Pronman on Solberg: he’s going to be a really tough evaluation for teams just because the league he’s played in (The Norwegian professional league) has no track record of developing NHL players. I know it’s a concern for NHL teams. How do you balance international play and league play?
Pronman on Tij: Some people in the league who view him as a teens type of player. Some are really high on him and view him as a T10 type of player. Very very skilled, a good skater, can rip the puck, and a guy who has a good motor. No issues with his motor. My issue with him is he’s a 5’11” 6’0” winger who doesn’t make a ton of plays. Don’t think his play making is an issue but I don’t think it’s a major factor. think his offense is driven by his skill and shot. Not to dissimilar to Eiserman. The biggest difference is their compete. Otherwise I think there is a lot of similarities.
Cont’d: If you love the hockey sense then he’s that top 10 8 pick. For me I don’t love the hockey sense. It’s average. I don’t see this guy as a true play maker. A guy who makes other players better consistently. A top 6 winger. Not an elite point producer at the next level.
Pronman on Sennecke: Quite frankly the production makes him an interesting debate. Not the most impressive production in the regular season. Much more to the player than just that: The extremely strong underage year, a massive reason Oshawa went to the OHL finals. You watch him in those playoff games. He wasn’t just good. He was quite honestly dominant. The skill just jumps out at you. It’s elite skill. The fact that he’s 6’2” and he skates well. It’s just an extremely appealing combination of traits. Listen I get it: the production is concerning. You have to look beyond that. Look at him in the playoffs. How he was dragging that team. Not Calum Ritchie. But him. You have to beyond this. Think about him in 3 years. How is that tool kit going to age. I see the potential to be an impact pro. I see potentially elite NHL skill. I think that projects really well to the next level.
On Demidov: he’s got insane skill. Pull you out of your seat skill. He’s an absolute highlight reel machine. Back to back MVP of that league. Absolute reason won the league playoffs. You know who else did this? Matvei Michkov. He did this at DY-1. He still went 7th. There are some concerns with demidov. Michkov is a highly competitive winger. I don’t know the hockey sense rises to a high level like Michkov. I do have some concerns with skating. That knock kneed toe to toe skating stride. That kind of skating you saw from Strangers or other players like Jeff Skinner. It’s a unique skating stride. While I do think he’s going to be a successful pro – unless he’s like a 100 point player in the NHL. i just find the playing style that I would prefer is the elite skill skating size winger. Over the guy who’s going to need so insanely skilled and smart. Basically be Kaprizov or Panarin to have a bigger impact in the NHL.
Wheeler on Demidov: I think he’s got a real chance to get there. I don’t think that ceiling exists with Sennecke. there is an opportunity to be an 80-90 point 1st line winger to lead a team in scoring. There is that kind of upside with Demidov. I don’t think Sennecke will be that even if he hits. He’s probably a 15-20 point less than that. 2nd or 3rd leading scorer on a team. Demidov can be the *guy*. I truly believe Demidov is one of the more skilled players to come through the draft in the last few years. There is a few guys who have come through the draft in the last few years that are less skilled and already sort of doing that in the NHL. Having that high end T6 in the NHL just 2-3 years out from their draft. I’m a big believer in him.
Pronman: the concern for me… is I agree with you on the skill. What if we’re off on that? What if you’re slightly off on the offensive projection? You’re talking about a smaller forward who’s not an elite skater. I think back to the 2020 draft. I think of Holtz, Raymond, Rossi, and Perfetti. 4 guys who are not elite skaters. Fast forward a few years later. Only Raymond is impactful of the 4. I think Rossi, Holtz, and Perfetti could get there. Then you go a little lower in the draft order and you have Seth Jarvis. Who competes way better than Sennecke. He has the speed and more translatable factors. Ends up becoming a superior player to the Holtz Rossi and Perfetti. Those are the risks I think of in this case.
Wheeler: the two most talented player you listed in that group are Perfetti and Raymond. I think demidov is a more talented player than both of them. Demidov does have a competitive element to his game. He impacts the game in other ways. He gets after it.
Wheeler: I would be very surprised if he’s not a very good T6 winger. The level above that is a true 1st line winger.
