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- [00:01]
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Max Boltman
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Chris Peters
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- [02:16]
Chris Peters
This is the athletic hockey show prospect series.
- [02:26]
Becca Moore
Foreign.
- [02:30]
Max Boltman
Hey everybody. Max Boltman here alongside the Athletic Scott Wheeler and Corey Promen and Flow Hockey's Chris Peters for another episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect Series. A little bit of big news as we kick off the show Today we are doing a draft show. The Athletic is teaming up with Flow Hockey and you can join us here on YouTube for the entire first round of the NHL Draft on Friday, June 26th at 7pm Also going to be live the next day immediately following the draft. To recap everything, make sure you subscribe to us here on YouTube so you don't miss it. But yeah, we'll be live through the whole first round. It's going to be great. I'm really excited for for what it has in store, guys, today we have another big project. We are doing our annual show, mock draft. Remember, we are predicting the first round here. This is what we think is going to Happen next Friday, June 26th. You know, we'll see how many we get, right? But I'd take three or four, honestly, based on. On how these tend to go this year, maybe, maybe we're shooting for five or six this year. Year that we'll set the bar high for ourselves. And the first pick in this one, Chris Peters with the Toronto Maple Leafs, goes to you.
- [03:30]
Chris Peters
Yeah. How about it? Right? Nice and easy. Thanks for letting me bat lead off here, gentlemen. I'm not going to beat around the bush. I think, you know, based on the totality of evidence that we have at the moment, I would say that it is going to be Gavin McKenna as the number one pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs. You know, there is some reporting out there that he was letting teams know that, that, hey, I think. I think I'm going to Toronto or, you know, I am going to Toronto. And that seems to be the case. So what does this mean for the Maple Leafs? Obviously, I think if you're a team that has a core already, this is probably a scenario where you can bring this player in. He doesn't have to be the savior of the franchise. And that's, that's probably the best case scenario for Gavin McKenna. I do think they're going to be growing pains. I think that there's going to be things like he'll probably be on the. In the lineup right away next year, but I think you're going to have to be patient. But incredible skill, the most dynamic player in this class, and just really, that offensive aptitude that he has is big. I also think if you're the Maple Leafs, it's really hard for you to pass on this player, given the risk that exists elsewhere. Take the player with the most offensive upside.
- [04:39]
Corey Promen
I think that this argument I hear a lot is, it's this, this is the common guy, this is the guy you have to take. Whatever. I think they just love the player. I think they're just big believers in the player. Like, that's been the understanding I've gotten is. I think they just, they buy the arguments we've made all year about whether you can go for or against. I think they just think this is the 100 point potential guy. And I'm not saying they're going to take him, but if, but that's been my understanding.
- [05:05]
Chris Peters
Yeah.
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Max Boltman
All right, well, then with the second pick, Corey, for San Jose, that's you.
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Corey Promen
I think if McKenna goes one, I think it's between Ivar Stenberg and Chase reed here at 2. I don't know which way they go. My gut is Reed. I think they go for the defenseman here, the guy who could run the power play. The, you know, I think we like all like Sam Dickinson. Sam Dickinson, you know, didn't have an amazing year this year. I don't think you can look at Sam Dickinson and be like he's our number one, number two of the future. No doubt. Like there's a lot of work to do still here on this blue line. I think if it's close, and I do think it's close, I think they go with the D man here. They get a little bigger, they, they get a pillar for the, on the blue line and I think they leave the draft very happy with him.
- [05:53]
Max Boltman
All right, so top of the draft We've got number one, Gavin McKenna to Toronto, number two, Chase Reed to San Jose, number three for Vancouver. That's, that's my slot here. And, and following Drance's reporting here, it's been really striking how much Caleb Malhotra buzz there is and that precedes the hiring of his father as the head coach. If anything you, you read some of the way Drance has written it, it almost sounds like that wanting to pick Malhotra might have been an obstacle to hiring Manny Malhotra, if anything else in
- [06:20]
Chris Peters
that, in that order.
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Max Boltman
But I do think, you know where Vancouver is in their rebound. He makes a lot of sense for him. Ivar Stenberg is a fantastic player, but I think when you're picking in the top three and you're this early on in the process, the value of a two way center who's on the trajectory, I think that's the biggest part with Malhotra is the trajectory that he's on of improvement. And you can really see if this keeps going in that direction. He's a really valuable player. Number four, that's Scott and that is the Chicago Blackhawks.
- [06:46]
Scott Wheeler
If the draft plays out this way, and I had a sneaking suspicion that this was the way that it was going to go one through three here, I think, and they won't be at the draft. Kyle Davidson and his team won't be at the draft because it's a decentralized format. But this is a dance to the draft stage sort of event here for, for the Blackhawks. I think Stenberg is exactly what they need, exactly what they would be looking for. We've talked about it. I've said it again and again. They need someone who can elevate Connor Bed rather than him having to elevate everybody else. Stenberg is the player in this class, assuming that Gavin McKenna goes one. Obviously Stenberg is that sort of winger. He's that caliber of a player. I think he's going to be a point per game player in the league. I think he's a winning player at that, at that sort of level. And he is exactly sort of what they need. So I'll take Ivar here and I'd be pretty surprised if Stenberg's here if he's not their selection.
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Corey Promen
It kind of feels like the chalk scenario that's emerged is McKenna, Reed, Malhotra, Stenberg in the top four, and then there's deviation after that. What do you guys think would be the most likely team to deviate from that scenario if that would happen? That's what my thoughts are too. San Jose is they take either Stenberg or they take a defenseman not named Reed. I feel like. I feel like Carl kind of pursue stand like we've all kind of presumed Reed. I've heard Verhoff there too, honestly, like, I think there's a lot of interest there. Like, I think we've all kind of presumed Reed. I have not been able to get that firmly that that's their guy kind of things. And I think that's very similar to the conversations we had about San Jose
- [08:22]
Scott Wheeler
this time last year coming out of the combine. And I've just finished just putting the finishing touches on my scout survey now as well. And just in speaking to people, they seem to. The Sharks seem to be the team in the top five or six that the league is having the toughest time getting a true sort of pulse on. I think they. I've heard they. You mentioned Fairhof. I've heard they like Carl's like, I think there's. There's three or four names there that they. That they're considering.
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Max Boltman
All right, number five, we're back around to you, Chris. That's the New York Rangers.
