2014 Draft Day 2

[pete]

Palat had a decent enough camp with Norfolk to get signed but barely played the first half of his rookie season and there were times at the beginning he nearly went down to the Coast.

Would like to see a tryout extended to Tkachev, btw.

[timothy]

Here's the development plan for the draftees:

1. DeAngelo -- back to Sarnia for 1 more year; perhaps Yzerman helps encourages Sarnia to rebuild by trading DeAngelo to a better team; Sarnia is horrid. DeAngelo turns 20 late next year, making him eligible for Syracuse for the 2015-16 season. If he sticks with Sarnia, they won't make the playoffs, so you could see him in Syracuse end of next season on an ATO ahead of the start of his ELC.

2. Masin -- will be selected in the upcoming CHL import draft on Wed, July 2nd (hopefully not by Sarnia), and will come to NA next season for at least one junior season. This will be very good for his development (e.g. Kucherov). We'll re-evaluate him next season and see if he's ready to take the next step as a pro, or another developmental year in the CHL -- probably alot depends on which CHL drafts him (good development or not so good situation).

3. MacLeod -- committed to Boston University and most likely spend the next 4 years developing in the NCAA, and he will need it. Moncton does hold his CHL rights, so it's possible he could switch and fast-track to the pros, but doubtful. Target 2018-19 season for Syracuse

4. Point -- back to Moose Jaw for 2 more seasons; target 2016-17 season for Syracuse

5. Thomas -- back to Calagry for 2 more seasons; he's Travis Sanheim's d-partner, so there will be a solid pair for the Hitmen; target 2016-17 season for Syracuse

6. DiGiacinto -- back to Windsor for 2 more seasons; just missed AHL one year sooner by being born 11 days too late; target 2016-17 season for Syracuse

7. Darcy -- he's already 20 and has had a long hockey journey so far: USNDTP --> Northwestern U --> USHL --> Cape Breton. Like Palat his draft year, he'll be invited to all the camps and prospect tourneys this summer and fall, and they'll make a decision during Syracuse training camp to give him ELC or send him back to Cape Breton for an overage year. He led the team in scoring last year, so IMO he's ready for next step, but you only ELC him if you think he can pull a regular shift in Syracuse; you don't sign him and send him to the Everblades -- you just send him back for an overaged year.

That being said as disclaimer, here's how you read the TBL tea leaves on Darcy. You don't flip two draft picks (2014 7th and 2015 7th) to move up in the 7th round just to pick Darcy if you are on the fence about him. Clearly, TBL thinks he's a draft-and-sign guy that can inject offense into Syracuse this fall. Otherwise if you're on the fence or not sure, you stand pat in the 7th, pick some other bloke, and then invite Darcy to camp and see maybe he wants a AHL deal or something. You see what I mean. The flipping out and flipping picks and moving up to get a 7th rounder? Nah... TBL doesn't have a hard-on for that guy at all... :sarcasm:

[RSchmitz]

That being said as disclaimer, here's how you read the TBL tea leaves on Darcy. You don't flip two draft picks (2014 7th and 2015 7th) to move up in the 7th round just to pick Darcy if you are on the fence about him. Clearly, TBL thinks he's a draft-and-sign guy that can inject offense into Syracuse this fall. Otherwise if you're on the fence or not sure, you stand pat in the 7th, pick some other bloke, and then invite Darcy to camp and see maybe he wants a AHL deal or something. You see what I mean. The flipping out and flipping picks and moving up to get a 7th rounder? Nah... TBL doesn't have a hard-on for that guy at all... :sarcasm:

Excellent analysis. Gotta appreciate how Yzerman has methodically re-injected the Crunch with the forward talent they need to support the help they'll be receiving on D/G.

[timothy]

Excellent analysis. Gotta appreciate how Yzerman has methodically re-injected the Crunch with the forward talent they need to support the help they'll be receiving on D/G.

That being said... I count 9 forwards signed and slotted for Syracuse (Namestnikov, Marchessault, Neilson, Gourde, Vermin, Richard, Smith, Ikonen, Gauthier)

Paradis and Connolly have been QO'd and Kuynk is all but a lock to get QO'd. BriseBois been upfront team is trying to resign Angelidis.

