ISS Top 30 Draft Rankings

[Bazz]

Why is Marner not rated #3? From what I've seen the only thing he lacks on a recent undersized prospect, Drouin, is top end speed.

[petegreg21]

You seriously think that teams do not back away from players from Russia even though they play in the CHL? Best example last year is Scherbak. He had better numbers than Virtanen and Bleackley yet he dropped.

To be fair, Virtanen and Scherbak are completely different players; Scherbak is still a very raw prospect and has a very underwhelming two-way presence. I didn't agree with the Avs selection of Bleackley but the explanation would probably have to be his leadership abilities, defensive soundness, PK abilities etc.

By your standard, teams should have opted for Goldobin (94 points in 67 games) over Ritchie or Perlini, or am I misunderstanding your point?

[yougo]

To be fair, Virtanen and Scherbak are completely different players; Scherbak is still a very raw prospect and has a very underwhelming two-way presence. I didn't agree with the Avs selection of Bleackley but the explanation would probably have to be his leadership abilities, defensive soundness, PK abilities etc.

By your standard, teams should have opted for Goldobin (94 points in 67 games) over Ritchie or Perlini, or am I misunderstanding your point?

Yep, they should have. Pts/G is by far the best way to predict future production in the NHL.

http://www.arcticicehockey.com/2015/...ent-production

[petegreg21]

Yep, they should have. Pts/G is by far the best way to predict future production in the NHL.

http://www.arcticicehockey.com/2015/...ent-production

I certainly won't get into a pissing match with you about this, but it's pretty easy to debunk if you back test your theory. The 2009 draft for example, with Pts/G in draft year alongside NHL pts/g:

OHL:
3. Duchene (1.385) / (0.76)
7. Kadri (1.393) / (0.61)
13. Kassian (1.033) / (0.33)
15. Holland (0.985) / (0.32)
33. O'Reilly (0.97) / (0.58)
85. Cody Eakin (0.87) / (0.45)

WHL:
5. Braden Schenn (1.257) / (0.49)
8. Scott Glennie (1.272) / (0.00)
179. Brandon Kozun (1.50) / (0.20)

49. Stef Elliot (0.775) / (0.29)
64. Tyson Barrie (0.764) / (0.56)

Another fun one to throw in that was the first to come to mind is the 2006 draft:
6. Derrick Brassard (2.00) / (0.59)
22. Claude Giroux (1.927) / (0.91)
^ Pretty big difference, even though Brassard had a better pts/g.

[yougo]

I certainly won't get into a pissing match with you about this, but it's pretty easy to debunk if you back test your theory. The 2009 draft for example, with Pts/G in draft year alongside NHL pts/g:

OHL:
3. Duchene (1.385) / (0.76)
7. Kadri (1.393) / (0.61)
13. Kassian (1.033) / (0.33)
15. Holland (0.985) / (0.32)
33. O'Reilly (0.97) / (0.58)
85. Cody Eakin (0.87) / (0.45)

WHL:
5. Braden Schenn (1.257) / (0.49)
8. Scott Glennie (1.272) / (0.00)
179. Brandon Kozun (1.50) / (0.20)

49. Stef Elliot (0.775) / (0.29)
64. Tyson Barrie (0.764) / (0.56)

Another fun one to throw in that was the first to come to mind is the 2006 draft:
6. Derrick Brassard (2.00) / (0.59)
22. Claude Giroux (1.927) / (0.91)
^ Pretty big difference, even though Brassard had a better pts/g.

You are right. It was dumb from me to say that Pts/G is the best way to rate players. I think it's a very important factor when assessing players but shouldn't be the only thing. I'll take the hit for saying that, not sure what I was thinking when I wrote that.

On another note, have you guys ever taken the time to look at http://www.theprojectionproject.com/Home/Search. Very interesting stuff there.