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Chris Peters
Yeah, and I think this is a tough one because I think they would probably really hope that one of those forwards drops, you know, in this range, especially if it's a center, I think Malhotra would definitely be, you know, a guy that they want here. So it makes it a little more difficult. But I think, you know, as. As you kind of look around and see the different things, there's. There's a number of players that I think are in this Range, Verhoff, Carls, Smith's like you're talking about the premium defenseman in this particular instance. It's, it's been tough to know exactly, you know, who, who they would prefer in that group. I'm going to go with Carl's in this case. There is some, you know, he, he didn't participate in the combine. There have been some teams talking about that a little bit just because I believe, you know, as an upper body injury, concussion kind of situation, teams are kind of monitoring that. So I do think that there is something that they're, they're looking at. I don't think, you know, in talking to some other sources that, that there's, there's a huge amount of concern about that. But most complete defenseman. I think, you know, you look at a guy like, you know, Charlie McAvoy, I think that the Rangers, you know, Charlie McAvoy grew up a Rangers fan, even though he's from Long Island. I think they would love a type of player like that. I do think that that would be Carl's in this case. He's the most likely to kind of fill that. So to me that makes the most sense as the logical, you know, premium defenseman available to them. But I could see any one of those guys in that mix and, and, and see where it goes from there.
- [10:21]
Max Boltman
All right, onward to top five. Number one at Toronto, Gavin McKenna. Number two to San Jose, Chase Reed. Three to Vancouver, Caleb Malhotra. Four to Chicago, Ivar Stenberg, five to the Rangers, Carson Carls. That's your top five. Corey, where does that leave the Calgary Flames at six?
- [10:38]
Corey Promen
I think it's fair to say the most pressing critical need for the Calgary Flames right now is a center. You know, I think Caleb Alhotra getting all the way to six seems highly unlikely, but I think they're reassured by how he looked at the Men's World Championships. And they take Viggo Bjork here, they can point right to Logan Stankhoven, who just won a Stanley cup and say we think he can be that. And I think they are very happy to get a top potential top six. Enter the future here at the sixth overall pick.
- [11:11]
Scott Wheeler
My, my one concern with Bjork here, and I do think Bjork, based off of how they've drafted in the past, Bjork is probably a player that, that scouting staff loves. Like that would not surprise me in the least. My one wonder is with Cole Reshney and Ethan Wittenbach and Colin Potter and you go down the list of the forwards that they have up front. It, it's a very, very small group.
- [11:34]
Corey Promen
I agree. And if those guys were like high picks and premium guys, that'd be one thing. But like, other than Reshni, like, Potter's nothing. Not a substantive player. Like, you know, like it's waiting back. Maybe he's gonna play like I, I. And now I think you look at Paric too now in this and it's, it is a small group. Even gritty guy Gridden's not big. Yep. No, it's all. I think your point is perfectly fair, but I think like, if you look at their centers, it's, it's just like a wasteland, essentially. And I think you even look at Reshni and it's not, I think he could play center in the NHL, is it? Are we all sitting here guaranteeing that, though? Like, I, you know, so I think. But I get what you're saying. I would wonder if Carl goes five if he ends up being six just because I feel like one. They need a really good defenseman. And I do think there is some pressure to take Western Canadian kids or take Canadian kids in the, in that market. Well, I think in a lot of Canadian markets there's that, there's that pressure right now with how hard it's been to keep their star players.
- [12:36]
Chris Peters
Yeah. Yeah. And I will say that the post combine buzz about Bjork has been palpable in terms of how things went, how teams feel about him. You know, the, the, the consensus is growing that, you know, in some cases he is the number two center or, you know, the number or the number one center ahead of Malhotra for some people at this point, which was not really a common opinion a few months ago. And so it's just been really remarkable to watch his rise and the respect that he's garnered over the last year.
- [13:06]
Max Boltman
What's interesting about that, like, if he's the number one setter in the class, how, how do you compare him head to head with Stenberg? You've seen him, you guys have seen him at so many events where they've been at the same time on the same line. In many cases at these events, like Head to Head, how would you compare Bjork and Stenberg?
- [13:20]
Scott Wheeler
He hasn't been far off Stenberg in terms of world Juniors. And like, when we've seen, even though going back to the world Junior Summer Showcase last summer, like Bjork has, has stood toe to toe to him from a perform, that doesn't mean the projection is the same. But From a performance side by side, they've been comparable when they've played together.
- [13:39]
Corey Promen
I think Stenberg is more skilled, not significantly, but I think there is more skill, more natural offense and finish. Definitely more finish there. God bless Vigil Bjork and his seven missed breakaways in a row still won the goal. Yes. I think Bjork is. Obviously, he's a center. He's more competitive. More details, more two way there. And Stenberg's about two inches taller. So I think you're looking. That's why the pro projection gives you a little bit more reassurance there.
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Chris Peters
Yeah.
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Max Boltman
All right, that takes us to number seven in Seattle. And Seattle has a board that looks like exactly the kind of board I think Seattle should want right now. They've used so many high picks on forward, specifically on centers. I think it's a smart way to use high picks, but at some point you. You got to take a high level D. And so to me, this comes down to Albert Smiths, Dax and Rudolph and Keaton Verhoff. I'm going to go with Smiths for them here. In this case, just, you know, the way we've talked about Smiths in this pot, I think it's the kind of D that you can really build around. I also think there's an advantage toward the pro readiness here for a Seattle team that could use the D. Getting there a little bit sooner than maybe on the Rudolph end. So I'll say Smith's for the. For the Kraken.
- [14:42]
Scott Wheeler
I will say we haven't done the draft show the last couple of years, but I was surprised when they took Jake o' Brien last year. And if we're doing the draft show this year, which we are, my eyes will pop out of my head if the Seattle crack and don't take a D here or if it gets Bjork.
- [14:58]
Chris Peters
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's the thing. If Bjork falls all of a sudden, knowing. Knowing how they have picked, it's like,
- [15:05]
Max Boltman
oh, but that's how it felt in the Berkeley Cat year. There was all those deep that year and they took cat and you're like, I don't know that they really needed him, but yeah.
- [15:13]
Chris Peters
Yep, yep.
- [15:15]
Max Boltman
All right, on to number eight here, the Winnipeg Jets. Scott?
- [15:19]
Scott Wheeler
Well, I think now it becomes a bit. Not a. Not a. I don't think any of us are surprised to see Keaton Verhoff here, but I think relative to where we were all at on him entering this season and where the consensus seemed to be with him entering this season as the, as the, frankly, the number for a stretch there and not for a short stretch either. As the number 1D prospect in this class, I think this is where that, that's, that sort of road starts to end. Like, I can't imagine Verhoff getting past Winnipeg in Florida. I do think to Corey's point with Calgary, I think you're having the same conversation about the need to keep guys long term. If you're the Winnipeg jets, they've actually done a good job with Hellebuck and sort of walking up some others to long term deals. But Fairhof, they need that sort of cornerstone prospect. I don't think it matters what that looks like. I know in sort of speaking with some people in Winnipeg, this sense in that market seems to be that they have to get a center here. But I don't think you take Tynan Lawrence over a Dax and Rudolph or a Keaton Verhoff here and I don't think the other two centers get to them. And it's not as though Sal Monson and Sasha Boumedian are pillar pieces of a future blue line. I know they're very high on Sal Monson and Sal Monson had a great, great year last year and is a very good player. But he's not in terms of caliber of prospect an equal to a Keaton Verhoff or a Dax and Rudolph. And I think Verhoff specifically makes a lot of sense if he's available here for the, for the Jets.
