Post by Citris on Jun 24, 2020 18:01:59 GMT -4
As mentioned in the Bathurst board, I know this is a little late but, I needed a 2-3 week break just to relax after the draft.
But I'm back with a draft recap for the Wildcats. You know, It's funny how much time goes into scouting every year and how on draft day teams will always pull out a few guys you've never heard of, and the Wildcats did that to me a few times in here, but I'll do my best regardless
Round 1, 13th overall
Yoan Loshing - Center
I really like this pick, in terms of raw talent, I think he’s the second best player in the draft. He has incredible hands and a quick release, he can raise the puck off the ice in a hurry. He finished 1st in team scoring by a long shot, and most of the other players in the top 10 of GTHL scoring played with other top 10 players. In contrast, the second highest scoring player on Mississauga had 18 points in 32 games. The games I’ve seen were from earlier in the season, so I really have to project where he is now, but, for me the biggest flaw in his game was his two way game. He plays high in the defensive end and waits for the puck to come to him, and he's slow to get back if the puck is turned over. This may have improved through the year but, I can’t be sure. Still, the fact that the scouting staff wanted him is unsurprising. 40-50 points as a rookie in a full 68 game season.
Round 2, 23rd overall
Ryan Hopkins - Right Defense
Staying on the trend of players who played away, the Lunenburg naitive played at Stanstead this year, it’s hard to tell exactly how much he would have tore up the NSMMHL. Hopkins is a power play specialist, a 6’1” defenseman who can skate and played big minutes on Stanstead’s top pairing. I’m still not sold on his ability as a 200 foot puck moving defenseman, he’s good with the puck on his stick in the offensive end but has a tendency to just want to get rid of it on the other 115 feet of the ice. He was definitely an offense-first guy in Bantam, so, I think the year in Stanstead helped him round his game, but I’m not 100% sold of his #1 potential. He’ll definitely play at 16 and be a big part of this blueline moving forward tho.
Round 3, 41st overall
Jake Rozzi - Left Wing
This is a good pick in the 3rd round, a skilled, speedy winger who tore it up with Selects Academy, however he did play on one of the best lines in U-16 hockey along with David Goyette and Jordan Dumais. That said, with over 60 goals on the season, he’s shown he’s good at playing with skilled players and getting into dangerous areas to finish plays. He’s got decent size at 5’11”, and should make the jump to Major Junior immediately, and does project as a top 6 forward, which should make him an outstanding grab at 41st overall.
Round 3, 57th overall
Francesco Iasenza - Left Defense
Iasenza played good minutes for Lac St-Louis, a strong explosive skater forward, I find him a little slow to gain speed backward. A competent puck manager, he can carry the puck and move it up ice, he’s a steady guy who doesn’t do anything to blow you away with his game. He may be in the plans for 2020-21, but honestly could use another year of seasoning in U-18
Round 4, 75th overall
Nathan Casey - Center
Casey is an interesting pick, good size with a solid frame, as a junior he projects as a bottom 6 checking forward. He works hard, and though he has a bit of offensive upside he was drafted here for his 2 way game. He’s a newfoundland naitive who played with the Gulls in Halifax in 2018-19. He’s a good, strong skater who can chip in offensively here and there, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him make his way onto the team as a 16 year old.
Round 5, 87th overall
Justin Katz - Goaltender
A goaltender from the Lac St-Louis Lions System, he went to play with Deerfield Academy in the states this year. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find any sort of video on him, but he looks like a big, solid kid. Obviously the scouting staff liked him enough to take him as a potential future goaltender, so, camp will be interesting for him.
Round 8, 147th overall
Thomas Darcy - Right Defense
A 2003 defenseman from CEB, he’s not a guy I’ve really seen much of. Right shooting 2nd year defenseman who was drafted in the 8th round, I assume he’s here to serve as an area guy for Quebec. Seems to have some offensive upside and was one of the top defensemen for the Phenix this year.
Round 9, 165th overall
Ethan Dollemont - Right Defense
I actually like this pick here, I had Dollemont a bit higher. Good skating defenseman, with decent size, I don’t see him as a powerplay guy at the next level, but he can carry the puck and he’s a good, mobile defenseman who can apply pressure with his skating and stickwork.
