Draft Guides

[Pop Zeus]

Any good ones out yet.
HP's Black Book the the Bible of the group, but I just read it won't be out for a couple more weeks.

How do these people wait until June to deliver a 300 page guide for an event 3 weeks away.
I never get to read it as much as I like because the time is so short.

[Fil Zaronek]

Any good ones out yet.
HP's Black Book the the Bible of the group, but I just read it won't be out for a couple more weeks.

How do these people wait until June to deliver a 300 page guide for an event 3 weeks away.
I never get to read it as much as I like because the time is so short.

I think they may do that to have all of the most recent scouting available.
There are a few draft eliglible players in the WC and I think they can even consider the draft combine as part of their evaluations.
I'm guessing that they probably had Seider higher than most of the other rankings because of it

[hiramnicak]

I'm actually pretty amazed out how many people produce draft guides, given the niche target audience, but I imagine that most of their buyers are only interested in reading about the guys their teams picked at the end of the day.

Myself, I have an unhealthy degree of interest in the whole draft, so I gobble up content all year. See below.

YEAR.MO	BLOGGER (BLOG)	NO.1-3 (HIGHEST) / MOCK
2022.01	Brianne Spiker (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.02	Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.02	Staff (Hockey Prospect)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.07	Corey Pronman (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.07	Ryan Kennedy (The Hockey News)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.07	Brock Otten (McKeen's Hockey)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.07	Peter Baracchini (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.08	Andrew Forbes (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.08	Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.08	Ryan Kennedy (The Hockey News)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.08	Devin Little (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.08	Gabe Foley (Recruit Scouting)	(usa) Oliver Moore, Charlie Stramel, Danny Nelson
2022.09	Bob McKenzie (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.09	Lyle Richardson (Bleacher Report)	(mock) DET 15: Calum Ritchie
2022.09	Andrew Forbes (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.09	Peter Baracchini (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.09	Craig Button (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Eduard Sale, Matvei Michkov
2022.09	Nick Richard (Dobber Prospects)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.09	Adam Herman (Bleacher Report)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.10	Steven Ellis (The Daily Faceoff)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.10	Staff (Drafts Prospects Hockey)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.10	Staff (NHL Central Scouting Services)	(grades)
2022.10	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.11	Chris Peters (FloHockey)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.11	Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.11	Staff (McKeen's Hockey)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2022.11	Corey Pronman (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.11	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli
2022.11	Josh Bell (Sporting News)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.11	Simon Servant (TSLH)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.11	Josh Tessler (Smaht Scouting)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2022.11	Craig Button (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2022.11	Staff (Recrutes)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.11	Mark Edwards (Hockey Prospect)	Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli
2022.12	Logan Horn (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2022.12	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli
2022.12	Tony Ferrari (The Hockey News)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson	update
2022.12	St. Louis/Brown (EP Rinkside)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson	video
2022.12	Staff (Dobber Prospects)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2022.12	Will Scouch (Scouching)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.01	Craig Button (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.01	Ian Kennedy (Yahoo)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.01	Staff (NHL Central Scouting Services)	(na) Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Will Smith
2023.01	Staff (NHL Central Scouting Services)	(eu) Leo Carlsson, Matvei Michkov, Axel Sandin Pellikka
2023.01	Peter Baracchini (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.01	Gabriel Foley (Recruit Scouting)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.01	Staff (Elite Prospects)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson	video
2023.01	Staff (ESPN)	(na) Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, William Smith
2023.01	Staff (ESPN)	(eu) Leo Carlsson, Matvei Michkov, Axel Sandin Pellikka
2023.01	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli
2023.01	Bob McKenzie (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.01	Ben Kerr (Last Word On Sports)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov	part 1234
2023.01	Staff (Hockey Prospect)	Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Matvei Michkov
2023.01	Steven Ellis (The Daily Faceoff)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.01	Corey Pronman (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.01	Brock Otten (McKeen's)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.01	Logan Horn (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.02	Logan Horn (The Hockey Writers)	(mock) DET 3: Leo Carlsson
2023.02	Ian Kennedy (Yahoo Sports)	(mock) DET 9: Dalibor Dvorsky
2023.02	Jason Bukala (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2023.02	Staff (The Puck Authority)	(na) Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli
2023.02	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.02	Staff (Recrutes)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Dalibor Dvorsky	video
2023.02	Peter Harling (Dobber Prospects)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.03	Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.03	Brandon Holmes (FC Hockey)	(mock) DET 12: Brayden Yager; DET 15: Mikhael Gulyayev
2023.03	Corey Pronman (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli
2023.03	Ian Kennedy (Yahoo Sports)	(mock) DET 10: Oliver Moore; DET 17: Otto Stenberg
2023.03	Staff (Smaht Scouting)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.03	Lyle Richardson (Bleacher Report)	(mock) DET 10: Colby Barlow; DET 18: Lukas Dragicevic
2023.03	Steven Ellis (Daily Faceoff)	(mock) DET 11: Brayden Yager; DET 17: Riley Heidt
2023.03	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.03	Logan Horn (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Matvei Michkov, Adam Fantilli	video
2023.03	J.D. Burke (E.P. Rinkside)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson	video
2023.03	Craig Button (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.03	Jason Bukala (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson	update
2023.03	Max Bultman (The Athletic)	(mock) DET 9: Ryan Leonard; DET 19: Dmitri Simashev
2023.04	Peter Baracchini (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.04	Staff (The Hockey Writers)	(mock) DET 9: Andrew Cristall
2023.04	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.04	Julia Stumbaugh (Bleacher Report)	(mock) DET 9: Eduard Sale; DET 18: Mikhail Gulyayev
2023.04	Logan Horn (The Hockey Writers)	(mock) DET 9: Zach Benson; DET 18: Axel Sandin Pellikka
2023.04	Consolidated (The Win Column)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.04	Staff (NHL Central Scouting Services)	(na) Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Will Smith
2023.04	Staff (NHL Central Scouting Services)	(eu) Leo Carlsson, Matvei Michkov, Dalibor Dvorsky	reaction12
2023.04	Sebastian High (Dobber Prospects)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.04	Steven Ellis (Daily Faceoff)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.04	Erica Commisso (Sportsnaut)	(mock) DET 9: Jayden Perron; DET 18: Quentin Musty
2023.05	Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.05	Corey Pronman (The Athletic)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.05	Bob McKenzie (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Will Smith
2023.05	Jason Bukala (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson	update
2023.05	Corey Pronman (The Athletic)	(mock) DET 9: Ryan Leonard
2023.05	Ian Kennedy (Yahoo Sports)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.05	Staff (NHL.com)	(mock) DET 9: Zach Benson / Oliver Moore
2023.05	Templin Scouting	(mock) DET 9: Colby Barlow; DET 18: Lukas Dragicevic
2023.05	Scott Wheeler (The Athletic)	(mock) DET 9: Nate Danielson
2023.05	Corey Pronman (The Athletic)	(mock) DET 9: Samuel Honzek; DET 18: Dmitri Simashev
2023.05	Logan Horn (The Hockey Writers)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.05	Gabriel Foley (Recruit Scouting)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov
2023.05	Craig Button (TSN)	(mock) DET 9: Colby Barlow
2023.05	Craig Button (TSN)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.05	Patrick Present (Inside The Rink)	(mock) DET 9: Oliver Moore
2023.05	Peter Baracchini (The Hockey Writers)	(mock) DET 9: Colby Barlow
2023.05	Sam Cosentino (Sportsnet)	Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson
2023.05	Pronman/Wheeler (The Athletic)	9Benson, 17Barlow, 41Brzustewicz, 42Wahlberg, 43Lindstein

The problem is, you need to keep track of where you read what because some of these folks are obviously out to lunch. With Samuel Honzek, for instance, every time I've watched him, I've walked away wondering why he isn't ranked higher, then I recall Mark Edwards and Corey Pronman both have him inside their top ten. Of course, Bob McKenzie's NHL scout poll has him at nineteen, but scouts are known to fib a little on guys they're trying not to draw too much attention to. So now I read and watch what I can and have a hierarchy of whose opinions make sense to me.

This doesn't really answer your question though. I don't think there are any guides out yet.