- [16:47]
Max Boltman
All right. On the number nine. That's the Florida Panthers. Chris?
- [16:51]
Ben Green
Yeah.
- [16:51]
Chris Peters
You know, I think this is probably one of the picks that we would most like likely see that could be in play here. I think any team that sees what's available, especially if it's like a Dax and Rudolph, one of the premium defensemen that's there, they would take that player. I'm actually going to go in a different direction than Dax and Rudolph in this specific instance. I think if you're Florida, you have a little bit of time and you have a little bit of, you know, room to kind of play. I think like Albert Smith would be a great, you know, a short term kind of guy that could be there, but he's not available now. So I'm going to go a little bit off the board and a player that I think is going to continue to rise and be a topic of a conversation. I'm going to go with Wyatt Cullen at number nine here. The buzz on Cullen has been growing a little bit. He has, you know, in a, in a Draft that lacks a ton of premium skill. He has that. I think if you are Florida, you feel like you have a core, and it's kind of nibbling around the edges here. This is a player that could potentially boost your scoring, which I think would be attractive to them. I think Rudolph is absolutely a possibility here. I think any of those defensemen would be. But Wyatt Cullen is the name that I keep hearing more and more as one that may go higher than we anticipate, because I think a lot of teams do want to make the bet on his skill and his growth and all of the things that we've seen from him in the last few months.
- [18:12]
Scott Wheeler
I had a scout in my survey just yesterday text me, like, is it crazy to think that we could have Wyatt Cullen in our, like, six or seven spot on our board? Like, I think that's the conversation that some teams are, are having about the player here.
- [18:27]
Max Boltman
It's also a little different flavor, Chris, from, From how kind of how Florida's been built, but maybe in a way that works, right? Maybe you need that kind of skill infusion to go with all these, like, you know, physical, you know, playoff style guys, right?
- [18:38]
Chris Peters
Yeah. Like, I think that's kind of the, the point for me is that, you know, it is. They need some more dynamic talent into that mix, you know, and just that, that, that increase the opportunities to increase scoring in the way that a lot of people believe Wyatt Cullen could potentially increase scoring. Like, a lot of people view him as like, hey, this, like, there's a. There's a lot of projecting going on. Yeah. But if he could be a top line player, you know, he could potentially be a top line player.
- [19:04]
Corey Promen
How did you guys hear how his combine went? Out of curiosity?
- [19:11]
Chris Peters
I didn't hear any, like, anything negative, particular in particular.
- [19:16]
Corey Promen
I did. That's why I'm asking. Yeah, I think I did. Teams are okay. I think it's just like, I don't think, like, he. I think he rubbed some people the wrong way, but I think it's just like, minor details, but I never got. I, I do think 9, 10, 11, he's in play there. I was just. That was, that was one I got flagged out coming out that, like, I think just the way he goes about his business can rub people the wrong way sometimes.
- [19:42]
Scott Wheeler
I will say, I will say to Daxon, typically teams in the 9, 10 range aren't taking guys out for dinner at the combine, but Daxon went for dinner with two teams and it was Seattle and Florida. So I think they, they've kind of circled that Dax and might be there for them and I think they're, they're at least doing their due diligence on Rudolph.
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Ad Voice 1
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- [20:02]
Max Boltman
All right, let's go to 10 at Nashville. We'll take a break after this. Corey.
- [20:05]
Corey Promen
It feels like it's being laid up here for Dax and Rudolph to be the pick to Nashville. I, I think Malte Gustafsson is very much in play here for them in just in part because I, you know, that's the kind of defenseman they tend to target, the big heavy player. I mean I've compared them to Matthias Heckholm. Matthias Ekom was a pick by the Nashville Predators. But I look at Tanner Mullen, Dick, I look at Cameron Reed. Like they have these two way guys in their system. They have a lot of two way guys. They need somebody who can score a goal. Like there's a lack of high end skill in this organization. So I'm going to go ahead and give him Dex and Rudolph here at the 10th pick.
- [20:48]
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- [22:11]
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- [23:45]
Max Boltman
You may have noticed the World cup is here in North America and the Athletics Podcast Network has something for everyone you can wake up with the Totally Football show from la can dive deep into the biggest talking points of the day with the Athletic FC podcast and watch the T Foe Podcast fool around on their daily live streams in the afternoon. All of our shows are free to watch or listen to on your favorite platform. Enjoy the World Cup. All right, we're back fellas and we're through the top 10. Just to recap here, number one to Toronto, Gavin McKenna San Jose at two Chase Reed at three for Vancouver, Caleb Malhotra at four it's Ivar Stenberg going to Chicago, five Carson Carls to New York the Rangers that is six. The Calgary Flames take Viggo Bjork seven the Seattle Kraken Albert Smiths eight is Keaton Verhoff to the Winnipeg jets, nine the Florida Panthers Wyatt Cullen and 10 the Nashville Predators, Dax and Rudolph. That is the top 10. And it leaves St. Louis in a really interesting spot here. They have two picks in the next five here at number 11 and number 15. To me this debate comes down to do you want to take the last of kind of the big group of defensemen depending on how you view Malte Gustafson and Ryan Lynn, if you view him as distinct or not. Or do they go with with one of the forwards, whether that be the center Tyler Lawrence, who I would say is probably the next best center available. One of the wingers. The bet here I would take though if I'm St. Louis even though I think these kind of the scarce position. I wonder you look at the teams behind them and New Jersey certainly does not need another young defenseman in their system. The Islanders just took Kshawn Hsn a year ago and I would say Gustafson probably projects to a pretty similar role as Aitchison. Even the Columbus Blue Jackets just took Jackson Smith. So I Wonder if the St. Louis Blues roll the dice here and if they want to get figure one of each one forward, a 1D. I'm going to say they take Ethan Belches, the power winger in the 11 spot and roll the dice and see what happens at 15.
