TSN’s Craig Button came out with his latest draft prospect power rankings. Leading the board was the expected number one overall pick Nolan Patrick. The Brandon Wheat King is expected to return to after a long lay off recovering from a sports hernia. Ouch. We profiled Patrick way back in 2015, and discussed him as a potential franchise player. Even after missed time, Button still ranks the 17-year old center above any other amateur. However, if Vegas misses out on Patrick there are other potential star prospects.
SinBin.vegas has already spotlighted two of them in Nico “The Knight” Hischier and top defensive prospect Timothy Liljegren. Both could be more realistic options if Vegas doesn’t pick first. If the Golden Knights get bumped out of the top three, the following top prospects should still get fans excited. We’ve talked about the top three and now it’s time to dig deeper.
Fourth on Button’s big board is Czech center Martin Necas. The 6’0 right-hander plays in the Czech Extra League and is known for his competitive edge, which scouts love.
He refuses to be denied when he’s faced with a challenge, and his game will only become that much better as he matures physically. -Craig Button, TSN
Continued mentions of Necas’s competitiveness is what Vegas scouts should like the most about the young Czech’s scouting report.
Necas impressed scouts with both his effort and ability to get involved in everything. This guy gets after it. Not the biggest player on the ice, but makes up for it with his creativity and hard work. -Jeff Marek, Wyshynski and Marek Podcast
George McPhee needs a guy to lead the franchise with effort, and like Button said he hasn’t finished maturing. Two-way centers will be targeted early on by all teams. From all reports Necas is a well-rounded, aggressive player who can play in all situations.
An exceptional playmaker with dizzying speed who centered the top line and moonlighted as the top point man on the Czech Republic’s first power play unit. He’s a hard-nosed player who plays bigger than his 5’11, 165-pound frame would indicate, and he has an acute grasp of his responsibilities in all three zones. But take our word for it — this kid is an elite offensive force who in 2017 will be at or near the top of a very talented pool of European draft prospects.” –TheDraftAnalyst.com
Power play success, speed and responsibility are three incredibly important skills for the NHL. All successful teams have top-line centers that can control a game. If the Golden Knights draft a top-rated center they’d be heading in the right direction. Without a reliable center Vegas will have trouble controlling Anze Kopitar, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Joe Thornton. The Pacific and the West as a whole are loaded with centers. It’s up to Vegas to keep up.
James
@Jason Pothier
‘Without a reliable center Vegas will have trouble controlling Anze Kopitar, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Joe Thornton. The Pacific and the West as a whole are loaded with centers. It’s up to Vegas to keep up.’
The Pacific and the West as a whole has a reputation of being a big physical conference, but the NHL is trending toward more speed and skill (finesse). Bill Foley stated at the outset that he wanted the latter, but Murray Craven had his ear at the time. Foley changed his stance on a retread coach after hiring George McPhee. It will be interesting to see the size of the Golden Knights draftees. The Blackhawks aren’t the biggest team, but overcame the Ducks and Kings. I get the impression that McPhee wants a blend of both size and skill.
RJ
I love love love articles like this. I want to talk more about the potential talent on the ice and less about all the mind numbing drama Foley keeps finding himself in. Is there a link on the site to a calendar of important dates? Trading deadline, draft protection lists, expansion draft, entry draft etc? I’m so damn excited to have some NHL players on the LVHC.
Phisig150
Awesome idea. I second the need for a calendar.
Phisig150
I get he’s 17 but a buck 65 seems small no? If we draft this kid we need to get him to a buffet ASAP. What is an average size for an NHL center?
James
@Phisig150
I get he’s 17 but a buck 65 seems small no? If we draft this kid we need to get him to a buffet ASAP. What is an average size for an NHL center?
A lot of these draftees are physically underdeveloped. There would be less mistakes in the draft if the NHL moved the draft age from 18 to 19. I’m not an expert, but I would imagine that over time he would have to put 18 pounds onto his 165-pound frame. Ryan Getzlaf is considered big at 6’4, 221-pounds.