8th Overall - do i consider Dylan Larkin?

[Dynamo]

With the 8th overall selection of our Prospect Draft, would you consider taking Dylan Larkin or even Anthony DeAngelo over the players that might be available from this years Draft class?

Dobbers Prospect guide has both of them as bluechippers, so i wonder if it's worth it to target one of them that early.

[Jouko-Pouko]

I would seriously consider Larkin, yes. Not so much DeAngelo that early.

In my opinion, after the top 4 of McDavid, Eichel, Strome and Marner are gone, you should start considering Larkin. Not sure I'd take him over Barzal or Zacha but I might. Larkin's upside is close to those guys and his NHL certainty is higher.

[kevinsrangers]

I'd put larkin at 6 and deAngelo at about 10.

[franklin]

At 8 I would for sure consider Larkin.

[YzermansLegacy]

This is so dependent on the value for D in your league.

Since you're considering AA, I'll assume D are valued at least on par with F.

If that's the case, personally I wouldn't be looking at Larkin in the 8th slot. Again this is highly league settings dependent, so perhaps he's a better fit for your league, but based purely on (points) upside, my personal preference would be:

1) McDavid
2) Eichel
3) Marner
4) Barzal
5) Strome
6) Hanifin
7) Provorov
8) Werenski
9) Zacha
10) Connor
11) Guryanov

... so Larkin wouldn't be my choice at 8 as long as D are involved.

If you remove D from the equation, then yes, I would consider Larkin after Zacha, in the Connor/Guryanov tier.

[Axeman33]

This is so dependent on the value for D in your league.

Since you're considering AA, I'll assume D are valued at least on par with F.

If that's the case, personally I wouldn't be looking at Larkin in the 8th slot. Again this is highly league settings dependent, so perhaps he's a better fit for your league, but based purely on (points) upside, my personal preference would be:

1) McDavid
2) Eichel
3) Marner
4) Barzal
5) Strome
6) Hanifin
7) Provorov
8) Werenski
9) Zacha
10) Connor
11) Guryanov

... so Larkin wouldn't be my choice at 8 as long as D are involved.

If you remove D from the equation, then yes, I would consider Larkin after Zacha, in the Connor/Guryanov tier.

Interesting ranking.

I have done up a top 30 ranking for multi-cat fantasy as well. This is my top 9:

1. Connor McDavid
2. Jack Eichel
3. Mitch Marner
4. Dylan Strome
5. Mikko Rantanen
6. Noah Hanifin
7. Mathew Barzal
8. Pavel Zacha
9. Timo Meier


I am not going to post #10 because I am currently involved in one of my leagues drafting and I am waiting for one guy to pick before me and I am hoping my #10 goes past him. All nine of these guys have already gone.

As far as the OP is concerned, if you feel Larkin has more upside than any of the guys I have posted, then go for it. I am not sold on him at #8 for you but that's just me.

[NAParker77]

Given Larkin is likely closer to the NHL than a lot of those guys after the top handful, there is value in that alone.

Sometimes it is worth the security at the expense of upside, after all.

[ericdaoust]

I don't think Larkin sacrifices any upside here. He's definitely in the conversation at #5.

[NAParker77]

For sure, Eric,

I was more stating in general terms.

[Shake]

I take Larkin over DeAngelo. If two prospects grade out / project as similiar type players and one is a forward and one is a defeneseman I will typically always go with the forward as the growing process is shorter. In fantasy I like to have prospects come up within 1-3 years of draft date. Forwards typically allow for this to happen as their mature rate for the game is faster. I will then trade away excess forward fat in return for developing defenders to round out my balance.
I suggest you go with Larkin here.

[forsbergfan]

Interesting ranking.

I have done up a top 30 ranking for multi-cat fantasy as well. This is my top 9:

1. Connor McDavid
2. Jack Eichel
3. Mitch Marner
4. Dylan Strome
5. Mikko Rantanen
6. Noah Hanifin
7. Mathew Barzal
8. Pavel Zacha
9. Timo Meier


I am not going to post #10 because I am currently involved in one of my leagues drafting and I am waiting for one guy to pick before me and I am hoping my #10 goes past him. All nine of these guys have already gone.

As far as the OP is concerned, if you feel Larkin has more upside than any of the guys I have posted, then go for it. I am not sold on him at #8 for you but that's just me.

axe, could u let us know what u think these guys fantasy potential/realistic projections are for the guys starting from 5th overall. the first four are set in stone (just the marner-strome debate, but fantasy wise they're 3-4), but after that it gets interesting. i have the 5th pick in my league's draft. u've got rantanen there. why him over batzal and zacha? my gut feeling is barzal winds up as a point per game player, and rantanen is more of a 65, maybe 70 point player who hits more categories.
we are a multi-cat league, but it's based on a points system so the multi-cat stud is not necessarily better than the point per game player. what are your projections?

[Axeman33]

axe, could u let us know what u think these guys fantasy potential/realistic projections are for the guys starting from 5th overall. the first four are set in stone (just the marner-strome debate, but fantasy wise they're 3-4), but after that it gets interesting. i have the 5th pick in my league's draft. u've got rantanen there. why him over batzal and zacha? my gut feeling is barzal winds up as a point per game player, and rantanen is more of a 65, maybe 70 point player who hits more categories.
we are a multi-cat league, but it's based on a points system so the multi-cat stud is not necessarily better than the point per game player. what are your projections?

NHL projections for these kids is such a crap shoot and I hate doing them if I am being honest with you. I'll leave the projections to Dobber.

I just rank guys on my personal preference on what I see from reading as much as I can or watching them, either their games or on youtube. I think all three forwards are going to be high end players (and Timo Meier too). My preference towards Rantanen comes from reading about his style of play and the fact he's been playing in the Finnish Elite League against the big boys since he was 16. I just like him for multi-cat leagues. I think the kid is going to be one of the better players out of this draft, long term.

Last year, Ehlers was my guy I had up near the top of my rankings (I had him at #4 on my lists) and tried like hell to get him in all my leagues. Some I was successful, some not so much.

This year Rantanen is the guy I am reaching for (if you want to say that) compared to others in this years draft.

[mounD]

After McDavid, Eichel, Strome, and Marner, I would be looking at Larkin for sure. I might even consider him at 3-4. Kid is an absolute stud.

[Dobber]

In fantasy leagues, in my Prospects Report I have:


1 Connor McDavid '15
2 Jack Eichel '15
3 Nikolaj Ehlers WPG
4 Dylan Strome '15
5 Anthony DeAngelo TBL
6 William Nylander TOR
7 Max Domi ARI
8 Anthony Mantha DET
9 Michael Dal Colle NYI
10 Mitch Marner '15
11 Robby Fabbri STL
12 Dylan Larkin DET


Rossy has:

1 Connor McDavid '15
2 Jack Eichel '15
3 Mitch Marner '15
4 Nikolaj Ehlers WPG
5 Dylan Strome '15
6 Anthony DeAngelo TBL
7 William Nylander TOR
8 Max Domi ARI
9 Michael Dal Colle NYI
10 Robby Fabbri STL
11 Matt Barzal '15
12 Nikolay Goldobin SJ
13 Dylan Larkin DET


Very much in the conversation with the high-end '15 guys


Also, buy the Fantasy Prospects Report!