- [25:37]
Scott Wheeler
My. My one hiccup with them taking a winger is just that. Like you've got Jimmy Snugger, you've got Justin Carbon. They view they've used some assets there. They feel to me like a team that's kind of the start yeah they feel to me like a team that's kind of the start of the the Tyne and warrants the Tynan Warren's conversation. Like they I think they need that that center divorce. Divorce is a good player, but it
- [26:06]
Max Boltman
probably depends on whether you're keeping Thomas or not. And you know, if you're keeping Robert Thomas and you're going forward with Thomas divorce as the 1 2, certainly you'd love to have Lawrence. He's a good player too. But I still think and I've made this argument before, I know that you just mentioned a bunch of the wingers maybe neighbors, but does any really have the same profile as Belch's? And certainly the no. The rarity of the size skill combo I think makes this a valid use of the pick
- [26:30]
Corey Promen
player.
- [26:31]
Chris Peters
Yeah. And I don't think he's going to last much longer either. So I think that's a fair roll of the dice there, especially since, you know, they've had some of their D prospects really pop, especially Adam Urichek last year I thought was one of the best players in all the CHL last year. So yeah, I think that's, that's. I have zero issue with that one.
- [26:50]
Pablo Torre
All right.
- [26:50]
Max Boltman
12 is the devil. Scott.
- [26:52]
Scott Wheeler
Yeah, I think there's a very real chance that we have Multi Gustafson going too low here and yet I can't imagine the Devils with their log jam on the blue line of young blue liners taking a D here. Like they just feel to me like they're going to be a team that takes one of the forwards. I could see them being all over Wyatt Cullen and his skill level. I could see them taking Belches if he's here with those guys gone, my attention turns to Tynen Warrants. He's not Nico. He. Sure. But there are some similarities in terms of style of player. Why you like the player, the work ethic, the two way, the, the sort of up and down, the ice skating. So I'll take, I'll take Tyne and Lawrence here again, I think Belches and Cullen might be the better fit and I think one of them is probably here and I do think we maybe have multi. Gustafson going a little low here, but I like Lawrence for them. They need a forward up front in that pool.
- [27:49]
Corey Promen
Can you explain the logjam? It's Hughes, Nemech and who else?
- [27:53]
Max Boltman
Salaya.
- [27:55]
Corey Promen
I mean, that's fair, but you know, easy to play for sure.
- [27:57]
Scott Wheeler
This year even, even, like they've got to make a decision on Seamus Casey. Like, I think Seamus Casey is playing for multiple organizations in the league at, at this point, they've got to make a decision on Nemes. Maybe if you're moving, if you've made the decision that you're moving Simon Nemec, then you, you sort of recalibrate here and a player like Gustafson maybe becomes interesting. But Salaev's coming. Like they've, they've, they've got Hughes locked
- [28:21]
Max Boltman
up long, Cashy Kovacevic.
- [28:25]
Corey Promen
Well, I guess I look at that and I think that Casey is like a fringe NHL prospect at this point for me and I think Gusison is the same level as Nemech and Salaya. So like it's like, I don't know. That's a, it's a, that's a lot of player to go past. Like, I think he's significantly ahead of Lawrence. I know you don't view it the same way, but for me, like, like that if I was in that scan room, I'm cringing hard. If we're going past him to give you, you know, you went, you're at the UA teams. One guy was one of the three to four best players there and the other guy was like pretty ordinary. Like it. That would be tough for me.
- [28:57]
Scott Wheeler
You've been high on Lawrence throughout this process though. Like it's not. Yeah, he's great.
- [29:02]
Corey Promen
But I think this is his range.
- [29:03]
Scott Wheeler
He's gonna go in the early teens here. That sort of 10 to 15 range, I think is right where Lawrence is going to land.
- [29:09]
Corey Promen
He's another guy I heard got beat up pretty good at the combine. Like, I'll be. I think he goes teens, but, like, I don't know.
- [29:16]
Chris Peters
He's the one guy from our top group that I feel like has the biggest potential to. To plummet and.
- [29:23]
Scott Wheeler
But.
- [29:23]
Chris Peters
But I, I could easily see, you know, New Jersey taking the, Taking the chance here as well. Yeah. I mean, because I considered Gustafson at 9 for Florida as well. Like, you know, I feel like, you know, the natural replacement long term for Seth Jones since like other things like that. But 10.
- [29:41]
Scott Wheeler
10 in Nashville too, I can see.
- [29:42]
Chris Peters
Yeah, I think there's a. I think like, multi could go anywhere in here and it wouldn't. It wouldn't shock me. So, you know, and I think that's the important thing with these, with these mock draft picks is that we're talking about, you know, fractions of differences. And a lot of teams might have fractions of differences on their list, but the Lawrence question and how he ebbs or flows here, like, really could reshape the first round because I think that there are teams that want to like that center. And I'm just curious to see, you know, because of the lack, like, really, once you get outside of 13, 14, 15, you're starting to be like, you know, we. We might just have to bite the bullet here if we're not there. Maybe there's some things that we don't like to try to get that. So we'll see where that goes.
- [30:26]
Max Boltman
All right, Chris, this one goes to you for the Islanders.
- [30:29]
Chris Peters
Yeah. And this, this one's really tough too, because, like, I, I mean, I think, like, looking at the, you know, obviously they. They have a lot of left shot defensemen already that are pretty good, and so that's. That makes it tough. But I think, like, in. In the situation that they're in, I think the gap between a guy like Malte Gustafson and the rest would be too much for them. I think that, you know, so multi Gustafson would be my pick here. And the thing is, is, like, you know, I. While there is a similarity in profile to. To what they have, I just think that Malte kind of probably gives you that guy that you can develop into a stopper. I don't think that's what Kayshawn HSN is going to Be, you know, I, and I don't think that's what Matthew Schaefer is going to be. And so I think that, you know, you might have some, one of these guys playing their offside in the top four. Gustafson is a guy that's super versatile, super mobile. Now you suddenly have a core of defensemen that I feel is like the, the makings of a, a championship core. So I'm going with multi there.
- [31:37]
Max Boltman
I like it. I mean my gamble was that I think those teams in between the St. Louis picks, like you look at what they have. But there is, there does come a point where it's just. And you've seen Buffalo build this way. I mean how many left shot D does Buffalo have? And they have one of the best blue lines in the NHL now. It works. You can play them on their offside and it's just good to have the best blue line possible.
- [31:58]
Chris Peters
Yep. Yep. And like to me, like I do think that the gap begins really at 13 here and I feel like the players that we're picking, there's a significant difference between the them and where we're at. So it's just basically a best like New York is in a position where it's like we just have to take the next, the last best guy. Yeah.
- [32:17]
Max Boltman
Corey. 14 to Columbus.
- [32:19]
Corey Promen
Oscar Hemming. They draft the big power winger out of B.C. with, with good skill level. Guy who projects to be a top six, hard to play against type. I think they, they're, they're happy with him in this range. I think we talked about this next group of players. I think a lot of teams have Hemming in this second group of players. He might be the last name, but he is part of the group. And Columbus is happy to get him here at the, at the 14th spot.