Demidov measurements: we’re hearing he’s 6 foot. Hearing he’s a bigger guy. You talk to teams that like him he’s 6’1”. Measurements will be provided at the summer skate by his agency.
Corey on Yak: *laughs* I don’t think it’s a hard to defend. I think he’s a defensemen with a ton of skill. Quite frankly I thought a ton of game breaking skill at the WHL level. When you saw this guy play against WHL competition he showed incredible creativity and offensive instincts. A constant force in creating scoring chances. He is a 6’3” defenseman. He competes well. He’s a got a little physical fire in him. It’s not the focus of his game. I think the debate comes down to his skating. I know some scouts I talk to in the league and Scott don’t like his skating. Other scouts don’t mind his skating. I think it’s an asset. It’s not the prettiest stride. Be a little smoother. This guy pulls away from pressure *real easily* he can close on guys without that big an issue. His transition game is excellent. Combined with that high end skill. The criticism comes down to his defensive game: well he doesn’t defend that much – does he not know he’s a defensemen – he’s always attacking. The same things were said about Pavel Mintyukov in his DY. Some times with Luke Hughes as well. Hes bigger than Mintyukov and nobody skates Luke Hughes does. Bouchard too. Much more cerebral and much more physically imposing. All those are attributes- his dynamic offensive traits combined with an athleticism that will translate will to the NHL makes me think this guy will have a really good chance to be an impact NHL defensemen.
Corey on Dickinson: The skating, skill, and defending stands out. This is a guy who’s performed for London all season. A good athlete. He can fly. He can make some plays with the puck. If you believe his offense is legitimate I think he’s got a good chance to be a T5 T6 pick this draft. I hear the name Noah Hanafin thrown around a lot with this player.
Wheeler: There was some sloppiness inside his own zone last night and trying to break pucks out last night. Not moving them quickly enough. They like everything else about him. Under pressure he doesn’t read the game super super well.
If that offense is clicking the puck moves quickly he looks like Jake Sanderson
ScaryRequirement3171
My favorite part was Corey getting super defensive about the Yakemchuk pick and then being snarky about having to defend it when Scott, Max, and Chris all clearly thought he was full of it.
2 Comments
Pronman on Solberg: he’s going to be a really tough evaluation for teams just because the league he’s played in (The Norwegian professional league) has no track record of developing NHL players. I know it’s a concern for NHL teams. How do you balance international play and league play?
Pronman on Tij: Some people in the league who view him as a teens type of player. Some are really high on him and view him as a T10 type of player. Very very skilled, a good skater, can rip the puck, and a guy who has a good motor. No issues with his motor. My issue with him is he’s a 5’11” 6’0” winger who doesn’t make a ton of plays. Don’t think his play making is an issue but I don’t think it’s a major factor. think his offense is driven by his skill and shot. Not to dissimilar to Eiserman. The biggest difference is their compete. Otherwise I think there is a lot of similarities.
Cont’d: If you love the hockey sense then he’s that top 10 8 pick. For me I don’t love the hockey sense. It’s average. I don’t see this guy as a true play maker. A guy who makes other players better consistently. A top 6 winger. Not an elite point producer at the next level.
Pronman on Sennecke: Quite frankly the production makes him an interesting debate. Not the most impressive production in the regular season. Much more to the player than just that: The extremely strong underage year, a massive reason Oshawa went to the OHL finals. You watch him in those playoff games. He wasn’t just good. He was quite honestly dominant. The skill just jumps out at you. It’s elite skill. The fact that he’s 6’2” and he skates well. It’s just an extremely appealing combination of traits. Listen I get it: the production is concerning. You have to look beyond that. Look at him in the playoffs. How he was dragging that team. Not Calum Ritchie. But him. You have to beyond this. Think about him in 3 years. How is that tool kit going to age. I see the potential to be an impact pro. I see potentially elite NHL skill. I think that projects really well to the next level.
