DraftCentre

Mar 31, 2020

Craig's List Q & A: Button answers your questions on hockey’s best prospects

After releasing the latest Craig's List on Monday, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button spent time on Twitter Monday and Tuesday answering questions on Alexis Lafreniere, Tim Stutzle and the rest of the top prospects in hockey.

TSN.ca Staff

Alexis Lafreniere , The Canadian Press

After releasing the latest Craig's List on Monday, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button spent time on Twitter this week answering your questions on Alexis Lafreniere, Tim Stutzle and the rest of the top prospects in hockey.

I think Hendrix is a terrific prospect. It’s more of a medical evaluation at this point of time. So if a team sees his potential in a similar light & the medical report is positive, then the possibility exists. https://t.co/z3yvMoGZ16
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Sens. Sabres. Kings. Devils. Different time lines with their prospects and what they already have in place. https://t.co/CRhGP3PuoT
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Stutzle or Byfield. High end centres. https://t.co/ZNjAJUvS5i
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

I love Romanov. He plays with great passion & enthusiasm. He’s a great competitor who approaches the game & the situations within the game with a ‘can do’ & ‘will do’ approach. Top pair defenseman & going throwback to Guy Lapointe as comparable type & personality. @CanadiensMTL https://t.co/XtVM5CAcFT
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

You can do as you wish. The comparables I use are guide posts to give visual impressions of how a prospect, most people may not have seen, as to how they may play. It’s never meant to give an impression in their minds as to what the prospect will become. https://t.co/COkaxT2OJn
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Foudy is in the conversation. Tim Stutzle, Jake Sanderson, William Wallinder, Kaiden Guhle all in conversation as well. https://t.co/57c5lGe2iS
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Cole is a terrific prospect. He had a strong season with the usual challenges playing at a challenging level. I think he had a very strong season & that his development is right on track. He needs to mature & he’ll continue to get exactly that @BadgerMHockey https://t.co/gjDXmt4Bet
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

At @TSNHockey each & every year we’re asked to rank the top 50 players in @NHL We have an outstanding group & each & every one would tell you how difficult it is to do the ranking because there’s so many top end players. So Alexis is an elite player IMO who will pose same problem https://t.co/JVGH3GknLO
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Quinn grew up in Toronto playing in the @GTHLHockey before going to the @USAHockeyNTDP as did his Brother Jack. Their development has afforded them opportunity to build their games that gives them the best of all worlds. https://t.co/H3njZG6yhw
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Types of players. Style of play. That’s how I use comparables to try & draw a visual comparison to draft prospects. They are never meant to be exact comparables. https://t.co/FRd0Q5M0qU
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Jake Guentzel https://t.co/3Id8BZb2Vd
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Wow. Can I answer in 5 years? 🤣 I feel it’s like choosing between Hedman & Doughty. Drafted 1 year apart like Cale & Quinn. Norris trophy winners. I think Cale & Quinn have that potential. Impact game in significant ways. I’m really not sure. https://t.co/4cmqeTpBGk
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Potentially. He’s progressed so much in the past season & certainly shows some of the time frame necessary for goalie improvement & progress & the requisite patience in allowing it to happen. Would not surprise me one bit to see him drafted in 2nd round. https://t.co/4xfgmNe05Q
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

I guess it depends where. I look at what I think Habs would benefit from, the most. They have a very good prospect group but a difference maker, significant difference maker would add to that group. I think a player like Quinn would be that type. He’s only one but that approach. https://t.co/aAtJtvXYz5
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Given a choice 2nd & 3rd by my previous rationale but still can’t go wrong for @Senators IMO. https://t.co/p8WdyHIP2E
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

🤔 Worth pondering. If we look at my list & I’m going to make a consideration. So Lafreniere & Quinn/Rossi (Consideration) vs. Stutzle & Byfield. Using comparable types. Huberdeau/Rantanen & Pastrnak/Backstrom vs. P. Kane & Malkin/Kopitar? That’s why @Senators can’t go wrong. https://t.co/p8WdyHIP2E
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Alex was a very good player @BCHockey in @NCAAIceHockey this season. Better & more confident as season progressed. I feel that what Alex needed with respect to development was time to mature physically & build more power. That would ultimately help his game. It did & will. https://t.co/h33BkZuAfs
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

There’s more than numbers to look at for me. If I did that alone, the exercise may be a lot easier. There is lots of factors to consider & evaluating physical skills & assessing them in how it translates to the NHL are very important elements but not the only ones. Same as stats. https://t.co/lKHjMurUbi
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Some top end players in 2019 draft. Give it time. I think #2020NHLDraft is very deep with quality, well into the 2nd round & even into 3rd. Top line forwards,
Top pair defensemen, 2nd line forwards, scorers & 2nd pair defensemen as well as a #1 Goalie. I define that as quality. https://t.co/Hjnk3ryCxv
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

I don’t see that at all. McDavid is a generational player. I see Alexis as a Huberdeau/Rantanen type player. https://t.co/B7UbSedKc0
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Tim is highly skilled with great creativity & he attacks the game with passion, determination & enthusiasm. 85-95 points IMO. Players have peak years so maybe 100 but that’s a hard number to hit. https://t.co/fyyWQCSz0n
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