- [32:43]
Max Boltman
Yep. And he certainly fits with some of the big scoring forwards Columbus has had too. It seems like there's, I mean, managerial change, but it still feels like an ethos there. Fifteen for St. Louis of the. The gambit to get the D to fall doesn't work. But you guys talked about the center with Lawrence at 11. They'll pivot to a different center here and take Oliver Suvanto. You know, we'll see, we'll see about the skating. I think that's probably the big question here, but this looks like a player who's going to be able to log important matchups for an NHL team at some point.
- [33:10]
Corey Promen
Corey. Yep, I agree. I think you're going to see a run of centers here. Lawrence command, Saanto like They're going to go, I think, bang, bang, bang here in the teens.
- [33:20]
Max Boltman
All right. Does that run continue at 16 for Washington, Scott?
- [33:24]
Scott Wheeler
It does. The Washington Capitals are going to take Alexander command here. They've drafted a ton of wingers. I don't think that necessarily precludes them from using one of these two picks on a player like an Adam Novotny, who I think has a chance to go in this range. But I bet you with one of those two picks, they take a center. It's the most glaring sort of area of need in their pool. And this is an organization that or a range in the draft for the organization that makes a lot of sense. So I don't think Command lingers long. He's another player who has some definite momentum, not just coming out of U18 worlds, but coming out of the combine. Sounds like he impressed some people and I think he. He goes in this range here and the Capitals make a lot of sense.
- [34:11]
Corey Promen
Honestly, if I was the bet of those three next centers, Lawrence Savanto, Command, I would bet Command goes first.
- [34:19]
Scott Wheeler
I do think Command goes ahead of Suvanto.
- [34:22]
Chris Peters
Yeah, at this point for sure. I think. Yeah, I. He's. He's such an interesting player and absolutely has. I think he started to ascend into that territory of like, you know, I say those 13 guys, if there's a 14th, it's command. So. Yeah, so I guess that. That brings it to me, doesn't it, Max?
- [34:43]
Max Boltman
Yes, it does. Los Angeles Kings, number 17, la.
- [34:45]
Chris Peters
This is. This is a bit of a trickier one because I think that there's a lot of different options that they have here, guys that, that could make a lot of sense. The one that I'm going to go with here is Maddox Dagonay. I. They're. They're a wide range of opinions on this player. And, and the thing is, is like, you know, is he a center? Is he a wing? What's. What. What ultimately is he going to be? Well, he's six foot four with skill. He has some things, you know, you look at what, what LA gave up in. In. In Liam Greentree. I think Maddox, personally, I like Maddox Dagonay better. I think he's a good replacement for that player. I think he could fit on either side. You know, decisions can be a little bit questionable at times, but six foot four guys with his hands and his shot I think are really attractive, especially in the middle of the draft. So I'm going with Max Dagonay for la.
- [35:32]
Max Boltman
Do they kind of need him to be a center? I Mean, they lose Kopitar, it's a pretty thin pipeline. Like, it feels like they need him to be a center.
- [35:42]
Chris Peters
You'd certainly like him to be. I mean, like, I think that, and I think that's the thing is you're taking the chance here on a player that has a, has center experience and saying, all right, where can we develop that player? And that's one of the reasons why I feel comfortable putting him in this position because, you know, there's, there's some development that needs to happen. But it does sound like he's heading back to the QMJHL last year after flirting with the idea of going to college. So we'll see exactly where, where he ends up and how soon.
- [36:10]
Corey Promen
Yeah, and it does feel like they would be very excited if one of Savanto Lawrence Command gets the 17. That 100%. It feels like a natural fit there.
- [36:20]
Chris Peters
100%. Yeah. Agreed.
- [36:22]
Corey Promen
But as we all learn over the years, those centers in D, they go quick.
- [36:26]
Chris Peters
They go quick real quick.
- [36:27]
Max Boltman
All right, Corey Washington back on the clock at 18.
- [36:31]
Corey Promen
I think they take JP Herbert there and I know it's another wing, but some of their wings haven't worked. Like I think Paris check, for example, like we're not really sure what he's going to become. And I think you look at Hurlburt and the goal scoring he has and the high end skill, I think that's still a guy. They look, they're excited to add to their system potential. You know, middle six, top six, power play type of guy here, top scorer in the, in the, in the Western League this year and they take a shot and they roll the dice on his skill.
- [36:59]
Max Boltman
All right, J.P. hurlburt at 18 to the Capitals at 19 for Utah. Utah is the team that has everything. I think they, they have young forwards, they have centers, they have D, they even have a goalie on the way in, Michael Horrible. There's not an obvious need here for them, but how about Ilya Morozov, as a guy who played college hockey at a really young age, has a lot of projectable traits, feels like he could slot in to a middle six at some point and, and be a nice role player there for a system. I think that's, that's where you kind of beef up there. Is his size in the middle of the lineup? All right, number 20, Scott is the San Jose Sharks.
- [37:35]
Scott Wheeler
I'm going to take Ryan Lynn here and double down, double down on D for the San Jose Sharks. I think, I think Lynn goes late teens. Like, I think he goes in one of those three or four picks that we just went through here. But if he doesn't, I think he the idea of adding both Chase Reed and Ryan Lynn to that back end and suddenly having Lynn Dickinson and Reed as, as sort of your pillars to, to build around on the back end, I think you'd be very, very excited if you're Mike Greer and the San Jose Sharks.
- [38:05]
Max Boltman
All right, so we are through 20 picks here.
- [38:08]
Chris Peters
1.
- [38:08]
Max Boltman
Toronto Gavin McKenna 2. San Jose Chase Reed 3. Vancouver Caleb Malhotra for the Chicago Blackhawks. 5. Carson Carl's to the Rangers 6. Vigo Bjork to Calgary 7. Albert Smiths to Seattle 8. Keaton Verhoff to Winnipeg 9. Wyatt Cullen to Florida 10. Dex and Rudolph to Nashville.
- [38:26]
Commercial Narrator 2
11.
- [38:27]
Max Boltman
Ethan Belches to St. Louis. Tynan Lawrence goes to New Jersey at 12. Multi Gustafson to the Islanders at 13. Columbus gets Oscar Heming at 14. Oliver Suvanto to the Blues at 15. The Capitals take Alexander Command at 16. The Kings get Maddox Dejanae at 17. Capitals back on the clock at 18. Take JP Hurl. The Utah Mammoth take Ilya Morozov and the San Jose Sharks with Ryan Lynn. Let's take a quick break right there. We'll come back, finish out the first round.
