

getting closer. rumors and hopes by fans abound..... we all keep waiting and waiting and waiting..... will ken "stand pat" holland make a big move? or just a little move by moving back and adding a 2nd? it is fun to dream......

PS I doubt Mantha gets moved. In fact i expect him and Larkin to work on the same line in GR next year and feed off each other. I wouldn't be surprised if mantha has a 30 goals in 50 games type of start and becomes our "trade deadline pick up". As good as Larkin has looked he needs time to get bigger and stronger. A full year in GR then make the RW's for the 16/17 season out of camp.

Probably. If Dylark can make a plug like Zach Hyman look like a star, he should do wonders for Floaty McManthason.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Probably. If Dylark can make a plug like Zach Hyman look like a star, he should do wonders for Floaty McManthason.

Didn't see dylark help floaty mcmanthason get 100+goals and help him dominate the world juniors and get him named as one of the best forwards of the tournament?

Seriously think everyone needs to relax and see how he does with a full season under his belt before writing him off

Edited June 17, 2015 by nyqvististhefuture

[kipwinger 8,520]

Didn't see dylark help floaty mcmanthason get 100+goals and help him dominate the world juniors and get him named as one of the best forwards of the tournament?

Seriously think everyone needs to relax and see how he does with a full season under his belt before writing him off

I'm not writing him off. I'm saying he doesn't drive offense. He's like Franzen in that way. Because he's soft and doesn't enjoy working hard, other people have to create offense for him to capitalize off of. Tons of very productive guys in the NHL are like that.

But your point is taken. When 6'4, 200+ lb. guys like Mantha play against 16-18 year olds, they're super impressive.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Mantha will be great. Can't wait to see what he can do with a full season. I think breaking his leg set him back a lot more than he thought it would and I imagine that was frustrating for him.

That trade Mantha thread, other than media over hyping him being available "for the right deal" or whatever, is more about the potential return a top prospect could net than it is about writing off Mantha. Every player is available "for the right deal."

I see talent to be great, I don't see the game to game and shift to shift drive to be great. I've said since he was drafted he looks more like a 25-30 goal guy who doesn't take full advantage of his size and play physical than a 35+ goal guy who bulls people over.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I'm not writing him off. I'm saying he doesn't drive offense. He's like Franzen in that way. Because he's soft and doesn't enjoy working hard, other people have to create offense for him to capitalize off of. Tons of very productive guys in the NHL are like that.

But your point is taken. When 6'4, 200+ lb. guys like Mantha play against 16-18 year olds, they're super impressive.

And your point is taken ... Get a broken leg , miss training camp and a bunch of games and don't score a goal a game in a new league that's not his age group and let's all jump on the kid and say he's not that good

And nobody said mantha was gonna be a playmaker and drive offense ... Is pulkkinen gonna drive some offenses? Give me a 30+goal

Give the guy a full season to prove himself ... He's already hard at the gym training trying to bulk up not tanning and drinking beer , doesn't seem lazy to me

[kipwinger 8,520]

And your point is taken ... Get a broken leg , miss training camp and a bunch of games and don't score a goal a game in a new league that's not his age group and let's all jump on the kid and say he's not that good

And nobody said mantha was gonna be a playmaker and drive offense ... Is pulkkinen gonna drive some offenses? Give me a 30+goal

Give the guy a full season to prove himself ... He's already hard at the gym training trying to bulk up not tanning and drinking beer , doesn't seem lazy to me

Athanasiou got a broken jaw, couldn't eat solid food for weeks, lost almost 20 lbs., AND missed more games than Mantha. Yet he still managed to work hard every game once he returned. Being injured might excuse the results, but not the lack of effort.

I don't see why people feel the need to constantly make excuses for the Mantha. He was used to streamrolling weaker competition in Juniors, and he learned bad habits, and hasn't unlearned them yet. It doesn't doom him to a career of mediocrity, but he doesn't get a free pass from criticism because he was drafted high and people like the fact that he's big.

To date, Mantha has been soft, lazy, and moderately disappointing.