I don’t do cross-year drafts. So many different factors between draft classes. I do a top 50 affiliated prospects list in early January every year which serves as a better comparison IMO for players across multiple draft classes. https://t.co/qlA2GIFJrw
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

The transfer agreement is with the individual federations within a country. The @khl_eng wants to keep their best players & have been able to find ways to do that. There is no perfect transfer agreement & each country deals with different issues. https://t.co/rIIDvdLjRP
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Kucherov is a top player in the @NHL Draisaitl has been outstanding this season. Auston has never reached the level of those two at the NHL level but certainly has the ability & potential to do so. Debates & discussions on this level of players is always a positive & fun. https://t.co/y9XPpcK9Or
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

When you’re evaluating you’re building to a point where your observations & analysis take in all considerations. Playoffs & championship tourneys give you valuable information for this analysis. It changes how you arrive at a level of confidence & how high, when selecting. 2/ https://t.co/MlBsuIqjvF
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

First, all teams dealing with same thing. So now, what teams have been able to scout more thoroughly to feel more confident in their selections? That will bear out over time to an extent. It’s a good reminder that every opportunity to scout is important. 1/ https://t.co/MlBsuIqjvF
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

I see them as different types. I think Kotkaniemi has more power & skill in his game & will be able to produce more. Lundell is a very solid player who is smart but I don’t see the dynamic skill to be an offensive force. JK type like Kopitar & AL type like Danault. Types only. https://t.co/E7vQxOMIvZ
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Fair enough. I’ve watched Zion for a couple years. U18 is one event & a strong one at that but I weight it accordingly. I evaluate over time & am more than comfortable with my evaluation at this time. Not a static exercise & will continue to evaluate. https://t.co/3BsyMJmggk
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

An earlier answer. They all could’ve benefited from playing another year outside NHL. None of them were contributing players to any significant extent. Was it a developmental season? Yes. But I have never seen the NHL as a development league. https://t.co/AInLtRiRtR
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Martin is a driving force type of player. Skates with speed & determination & he attacks & puts defenders on their heels. He will create advantages & opportunities for his team. He’s smart & astute which allows him to play alongside talented players. Perhaps like Zach Hyman? https://t.co/8ER4XONly8
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

There will not be another Crosby. Shane is an excellent player who has the makings of being a star in the NHL. Crosby is a generational player. One of 5 best all time. https://t.co/FFQC3zK2mV
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

They all could’ve benefited from playing another year outside NHL. None of them were contributing players to any significant extent. Was it a developmental season? Yes. But I have never seen the NHL as a development league. https://t.co/7w5MPZULNy
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Signing College Agents has zero downside. They’re older & more mature & only eat up 1 or 2 years on ELC. They’re ready for pro hockey & teams can evaluate progress & readiness for NHL fairly quick. Bronson has developed nicely & has NHL elements to his game. Like Brogan Rafferty? https://t.co/Jv2EKVtzLB
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 31, 2020

Stutzle has a playing style that is like Patrick Kane. He’s quick, fast, creative & he doesn’t wait on the game to dictate what he can do. He dictates what he’s going to do to the game. High end skill combined with a mind and determination that allows him to make a big impact. https://t.co/D8gGpZDRvJ
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Playing and contributing are different things. Lafreniere will contribute. I agree with you about Stutzle. Other than that, I have a difficult time seeing any other player contributing next year in the NHL. https://t.co/a8hRAMr860
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Neither Raymond or Holtz play centre. For @Senators with a very strong prospect group, and two high picks, they will add some significant high end talent to that group. https://t.co/JjUDwLR9rL
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

My comparable has been Nicklas Backstrom but Giroux is fair. https://t.co/gU0XQgwOLg
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I like Zayde. He’s 76 on the list so I don’t see him as a late round selection. Made significant progress this season & I think he would be an excellent selection for a team. https://t.co/vbRKJ5Qf69
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I’m not a medical doctor so I don’t know what prognosis is. Watching him, I see a terrific two-way player a la Patrice Bergeron. His potential doesn’t change for me. Crosby had his concussion issues, he wasn’t less of a player. We waited to see if he’d be the same player. He was. https://t.co/ftgYqTho2x
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Some quality players past 5. I’ve compared Quinn to Pastrnak, Askarov to Price, Rossi to Backstrom, Raymond to Marner, Lapierre to Bergeron. I would take any of those 5 if they are able to perform at the level of their comparables. https://t.co/QBySCF5Qvn
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I think it would be a mistake for the team that drafts Quinton to have him in NHL next season. Continue to grow as a player & I think he would be ready for the 2021-22 season. Just like Toews. https://t.co/ZQDEx680wz
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I agree Kris. On a young rebuilding team, Zayde was able to be a strong contributor. https://t.co/dP2LQOXeE2
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I like them both a lot. Quinn reminds me so much of Pastrnak and that’s a 50 goal scorer & complete player. Rossi reminds me of Nicklas Backstrom, who has been a consistent high end offensive player. I had to have one over the other. No quibble if Rossi ahead of Quinn. https://t.co/oYhfx0DWsG
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