- [38:59]
Becca Moore
Hi, this is Becca Moore of for the Girls podcast. All right, a quick shout out to our presenting sponsor, Apple Cash. Summer is here, which means the group chats are already spiraling with festival and summer plans. And we all know the worst part of being the one who fronts some money for the passes or housing. That's why this year we're only using Apple Cash. It's a super easy way to settle up because you can do it right in messages, just tap the plus sign to get. And the best part is you can spend the money you get right away. Anywhere Apple Pay is accepted, every payment is secure and protected by face id, touch ID or passcode. And your transactions are never shared on a public feed. Set up your Apple Cash today in the wallet app. Apple Cash services are provided by Green bank member fdic. Terms apply.
- [39:39]
Pablo Torre
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- [40:21]
Ben Green
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- [41:00]
Max Boltman
All right, we are back and back on the clock at number 21. Well, actually, on the clock for the first time at number 21 is the Philadelphia Flyers.
- [41:07]
Chris Peters
Yeah, I think this is a challenging place if you're Philly, you know, in terms of. Of what you're looking at and what's available. You know, there's. There's a lot of good, you know, good skilled players. I think that that's something that they're going to be looking at is. Is. Is to continue to build a little bit more skill in this group. I think there. There are ways to do that from the blue line with Tommy Bly. There's ways to do that at forward with a number of players. I ultimately came down to guys like Elton Hermanson and, And. And Liam Ruck in this spot. And I'm going to go with Liam Ruck. I'm going to go. And I think he's. He's definitely got some late, you know, pop in terms of, you know, people that are starting to be a little bit more sold on Liam, and they're certainly more sold on Liam than they are on Marcus, and we'll see if ultimately they end up in the same organization. Liam's got that compete. He's got that motor. He's got the ability to kind of do some of those things. I think that there's a really high level of hockey sense. There's. Which is going to speak to, you know, Danny Briere staff. I just feel like he's a guy, you know, why not, you know, at that point? But. But at the same time, you know, I think there's A lot of various options. I just think that Philly really needs to focus on continuing to build skill.
- [42:19]
Max Boltman
All right, number 22, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Corey.
- [42:22]
Corey Promen
Their manager Kyle Dubas has talked about getting bigger, getting harder to play against. I think the one guy in this draft left in the spot that really is, that is Gleb pugachev from, from Torpedo 6 3. One of the most physical players in the draft while also having, you know, a good talent base. I think there's some reservations of taking a Russian in the 20s, even though I think Pukachev is going in the 20s because, because he hasn't played in any major tournaments. Pittsburgh's a pretty video heavy team. I think they would have, they would have watched a lot of him by now and I think they'll feel comfortable taking him at 22.
- [42:53]
Max Boltman
All right, Boston at 23. I look at the Bruin system and I think the player here that I like is Jack Hextall. But I look at their system and I see centers there and I really don't see a whole lot of defensemen. And so I, I look at that and I say do they have to kind of maybe, maybe you're dipping a little deeper into the class. I don't know if it's a true best player available, but William Hawkinson.
- [43:13]
Corey Promen
Scott. Chris. Are any of you convinced that James Hagens is for sure a center in the NHL?
- [43:19]
Scott Wheeler
I think he's going to be at his best down the middle. Like I think if you are going to maximize James Haggins as a player, it will be as a center. Doesn't guarantee that he's a center, but
- [43:30]
Corey Promen
yeah, I mean for those who are listening on, on audio. Chris Chuck his head.
- [43:34]
Chris Peters
Yeah. Yeah. So I, I, I'm less convinced of it. I, I think, you know, I, I almost see him in kind of a Will Smith mode. You know, that's kind of where, where, where I, I have some, some feeling on that. But, but to that point too, like obviously like Matt Plotra I think they thought was going to be a guy. Yeah. Didn't has not panned out that way. It sounds like, you know, he could potentially be a guy that isn't around. So, but like you know, when I, when I mocked him doing another mock draft, I did mock Hextall there, but I think Hawkinson has, is another guy that could go a little bit earlier than maybe he's listed on a lot of the public lists for a lot of the reasons that you mentioned. I do think that that's a distinct possibility for Boston in That range, the
- [44:20]
Corey Promen
people who like Hawkinson will like him a lot to Bishell and Bishop went right around this range. I think he's smaller than Bishop, the same age, but that's like the same idea as like, why he'd go over this high.
- [44:30]
Max Boltman
Yeah, very Bruins kind of traits too. Right? I mean, can you see a little Nikita Zadarov rhyme here?
- [44:35]
Corey Promen
Yeah, it's fair. Also smaller, I think.
- [44:38]
Scott Wheeler
Yeah, I think not just because of the London Knights connection, but I've thought a little bit. And, and Zadorov went 8, 18 or 16. Him and Stanley both went like 16, 18. But I've thought a lot about Maxime Sokolovsky, who's obviously a London kn. Similar to Zadorov Russian kid out of London. They're both very raw at that age and I think we're very, very much even, frankly. I think a couple picks ago we were into the, the Maxime Sokolovsky range as well.
- [45:03]
Chris Peters
Yeah, which. Yeah, there's definitely some Sokolovsky first round buzz for sure.
- [45:09]
Corey Promen
Go ahead and give him to Vancouver.
- [45:10]
Scott Wheeler
I'm not going to give him to Vancouver. There are, there are a number of teams. If I would. If our draft order had worked out differently, I would have taken him to a couple of other teams here. But no, the Vancouver Canucks, I'm not going to take him. I am going to take Adam Nootny. I don't think Novotny is necessarily here. Like, I, I get the sense in talking to a few people over the last couple of weeks, both for my surveys and for, for my upcoming sort of final mock, I get the sense that Novotny has a real good chance to actually go in the sort of late teens, early 20s here. But if, if he doesn't, and we're still in their early 20s at 24, if he doesn't, I think the, the Canucks that. That sort of powerful, strong skating ability to score up and down the ice. Going to play for you, winger. I don't think anybody doubts whether Novotny is going to be a player. There's maybe some doubts a little bit about hockey sense there, but the rest of his game is. Is very well liked and I, I think this will be his range.
- [46:11]
Max Boltman
All right, that puts us on to number 25, Chris, the Seattle Kraken second pick of the night.
- [46:15]
Chris Peters
Yeah, I think, I think in this instance, at this range, they don't let, they don't. They don't worry about having already picked a defenseman. The draft, they pick another one. They go with Tommy Blyle. Here and I think Blyle is, you know, he's got a lot of great numbers and then on top of that he's one of the best skaters in this draft. I think that that's going to be a player that they're going to look at. I do think that, you know, based on some of the buzz that I've heard, you know, like similar to Scott, I was looking at Adam Novotny at each of my last two picks as a real strong possibility for either of those teams. In the end, I think that, you know, Seattle going with Blyle here it if you do get Albert Smiths as we have in this, you know, I think you'll. You can supplement that with with a true puck mover, a transporter, a guy that is, you know, really only just scratching the surface. I feel like of where he can go and I think that you would have a a lot of people excited to come away with two higher end defensemen from this class if you're Seattle.
