Youngblood's Official '12 NHL Draft Q & A Thread

[NoWayOut]

Hey Dean thanks for taking the time to set up this thread.

This will concern the team in my sig. I've got the 7th pick in the draft and I'm trying to work on a plan B. Plan A was to target a RW with that pick, Teravainen, unless my psychic powers could convince the 6 GM's ahead of me to ignore Yakupov.

Now I have some serious reservations about TT being there at 7 as his stock seems to be on the rise. I feel 7 is too early to grab Collberg, so my question is where to go if Teravainen is gone at that point?

I feel pretty comfortable with where my D is headed. Once their all up I'll have Fowler, Smith, Gudbranson, Orlov, and Clendening. Should I consider grabbing one of Murray, Dumba, or Rielly if TT is gone and secure the 6th future starter? Maybe Faksa if I go forward instead of D with that plan B?

The way I see my team at this point, I'm 2-3 years away from serious contention so I can wait on whoever I pick to mature and get his game sorted on the farm.

[SaveByHexy]

Thanks for doing this!

My question is, after the high end guys (Yakupov, Galchenyuk, Girgorenko, Teravainen, Forsberg, Collberg, Aberg, Hertl, maybe Faksa), I am having a hard time falling in love with any forwards for fantasy purposes. I have concerns about fantasy upside for guys like Girgensons, Gaunce, Wilson, Sissons, etc. After the first group of guys I mentioned, who are the next 5-10 or so forwards you would target to be good offensive players?

[Dean Youngblood]

Ross,
I really like Henrik Samuelsson at the Memorial Cup. In most draft, he's a late first round pick or second round. I though his skating was good and he did use his body to make some space and protect the puck.
What's wrong with him or what are the things the scouts don't like about his game?
Thanks!

It's actually his heavy footed skating style that garners the most criticism. Also, he needs to better control his indiscipline play. However, he's definitely
A
Player that I could see sneaking into the first round. I like his aggressive style of play and he has solid finesse to go with it

[Dean Youngblood]

Hey Dean thanks for taking the time to set up this thread.

This will concern the team in my sig. I've got the 7th pick in the draft and I'm trying to work on a plan B. Plan A was to target a RW with that pick, Teravainen, unless my psychic powers could convince the 6 GM's ahead of me to ignore Yakupov.

Now I have some serious reservations about TT being there at 7 as his stock seems to be on the rise. I feel 7 is too early to grab Collberg, so my question is where to go if Teravainen is gone at that point?

I feel pretty comfortable with where my D is headed. Once their all up I'll have Fowler, Smith, Gudbranson, Orlov, and Clendening. Should I consider grabbing one of Murray, Dumba, or Rielly if TT is gone and secure the 6th future starter? Maybe Faksa if I go forward instead of D with that plan B?

The way I see my team at this point, I'm 2-3 years away from serious contention so I can wait on whoever I pick to mature and get his game sorted on the farm.

I think you have a solid plan. Grab TT if available and if not, draft Rielly or Dumba. If you want more NHL certainty then Faksa is a solid option. Depending on where these players fall in the real NhL draft, your fellow GMs could let some unexpected players fall to you (ie Grigorenko, Teravainen). I know a lot of fantasy leagues' draft usually resemble the order of the actual draft so hope for some of these potential offensive players to fall

[Dean Youngblood]

Thanks for doing this!

My question is, after the high end guys (Yakupov, Galchenyuk, Girgorenko, Teravainen, Forsberg, Collberg, Aberg, Hertl, maybe Faksa), I am having a hard time falling in love with any forwards for fantasy purposes. I have concerns about fantasy upside for guys like Girgensons, Gaunce, Wilson, Sissons, etc. After the first group of guys I mentioned, who are the next 5-10 or so forwards you would target to be good offensive players?

You are looking at long term investments or guys with more associated risk:

Phil Di Giuseppe
Tim Bozon
Anton Slepyshev
Nic Kerdiles
Scott Kosmachuk
Mark Jankowski
Brian Hart
Kevin Roy
Nikita Gusev (if drafted)
Scott Kosmachuk
Boo Nieves
Andreas Athanasiou

[Dean Youngblood]

Hey Deaner,

If the run on tenders starts early do you see any merit to taking one of the big 3 in the 15-20 picks? My keeper league goalie stats are only GAA, and SV%, so which of the big 3 would you take? I realize until we see which teams they are drafted to, its difficult, but how soon do you see them becoming NHLers?

I look forward to seeing how your advice changes after the draft, when you can assess the team needs, and how they fit into it.

Thanks,

Puck

Ya Goaltending projections depend largely on sherethey are drafted so remind post draft.

As of now, I like the goalies in this order: Dansk, Vasilevskiy, Subban but I actually think they get drafted in the exact opposite order haha.

[Axeman33]

Matthew Murray vs Brandon Whitney

Who do you project as the better goalie prospect going forward?

[Dean Youngblood]

Matthew Murray vs Brandon Whitney

Who do you project as the better goalie prospect going forward?

As an OHL guy, I prefer Matthew Murray. Both great prospects but I feel as though Murray has the raw skill to eventually become a great goalie.

[cappy76]

With the players that slid (Forsberg and Grigs expecially) what is your new top 20 or so players with how the draft shook out as far as players with teams they ended up with?

[eribelan]

Man, Fantastic options available. Naming just 5 is tough

1. Yakupov
2. Granlund
3. Pacioretty
4. Galchenyuk
5. Schultz
6. Grigorenko
7. Hamilton
8. Kreider
9. Gardner
10. Schwartz
11. Henrique
12. Connolly

I placed an emphasis on youth so you have a chance at MacKinnon/Monahan but
I myself would grab proven guys like Moulson, Lupul, etc even over prospects like Kreider, Schwartz, etc

There's the final Result of my draft

1) Yakupov
3) Pacioretty
4) Granlund
11) D Hamilton
31) J. schultz
32) Markstrom


There's my team for the next year. What changes do you expect or suggest? Trades only, no free agents ... Until next year...

Sidney Crosby
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Taylor Hall
Jordan Eberle
Tyler Seguin
Joe Pavelski
Max Pacioretty
Nail Yakupov
James Van Riemsdyk
Magnus Paajarvi
Mikael Granlund
Jonathan Huberdeau
Ryan Strome
Evgeni Kuznetsov

Drew Dougthy
Cam Fowler
Erik Karlsson
Alex Goligoski
David Rundblad
Dougie Hamilton
Justin Schultz

Jonas Hiller
Cory Schneider
Jakub Markstrom

I have rebuild my whole team last year. I hope I haved made the good moves.

[Brady19]

I'm wondering who you feel had their fantasy value improved after the draft today, and who potentially had their fantasy value decrease compared to how you might have ranked them prior to the draft?

For example Lindholm going 6th overall to Anaheim. Does that boost his value compared to where you might have pegged it prior to the draft? Obviously we won't know where the later round players wind up yet, but the fact that a few guys (Collberg, Aberg) fell out of the 1st round might indicate something.

Anyway, I'm curious to hear your thoughts, and thanks in advance!

[Lemmy]

With the first round all wrapped up.

1.What prospects benifited the most from the teams that picked them ( player development and positional need)?

2.Which players have the best shot at making their NHL team next season?

Read all the posts and this is a great way to fill a off season, thanks for all the great work.