Pronman’s draft ranking

[opti mist]

From the Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/708362 ... -verhoeff/

We’re nearing the end of the season, and the draft picture is starting to become clearer. While there’s no true game-changing No. 1 prospect in this class, leading the class as a whole to be about average, this draft does have a strong top 10 group of prospects, many of whom would have been in the mix to be the third or fourth pick in 2025, for example. Defensemen are the story of this year’s draft. Currently, I have five defensemen ranked in my top seven, including one at first overall. The class reminds me a lot of the Owen Power class of 2021.

The story of the last two months has been the play of Penn State winger Gavin McKenna, who has quickly raced to the top of the NCAA scoring charts. To my eyes, it’s a near three-way tie for the top position between him and defenders Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff.

Opti

[BleedingBleu]

I keep seeing this. Why don’t they consider McKenna nor Stenberg to be a “Game Changers?”

Stenberg is being compared to Hall of Famer LW Daniel Sedin and I’ve heard McKenna’s name floated with that of Future HOFer Patrick Kane

Both won Art Ross & Ted Lindsey awards. Sedin won a Clancy Award. Kane won a Calder, a Hart, and a Conn Smythe to go along with 3 Stanley Cup Championships. He was also a member of the Hundred Greatest Players for the 100th NHL Anniversary

What gives?

[Harry S Deals]

Blues currently tied for 5th worst but they have one more game played than the Rags and the Rags are also playing well.


Who you taking at #4 or #5 overall assuming thats the draw

Chase Reid
Carels
Lawrence

[The Average Gatsby]

That’s a pretty bonkers draft ranking from Pronman. McKenna has 51 points in 34 games now. I’d be really surprised if he doesn’t go first.

[Quas]

If Pronman's rankings were correct Stenberg would be drafted 4th and be in range for the Blues based on their current status. I would still bet that McKenna and Stenberg go #1 and #2 in the draft.

[kimzey59]

I keep seeing this. Why don’t they consider McKenna nor Stenberg to be a “Game Changers?”

Stenberg is being compared to Hall of Famer LW Daniel Sedin and I’ve heard McKenna’s name floated with that of Future HOFer Patrick Kane

Both won Art Ross & Ted Lindsey awards. Sedin won a Clancy Award. Kane won a Calder, a Hart, and a Conn Smythe to go along with 3 Stanley Cup Championships. He was also a member of the Hundred Greatest Players for the 100th NHL Anniversary

What gives?

Pronman's a hack and always has been.
This is the guy who thought Jaden Schwartz and Robert Thomas were "3rd round talent at best" and it's that same level of "logic" that keeps him knocking Ivar.
Why the Athletic keeps him around is beyond me. You can find 10 better prospect analysts just by perusing HFboards for 10 minutes.

As for his "rankings";
- McKenna and Stenberg have been the class of this Draft since the WJC's and pretty much everyone knows it. The question is which order they go in.
- Chase Reid hasn't played a game in over a month. He shouldn't be rising on anybody's list.
- Malhotra has set himself apart as the best center in this class and it's not even particularly close. Lawrence had a poor showing in the NCAA and Bjorck has yet to show production in the SHL(he's playing 20 minutes a night which is testament to his all-around game but the points have yet to come). Meanwhile; Malhotra is clearly outplaying the #7 overall pick from last year ON THE SAME TEAM.

And that's just the top 10. I'm not even going to bother deep diving into the rest of the list.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Behind a pay wall, so I can’t see it. I still see:

1 & 2 - McKenna and Stenberg in some order
3-5 Some order of Malhotra, Verhoeff, Smits
6-9 Some order of Reid, Carels, Belchetz, Rudolph

Could also see Hemming sneaking into the top 10 unexpectedly.

[dr0zombie]

I am probably just a fan, but this is a year I feel the predictions have undervalued the draft. I don't like that the Blues are shooting for playoffs over high draft pick.

I think the no generational talent thing is a bit of early sour grapes on the draft. This quote from the draft profile for Matthew Schaefer says a lot for me about these early predictions.

Schaefer may not be a generational talent like Connor Bedard or a unanimous first-overall choice like Macklin Celebrini
https://thehockeywriters.com/matthew-sc ... t-profile/

I want that to sit for a minute........."Schaefer may not be a generational talent....."

I am going to go out on limb and call this an Ovi/Malkin draft. My feeling is Gavin McKenna has something to prove and the skills to prove it and Ivar Stenberg is going to quietly bring back Peter Forsberg. I am all for picking 1st or 2nd this year.

My bet is Chicago gets McKenna and all of a sudden Bedard looks like the guy that should have been playing for Canada in the Olympics. And we can all wonder how that happeneed......

[a smell of green grass]

Blues currently tied for 5th worst but they have one more game played than the Rags and the Rags are also playing well.


Who you taking at #4 or #5 overall assuming thats the draw

Chase Reid
Carels
Lawrence

Reid

[a smell of green grass]

I am probably just a fan, but this is a year I feel the predictions have undervalued the draft.

Agreed. 2023 was supposed to be the best in a decade, and the Blues had 3 picks in Round 1. Anybody smell greatness coming from that kitchen?

Meanwhile, Schaefer and Celebrini are instant HOFers.

I feel like it is intentional misinformation at it's finest.

The more important question to ask is this... Are the Blues positioned to know who the great ones are?

