Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Fri Apr 04, 2025 12:41 pm
In fact, if you look up 'drafting for position' in the dictionary, you'll probably find a picture of Olli Juolevi
OJ was the consensus top defenseman prospect at the time
He was far from a reach...at the time
I remember Tkachek seeming to be the obvious choice. A winger.
To me, at least. At the time. Of course, I was no expert. Then, or now.
Chef Boi RD wrote: ↑Fri Apr 04, 2025 5:43 pm
Anyone paying attention to Gavin McKenna’s recent exploits? He’s looking like a tier above Bedard and Celebrini. Question now is, one that everyone is asking, is he on a level with McDavid? Some seem to think so.
Was something of a nothing burger at the WJC.
However, his WHL numbers this season are staggering.
The whole fucking team was a nothing burger.
”This was how twentieth-century Fascism began: with a magnetic leader exploiting widespread dissatisfaction by promising all things.” - Madeleine K. Albright - Fascism: A Warning
Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Fri Apr 04, 2025 12:41 pm
In fact, if you look up 'drafting for position' in the dictionary, you'll probably find a picture of Olli Juolevi
OJ was the consensus top defenseman prospect at the time
He was far from a reach...at the time
I remember Tkachek seeming to be the obvious choice. A winger.
To me, at least. At the time. Of course, I was no expert. Then, or now.
Chychrun and MacEvoy were in that wheelhouse too but Meg is right. Tkachuk was the obvious choice. The thing that was so easy to spot was his lack of desire and basically zero compete level.
“I don’t care what you and some other poster were talking about”
Megaterio Llamas wrote: ↑Fri Apr 04, 2025 12:41 pm
In fact, if you look up 'drafting for position' in the dictionary, you'll probably find a picture of Olli Juolevi
OJ was the consensus top defenseman prospect at the time
He was far from a reach...at the time
I remember Tkachek seeming to be the obvious choice. A winger.
To me, at least. At the time. Of course, I was no expert. Then, or now.
Chychrun and MacEvoy were in that wheelhouse too but Meg is right. Tkachuk was the obvious choice. The thing that was so easy to spot was his lack of desire and basically zero compete level.
It still amazes me that someone so uncompetitive could advance that far up the rankings and hold position right into the draft.
I was shocked we didn’t draft Tkachuk. I think the reason why we didn’t draft goes deeper than liking Juolevi more. I believe, somewhat, the opinion of Linden not liking his Dad Keith as one reason why they didn’t draft Matthew.
I get why they chose Virtanen, I’m not overly bothered by that pick, but I’m still very much baffled as to why Juolevi over Tkachuk.
”This was how twentieth-century Fascism began: with a magnetic leader exploiting widespread dissatisfaction by promising all things.” - Madeleine K. Albright - Fascism: A Warning
The tell was that they didn't even interview him which is standard practice for teams drafting that high.
You are correct Blobby on McAvoy and sergachev being highly ranked but OJ was ranked higher at the time.
He was very good for that junior team that won a memorial cup. I caught a game or 2 if I recall and he wasn't what we saw in Vancouver at all. He looked like he would be a stud
Who knows what really happened but it sure looks bad in hindsight
Juolevi, Laine,Puljojarvi and Aho were all coming off the 2016 World juniors where they dominated the tournament and won gold.
IIRC there were questions about Tkachucks skating and character.
Tage Thompson went 22nd in that draft as well.
Hindsight is always 20/20 in the draft.
dangler wrote: ↑Sat Apr 05, 2025 2:54 am
Juolevi, Laine,Puljojarvi and Aho were all coming off the 2016 World juniors where they dominated the tournament and won gold.
IIRC there were questions about Tkachucks skating and character.
Tage Thompson went 22nd in that draft as well.
Hindsight is always 20/20 in the draft.
Yes, the Finns looked like superstars that WJC. Funny how the best of the four - Aho, went in the 2nd round. I will give the Canucks somewhat of a pass on the pick, he was ranked to go top 6 on most everyone’s list and the Flames were apparently going to take him if the Canucks picked Tkachuk.
”This was how twentieth-century Fascism began: with a magnetic leader exploiting widespread dissatisfaction by promising all things.” - Madeleine K. Albright - Fascism: A Warning
I would go BPA. Even if the roster is loaded at the position of the draftee in question, the better the draftee turns out to be the more valuable the asset is - even in trade.
Even if he never played a game for Vancouver, Matt Tkachuk would have brought in a better return than Juolevi.
Lancer wrote: ↑Sat Apr 05, 2025 8:38 am
I would go BPA. Even if the roster is loaded at the position of the draftee in question, the better the draftee turns out to be the more valuable the asset is - even in trade.
Even if he never played a game for Vancouver, Matt Tkachuk would have brought in a better return than Juolevi.
I'd say Weegar and Huberdeau is a bit better return than Noah Juulsen. I personally would have preferred one of those players and more futures but Calgary's owner is as stupid as Aquillini.
I never heard shit about Tkachuk having a shitty attitude. I know his skating wasn't the best but it's good enough. Olaf was a horrific pick and he got those points on the WJC mostly second assists on a lethal PP. His numbers were pedestrian everywhere else other than that one tournament.
Back to this draft. This O'brien kid looks good and so does the Calgary Hitmen kid from Coquitlam. Also can they tumble enough to see Roger Mcqueen fall to them?
“I don’t care what you and some other poster were talking about”
Would be nice to freefall the rest of the way and get into the 11 hole in the draft lottery. Gives them a 6 % chance to win a top 2 pick. They'd still likely end up at 11 but thats better than 14 or 15.
They need to really re vamp the draft lottery. Teams like San Jose or Chicago should be eliminated from picking in the top 5 for the next three or four drafts. There isn't enough teeth in the current system. I hope Nashville or Boston gets the top pick if we can't get to 11.
“I don’t care what you and some other poster were talking about”
dangler wrote: ↑Sat Apr 05, 2025 2:54 am
Juolevi, Laine,Puljojarvi and Aho were all coming off the 2016 World juniors where they dominated the tournament and won gold.
IIRC there were questions about Tkachucks skating and character.
Tage Thompson went 22nd in that draft as well.
Hindsight is always 20/20 in the draft.
Yes, the Finns looked like superstars that WJC. Funny how the best of the four - Aho, went in the 2nd round. I will give the Canucks somewhat of a pass on the pick, he was ranked to go top 6 on most everyone’s list and the Flames were apparently going to take him if the Canucks picked Tkachuk.
Aho was picked the season before. Juolevi had the competitiveness of an aphid.
It was a putrid pick and theres no pass. Similar to the Virtanen and Podkolzin blunders.
“I don’t care what you and some other poster were talking about”
They should only have non-playoff teams making the first 32 picks.
Do an even odds draft lottery and snake draft the first 32 picks. That would completely eliminate tanking.
Lottery winner gets picks 1 and 32, second gets 2 and 31, lottery loser gets 16 and 17.
After the top 32 picks the next round begins like normal with all teams based on order of finish during the regular season.
So playoff teams only get six rounds of picks and non-playoff teams get eight rounds of picks.
“Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room.”
- President Merkin Muffley
2008 - Suave
2009 - Rodin
2010 - No Pick
2011 - No Pick
2012 - Mallet
2012 - No Pick
3rd round picks
2008 - no pick
2009 - Connauton
2010 - No Pick
2011 - Honzik and Grenier
2012 - No Pick
2013 - Cassels
”This was how twentieth-century Fascism began: with a magnetic leader exploiting widespread dissatisfaction by promising all things.” - Madeleine K. Albright - Fascism: A Warning
