Tony Piscotta’s Post

A COMPILATION OF 2024 NHL DRAFT RANKINGS AS OF 6/17/24 Attached is a comprehensive list of various recent first round rankings published by recognized sources. In particular, I noted several things here. The first thing that stuck out to me was the presence of the USNTDP’s Teddy Stiga on each of these lists with several notable exceptions, the biggest one being central scouting. The Boston College commit was ranked 44th among North American skaters in central scouting’s final rankings, which I felt undervalued his talents and productivity (79 points [36 G 43 A] in 61 games this past season). However, draft analysts vary quite a bit on where he will land on the draft board (TSN’s Bob McKenzie & Craig Button rank him 68th and 64th, respectively). The second thing I noted is the relatively low ranking on several of these lists given to CHL Defenseman of the Year Zayne Parekh. Given his performance during both the 2023-24 OHL regular season and the Memorial Cup playoffs, I would have thought he was a lock for a top 10 draft slot. Perhaps not, as he is at #14 and #12 by The Hockey News’ Tony Ferrari & Mike Morreale, respectively. However, most of these rankings do have him going in the top 10, some in the top 5 (once more, I point to the fact that TSN’s Craig Button has him at #5). Last but not least is the presence of defenseman EJ Emery in numerous rankings. Again, the obvious list lacking his presence is central scouting, where he is #39 on its final rankings of North American skaters. Perhaps that can be solely attributed to his lack of offensive output to this point (16 assists in 61 games for the NTDP in 2023-24), although many scouts feel his upside completely outweighs this current lack of productivity. https://lnkd.in/g-DXgdpb

Nikita Kucherov is currently 4 games away from achieving something that’s only been done by four other players in NHL history! Yet, somehow, nobody is talking about it… Read more about his incredible season in my latest article: #NHL #gobolts #lightning #sports

Please check out my Latest article for LastWordOnSports.com which covers the Boston Bruins's biggest strengths and weaknesses heading into the 2024 NHL Entry Draft! https://lnkd.in/exKfwRKS

There’s a saying in hockey that your goalie is only as good as the team in front of him. The best goalies in the world have a 92% save percentage, but if that percentage drops just 1% to 91% they give up roughly 24 more goals in a year. 24 goals can be the difference in making the playoffs or hitting the golf course early in the NHL. It sounds like it’s all up to the goalie, but when you dig into it, save percentages are directly relational to how many shots a team blocks. The more shots a team blocks, the higher the goalie’s save percentage is. If you could do something as simple as blocking a shot to make someone on your team 1% better would you do it?

7 Free Agents NHL Teams Should Steer Clear of This Offseason - The Hockey Writers - https://lnkd.in/dpf_wNae As long as seven- and eight-year maximum-term deals exist in NHL free agency, questionable contracts will always be delivered on July 1. This year, especially with a talented free agent class, will be no different. Let's take a look at seven unrestricted free agents that teams should be

As the National Hockey League (NHL) began its 2024-25 season last night, a total of 390 CHL graduates from its Member Leagues (Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League & Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League) were among those named to the NHL’s Opening Night rosters. The 390 CHL alumni represent close to 50% of the players on the NHL’s 32 teams, marking the most of any development hockey league in the world. 59 of the CHL’s 60 clubs have at least one graduate on an NHL roster. All 32 NHL clubs also feature at least one former CHL player on their Opening Night roster with the Vegas Golden Knights leading the way with 17 CHL graduates. With 390+ graduates competing in the NHL for a fifth straight season, the CHL continues to be the number one supplier of talent to the NHL. READ MORE | https://lnkd.in/gGxvKgWz

FYI link to NHL's mid-term rankings. For ease of reference to see which players have trended up or down the most based upon in-season performance, also attached is the preliminary players to watch list. https://lnkd.in/dfWZuFCG https://lnkd.in/dcQjp47i

📊 Central Division Power Rankings Update! 📊 Curious about how the Central Division stacks up for the upcoming NHL season? The latest power rankings are in, and they're sure to spark some debate and excitement among fans and analysts alike! From established powerhouses to emerging contenders, this ranking provides a fresh look at where each team stands as we head into the new season. Whether you're rooting for a top contender or an underdog looking to make waves, these rankings are a must-read. Check out the full article to see which teams are leading the charge and who might be flying under the radar. 🏒🔥 Let’s get ready for another thrilling NHL season! Who’s your pick to top the Central Division this year? #NHL #CentralDivision #PowerRankings #Hockey #SportsAnalysis #HockeySeason https://lnkd.in/eFH4Ct8V

Top 50 Defensemen in the NHL for 2024-25 Who are the 50 best defensemen in the NHL for the 2024-25 season? Not even at the halfway point of the 2024 offseason, we have a lot of time on our hands before hockey resumes in October. An exercise that we see plenty of around this time of year is simple: ranking the top players in the league by their position in the modern day. Here, we do that with the 50 best defensemen in the NHL for the 2024-25 season. https://lnkd.in/ej5RiYGD