Those 4 make 13 forwards. Now, throw in Costello and Darcy who still have to get contracts, and that would make 15. That's tight. There's no roster limits in AHL, so you carry as many as you like, but they all need to play.

Yzerman making noises about moving forward salary on the NHL club (i.e. Purcell), so that would open a spot for Connolly, and makes Costello/Darcy signing more likely.

There's always the option to return Darcy to junior if there's no room.

[Derek28]

I'm curious if you're thinking Paquette is locked into Tampa? Kind of wonder if they would rather have him play top 6 minutes in Syracuse opposed to bottom line minutes in Tampa.

[timothy]

I'm curious if you're thinking Paquette is locked into Tampa? Kind of wonder if they would rather have him play top 6 minutes in Syracuse opposed to bottom line minutes in Tampa.

I think he's a lock. He's never going to play scoring line minutes in Tampa, so getting him top line minutes in Syracuse isn't a big need. He tops as an energy liner; let him play his role now. He's mostly ready. Why give him all that playoff experience if the org hadn't already had some internal discussions about his role moving forward? It's not like they said, "OMG, the only way we are going to win a playoff series is if we have Pacquette in the lineup!!" No, that was "developmental" experience and confidence for next season. You expect MTL to demote Tokarski to Hamilton when the season resumes? No, both players have turned the corner and earned the respect of their coaches and GM.

[Donnie D]

Johnathan MacLeod
http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=177674

The Lightning lose his rights.

[Donnie D]

Did not like the MacLeod pick with Glover still on the board. Point may end up being the most successful of all the picks we took. Thomas was good value where he was taken, although having issues with your backward skating and pivots is a problem for a dman. The other two...eh, we'll see.

Would not at all be surprised if Masin and Point are the NHLers that emerge from this group.

Interesting to read the comments 4 years later.

[Bolthed]

So what’s the story with McLeod then? Second-rounder who flamed out in college or something else like injuries? His numbers at BC were like a quiet yo-yo.

[RSchmitz]

Lost ice time to underclassmen

https://www.rawcharge.com/2017/11/8/16609670/tampa-bay-lightning-prospect-johnathan-macleod-getting-squeezed-out-of-boston-university-line-up

[Alex]

I went to hockeydb to check out the 2014 draft, and who the Bolts could have drafted instead; call it masochism, if you will. While there I checked out the 2011 draft and I didn't realize Adam Wilcox played in a game for the Sabres last year. That means all of Yzerman and Murray's picks from 2011 made the NHL.

[dannybolt]

I went to hockeydb to check out the 2014 draft, and who the Bolts could have drafted instead; call it masochism, if you will. While there I checked out the 2011 draft and I didn't realize Adam Wilcox played in a game for the Sabres last year. That means all of Yzerman and Murray's picks from 2011 made the NHL.

2011 was an amazing draft; coupled with the Johnson FA signing (that was 2011, right?), I'd argue the best year for scouting in our history. Murray really earned his paycheck that year.

[Alex]

They really came into the organization with a bang. Conacher, Sustr, and Brown were around that time, too. We forgot about The Cowboys very quickly.

[RSchmitz]

They really came into the organization with a bang. Conacher, Sustr, and Brown were around that time, too. We forgot about The Cowboys very quickly.

Snagging Palat with the fourth from last pick of the draft is the steal of the decade.

[Alex]

Snagging Palat with the fourth from last pick of the draft is the steal of the decade.

A bit of fun. Starting three years back since players are still developing, I went through years 2005-15 to see what 7th rounders have been possibly, potentially better than Palat. Not a long list.

2006 - Patrik Hornqvist, Anton Stralman
2007 - Carl Gunnarsson
2008 - Jason Demers
2009 - Erik Haula
2010 - Fredrik Andersen (although he wasn't signed by CAR and went back into the draft).

Of that list, I'd really only want Stralman over Palat. Good thing that's not a decision that's needed.