[wyrrlen]

hiram, your blogger list is usually my first starting point to look for information. Candidly, I like to crib my player lists by watching gameplay in Hlinka Gretzky that year (and sometimes the prior year) as well as WJC for U18 that year. I started doing that in 2020 and it seems work for me. Then I like to look for confirmation bias that supports what I see at the tournaments in the guides. It's candidly a flawed plan, but that's what works for me.

[Pop Zeus]

Draft guides I read + a credibility ranking
HockeyProspect.com - 9/10
RedLineReport - 8/10 - I find it too hard to actually get it some years.
ISS used to have a draft guide.

---After that, the quality drops --
It's all reporters, wannabe reporters/scouts and bloggers.

EPRinkside (eliteprospects) - 6/10
McKeens - 5.5/10
Draftpro - 5.5/10
Draftin' Europe - 6.0/10
FCHockey - 3.5/10
Recrutes: 4.5/10
Smahtscouting: 5/10
Dobber 5/10
Pronman: 5/10
TheHockeyWriters: 1/10
TheHockeyNews: 5/10

[Machine]

Jeez
I feel in a good place with my hockey obsession lol

[wyrrlen]

I know they're all at the bottom, but is there anything you see from Recrutes or FCHockey that make them better than TheHockeyWriters? And is there something for THW that really pulled them down to a 1 from more like a 3 or 4? I find them to be effusive but not consistent with the tape, which is basically my same opinion of Recrutes. I do find I like Draftin' Europe and Draftpro though - they pickup on insights about skating and perception that I don't always see in my amateur viewing.

[Pop Zeus]

I know they're all at the bottom, but is there anything you see from Recrutes or FCHockey that make them better than TheHockeyWriters? And is there something for THW that really pulled them down to a 1 from more like a 3 or 4? I find them to be effusive but not consistent with the tape, which is basically my same opinion of Recrutes. I do find I like Draftin' Europe and Draftpro though - they pickup on insights about skating and perception that I don't always see in my amateur viewing.

I can tell you this about Recrutes...
They get some things right in ways that stick with me.

They had Robert Thomas as a top 10 talent - I think they were right.
The viewed Carter Mazur as a top 60 pick (I think it was top 60). Still not a big fan of Mazur - but that looks more and more right.
McCagg is a nut and he blocks people who question him - but I do find myself wanting to read his takes.
Lately, however, I've noticed a more amateurish bent to the prose - so I wonder if he's farming out work to interns/bloggers.

With FC hockey, I think I remember those guys as old HFboards admin/mods.
The only thing I give them is they've been doing it longer than THW - so they should have learned a few things.

---

[hiramnicak]

Draft guides I read + a credibility ranking
HockeyProspect.com - 9/10
RedLineReport - 8/10 - I find it too hard to actually get it some years.
ISS used to have a draft guide.

---After that, the quality drops --
It's all reporters, wannabe reporters/scouts and bloggers.

EPRinkside (eliteprospects) - 6/10
McKeens - 5.5/10
Draftpro - 5.5/10
Draftin' Europe - 6.0/10
FCHockey - 3.5/10
Recrutes: 4.5/10
Smahtscouting: 5/10
Dobber 5/10
Pronman: 5/10
TheHockeyWriters: 1/10
TheHockeyNews: 5/10

the only draft guide i'm planning on buying is the black book. i bought a bunch of them a couple years ago and compared notes on guys i'd watched who weren't mainstream names, and the only guide that i thought represented those fringe guys accurately was theirs. a lot of the guides hit the mark for the top couple rounds, but beyond that, i wasn't too impressed.

the athletic guys, especially pronman, have gotten a little better in recent years. i think that going to games in person and talking with nhl scouts has benefited him greatly. wheeler too... i rarely agree with where wheeler ranks players, but his player blurbs are oft pretty spot on. i almost wonder if he's as clueless as he's always been but gets good intel from his scout friends.

david st. louis at ep rinkside is pretty solid, if fickle. i couldn't care much less for the rest of the ep rinksiders though, so i've never purchased their draft guide. is anyone else on that team any good at this game?

i will say, the hockey writers are pretty goofy, but i enjoy reading their stuff and watching their videos for the entertainment value. their player profiles are rather amateur, and they're generally overly optimistic, but they're kind of fun.

[hiramnicak]

https://www.eliteprospects.com/2023draf ... DG_2023_P2

https://nhlentrydraft.com/guide/