How about another prospects list?

[Bloody Brian Burke]

^ Mathews converted to wing?

I've seen him listed more as a winger than centre. He played C at the WJC though, right?

Shooting hypotheticals here, but say Buffalo or Edmonton (puke to both) got him. He would almost 100% be a winger to Eichel or McDavid. On the contrary, if Toronto or Columbus got him he would automatically be their best option at centre under current conditions.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

It's good to see Nylander make a jump though. If he's the best option at 4 and that's where the Leafs wind up, I wouldn't be mad at all. I've been hearing more and more about how Tkachuk's game has improved this year too. Reuniting him and Marner would be just dandy as well.

 

[dash]

It would be an interesting problem if the Flames got Matthews - I would think that they would move Bennett to the wing and have Moneyhands and Matthews as the top 2 centers. M&M could be sweet.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

It would be an interesting problem if the Flames got Matthews - I would think that they would move Bennett to the wing and have Moneyhands and Matthews as the top 2 centers. M&M could be sweet.

naw you dont want that problem

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

It would be an interesting problem if the Flames got Matthews - I would think that they would move Bennett to the wing and have Moneyhands and Matthews as the top 2 centers. M&M could be sweet.

I was gonna include Calgary in the Edmonton/Buffalo category, but they're one team I really couldn't predict what they'd do. More options than the rest for sure.

 

[forty_three]

The Blue Jackets big problem if they get Mathews is getting him to be the #1 and #2 C at the same time.

 

[dash]

Jesse Puljujärvi suffered a lower body injury this week, unknown how severe the injury is.

 

[puckhead]

ISS Hockey has released its new monthly rankings of the top prospects eligible for the 2016 NHL Draft. This month's rankings include the top 200 skaters, along with the top 15 goaltenders, as evaluated and ranked by ISS Hockey’s worldwide network of scouts.

Below is the ISS Top 30, highlighting the rankings for the top 30 prospects:

Rank Player Position Team League
1 Matthews, Auston RW Zurich ZSC SuiA
2 Puljujarvi, Jesse RW Karpat FinE
3 Laine, Patrik RW Tappara FinE
4 Nylander, Alexander RW Mississauga OHL
5 Dubois, Pierre-Luc LW Cape Breton QMJHL
6 Tkachuk, Matthew LW London OHL
7 Chychrun, Jakob LD Sarnia OHL
8 Sergachev, Mikhail RD Windsor OHL
9 McLeod, Michael C Mississauga OHL
10 Juolevi, Olli LD London OHL
11 Brown, Logan C Windsor OHL
12 Keller, Clayton C USA Under-18 NTDP USHL
13 Jones, Max LW London OHL
14 Rubtsov, German C Russia MHL 98 RusJr
15 Bean, Jake LD Calgary WHL
16 Bellows, Kieffer C USA Under-18 NTDP USHL
17 Kunin, Luke RW Wisconsin BigTen
18 Jost, Tyson RW Penticton BCHL
19 Gauthier, Julien RW Val-d'Or QMJHL
20 Tufte, Riley LW Blaine MN-HS
21 McAvoy, Charles RD Boston Univ H.E.
22 Thompson, Tage C Connecticut H.E.
23 Bastian, Nathan C Mississauga OHL
24 Howden, Brett LW Moose Jaw WHL
25 Derincat, Alexander C Erie OHL
26 Laberge, Pascal C Victoriaville QMJHL
27 Raddysh, Taylor RW Erie OHL
28 Katchouk, Boris LW S.S. Marie OHL
29 Abramov, Vitalii LW Gatineau QMJHL
30 Pu, Cliff RW London OHL


Although Matthews (#1), Puljujarvi (#2) and Laine (#3), all remain as Top 3 in the ISS Top 30 April Release, the remaining 27 ranks have shuffled. With the season winding down, Jake Bean, a left defender from Calgary Hitmen in the WHL, has become the biggest jumper, rising six ranks to #15.

"Jake Bean has a positive impact in today's game,” says ISS Hockey Director of Scouting Dennis MacInnis. “He's a smart offensive defender that has not only improved his defensive play substantially but has the courage to play bigger then he's listed and be fearless when getting through traffic.”

 

[DragonfromTO]

Any reason given for Fabbro dropping out of the top 30?

 

[dash]

Mock draft on Sportsnet last night...

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Mock draft on Sportsnet last night...

View attachment 105001

Yeah, probably not.

 

[dash]

It would be pretty funny though if the Canucks select 6th overall for the 2nd year in a row and take a guy named Jake from the Hitmen.

 

[dash]

Yeah, probably not.

You would be pretty happy if you got Laine though, eh BBB?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

You would be pretty happy if you got Laine though, eh BBB?

Beyond thrilled. A top six of Laine-Nylander-Marner JVR-Kadri(or replacement)-Kapanen could be among the most potent in the league in a couple years.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Mock draft on Sportsnet last night...

View attachment 105001

I think if the Habs get Dubois at #8 they should be pretty excited. I'd actually even be at least a little tempted to take him at 4 or 5 if that's where the Buds end up picking.

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

I think if the Habs get Dubois at #8 they should be pretty excited. I'd actually even be at least a little tempted to take him at 4 or 5 if that's where the Buds end up picking.

Really? Everything I've read seems to say he isn't much of a skater. Isn't that a pretty big red flag for a large centre? Wasn't that your red flag for Strome last year?

 

[forty_three]

Mock draft on Sportsnet last night...

View attachment 105001

Jarmo would shit eggrolls if three Finns went directly before his pick.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Really? Everything I've read seems to say he isn't much of a skater. Isn't that a pretty big red flag for a large centre? Wasn't that your red flag for Strome last year?

Yeah but there's two factors at play there. One is that while I am not a scout, Dubois has looked like a better skater than Strome to me from what I've seen. And the other is that the alternative option last year was Marner, while there's no one this year that I like as much as Marner.

If someone had gotten Strome at #8 last year I would have called that a steal too. I just wouldn't have taken him over a guy with Marner's ability and resumé.

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Really? Everything I've read seems to say he isn't much of a skater. Isn't that a pretty big red flag for a large centre? Wasn't that your red flag for Strome last year?

Scouting reports I've read tended to think he was a powerful skater with a good stride and good agility. Not blazing fast but a pretty good skater. I think he'll be a pretty good player.

Ceiling: Jamie Benn
Floor: Jordan Staal-lite

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

Yeah but there's two factors at play there. One is that while I am not a scout, Dubois has looked like a better skater than Strome to me from what I've seen. And the other is that the alternative option last year was Marner, while there's no one this year that I like as much as Marner.

If someone had gotten Strome at #8 last year I would have called that a steal too. I just wouldn't have taken him over a guy with Marner's ability and resumé.

Matt Tkachuk is 7 points off what Marner put up last season while playing with the man himself. You wouldn't take that over a big centre who might have skating issues?