2015 NHL Entry Draft

[L K]

Any chance that if Strome is taken by AZ and the Leafs take Hanifin the Leafs move back into another top 10-15 pick?  Could a Kessel or Phaneuf trade net a 1st rounder that high?

Leafs could then look at either Barzal or Zacha with another high pick.

Maybe.  It would likely make the return the pick and little else but there are a handful of teams that would be building rather than developing.

 

[Joe S.]

The thing about Hanifin is that he is a good skater.  Schenn was never a good skater but he wasn't even a good skater for the old clutch and grab NHL.  So Schenn just was just born 10+ years too late to be really effective.

Honestly, throughout Schenn's rookie year, alot of posters here, and articles in the paper were praising Schenn for his play, and I just didn't get it.

I was watching all the Leafs games back then, and I just didn't understand why people were so impressed with him, but I didn't say anything because I thought there was obviously something I was missing and I didn't want to sound like an idiot (well more so).

 

[ZBBM]

The thing about Hanifin is that he is a good skater.  Schenn was never a good skater but he wasn't even a good skater for the old clutch and grab NHL.  So Schenn just was just born 10+ years too late to be really effective.  Hanifin is built for the modern NHL where he has size but a lot of mobility that can make him a potentially elite defenseman.  He absolutely complements Rielly well and provides a better shot for the powerplay with Rielly. 

I actually don't think it would be a terrible thing if the Leafs came away from the draft with Hanifin + Kylington on defense.  I also would be quite happy if they came away with a combination of Marner/Strome and Kopecky/Svetchnikov either.  The Leafs are certainly going to get a nice bump to their prospect pool with the draft.  I'm still quite confident in saying "F*** Edmonton" though.

This is all very well put.  Including the last statement.

 

[ZBBM]

The thing about Hanifin is that he is a good skater.  Schenn was never a good skater but he wasn't even a good skater for the old clutch and grab NHL.  So Schenn just was just born 10+ years too late to be really effective.

Honestly, throughout Schenn's rookie year, alot of posters here, and articles in the paper were praising Schenn for his play, and I just didn't get it.

I was watching all the Leafs games back then, and I just didn't understand why people were so impressed with him, but I didn't say anything because I thought there was obviously something I was missing and I didn't want to sound like an idiot (well more so).

The consensus IIRC was that he had a solid rookie year.  The wheels fell off disastrously early in Year 2.

 

[Joe S.]

The thing about Hanifin is that he is a good skater.  Schenn was never a good skater but he wasn't even a good skater for the old clutch and grab NHL.  So Schenn just was just born 10+ years too late to be really effective.

Honestly, throughout Schenn's rookie year, alot of posters here, and articles in the paper were praising Schenn for his play, and I just didn't get it.

I was watching all the Leafs games back then, and I just didn't understand why people were so impressed with him, but I didn't say anything because I thought there was obviously something I was missing and I didn't want to sound like an idiot (well more so).

The consensus IIRC was that he had a solid rookie year.  The wheels fell off disastrously early in Year 2.

I just didn't see it... I mean aside from some big hits, he was ridiculously slow and had a hilarious slapshot... Even in his rookie year.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I think a lot of the praise in year 1 was that he was a kid playing in a mans league and holding his own, after that first year leeway, people started to comment on his weaknesses.

 

[bustaheims]

I think a lot of the praise in year 1 was that he was a kid playing in a mans league and holding his own, after that first year leeway, people started to comment on his weaknesses.

Basically. It wasn't so much that he looked good, but, rather, that he looked good for an 18 year old rookie defenceman. There was reason for optimism about his ability to improve in some of the areas where he game was lacking because of who he handled himself. Obviously, that didn't work out so well.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think a lot of the praise in year 1 was that he was a kid playing in a mans league and holding his own, after that first year leeway, people started to comment on his weaknesses.

Basically. It wasn't so much that he looked good, but, rather, that he looked good for an 18 year old rookie defenceman. There was reason for optimism about his ability to improve in some of the areas where he game was lacking because of who he handled himself. Obviously, that didn't work out so well.

I didn't think he was bad in 2009-10.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Some comments from Dubas relating to the draft from his appearance on Brady and Walker:

The lottery results:
I was in Rockford with the Marlies in the coaches? room watching it. Very honestly, I wasn?t anxious about it at all. In fact, we had the greatest chance of ending up picking 5th, so once Carolina?s came up, at fifth, I said, ?that?s a little bit of good fortunate either way.? The way I looked at this draft, I knew we were going to get a good pick, we weren?t going to pick lower than 5th, but the focus for us and where we have to begin to really become a great organization is on the second pick, the Nashville pick that we got in the trade for Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli. We have to make a good pick and hit on that one. That?s where a lot of our focus has been. We know it?s going to be in the mid 20s, and that?s where myself and Mark Hunter have been spending a lot of our time, is tracking those players that are in that range. Making sure we find a player that fits the identity of where we?re going as an organization and we?re certain is going to be a guy who has a good chance of becoming in and being a big time player, be it a forward, D or goaltender; someone that we?re confident can be not just someone that?s a safe pick that will play low in our lineup, but a really good player. You look at a lot of the organizations now, they?re able to find real good players late in the 1st and that?s what we want to become. Having that pick is a great opportunity for us.

