Hensler's skating is excellent, I worry about his offensive ceiling in a way I do not with Brzustewicz
McKeen's draft
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Re: McKeen's draft
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Re: McKeen's draft
Hensler is the kind of guy you trade for 10 years into his career when you are making a playoff run. He's Jordan Leopold, Brett Hedican etc....seattleblue wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 11:28 amHensler's skating is excellent, I worry about his offensive ceiling in a way I do not with Brzustewicz
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Re: McKeen's draft
One thing I've noticed is that among our collective favorites, the controversial ones are ones who have looked really good in small sample size significant moments. Lakovic looked great in a two game CHL USA set back in November. Cootes and Fiddler looked better at the recent U18s among higher end peers than they looked during the season. Brzustevich popped in the Memorial Cup Finals with his play. It's a real challenge to figure out what's real and what's not. BTW I think Brzustevich is my 1st personal choice (but Bear, Carbonneau or Reschny I couldn't pass up if they are also available) and I think the Blues will take Cootes if he is available.Pierre McGuire wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 11:32 amHensler is the kind of guy you trade for 10 years into his career when you are making a playoff run. He's Jordan Leopold, Brett Hedican etc....seattleblue wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 11:28 amHensler's skating is excellent, I worry about his offensive ceiling in a way I do not with Brzustewicz
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Re: McKeen's draft
Lakovic was on a terrible team, had a signifcant injury but once he came back and the Warriors named him captain, is pretty much when he took off. Great leader, great skill set...steps up when it counts. Knows he has things to work on...he's gonna be a great NHL player. Not to mention he learned to lead from some great players like Firkus, Yager and Mateychukseattleblue wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 11:38 amOne thing I've noticed is that among our collective favorites, the controversial ones are ones who have looked really good in small sample size significant moments. Lakovic looked great in a two game CHL USA set back in November. Cootes and Fiddler looked better at the recent U18s among higher end peers than they looked during the season. Brzustevich popped in the Memorial Cup Finals with his play. It's a real challenge to figure out what's real and what's not. BTW I think Brzustevich is my 1st personal choice (but Bear, Carbonneau or Reschny I couldn't pass up if they are also available) and I think the Blues will take Cootes if he is available.Pierre McGuire wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 11:32 amHensler is the kind of guy you trade for 10 years into his career when you are making a playoff run. He's Jordan Leopold, Brett Hedican etc....seattleblue wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 11:28 amHensler's skating is excellent, I worry about his offensive ceiling in a way I do not with Brzustewicz
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Re: McKeen's draft
Hensler is pretty high on my list but I'm a long way from saying "or bust".
Brustewicz is right there with him.
And that's not even mentioning the centers that might be available in our range(Bear(could potentially slip because of the injury), Reschny, Cootes, Kindel, Nesbitt, Gastrin).
There's a lot of directions we could go with our pick that would improve our future prospects. As much as I like Hensler, I'm hesitant to fixate on him.
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Re: McKeen's draft
Interesting that he has Simon Wang taken at 34. Seems that he is creeping up some mock draft spots. Would love to know where he is on Armey's draft board.
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Re: McKeen's draft
Another guy that I think we should take a chance on but we need 2nd rounder to do itIsDurbanodoingtime wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 12:19 pm Interesting that he has Simon Wang taken at 34. Seems that he is creeping up some mock draft spots. Would love to know where he is on Armey's draft board.
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Re: McKeen's draft
Lakovic is probably going to get traded midseason next year to a team in the WHL making a run, or Kelowna, the hosts of the Memorial Cup. If he goes to a strong team then there will be more players to take advantage of his plays. Having little talent to help you is a real thing. I saw it with Stancl.
He is one of the biggest boom/bust players in the draft and we're sussing out both the boom and bust potential. The fact that it's occurring at a position of strength makes it a project I'm less willing to take than on RHD. There, we have a boom/bust RHD who is about to step into the primest of prime D+1 opportunities and it is the #1 organizational need. So I'm more comfortable assigning my boom/bust risk there.