- [47:16]
Max Boltman
All right, 26. Corey.
- [47:18]
Corey Promen
The Rangers, they're going to take Jack Hextall here, projected third line center in the NHL. I think for me he's right with command in Savanta when Lawrence in terms of caliber of prospect, two way guys six, six zero and a half measured the combine. Good enough skater, good offense, plays all situations. Rangers need center depth desperately. Not the high end guy I think they are. You know that would be the what you'd be talking more of five. I actually wouldn't shock me if they took Viggo Bjork at 5, presuming Malhotra is gone. Like I think that's something they have to at least seriously talk about. But if they don't take Bjork then I think they're definitely taking a center at this pick. Be it this, be him, be it Rogowski, be a dash. And if he still, if he gets the 20s into the 20s. So they go with Hextall here.
- [48:01]
Max Boltman
All right. And the center train will keep rolling it at 27 for the Sabers. They will take Brooks Rokowski, the 6, 7 center. The traits are pretty ridiculous and you have to do a little bit of projecting here. But especially where Buffalo's forward core sits going forward getting someone who even if he is a bottom six guy, I think that can be extremely valuable for the Sabers.
- [48:21]
Corey Promen
I do like that he chose to go back to the OHL next season too. I think that's recognizing where he is in his development and that he needs to, you know, score a little bit more at that level. And there's no rush for him to go into college and be like a fourth line guy right away from Michigan State next year.
- [48:37]
Chris Peters
Yeah.
- [48:38]
Max Boltman
All right, number 28, Scott. That's the Montreal Canadiens.
- [48:42]
Scott Wheeler
The Montreal Canadiens, I think, are well positioned to take a swing here and operate from a position of strength with where their young group in the NHL is at, where their pool is at. I, I think they could, they should and will be prioritizing some size moving forward. So I wonder about a Casey Mutren or a Rider Cali or a Sema Signativicius here, but I like them to. To take a big cut here, and I think the biggest cut you can take here is on Elton Hermansen, the Swedish winger, the most talented player who's still available here. And I think Elton goes in the 20s at some point here, and one of the only players left in, in the way that our draft has played out. Elton's one of the only players left who projects to play on a power play and score and produce as the focal point of his game.
- [49:27]
Max Boltman
All right, number 29, St. Louis. Chris. Their third pick of the first round.
- [49:32]
Chris Peters
Yeah. So, I mean, obviously with, with the way things kind of went, you got belched earlier and then you've got Savanto and you know, as I kind of look around, I'm like, gosh, you know, what, where do you. Where do you kind of go from here with. With some of those, some of those options? And, you know, I'm looking at the D. I'm not seeing a ton that gets, you know, me super excited for them, but I do think one guy that has very consistently been in the back half of a lot of first rounds in terms of. Of, you know, teams that I've talked to is Adam Goyer. And so I do think he is a defenseman that, that has the chance to be the next guy outside of the group that we've talked about, like the Hawkinson's Blyles. Villeneuve is certainly a possibility. I'm not getting the sense he's going to go in the first round. And I just think that for them, having gotten a couple of guys here, Goyer is a. Is a good, solid option for them. Think he fits the mold of the kind of style that they play. And I think he fits there.
- [50:37]
Max Boltman
Okay, 30, Corey Calgary.
- [50:41]
Corey Promen
Calgary is going to break a lot of hearts here and a lot of people who had some storybook ending type of scenarios and they are taking Marcus Ruck and they are going to snag him from the Flyers taking him with their second pick and they add a high end skill, high end playmaker from out west there in Canada to their prospect pool.
- [51:02]
Max Boltman
The irony of this is Calgary is one of the teams that has the capital because they have those two picks early in the second round that if they were able to get Liam to fall to them, Calgary could get both.
- [51:12]
Corey Promen
Yeah, I think they're the team that everybody kind of circles is like if they want to do this, they could. They're the most likely to do it.
- [51:19]
Scott Wheeler
I do wonder if the word back injury is has entered into the conversation here and whether teams are concerned about that with Marcus. Like he's a kid who maybe more than any other player in this draft needs to get into the gym and spend a full summer in the gym and he might be losing that this summer to this, this sort of back thing that he's dealing with. I'm sure teams will do their due diligence on the severity and that kind of a thing, but it's been these, these back injuries have been a constant talking point with several prospects over the last few years and it sounds like he's dealing with at least something there. So, so that's my one wonder with Marcus.
- [51:56]
Chris Peters
Yeah.
- [51:57]
Max Boltman
All right. 31 the Carolina Hurricanes. I actually wonder what the odds are that Carolina trades out of this pick. I feel like the second, third or fourth.
- [52:07]
Chris Peters
Yeah.
- [52:07]
Max Boltman
Or if they do have a fourth but it's not their own. Feels like that's where Caroline's gonna go with this. But I don't know if that's the spirit of this.
- [52:13]
Chris Peters
Like three seconds and a fourth and.
- [52:15]
Max Boltman
Yeah, exactly. I'll take Mathis Preston there for Carolina. A lot of speed, a lot of skill. Feels like the kind of guy Carolina has has in, in the past and 32 to bring us home, Scott.
- [52:29]
Scott Wheeler
And at 32, I'm, I'm, I'm convinced that Sokolovsky goes in in the first round and so I'm not going to let him get out of the first round. In our mock they've all. He's also a player frankly, that is kind of the type that Ottawa has selected. They've gone after the big athletic, physical, specific clone essentially. I think he's a much better prospect than Gabriel is. Like I just think from, from the pure size, strength, physical profile, mobility standpoint, having his wits about him in a way that Gabriel lies and I don't think has his wits about him. I think he's a, I think he's a better prospect.
- [53:08]
Corey Promen
I think he's.
- [53:09]
Scott Wheeler
I could see It.
- [53:10]
Corey Promen
Right. I don't know. I don't know if he's like dramatically different though. Like Gabe's still six. Six. He skates well. He's hockey.
- [53:17]
Chris Peters
I don't think he's far better.
- [53:18]
Scott Wheeler
Yeah, that's fair.
- [53:19]
Corey Promen
Yeah, that's fair.
- [53:20]
Scott Wheeler
I don't think Gabe ever plays a game in the NHL. So like I'm, I'm completely out on, on Eliason.
- [53:27]
Max Boltman
That's perfectly fair. Yeah, I get it.
