Welcome to the Dark Side Minions: The Top Draft Prospects'14

[Chef Boi RD]

Nylander today was good for the first 2 periods but the Americans became too much for him. It was again the Eichel show out there, is it ever not? Hearing a lot of rumblings out there that Eichel is the better player than McDavid. Every time I see Eichal I'm really impressed, wish I could say the same for McDavid. Starting to look like another classic Ontario media/fan overhyping of another local kid.

[ClamRussel]

McDavid = Cleary?

[2Fingers]

Nylander today was good for the first 2 periods but the Americans became too much for him. It was again the Eichel show out there, is it ever not? Hearing a lot of rumblings out there that Eichel is the better player than McDavid. Every time I see Eichal I'm really impressed, wish I could say the same for McDavid. Starting to look like another classic Ontario media/fan overhyping of another local kid.

Are you watching this live or on TV?

[Chef Boi RD]

McDavid = Cleary?

Starting to think so. The games that I have seen of McDavid - WJC's and junior Im left feeling that I don't see the hype. Yes, he's fast, tries to beat you individually and stuff but I just don't see the hype. I see him as a Matt Duschene 2nd tier star but definitely not 1st tier. Every time I've seen Eichel he just bleeds
NHL superstar. Extremely smart and is one of those types that controls the game and the pace and direction every time he's on the ice. The puck just follows him around and the other teams always seem to be in a cluster fuck because of it. McDavid is all bursts, the sense, IQ, anticipation is nowhere near on par with Eichel.

I could see Eichel being the star of the league whereas McDavid being more of a flashy player

On a good note for Canada, fellow Eichel draft class mates - Barzal and Konecny apparently played very well throughout the tourney

[SKYO]

As fun as it would be to join in on trashing McDavid, he's not a bust, he was just 16 back in January for christ sakes...#giveyourheadashake he's the next big nhl superstar without a doubt.

[ClamRussel]

You didn't just drop a hashtag bomb on the Dude...

[Strangelove]

I say we trade up in the draft and grab Reinhart.

What would it take?

#6 overall + Edler for #1 overall??

Ed Ler reunited with his pal Lu Wongo in Fabulous Florida.

[Chef Boi RD]

I'm all in on making a pitch for Reinhart, like this kids game, smart and has some slick moves that you want from a playmaking centre, basically our Henrik replacement.

Him and Horvat as our 1 & 2 centres for the next decade and more, that'll bring back the feel goods for this organization

[Betamax]

Nylander looks like transvestite Pacific Blue . I thought for sure you would be all over him for the Canucks pick. Christ my head hurts today. I went out to get new tires on my truck at 10:30 in the morning and didn't get home until 3:00 AM.

Lol, you must be in Mrs. McKenzies dog house today

Started at the The Arms? Then what, ended up in some crack house in Haney?

Nylander is weird looking, when I first googled the kid I thought I made a mistake in my googling cause I kept getting a girl in a hockey uni claiming to be Nylander.

No idea what you're talking about Dudester.

I thought I was looking at a younger Ellen Degeneres in that picture.

[ClamRussel]

I'm all in on making a pitch for Reinhart, like this kids game, smart and has some slick moves that you want from a playmaking centre, basically our Henrik replacement.

Him and Horvat as our 1 & 2 centres for the next decade and more, that'll bring back the feel goods for this organization

Pre-draft fantasy. Horvat projects as a no. 2/3 centre, Reinhart projects as a no. 2. On a good team, neither project as a true no. 1. Hardly a replacement for Hank. Careful not to get too punch drunk on the hype. Perhaps Ellen Degeneres Jr. will turn out to be the true no. 1 of the bunch.

[SKYO]

just give William Nylander a few years to age...

[Meds]

McDavid = Cleary?

Starting to think so. The games that I have seen of McDavid - WJC's and junior Im left feeling that I don't see the hype. Yes, he's fast, tries to beat you individually and stuff but I just don't see the hype. I see him as a Matt Duschene 2nd tier star but definitely not 1st tier. Every time I've seen Eichel he just bleeds
NHL superstar. Extremely smart and is one of those types that controls the game and the pace and direction every time he's on the ice. The puck just follows him around and the other teams always seem to be in a cluster fuck because of it. McDavid is all bursts, the sense, IQ, anticipation is nowhere near on par with Eichel.

I could see Eichel being the star of the league whereas McDavid being more of a flashy player

On a good note for Canada, fellow Eichel draft class mates - Barzal and Konecny apparently played very well throughout the tourney

I haven't seen Eichel play, but I've seen some of McDavid's stuff.....mostly at the WJC.

I don't think McDavid is going to surpass Crosby, but he still looked really good.

At 17 years of age Crosby played in his first WJC and recorded 5 points in 6 games. At 18 years of age he scored 9 points in 6 games.

At 16, McDavid scored 4 points in 7 games while playing as the youngster with exceptional player status. His linemates weren't as talented as the players Crosby skated with. McDavid looked really good, and it wasn't just flashes. He was a heads up player. The one thing I did note was that he wasn't as noticeable in his own zone, but breaking out of the zone and across he was quite sharp offensively. I thought he looked to be Reinhart's equal.....and he's still got two more years to develop. The Crosby comparison's were evident though, his play away from the puck was outstanding, he supported the puck carrier and was very good at finding teammates on the fly.

What I'm saying is that we should reserve judgement on him until we've seen what he can do as a 17-18 year old.

Also, consider that McDavid and Crosby's numbers in Midget AAA are very close. 2.4 ppg for McDavid and 2.6 ppg for Crosby. When people point to his junior numbers you have to factor in that Crosby played in the Q and McDavid in the O. Top scorers in the Q will always have a better chance at higher point totals. McDavid also made the jump to the CHL a year earlier than Crosby did (unless my math is wrong Crosby went at 16 to the Q and McDavid at 15 to the O).

[Island Nucklehead]

At 17 years of age Crosby played in his first WJC and recorded 5 points in 6 games. At 18 years of age he scored 9 points in 6 games.

Crosby was 16 years (and 4 months) old in his first World Juniors. Born in 1987, he played on the stacked 2004 World Junior team.

He was in the NHL at 18.

McDavid turned 17 shortly after this years World Juniors.

[Chef Boi RD]

I guess it's that every time I have seen Eichel step on the ice he's
Impressive he has that presence and seems to always dictate the play

All the times I've watched McDavid play I am not left feeling - wow this kid is special. I get that with Eichel but I don't get that with Connor

There is seemingly a growing contingent who feel the same about this. McDavid is going to be a good player but he's definitely not the next coming and I honestly feel that Eichel will be a better player after all is said and done

[ClamRussel]

Its pretty much a crapshoot every year, you never know.
Daigle was a "can't miss" superstar.

The best players at 16 or 17 aren't always the best players at 20 or 21.

Yann Sauve was considered a 1st round pick for sure the year prior to his draft year. He fell, and for good reason. Look how much your opinion has changed RD, just based on this one under 18 tourney. A good or bad playoffs can change a lot of opinions as well.