Steve Kournianos is a smart guy. His rankings can be controversial at times but he watches a lot of hockey, knows a ton about all the prospects and doesn't just throw numbers in front of names - he puts a lot of thought into his rankings. He writes some articles for DobberProspects as well. Here are some of his articles at DP:
Top 25 Centers for the 2018 NHL Draft
NHL Draft: Top USHL Prospects
2018 NHL Draft: Top 10 Goalies
I agree. I actually like Steve's analysis overall and he takes some undeserved flack at times for misses, probably because he's so enthusiastic with his opinions. I happen to like his approach quite a bit and seem to agree with him more often than not. He's also had some impressive picks in the past. His stuff is well-written and enjoyable to read as well.
He's got him at 11th overall, and listed as a LW/C, so maybe he doesn't consider him a straight up C?
500 rankings!? I remember reading some of the profiles last year on that site, 500 seems like a crazy number of players to rank. They either must have a huge array of scouts working on this ranking or they are spread too thin.
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20 Team Dynasty H2H League: Devils (Rebuild Mode)
5th Year
G=1.5, A=1, PPP=.25, SHP=.25, BLK=.1, HIT=.1, SOG=1, FOW=+.1, FOL=-.1, GA=-1, SV=+.1, SHO=4, W=3
C : Hischier, Horvat,
W : Marner, P. Kane, Fiala
D : Provorov, Bouchard
G : Campbell, Francouz
Minors:
C : Tomasino, Rossi, Khustnutdinov, Amirov, Stankoven,
W : N. Robertson, Maccelli,
D : Addison, Farrance, Morrow, Heinola, Rathbone
G : Annunen, Thompson
The Hurricanes take Andrei Svechnikov and don't look back , Filip Zadina is heading to MTL
I would say the Canes they need that game changing sniper, I'm also not 100% sure MTL keeps the pick knowing Bergevin. They mainly need Center help but they also need scoring wingers and Zadina is the person to take @ 3. I'm just not buying the whole Carolina takes Zadina because of Necas thing ..
I'll be shocked if Kotkaniemi isn't a top 7 selection.
"He played center for Finland and was a winger for his pro team, but he projects as a center."
Yeah I just don't see Carolina passing on Zadina. Its a natural fit.
Then again with the recent comments about how Carolina is a tire fire maybe they blow it ?
Consider Sim Hockey because guys who play shutdown minutes, deflect shots and clear creases build championships. Yet in fantasy they litter the unwanted UFA lists.
Well... Waddell IS a terrible GM that has been burned by building his team around a Russian (Kovalchuk - Thrashers).
Waddell has a TERRIBLE track record with evaluating Russians... including, reportedly, offering Kovalchuk $101m over 12years when the team couldn't win with him making $6m per.
The awesome return that Waddell got when he did trade Kovalchuk:
*Niclas Bergfors, Johnny Oduya, Patrice Cormier, and a 1st round draft pick that ATL traded away**
**The draft pick could have been used @ #24 to draft Evgeny Kuznetsov had Waddell tried to replace his Russian... oh, but wait, that wouldn't have happened because Waddell&Dudley used the ATL #8 overall that year to take Alexander effin Burmmistrov INSTEAD of Vladimir Tarasenko or Evgeny Kuznetsov. #InCaseYouHadntNoticed...IhateWaddell.)
Short Summary: Waddell has to take Zadina because he has no success with Russians.