2017 class vs 2016 class

[jman]

How is the 2017 class looking compared to the 2016?

Thanks in advance.

[Eskimo Brother]

I have heard not as solid, and not as deep. That being said, I haven't looked into it much at all yet.

[Goldendelicious]

Not nearly as deep. To me at has 2011 appeal to it...you'll get a handful of stars but the class overall is lacking.

[yougo]

I think it's too soon to tell.

[SensArmy93]

Not nearly as deep. To me at has 2011 appeal to it...you'll get a handful of stars but the class overall is lacking.

I think it's too soon to tell.

I too feel it will be similar to 2011, but as yougo said it's too soon to tell. There were a couple solid players in the OHL this past season that should have good improvements and get their names out there.

Haven't seen/heard much else other than Nolan Patrick likely being the consensus #1 pick.

[Goldendelicious]

The top spot will be a battle between Nolan Patrick and Timothy Liljegren. Players can easily rise up the charts but nobody at the moment has the hype or the play to suggest top end talent quite like the debates going around the 2016 circles.

[SensArmy93]

Here's an article from Mr. Button: http://www.tsn.ca/get-to-know-them-p...-2017-1.389307

[franklin]

I think we can all agree with the fact that we will not have a McDavid, Eichel or Matthews type of players. But I'm not sure the 2016 class is deaper than the 2017. It's really too soon.

[Goldendelicious]

Here's an article from Mr. Button: http://www.tsn.ca/get-to-know-them-p...-2017-1.389307

Vilardi is one guy I would watch for. He's going to be a very strong player and I would say he goes 3rd overall next year after Patick and Liljegren. He'll get a lot of exposure playing on an excellent Windsor team (he was very strong in the 2016 OHL playoffs against Kitchener). Not that this had an effect on my stance on the 2017 NHL draft, but the 2015 OHL draft was pretty weak; probably about the weakest in the past ~10 years. It shows to with Button's initial rankings.

[ericdaoust]

Wasn't this year's class seen as a bit weak a year ago?

[yougo]

Wasn't this year's class seen as a bit weak a year ago?

Yeah but like every season, when the draft approachs, every top10 player are future top20 players in the NHL.

[ericdaoust]

Yeah but like every season, when the draft approachs, every top10 player are future top20 players in the NHL.

That was the point of my question.

The other side of it is from now till June 2017 those players will have had an extra year to take the next step and look like future stars. Way more uncertainty when they're 17.

[yougo]

That was the point of my question.

The other side of it is from now till June 2017 those players will have had an extra year to take the next step and look like future stars. Way more uncertainty when they're 17.

Agreed. Which why I'm all for pushing the draft eligible season one year.

[franklin]

Wasn't this year's class seen as a bit weak a year ago?

From what I've read, 2016 is deeper at the top, but a bit weak after the top. But 2017 is more deeper in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd round.

[Ed.]

Agreed. Which why I'm all for pushing the draft eligible season one year.

How would that work though? Would there just not be an entry draft for a year to let that group of 18 year olds age a little more?