On Demidov: he’s got insane skill. Pull you out of your seat skill. He’s an absolute highlight reel machine. Back to back MVP of that league. Absolute reason won the league playoffs. You know who else did this? Matvei Michkov. He did this at DY-1. He still went 7th. There are some concerns with demidov. Michkov is a highly competitive winger. I don’t know the hockey sense rises to a high level like Michkov. I do have some concerns with skating. That knock kneed toe to toe skating stride. That kind of skating you saw from Strangers or other players like Jeff Skinner. It’s a unique skating stride. While I do think he’s going to be a successful pro – unless he’s like a 100 point player in the NHL. i just find the playing style that I would prefer is the elite skill skating size winger. Over the guy who’s going to need so insanely skilled and smart. Basically be Kaprizov or Panarin to have a bigger impact in the NHL.
Wheeler on Demidov: I think he’s got a real chance to get there. I don’t think that ceiling exists with Sennecke. there is an opportunity to be an 80-90 point 1st line winger to lead a team in scoring. There is that kind of upside with Demidov. I don’t think Sennecke will be that even if he hits. He’s probably a 15-20 point less than that. 2nd or 3rd leading scorer on a team. Demidov can be the *guy*. I truly believe Demidov is one of the more skilled players to come through the draft in the last few years. There is a few guys who have come through the draft in the last few years that are less skilled and already sort of doing that in the NHL. Having that high end T6 in the NHL just 2-3 years out from their draft. I’m a big believer in him.
Pronman: the concern for me… is I agree with you on the skill. What if we’re off on that? What if you’re slightly off on the offensive projection? You’re talking about a smaller forward who’s not an elite skater. I think back to the 2020 draft. I think of Holtz, Raymond, Rossi, and Perfetti. 4 guys who are not elite skaters. Fast forward a few years later. Only Raymond is impactful of the 4. I think Rossi, Holtz, and Perfetti could get there. Then you go a little lower in the draft order and you have Seth Jarvis. Who competes way better than Sennecke. He has the speed and more translatable factors. Ends up becoming a superior player to the Holtz Rossi and Perfetti. Those are the risks I think of in this case.
Wheeler: the two most talented player you listed in that group are Perfetti and Raymond. I think demidov is a more talented player than both of them. Demidov does have a competitive element to his game. He impacts the game in other ways. He gets after it.
Wheeler: I would be very surprised if he’s not a very good T6 winger. The level above that is a true 1st line winger.
Demidov measurements: we’re hearing he’s 6 foot. Hearing he’s a bigger guy. You talk to teams that like him he’s 6’1”. Measurements will be provided at the summer skate by his agency.
Corey on Yak: *laughs* I don’t think it’s a hard to defend. I think he’s a defensemen with a ton of skill. Quite frankly I thought a ton of game breaking skill at the WHL level. When you saw this guy play against WHL competition he showed incredible creativity and offensive instincts. A constant force in creating scoring chances. He is a 6’3” defenseman. He competes well. He’s a got a little physical fire in him. It’s not the focus of his game. I think the debate comes down to his skating. I know some scouts I talk to in the league and Scott don’t like his skating. Other scouts don’t mind his skating. I think it’s an asset. It’s not the prettiest stride. Be a little smoother. This guy pulls away from pressure *real easily* he can close on guys without that big an issue. His transition game is excellent. Combined with that high end skill. The criticism comes down to his defensive game: well he doesn’t defend that much – does he not know he’s a defensemen – he’s always attacking. The same things were said about Pavel Mintyukov in his DY. Some times with Luke Hughes as well. Hes bigger than Mintyukov and nobody skates Luke Hughes does. Bouchard too. Much more cerebral and much more physically imposing. All those are attributes- his dynamic offensive traits combined with an athleticism that will translate will to the NHL makes me think this guy will have a really good chance to be an impact NHL defensemen.
Corey on Dickinson: The skating, skill, and defending stands out. This is a guy who’s performed for London all season. A good athlete. He can fly. He can make some plays with the puck. If you believe his offense is legitimate I think he’s got a good chance to be a T5 T6 pick this draft. I hear the name Noah Hanafin thrown around a lot with this player.
Wheeler: There was some sloppiness inside his own zone last night and trying to break pucks out last night. Not moving them quickly enough. They like everything else about him. Under pressure he doesn’t read the game super super well.
If that offense is clicking the puck moves quickly he looks like Jake Sanderson
My favorite part was Corey getting super defensive about the Yakemchuk pick and then being snarky about having to defend it when Scott, Max, and Chris all clearly thought he was full of it.