There’s a few. They may all fall into a similar territory. Daws has made ++progress in past year. Havluj went through the draft also last year but I continue to like his potential. I may not be giving Commesso enough credit. Better & better as season progressed. https://t.co/m587DXmwSW
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I like Alex. Very competitive goal scorer. Competes for his opportunities. He could easily be in top 10. I don’t get fussed over number beside a player’s rank. I’m comfortable with the range I have him in. I think he’s a top line player. Same as those ahead of him. https://t.co/ze9HvzifGX
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I look at potential. Was Marc-André Fleury or Carey Price wild cards? Have to consider your options certainly but if you believe in the potential of a goalie, taking him has its risk but that is true of other players as well. https://t.co/rJTTkQ76ze
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I think Stutzle is a high end difference maker. As you build your team, having players like this is imperative to being successful & competing in the upper echelon of the league. https://t.co/aR8HAfLOF8
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I love Askarov. He’s been a dominant player for 2 years. His record of success has been tremendous. Has the skills, defiant approach in the net, solid technique & physical elements. WJHC was not stellar but that’s one evaluation & based on what I’ve watched, I see high potential. https://t.co/WGE7UZUqJQ
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I usually do a Mock draft leading up to the draft which gives a glimpse of what teams may do. @TSNBobMcKenzie does his Final Prospect Ranking prior to draft & it’s an excellent look, offering a consensus of what @NHL teams are thinking with respect to the draft. https://t.co/80QeHsYk1c
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Germany 🇩🇪 with Stutzle (2) Reichel (33) & Paterka (42) Austria 🇦🇹 with Rossi (8) & Nickl (68) https://t.co/Y3yuZSSxxk
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

All first line players. These are the comparable types I’ve used. Stutzle (Patrick Kane), Byfield (Evgeni Malkin & Anze Kopitar) & Raymond (Mitch Marner) https://t.co/OHGc8SwHTX
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Great point. Scouting is not static. It’s a continuous process. @NHL teams continue to evaluate long after a draft. What went into selecting a specific player? We all lead up to the draft & use info we have up to that time. Then we get new info after draft to continue evaluating https://t.co/rohjv7jJ08
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Some different types but I will start with Sanderson (12), Wallinder (18), Poirier (21), Guhle (24), Schneider (25) & Barron (26) https://t.co/JhU7f0bEtu
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I agree about top 10 but I think it’s a very deep draft with quality well into 2nd round. By quality, players who are top line forwards & top pair defensemen but also good 2nd line forwards & 2nd pair defensemen. https://t.co/nsHweheKSY
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

For sure. https://t.co/6wHC4YtjbN
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Based on last year, an elite 50
Goal scorer! Toronto is very systematic with their approach. They look for skill. So some very good skill players like, Savoie (48), Gushchin (49), Simontaival (51), Nybeck (52) or D like Niemela (46), Cormier (54) & Andrae (58) to name a few. https://t.co/MKm6wwcYVz
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I sure could see that scenario. And I agree, that a top line centre would be a welcome addition. https://t.co/BLnogaNGUp
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I do that. I tend to beat myself up over players I felt good about but didn’t rank high enough. Of course there are those I was flat out wrong about. Most recently Robert Thomas! I think it’s important to try & use past experiences to help instruct & educate for exercise today. https://t.co/UFqg4d7OoL
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

So you pass on Fleury & Price? Yes they take time to develop but there are forwards & defensemen who don’t make it. It’s all in the balance & if you want to make hard & fast rules, you’ll miss opportunities. https://t.co/WS9SPrMMEl
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Villeneuve may be a player who goes higher. I think it’s important to keep in mind that teams value different players & types in different ways. Potential & what they feel can be developed, what they feel they need. Lots of different factors considered from team-to-team. https://t.co/53IjufZPHo
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Thank you. Nobody is sure how the lottery will work. We do know the @Senators have two high picks & with the talent available, I think they’re going to be able to add two significant players to their prospect pool. https://t.co/SU4Q8Za9Gf
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I do not think that is fair. We have more than enough season to work with to separate lottery teams from those who are non-lottery. Could there be some slight adjustments? Sure but not inclusive for 31 teams. https://t.co/tOkVM2Hc6l
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

Yes. I see Nicklas Backstrom as a comparable type. https://t.co/Rxw5vfk1ky
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

I want to thank everybody for submitting questions on today’s @TSNHockey Craig’s List of Prospects for the 2020 NHL draft. I will try and answer all the questions as best I can & will be doing another Live Q & A Tuesday at 3 PM ET. Here’s the list ICYMI. https://t.co/L9EZ56X10W
— Craig Button (@CraigJButton) March 30, 2020

If you cannot view the Tweets in this article, please visit Craig Button on Twitter to see the entire conversation.

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Craig's List Q & A: Button answers your questions on hockey’s best prospects

After releasing the latest Craig's List on Monday, TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button spent time on Twitter Monday and Tuesday answering questions on Alexis Lafreniere, Tim Stutzle and the rest of the top prospects in hockey.