[Rodgort]

crouse is a coache's dream. I'm a huge fan and his offensive is very underrated

He can be a coach's dream, I am sure Tyler Biggs was a coach's dream too! haha. I said I think he will be a good hockey player I just don't see the fantasy/offensive upside to warrant a high pick is all

[Big Ev]

yougo: If points was all that mattered the draft would be very easy for GMs and every easy for people to predict.

[2014olympicgold]

Is Crouse really that good? Or is he a talented player that has the ability to move from top line scorer to 3^rd line checker that can pot some goals? And the ability to play PK, even, and PP? So it’s more of what he can do for a team than what he puts up stats wise? Like 60pt, great side stats, and ability to play in all situations?

[rataylor22]

Is Crouse really that good? Or is he a talented player that has the ability to move from top line scorer to 3^rd line checker that can pot some goals? And the ability to play PK, even, and PP? So it’s more of what he can do for a team than what he puts up stats wise? Like 60pt, great side stats, and ability to play in all situations?

He can Sean Couturier the crap out of his career

[Big Ev]

He's a better skater than Couturier and has more offensive upside in my opinion.

[2014olympicgold]

Hopefully a team lets him try and become a top 6 scorer instead of type casting him into a checker/shutdown player. He’ll start out on that 3^rd line prolly, but hopefully he moves up. I don’t like it when these “coaches players” get type casted into a checking role because that’s what coach asked.

[petegreg21]

Hopefully a team lets him try and become a top 6 scorer instead of type casting him into a checker/shutdown player. He’ll start out on that 3^rd line prolly, but hopefully he moves up. I don’t like it when these “coaches players” get type casted into a checking role because that’s what coach asked.

His play compares pretty favourably to Jamie Benn IMO. He's a good skater, knows how to use his size, has a hard shot, goes to the net. It'll be up to him to work his way up from a bottom 6 role, but he has the tools.

[2014olympicgold]

His play compares pretty favourably to Jamie Benn IMO. He's a good skater, knows how to use his size, has a hard shot, goes to the net. It'll be up to him to work his way up from a bottom 6 role, but he has the tools.

Ok, thanks for the knowledge on the kid. I was never really so high on him as a scorer mostly because the only action I saw from his was the WJC, where he went from being with a skilled player (McDavid I think), to a GREAT checker on a very good checking line. But as many have seen, it’s hard to find the players to play with elite players (Crosby and Pitts rotating wingers).

In 2 yrs if he’s not producing on the stat sheet, but becoming an Eakin level checker, people will call him a bust.

[Axeman33]

I am not overly high on his offensive upside but that's on limited viewings from them playing the odd time on Sportsnet.

I don't think he was used to his best abilities in the WJC so I take what I saw there with a grain of salt. That being said, I am just not excited by his overall offensive game.

[petegreg21]

I am not overly high on his offensive upside but that's on limited viewings from them playing the odd time on Sportsnet.

I don't think he was used to his best abilities in the WJC so I take what I saw there with a grain of salt. That being said, I am just not excited by his overall offensive game.

I could be thick skulled on this, but I don't see any issue with where his offence is at. Look at his play at the Hlinka last summer. He was still 16 years old (turned 17 right before the championship game) and he tied for the tournament lead with 6 goals in 5 games in a U18 tournament. Barzal and Marner had 7 points, Crouse, Strome, Konecny all had 6.

This year he improved his goal clip from 0.24 to 0.51 in the OHL. Fine by my standards!

Agreed he was under-utilized at the WJC but I think his versatility is what gives him such a high NHL certainty. To throw out another Benn comparison quickly, you look at the role Jamie Benn played in the bottom 6 at the olympics and chipping in 2 goals. These are guys who can play in premier roles on their own clubs but can be great team players and contributors in lesser roles on the big stage.

I'd also expect Crouse to take a much larger role at the WJC next season and again at age 19.

Disclaimer: I'm not saying Crouse is going to win any NHL scoring races, just more of a stylistic comparison and the toolkit to be a premier power forward.