He is one of the biggest boom/bust players in the draft and we're sussing out both the boom and bust potential. The fact that it's occurring at a position of strength makes it a project I'm less willing to take than on RHD. There, we have a boom/bust RHD who is about to step into the primest of prime D+1 opportunities and it is the #1 organizational need. So I'm more comfortable assigning my boom/bust risk there.
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Re: McKeen's draft
I know that I am in the minority here. But Ravensbergen is likely to be available at 19 just because he is a goalie and Armey should grab him. A much lesser need than RD or C but in terms of best available and relatively more certainty as to future success he fits the bill. He can percolate and will be ready when Binnie may be ready to move on. Having said that, this organization has been gun shy about drafting a goalie this high since Marek Schwarz.
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Re: McKeen's draft
tbh I would struggle to consider which I would loathe more, a goalie in the first round or Simon Wang
and the word is loathe for sure
and the word is loathe for sure
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Re: McKeen's draft
My guess is he goes somewhere in the 2nd but maybe a chance he sneaks into the 1st? I wouldn’t take him until very late 2nd to 3rd. Just too many players I’d like more given his pretty high bust risk.IsDurbanodoingtime wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 12:19 pm Interesting that he has Simon Wang taken at 34. Seems that he is creeping up some mock draft spots. Would love to know where he is on Armey's draft board.
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Re: McKeen's draft
I see the draft very similarly as you. Hensler’s on the short list but he’s not my top choice. He’d be a fine, safe choice. Seems like the sort that will have a career like Brian Dumoulin or maybe Damon Severson.kimzey59 wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 12:15 pmHensler is pretty high on my list but I'm a long way from saying "or bust".
Brustewicz is right there with him.
And that's not even mentioning the centers that might be available in our range(Bear(could potentially slip because of the injury), Reschny, Cootes, Kindel, Nesbitt, Gastrin).
There's a lot of directions we could go with our pick that would improve our future prospects. As much as I like Hensler, I'm hesitant to fixate on him.
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Re: McKeen's draft
I get that. A hard bias to overcome on picking goalie's high -- hello Rick DiPietro. But if you can secure a potential number one for the future especially if everything at 19 is a wide (bleep) shoot -- it is not a dumb move. As for Wang, I wouldn't take him in the first round and I am surprised that some are slotting him as a near first rounder. I thought he would be a good flyer in the third or maybe fourth. He started playing late which is always going to be flag/question mark but he is a big kid who got named to the second team for his league. It will be interesting to see when he ultimately gets picked.seattleblue wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 12:57 pm tbh I would struggle to consider which I would loathe more, a goalie in the first round or Simon Wang
and the word is loathe for sure
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Re: McKeen's draft
My rationale is that even if it goes smashingly well, did it?IsDurbanodoingtime wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 13:23 pmI get that. A hard bias to overcome on picking goalie's high -- hello Rick DiPietro. But if you can secure a potential number one for the future especially if everything at 19 is a wide (bleep) shoot -- it is not a dumb move. As for Wang, I wouldn't take him in the first round and I am surprised that some are slotting him as a near first rounder. I thought he would be a good flyer in the third or maybe fourth. He started playing late which is always going to be flag/question mark but he is a big kid who got named to the second team for his league. It will be interesting to see when he ultimately gets picked.seattleblue wrote: ↑20 Jun 2025 12:57 pm tbh I would struggle to consider which I would loathe more, a goalie in the first round or Simon Wang
and the word is loathe for sure
Goalies for me ... you can have a highly touted goalie, be excited to pick him, he develops perfectly, makes the bigs, turns into a 1A ... and it's all holding your breath til the playoffs come. History is littered with examples. A goalie for me isn't a goalie until he's a difference maker in the Stanley Cup playoffs and that comes so many years after the draft.
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Re: McKeen's draft
A goalie would have to be exceptional for me to consider taking one in the 1st round. I don’t see one worthy of that this season. I rarely do..