[sdaltons]

I know Pronman isn't great but these are my favorite rankings so far. Blues dropping and Stenberg also dropping! Would be great if it really played out and he fell to us.

[Hockey Pete]

I keep seeing this. Why don’t they consider McKenna nor Stenberg to be a “Game Changers?”

Stenberg is being compared to Hall of Famer LW Daniel Sedin and I’ve heard McKenna’s name floated with that of Future HOFer Patrick Kane

Both won Art Ross & Ted Lindsey awards. Sedin won a Clancy Award. Kane won a Calder, a Hart, and a Conn Smythe to go along with 3 Stanley Cup Championships. He was also a member of the Hundred Greatest Players for the 100th NHL Anniversary

What gives?

Pronman's a hack and always has been.
This is the guy who thought Jaden Schwartz and Robert Thomas were "3rd round talent at best" and it's that same level of "logic" that keeps him knocking Ivar.
Why the Athletic keeps him around is beyond me. You can find 10 better prospect analysts just by perusing HFboards for 10 minutes.

As for his "rankings";
- McKenna and Stenberg have been the class of this Draft since the WJC's and pretty much everyone knows it. The question is which order they go in.
- Chase Reid hasn't played a game in over a month. He shouldn't be rising on anybody's list.
- Malhotra has set himself apart as the best center in this class and it's not even particularly close. Lawrence had a poor showing in the NCAA and Bjorck has yet to show production in the SHL(he's playing 20 minutes a night which is testament to his all-around game but the points have yet to come). Meanwhile; Malhotra is clearly outplaying the #7 overall pick from last year ON THE SAME TEAM.

And that's just the top 10. I'm not even going to bother deep diving into the rest of the list.

Two things.

First, you're right on Pronman. I lost my [$hirt] when he stated that Dvorsky had the highest risk factor of any kid in the TOP 20....WHAT? He has decent insight, but can't read what truly is NHL level skill vs what plays well in the lower leagues.

Second, I was hoping and praying that Malhotra would be there for us when we pick, as that kid has both the skill and drive to thrive in the NHL. If he was a soldier, I'd make him a Ranger... The good thing is that there's some really darn good defenders that will be sitting there, as well as a forward or two for us to grab.

[TruBlueFan_1970]

Second, I was hoping and praying that Malhotra would be there for us when we pick, as that kid has both the skill and drive to thrive in the NHL. If he was a soldier, I'd make him a Ranger... The good thing is that there's some really darn good defenders that will be sitting there, as well as a forward or two for us to grab.

I'm with you. If we are 3-8 in the draft, I want Malhotra more than any of the defensemen rated in the top 10. I have a sneaky feeling that Malhotra will go 3rd overall.

[Pierre McGuire]

Second, I was hoping and praying that Malhotra would be there for us when we pick, as that kid has both the skill and drive to thrive in the NHL. If he was a soldier, I'd make him a Ranger... The good thing is that there's some really darn good defenders that will be sitting there, as well as a forward or two for us to grab.

I'm with you. If we are 3-8 in the draft, I want Malhotra more than any of the defensemen rated in the top 10. I have a sneaky feeling that Malhotra will go 3rd overall.

I still think the centers are overrated in this draft. We drafting for need or BPA? Feel like all of the dman in that range fall into the BPA over Malhotra. Just not sold that Malhotra is anything more than a 2nd line center in the NHL and that’s likely his ceiling. Don’t know where he fits in the organization at this point.

[a smell of green grass]

Second, I was hoping and praying that Malhotra would be there for us when we pick, as that kid has both the skill and drive to thrive in the NHL. If he was a soldier, I'd make him a Ranger... The good thing is that there's some really darn good defenders that will be sitting there, as well as a forward or two for us to grab.

I'm with you. If we are 3-8 in the draft, I want Malhotra more than any of the defensemen rated in the top 10. I have a sneaky feeling that Malhotra will go 3rd overall.

I still think the centers are overrated in this draft. We drafting for need or BPA? Feel like all of the dman in that range fall into the BPA over Malhotra. Just not sold that Malhotra is anything more than a 2nd line center in the NHL and that’s likely his ceiling. Don’t know where he fits in the organization at this point.

As badly as we need a Center, if the Maholtra's ceiling is 2C, and the RHD draftee is a likely 1st pair, then we have to take the RHD.

[Pierre McGuire]

Second, I was hoping and praying that Malhotra would be there for us when we pick, as that kid has both the skill and drive to thrive in the NHL. If he was a soldier, I'd make him a Ranger... The good thing is that there's some really darn good defenders that will be sitting there, as well as a forward or two for us to grab.

I'm with you. If we are 3-8 in the draft, I want Malhotra more than any of the defensemen rated in the top 10. I have a sneaky feeling that Malhotra will go 3rd overall.

I still think the centers are overrated in this draft. We drafting for need or BPA? Feel like all of the dman in that range fall into the BPA over Malhotra. Just not sold that Malhotra is anything more than a 2nd line center in the NHL and that’s likely his ceiling. Don’t know where he fits in the organization at this point.

As badly as we need a Center, if the Maholtra's ceiling is 2C, and the RHD draftee is a likely 1st pair, then we have to take the RHD.

Or you can take Carels and set the left side of your defense for the next decade with Carels eventually becoming your cornerstone dman