The National Hockey League draft is getting closer and closer, and you can feel it.
The news in the field hockey world is almost all about the 2023 draft prospects, if not the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Game 4 takes place tonight in Florida.
In short, the various comments and analyses on the prospects for the upcoming draft are making the rounds in the field hockey world, and rightly so.
We like to have different opinions on the top prospects who will be drafted in the first round.
It allows everyone to make up their own minds about each prospect.
Sometimes, we’re even taken by surprise by the rankings and/or comments of certain experts.
In fact, just yesterday, we learned that according to NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr, Quebec defenseman Étienne Morin was the first defenseman on his list for the draft.
NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr says Etienne Morin would be his first defenseman for the draft when discussing the crop of D.
– Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) June 9, 2023
(OBOXADSQ || []).push({“cmd”: “addBanner”});
That’s a pretty big statement, especially coming from the director of the recruiting center, considering that Morin’s name isn’t one that comes up often (if ever) in such discussions.
Morin, who stands six feet tall and weighs 180 pounds, amassed 72 points (21 goals, 51 assists) in 67 games with the Moncton Wildcats in the QMJHL this season.
Clearly an impressive haul for an 18-year-old defenseman in only his second QMJHL season, this production had yet to earn him a top draft pick.
Well, that’s now a thing of the past with Dan Marr’s most recent ranking.
Morin was ranked 19th among North American players, and 2nd among continental defensemen.
Now he’s the best defenseman in the draft according to one list, and by any list.
(OBOXADSQ || []).push({“cmd”: “addBanner”});
Marr puts Morin ahead of David Reinbacher, who many consider to be the best defenseman in the draft.
Clearly a surprising statement, but it’s worth noting that Reinbacher lost some feathers at the recent NHL combine.
Indeed, the Austrian defenseman didn’t look too good to Anthony Martineau, who was on hand.
David Reinbacher may have been nervous, tired or embarrassed during our interview. He’s only human.
But many of you have asked me how my discussion with him went, and I must be transparent: he really didn’t convince me.
The details: pic.twitter.com/Slym8e0NDx
– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) June 10, 2023
The analyst said last night on the season finale of JiC that he really wasn’t convinced by Reinbacher, who doesn’t see himself breaking into the top-10.
One wonders, then, if Martineau was the only one to feel this way, perhaps explaining in part why Étienne Morin would have overtaken Reinbacher on Dan Marr’s list.
In short, we’ll have to keep an eye on all this over the coming weeks, not forgetting that the CH has been closely linked with Reinbacher for several weeks now, for the fifth overall pick.
Let’s also see if Étienne Morin could be targeted by the CH, perhaps with the Florida Panthers’ pick.
In a gust
– Speaking of the Wildcats.
Unsurprisingly, forward Caleb Desnoyers becomes the very first pick of the QMJHL draft. The Saint-Hyacinthe Gaulois product is selected by the Moncton Wildcats.
– richard boutin (@RBoutinJDQ) June 10, 2023
– Very cool.
2nd pick another @GAULOISAAA Emile Guité goes to Chicoutimi – 1st time since 2008 (Brandon Gormley and Sean Couturier) that the first two picks are teammates #QMJHL
– Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) June 10, 2023
– For those interested.
Connor Bedard comes in at 5’9 .75″ in height pic.twitter.com/3AIImsCZ2D
– Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) June 10, 2023
– Still.
The Chicoutimi #Saguenéens will now make their first of 4 top-10 selections
3rd time in history a team has had 4 top-10 picks after Gatineau in 2020 and Rimouski in 2006
– Stephane Leroux (@StephRDSJunior) June 10, 2023
– Read more.
NHL offseason trade board 2.0: The latest on the Jets, Leafs, Flyers and more – and how it impacts the market
From@PierreVLeBrun,@eduhatschekand me https://t.co/Rzsqxw8vD1
– Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) June 10, 2023