- [53:29]
Corey Promen
I just making a argument there that I feel, I feel you could draw a line between the two of them and say like this is kind of we have this already but. And they've signed Elias already, right?
- [53:40]
Scott Wheeler
They have second round pick even going back. Like they picked Ben Roger and like there's been a lot of that type with very mixed results obviously that they've, they've gone after. I wonder about Neutrin and Ryder Cali and those types here for them as.
- [53:55]
Chris Peters
Yep, yep.
- [53:56]
Max Boltman
I want to see one of those like college football recruiting graphics with like Scott's face and it's just like all caps out on game. Totally out on Gabe Elias.
- [54:06]
Corey Promen
Yeah, those are the two names. Cali and Mutren who I've heard that I think are gonna go day one that we didn't get into. That we didn't get in here. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Those are the ones that I've heard more about.
- [54:20]
Chris Peters
Yeah, I, I definitely think Mutron was another guy that came out like. I mean it's, it's just tough. This, this, this, this class is so tough. And I think really predicting the bottom half of this first round, it is every single year it is difficult to predict and it really only takes one team to go completely different here. But you know, this year in particular, the gap just, I think the gap begins sooner in the first round, you know, relative to what things look like in the second round. You could probably give me 40, 50 names here and I'd be like, yeah, sure. I mean like why not? Like it's very possible that they go in there and. Yeah, I mean, hey, that's the, that's the joy of this portion of the draft. And odds are once you're picking in this, this latter ladder third of the first round, you're just hoping you get a guy.
- [55:08]
Max Boltman
I'm just going to read off the last 12 picks here. I don't think anyone needs me to read 32 names in a row to close the show.
- [55:13]
Chris Peters
Please don't.
- [55:13]
Max Boltman
But just from, from 21 on Philly with Liam Ruck, Pittsburgh at 22 with Gleb Pugachev 23, the Bruins William Hawkinson 24, the Canuck. Adam Novotny 25, the Kraken. Tommy Blyle at 26. It's Jack Hextall to the Rangers. 27, Brooks Rogowski to the Sabres 28. The Canadians take Elton Hermanson 29, the Blues Adam Goliar 30, the Flames Marcus Ruck 31, the Hurricanes Mathis Preston, but really they're trading out of it. And 32, the Ottawa Senators Maxim Sokolovsky. That is our 2026 the Athletic Hockey show mock draft. Any takeaways, guys? As I just read all that off, anyone who, who you're shocked to see not go in the first round?
- [55:54]
Corey Promen
Corey I think one thing that definitely stands out to me is despite this being the draft of the defenseman that second half of the draft until we got to Sokolovsky right at the end, like there's a lot of forwards going in that second half and I, you know, talking to scouts, I do wonder if one or two other defense mystique in there. Does Jako Vanicek, the Samuel Al Illowi sneak in there? Maybe Rain and Villanuev? I think that's one thing that I think about there. That that was the first thing. I think both rocks going in the first would be interesting. I don't think it's impossible, but okay, unpossible is not a word. Impossible, but that's not how I think it's probably going to go. Those are the main things that stood out to me. I think that we've kind of. I think the listeners are just happy we talked about some guys who aren't the top 10 guys for an episode because I feel like people are probably getting sick of us just mentioning the same seven names over and over again. But to. In our defense, you listen the most when we do those names. So yeah, that's how it works.
- [57:01]
Max Boltman
I wonder how many listens we'd get on a breaking down the last half of the first round NHL draft podcast people.
- [57:07]
Corey Promen
You know, we always get those messages like why don't you do the third round stuff? Because like it's. Because then we, we would all get fired.
- [57:13]
Chris Peters
Yeah. Yeah.
- [57:14]
Corey Promen
If we kept doing those kind of.
- [57:15]
Chris Peters
But we love, we do love you, you sickos out there. We love you. Thank you for keeping the real head.
- [57:21]
Scott Wheeler
And you can read, you can read the Athletic for all of the third round analysis and please don't.
- [57:26]
Max Boltman
There's, there's so much good stuff on this.
- [57:28]
Corey Promen
Yeah, we have, we have Scott And I have scanning reports and all the mid round guys kind of thing, but we just can't devote an hour to talking about that.
- [57:35]
Chris Peters
Yeah, because I mean, you can even do it one better. Why don't you scout them yourself on Floha?
- [57:42]
Scott Wheeler
I literally wrote features on Vladimir Javecki and Adam Valentini this year, so nobody can.
- [57:47]
Corey Promen
Yeah, I love listening to like NFL draft content and listening to podcasts and stuff like that. And like when they release like a best offensive line ranking, I like, that's the easiest skip for me in the world type of thing. Or like best second ranked round candidates, just like go right past that one. Like it's just not interesting.
- [58:06]
Pablo Torre
Yeah.
- [58:06]
Max Boltman
Here in Detroit, I read those. I read those best offensive line rankings. Just saying. I do like Chris's just scout them yourself philosophy.
- [58:13]
Chris Peters
Why do you need us?
- [58:14]
Max Boltman
Let's make that the slogan of the show, the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect series. Just scout on yourself.
- [58:19]
Corey Promen
All right, well, hopefully people don't take that too far. Yeah, you. We are worried in the age of AI, what do we get? The AI Scouts kind of thing. Yeah, I do think I do. I do have like. Oh, no, I have fascinating debates. I'll talk to NHL people who'll be like, oh, hey, I could never do my job. Your job is just figure out whether a guy's a good skater or not or whether he creates scoring chances. It's not that complicated.
- [58:39]
Max Boltman
I feel like if you alienated every single podcast.
- [58:45]
Chris Peters
Everybody edit the podcast. No, don't. I do keep it in there.
- [58:50]
Corey Promen
Have you read the comments in my articles? Everyone hates me. So, you know, just. Just the more the merrier. Right now.
- [58:55]
Max Boltman
AI is definitely going to be doing my job, I'll tell you that much. That is gonna.
- [58:59]
Commercial Narrator 2
And I.
- [58:59]
Chris Peters
And I do. I do. Just so you know, Corey, I do read the comments on all of your stories. I love it.
- [59:04]
Corey Promen
Lovely. The one today probably was probably lovely.
- [59:08]
Max Boltman
I thought they were actually pretty. Pretty measured today, to be honest.
- [59:11]
Corey Promen
That's. That's good to know.
- [59:13]
Max Boltman
It's only 1pm it's only 1pm round. We're going off the rails. Let's wrap there. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Athletic Hockey Show Prospect series. Remember, you can catch more of Chris over at Flow Hockey on his podcast called up more of Scott and Corey on the Athletic. Or of course you can just scout them yourself. We'll talk to you soon.
- [59:36]
Chris Peters
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Chris Peters
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