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2018 Draft Targets

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2018/6/11/17437404/toronto-maple-leafs-nhl-draft-how-old-is-that-draft-prospect-in-the-window

And interesting study into age bias at the draft. Fun note about Ryan Merkely at the end, so I guess I have to learn how to spell his name now.
 
I have a hard time believing that the 10- or 11-month developmental difference Gladwell talks about at age 8 means much 10 years later, especially when the people involved have already been sorted out of the general populace and keenly graded on a narrow set of (hockey) skills.
 
https://twitter.com/Prospects_Watch/status/1008389518704115712

He's obviously not going to fall to us but it'll be really interesting to see how this plays out. It's not too long ago that Zadina was seen as a potential #2 pick and an absolute lock for the top-3. Now he might fall out because teams are focusing on defencemen/centres.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
He's obviously not going to fall to us but it'll be really interesting to see how this plays out. It's not too long ago that Zadina was seen as a potential #2 pick and an absolute lock for the top-3. Now he might fall out because teams are focusing on defencemen/centres.

I've noticed this a lot from the past handful of drafts, but the mid-term ranked #2 has dropped just about every time (Chychrun, Puljujarvi, Liljegren) as teams start to a) settle into their pick slots b) refine their team requirements c) over-scrutinize the top-ranked players d) someone with a good WHJC and other tournaments gets a boost.

It's also why final draft slots shouldn't matter in player evaluation after the draft, but human psychology is hard to shake (e.g. if Dylan Strome was picked immediately in front of Jakub Zboril, he'd probably be considered an exciting player to see develop right now, vs. being picked in front of Mitch Marner).
 
https://mapleleafsnation.com/2018/06/18/the-ryan-merkley-conundrum/

But one name that?s been floating across my radar for a few months is Ryan Merkley, who we profiled here just a couple weeks ago. I can?t count how many times I?ve seen ?I hope Merkley is there at 25th? scroll through my Twitter timeline from Leafs supporters. Another thing I picked up quickly is that apparently this kid has had a tough time climbing the draft rankings due to some ?character issues?.

From what I can gather, this has the makings to be a draft day story-line that?ll be followed pretty closely, especially in our neck of the woods, because there?s a high chance Merkley is on the board when Kyle Dubas steps to the podium to make his first selection Friday night.

...

But I think most people know, or knew, someone on their sports team growing up who probably fits the description above. Someone who flips out when things go awry, blames everyone else, takes misconducts. It can be a bad scene. Bob also goes on to say that the scouts (who all work for NHL clubs) that he uses to create his pre-draft aggregated rankings have Merkley rated anywhere from the late teens to the third round. He?s all over the place.

Merkley really is a tough guy to judge. With his skill level he would typically be the kind of guy I'd love to scoop up if/when he drops (like Liljegren) but all the talk about his behavioural issues and defensive problems doesn't seem to be made up. On the other hand those are definitely things that can be worked on as a young guy matures.
 
Nik the Trik said:
Akil Thomas in the first, Nicolas Beaudin in the second. That's what sends Nik home happy.

I'd be happy with Thomas at 25. Ty Dellandrea, Jake Wise, Jonatan Berggren, Calen Addison, and Merkley would be other targets there or if we moved back into say the early 2nd round.
 
Headlines I'd like to read tomorrow..

'Leafs trade up and get their coveted Defenseman'

'Tavares coming home to Toronto , and for surprisingly low return'

'Leafs all the talk at NHL draft as they pull off some incredible moves'

ok, ok. these will just keep getting more and more ridiculous if I continue so I had better stop here. I'll settle for a really good pick at #25  :D
 
RedLeaf said:
'Leafs trade up and get their coveted Defenseman'

The other two are great. Which defenseman outside of Dahlin would satisfy this particular headline? I don't see any of them playing in the NHL immediately.

Now if this were something like Edmonton trades their 10th OA pick to Toronto for Nikita Zaitsev (Bob: It's 1 for 1), and we promptly flip a package of that pick + Connor Brown + Andrew Nielsen for Colton Parayko, then they'll have (even more of) my attention.
 
Personally I'm just hoping for an orderly draft, eliminating the need for a senseless bloodbath.
 
herman said:
The other two are great. Which defenseman outside of Dahlin would satisfy this particular headline?

There's talk that Adam Boqvist might fall. A right-shot, high-end skill defenceman from Sweden (did he have mono too?). If he's still kicking around in the 15-20 slot I'd be calling teams there.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
There's talk that Adam Boqvist might fall. A right-shot, high-end skill defenceman from Sweden (did he have mono too?). If he's still kicking around in the 15-20 slot I'd be calling teams there.

This is pretty on brand for the captain of the Draft Sam Girard (and Erik Brannstrom) campaign.
 

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