The fourth overall pick:
You?ve got to narrow it down to a few players. I don?t believe in going through the whole song and dance and saying, ?we haven?t had our meeting yet and we don?t know where we?re sitting.? We?ve spent a whole year scouting these players. Our scouting staff has been in the rink since early August at the Team Canada camp, trying to narrow it down to the to players. As the year goes along, you add to your sample size and viewings, and you really get down to a few guys, especially where we?re picking at four, you kind of know who the first two picks are going to be, and you know who the players are coming up behind them. I think everyone knows who they are ? you?ve got Noah Hanifin, Dylan Strome, Lawson Crouse, Mitchell Marner, Mathew Barzal, Ivan Provorov. It?s focusing on that group of players and more and really starting to break them down and be as certain as we can about each one and selecting the one we think is best for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2015/04/20/toronto-maple-leafs-kyle-dubas/

I recommend reading that whole transcript.  It's very informative.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

I always look at the playoffs as a time when people we will especially hammer home the point where they?ll say, ?if you want to play in the playoffs you have to play like this team.? Ever year it changes, depending on who is playing well. If it?s Chicago, it?s skill and speed and possession, if it?s LA it?s retrieval and a heavy game. If it?s Boston, when they won it was traditional Bruins with Chara, Lucic, etc. Every year it changes. Our job is to find our own way to win so that we?re that team in 5 or 6 years where people see us play and say, ?that?s how you have to win, you have to be like the Maple Leafs.? We have to come up with our own way of doing it. To me, if you try to copy one particular team, you?re going to end up as an inferior version of that one team. You?re not going to be able to do it as good as they did it.

I really like this guy.

 

[caver]

the fix is in...Eichel is gonna tell Buffalo and Arizona that he is staying in college for 3 more years...they pass on him and SHAZAM...he is a Leaf ... :

 

[LuncheonMeat]

the fix is in...Eichel is gonna tell Buffalo and Arizona that he is staying in college for 3 more years...they pass on him and SHAZAM...he is a Leaf ... :

I'm hoping McDavid decides to enroll in college this week.  Now THAT would be great!! 

 

[skrackle]

A 4th pick in a year where the Leafs went from '2013 wasn't a mirage' to 'Ok, yeah we suck' isn't so bad. Sure, I was hoping for a McDavid miracle, but any of Hanifin, Strome or Marner looks like a good piece to add this year.

Of the bad NHL teams, I'd say the Leafs were up until very recently, in the worst position of any of them. They just always seemed to be operating in a fog. "I don't believe in a 5 year rebuild". That must have been music to the ears of other teams that did believe and were getting on with rebuilding.

It's not going to all get done at once. Maybe they don't get their future top line center this year. I expect that the Leafs will be drafting high for quite a while, so other opportunities will come.

 

[Al14]

the fix is in...Eichel is gonna tell Buffalo and Arizona that he is staying in college for 3 more years...they pass on him and SHAZAM...he is a Leaf ... :

I'm hoping McDavid decides to enroll in college this week.  Now THAT would be great!! 

My hope is that he tells Edmonton to STICK IT!  That would be even better!  ;D

 

[freer]

the fix is in...Eichel is gonna tell Buffalo and Arizona that he is staying in college for 3 more years...they pass on him and SHAZAM...he is a Leaf ... :

I'm hoping McDavid decides to enroll in college this week.  Now THAT would be great!! 

My hope is that he tells Edmonton to STICK IT!  That would be even better!  ;D

It is not likely going to happen. But wishful thinking.

Just a question, where do we draft if Nasville loses in the first round. Thank you

 

[Highlander]

I believe if Ottawas loses out of the playoffs first and then Nashville goes then our pick moves from 15 to 16 but not entirely sure.

 

[louisstamos]

I believe if Ottawas loses out of the playoffs first and then Nashville goes then our pick moves from 15 to 16 but not entirely sure.

No way the pick is that high - Nashville had the 6th best record in the league.  Even if they lose in the first round, I imagine the pick will be in the 20-22 range.

 

[Highlander]

thats what I get for listening to me son, just read the pick will be around the mid 20's, should get something higher for Kessel or Phaneuf

 

[mr grieves]

Interesting bit from MLHS's season wrap up, re: Marner vs. Hanifin.

On the whole, these guys simply do not get moved or are allowed to hit free agency anymore. That is not the case on defence, where it is relatively quick to patch together more than a talented unit capable of holding their own.

If the scouting report says Hanifin is a top pairing defenseman and Mitch Marner is a top six forward, there is no real debate to be had, obviously. But if the differences are negligible and the report on Hanifin is more of a top four defenseman than a top pairing guy, then alternative players should be explored. Defensemen take longer to develop, top four defensemen are available every summer (for some reason), and forwards are able to step into the league and at least put up points relatively quickly.

link: http://mapleleafshotstove.com/2015/04/20/leafs-notebook-season-finale-april-20/

Apart from whether it's an argument for or against anyone in this draft, it raises a question for me: does "BPA" need to be revised somewhat to consider what's available by other means (UFAs, trades)? Seems there are a lot more windows to get very good defensemen than there are to get very good centers.

 

[Kin]

I'm pretty sure the scouting report on Hanifin isn't "Top 4" so it seems largely moot.