Round 10, 168th overall
Dylan Hryckowian - Right Wing
This is an interesting pick, one of the top Espoir players out of Quebec, he’ll see big minutes with the Lac St-Louis Lions next year. Speed and skill, and a bit of a physical presence as well, his skating and speed are his best assets. He’s only listed at 5’6”, so he’s a project, but he could end up being a steal here, if he can grow and develop next season.
Round 10, 183th overall
Miles Mueller - Left Wing
Mueller won’t turn 16 until December 19th… one of the youngest players drafted. Not a guy I know anything about, definitely an interesting pick, dual citizen, he wasn’t a member of the Swiss Youth Olympic team, so it doesn’t appear like he’s a high-end steal or anything down here. We’ll have to wait and see with him.
Round 11, 201st overall
Alexis Daniel - Center
Glad to see Daniel being selected, he’s a talented player who had a really good season for the Moncton Flyers. Smaller guy at 5’8”, but he’s a talented offensive forward and should play Junior A next year, he should see at least a few games as a Wildcat over the next few years.
Round 12, 219th overall
Thomas Auger - Center
Another Espoir player who played up with the SSF Blizzard for 4 games collecting 2 points. Sorry to repeat this but, not a guy I’ve seen or no much about, probably another project guy.
Round 13, 237th overall
Wyatt McDonald - Goaltender
A Quispamsis naitive who played in Germany, can’t say I know anything about him. Also, I spelled “Quispamsis” correctly without looking it up or using autocorrect, so be proud of me.
Round 14, 255th overall
Luke Santilli - Right Defense
This is a hail mary pick, I imagine. Santilli is an outstanding skater, a right handed shot and exudes talent. His numbers aren’t that impressive, but that could be a product of how stats are taken and the different circuits a lot of US based teams play on, plus he seems to be more of a defensive player. But he’s smart, a really good defenseman in terms of forcing players into lanes, and he can move the puck quickly and efficiently. If he shows up for camp I expect him to be one of the better rookie defensemen there.
Considering how the Wildcats pick situation looked going into the draft, this is an excellent first draft in a rebouild.
3 key pieces, a potential superstar, and a bunch of other guys who could make their way onto the lineup and contribute, I think that's all you can ask after a contending year.
But I'm back with a draft recap for the Wildcats. You know, It's funny how much time goes into scouting every year and how on draft day teams will always pull out a few guys you've never heard of, and the Wildcats did that to me a few times in here, but I'll do my best regardless
Round 1, 13th overall
Yoan Loshing - Center
I really like this pick, in terms of raw talent, I think he’s the second best player in the draft. He has incredible hands and a quick release, he can raise the puck off the ice in a hurry. He finished 1st in team scoring by a long shot, and most of the other players in the top 10 of GTHL scoring played with other top 10 players. In contrast, the second highest scoring player on Mississauga had 18 points in 32 games. The games I’ve seen were from earlier in the season, so I really have to project where he is now, but, for me the biggest flaw in his game was his two way game. He plays high in the defensive end and waits for the puck to come to him, and he's slow to get back if the puck is turned over. This may have improved through the year but, I can’t be sure. Still, the fact that the scouting staff wanted him is unsurprising. 40-50 points as a rookie in a full 68 game season.
Round 2, 23rd overall
Ryan Hopkins - Right Defense
Staying on the trend of players who played away, the Lunenburg naitive played at Stanstead this year, it’s hard to tell exactly how much he would have tore up the NSMMHL. Hopkins is a power play specialist, a 6’1” defenseman who can skate and played big minutes on Stanstead’s top pairing. I’m still not sold on his ability as a 200 foot puck moving defenseman, he’s good with the puck on his stick in the offensive end but has a tendency to just want to get rid of it on the other 115 feet of the ice. He was definitely an offense-first guy in Bantam, so, I think the year in Stanstead helped him round his game, but I’m not 100% sold of his #1 potential. He’ll definitely play at 16 and be a big part of this blueline moving forward tho.
Round 3, 41st overall
Jake Rozzi - Left Wing
This is a good pick in the 3rd round, a skilled, speedy winger who tore it up with Selects Academy, however he did play on one of the best lines in U-16 hockey along with David Goyette and Jordan Dumais. That said, with over 60 goals on the season, he’s shown he’s good at playing with skilled players and getting into dangerous areas to finish plays. He’s got decent size at 5’11”, and should make the jump to Major Junior immediately, and does project as a top 6 forward, which should make him an outstanding grab at 41st overall.
