I read some articles that it was a good draft. But the popular opinion among fans is that it sucked because Dubas only drafted "smurfs". Personally, I don't have a probablem with this and I think it is a little unfair to critize this, because he drafted Sandin and Robertson, both "smurfs", and they are doing great. Let me know your thoughts on this. Below is all the draft picks, Amirov round 1, Hirvonen 2, Niemala 3, Akhtiamov and Villeneuve 4, Ovchinikov 5, Miettinen, Rindell, and Miller 6, Fusco, Schingoethe, and Tverberg 7. Wow, those names are cool and weird. Why didn't Dubas pick anyone with a normal name execpt Miller.
maybe hes made bad trades and overapaid by maybe 2 mil at the most, but hes drafted well, all these people complaining are don cherry and brian burke worshippers who thinks the leafs should have taken ritchie over nylander
maybe hes made bad trades and overapaid by maybe 2 mil at the most, but hes drafted well, all these people complaining are don cherry and brian burke worshippers who thinks the leafs should have taken ritchie over nylander
Yes, I agree that drafting is his best strength. I can't see why people complain. Like, do they want to trade in Amirov an get Tyler Biggs back? The criticism doesn't make sense.
There are two players that I am excited about: (not that the rest is bad or so)
1. Ovchinnikov
One of the youngest players in the draft. Can absolutley fly. and made KHL games for one of the better teams in the league at age 17. Scored very well in the junior league 5vs5. I think only a few points came on the PP.
He is not tiny, but needs to grow into his own body (but as said, is one of the youngest in the draft)
2. Topi Niemleä
Some had him at the end of the 1st round. Fantastic hockey IQ and is very good at most things he does, without being elite. He could become a solid 4/5 D.
There are two players that I am excited about: (not that the rest is bad or so)
1. Ovchinnikov
One of the youngest players in the draft. Can absolutley fly. and made KHL games for one of the better teams in the league at age 17. Scored very well in the junior league 5vs5. I think only a few points came on the PP.
He is not tiny, but needs to grow into his own body (but as said, is one of the youngest in the draft)
2. Topi Niemleä
Some had him at the end of the 1st round. Fantastic hockey IQ and is very good at most things he does, without being elite. He could become a solid 4/5 D.
There are two players that I am excited about: (not that the rest is bad or so)
1. Ovchinnikov
One of the youngest players in the draft. Can absolutley fly. and made KHL games for one of the better teams in the league at age 17. Scored very well in the junior league 5vs5. I think only a few points came on the PP.
He is not tiny, but needs to grow into his own body (but as said, is one of the youngest in the draft)
2. Topi Niemleä
Some had him at the end of the 1st round. Fantastic hockey IQ and is very good at most things he does, without being elite. He could become a solid 4/5 D.
Ya, I really like what I've heard about that Niemala guy. Seems like he will be a steal, and he's even a defensive guy. Only thing is that Poirier guy was still there, and he was stated to go higher.
what many people dont realize is these kids are still growing. By the time they make the team the majority of them will be bigger than when they were drafted.
Ya good draft overall. Still a little confused why they took Amirov over Schneider but I guess if they are expecting Liljgren to be ready and they have some moves ready to go in free agency they won't really need that much help from the draft for a while at least.
Ya good draft overall. Still a little confused why they took Amirov over Schneider but I guess if they are expecting Liljgren to be ready and they have some moves ready to go in free agency they won't really need that much help from the draft for a while at least.
Ya, I was really hoping they would take Schnider too. A bonus was he's from Saskatchewan
Ya, I really like what I've heard about that Niemala guy. Seems like he will be a steal, and he's even a defensive guy. Only thing is that Poirier guy was still there, and he was stated to go higher.
I would not call them steals, but players with steal potential.
Could be that a lot of Leafs fans will be watching Russia and Finland at the WJC with
Niemelä, Kokkonen and Hirvonen on one team and Amirov, Akthyamov and Abramov on the other team.
Ya good draft overall. Still a little confused why they took Amirov over Schneider but I guess if they are expecting Liljgren to be ready and they have some moves ready to go in free agency they won't really need that much help from the draft for a while at least.
That is the issue. If you are drafting Schneider to play in your top 4 he is about 2-4 years away from that. Instead he drafted a ton of rhd (believe it was 5) in later rounds.
I think out of that group you have a good chance of 2 nhlers and one top 4. I think the move to not draft Schneider is due to his limited puck moving skills and lower ceiling in general. It also tells me that Lilly won’t be moved. Which I like.
That is the issue. If you are drafting Schneider to play in your top 4 he is about 2-4 years away from that. Instead he drafted a ton of rhd (believe it was 5) in later rounds.
I think out of that group you have a good chance of 2 nhlers and one top 4. I think the move to not draft Schneider is due to his limited puck moving skills and lower ceiling in general. It also tells me that Lilly won’t be moved. Which I like.
Not all scouts like Schneider that much and some had little to no separation compared to Niemelä
Maybe Niemelä will be better in 5 years, maybe not.