Best D prospect in your opinion

[GelFlow]

Hi all,

Wondering your take on this:

In a points league (1goal or 1pass = 1pt) for a keepers league, what would be your ranking for these D prospects?

Alex Sandin-Pellikka
Lane Hutson
Denton Mateychuk
David Reinbacher

Cheers,

GelFlow

[DangerCat]

I think at this point I have to go Hutson even on hype alone. What he’s done at college is nothing short of incredible and if he can develop into an NHL defenseman he will be a star. His size is less than ideal but with his talent I think he’s the bonafide leader by a mile in this group though I like mateychuk and I think both of the 2023 guys will be good D prospects also.

[PoolPartyPuljeejarvi]

So its Hutson by a country mile for me- we just watched Luke Hughes dominate the NCAA last year and then Hutson came in and said "hold my beer" lol! He slowed down near the end but he still beat Hughes total soundly. It was looking like he was gonna make a mockery of things til he hit a bit of a skid. The point is that although suze concerns for a D are a lot more impactful than a forward - this kid is just such a gamer that its hard to even envision him not succeeding in every aspect of the game but even if he were forced into a more one dimensional offensive role he'd destroy that role. Hes a clear step up here and again not to be hyperbolic its not really close...

Reinbacher is weird- a bunch of scouts predicted he'd climb this year and he did exactly that lol! I really feel like he plays such a sound/complete game though that he might not have a chance to strut his stuff offensively. Every mock I've seen has him going to Van and if he does im sorry but he's not bumping quinn out of the top ppqb spot..

Sandin-Pelikka was my early pick for the dman i like this year- I think he has more risk in his game but more upside as well. Without a crystal ball though you're basically investing in a lottery ticket. Id be happy to have him on my team (and we'll see- maybe it happens!) but not at the expense of Hutson...

Mateychuk... just doesn't belong on this list. Look at how many people are ahead of him on that depth chart- lol! I mean you've got werenski whose basically "the man" in Columbus and then you've got jiricek exploding through the prospect ranks- but even after that a lot of experts are advising not to give up on Boqvist who was very highly touted early on and has some serious goal scoring jam (rare for a defenseman!) and even Blankenburg is getting hyped as a possible ppqb. I know some people rave about Mateychuk but that is a TON of legit competition! On top of that the straw that broke the camels back for me was a will scouch interview where a guy was quoting someone else who said "this kid could literally revise the whole position as a dman!" And scouch whose not really a fan of being a wet blanket didn't hesitate and answered "Well he'd basically have to... I mean have you ever seen a defenseman like him thats had success at the NHL level?" Followed by a long pause and some papers flipping and some mouses clicking before the host finally agreed- that yea there really hasn't been. I love me a contrarian pick but when you're options are "revolutionize the position or bust" - im finding a different horse to back...

[Axeman33]

I will take flack for saying this from Habs fans here, but I dont like Hutson in Montreal. I dont like the way they develop players. Do I think he's the best option from the names listed? Sure, for now. We have no no idea where Sandin-Pelikka or Reinbacher are going to and the development process they will be exposed to. Until we have all the information, I dont think it's fair to include the two drafted guys vs the two undrafted guys. Too many unknowns.

[PicklePickle]

Hutson
Axel
Denton
David

[senryu]

Hutson
Mateychuk
Reinbacher
Sandin-Pellikka

[Feenom]

Hutson
Mateychuk
Reinbacher
Sandin-Pellikka

Same here.

[berni67]

Hutson also. I can’t wait to see him with Montreal in October 2024…

[bbfl1987]

Hutson and Mateychuk have the highest upside.

[finnys_fanatsy]

old thread but relevant to my ask so i wont make a new thread,

where do Korchinski and Zellweger fit here?

[senryu]

old thread but relevant to my ask so i wont make a new thread,

where do Korchinski and Zellweger fit here?

I'd put Zellweger 1 and Korchinsky 2, but you could also switch them and that'd be fine. These two are above all of the others on the original list of four.

[zambronies]

Same here.

Another vote for this

[Pengwin7]

Lane Huston made a lot of Eastern NCAA forwards look silly this past year.
Shayne Gostisbehere did the same thing.
For me, that's the comparable I see.

I don't see his game translating to the NHL where opposing forwards are a LOT smarter and don't go for the same head fakes and change of direction/pace.
I think Hutson game works VERY VERY (VERY!) well against all players that aren't NHL-caliber. He just turns them inside out and makes them look silly. (This includes some JR kids and some IIHF players)

For me - I think it's Pellikka of this group.

[I like Huston. I do think he'll be a good 3rd pairing and PP1 D-man. I don't think he's anything near Quinn Hughes or Zach Werenski... and people are talking about him with that same excitement after his D+1 year in a weak Hockey East.]

[hawkdog]

Hutson update - 6 points in 7 games, +8, at the worlds. Plus one highlight reel goal.

[bbfl1987]

Hutson update - 6 points in 7 games, +8, at the worlds. Plus one highlight reel goal.

As a Habs fan, I’m grinning ear to ear watching this guy.