Round 3, 57th overall
Francesco Iasenza - Left Defense
Iasenza played good minutes for Lac St-Louis, a strong explosive skater forward, I find him a little slow to gain speed backward. A competent puck manager, he can carry the puck and move it up ice, he’s a steady guy who doesn’t do anything to blow you away with his game. He may be in the plans for 2020-21, but honestly could use another year of seasoning in U-18
Round 4, 75th overall
Nathan Casey - Center
Casey is an interesting pick, good size with a solid frame, as a junior he projects as a bottom 6 checking forward. He works hard, and though he has a bit of offensive upside he was drafted here for his 2 way game. He’s a newfoundland naitive who played with the Gulls in Halifax in 2018-19. He’s a good, strong skater who can chip in offensively here and there, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him make his way onto the team as a 16 year old.
Round 5, 87th overall
Justin Katz - Goaltender
A goaltender from the Lac St-Louis Lions System, he went to play with Deerfield Academy in the states this year. Unfortunately I can’t seem to find any sort of video on him, but he looks like a big, solid kid. Obviously the scouting staff liked him enough to take him as a potential future goaltender, so, camp will be interesting for him.
Round 8, 147th overall
Thomas Darcy - Right Defense
A 2003 defenseman from CEB, he’s not a guy I’ve really seen much of. Right shooting 2nd year defenseman who was drafted in the 8th round, I assume he’s here to serve as an area guy for Quebec. Seems to have some offensive upside and was one of the top defensemen for the Phenix this year.
Round 9, 165th overall
Ethan Dollemont - Right Defense
I actually like this pick here, I had Dollemont a bit higher. Good skating defenseman, with decent size, I don’t see him as a powerplay guy at the next level, but he can carry the puck and he’s a good, mobile defenseman who can apply pressure with his skating and stickwork.
Round 10, 168th overall
Dylan Hryckowian - Right Wing
This is an interesting pick, one of the top Espoir players out of Quebec, he’ll see big minutes with the Lac St-Louis Lions next year. Speed and skill, and a bit of a physical presence as well, his skating and speed are his best assets. He’s only listed at 5’6”, so he’s a project, but he could end up being a steal here, if he can grow and develop next season.
Round 10, 183th overall
Miles Mueller - Left Wing
Mueller won’t turn 16 until December 19th… one of the youngest players drafted. Not a guy I know anything about, definitely an interesting pick, dual citizen, he wasn’t a member of the Swiss Youth Olympic team, so it doesn’t appear like he’s a high-end steal or anything down here. We’ll have to wait and see with him.
Round 11, 201st overall
Alexis Daniel - Center
Glad to see Daniel being selected, he’s a talented player who had a really good season for the Moncton Flyers. Smaller guy at 5’8”, but he’s a talented offensive forward and should play Junior A next year, he should see at least a few games as a Wildcat over the next few years.
Round 12, 219th overall
Thomas Auger - Center
Another Espoir player who played up with the SSF Blizzard for 4 games collecting 2 points. Sorry to repeat this but, not a guy I’ve seen or no much about, probably another project guy.
Round 13, 237th overall
Wyatt McDonald - Goaltender
A Quispamsis naitive who played in Germany, can’t say I know anything about him. Also, I spelled “Quispamsis” correctly without looking it up or using autocorrect, so be proud of me.
Round 14, 255th overall
Luke Santilli - Right Defense
This is a hail mary pick, I imagine. Santilli is an outstanding skater, a right handed shot and exudes talent. His numbers aren’t that impressive, but that could be a product of how stats are taken and the different circuits a lot of US based teams play on, plus he seems to be more of a defensive player. But he’s smart, a really good defenseman in terms of forcing players into lanes, and he can move the puck quickly and efficiently. If he shows up for camp I expect him to be one of the better rookie defensemen there.
Considering how the Wildcats pick situation looked going into the draft, this is an excellent first draft in a rebouild.
3 key pieces, a potential superstar, and a bunch of other guys who could make their way onto the lineup and contribute, I think that's all you can ask after a contending year.
