Prospect Draft Steals, Sleepers, and Questionable picks

Marner is a decent choice, and could be the steal of the round in a couple years, but I think sleeper goes to Ehlers, he has a chance to really breakout this year. He will get a good look during camp and if he performs he will definitely be on the opening night line-up. He could challenge for rookie of the year, never know.

Thought I'd add my two cents here on a few picks that you didnt mention.

Round 1:
I think the Hutchinson pick might provide sneaky value actually. For the third goalie off the board in the prospect, you could make a case that he's the most likely to be the team's starter come Thanksgiving. Hutch was starting towards the end of last season and Pavelec's issues are well documented. For how nutty goalies are in a league like this, to get a potential starter there was pretty slick even if people hold Hellebuyck in higher regard long term.

Round 2:
I'm just not a Marko Dano guy, but I'll admit I don't know as much about him as these others. I know he's been mentioned on this forum as potentially seeing the top line in Chicago with regularity but I'm skeptical given some of the other pieces that remain in place. Not doubting he has a top six future, but I was surprised he went ahead of guys like Nurse, Reinhart, and Draisatl. Could be wrong of course. I was a bit skeptical of Paquette too mainly because I didn't know if he'd score consistently, though his junior and AHL numbers were better than I realized. And given his massive PIM potential he should pay off whether he settles in at 40 or 60 points per.

Still love the Nichuskin pick.

Round 3:
Best picks IMO were Dumba and Shea Theodore. Theodore might get capped a little this year with guys like Vatenen eating up valuable time but I think his offensive potential is the best of any Ducks D, Vatenen included. He'll be a stud down the road. Hopefully he gets a chance to emerge while Getzlaf/Perry are still cranking out 60 goals.

In defense of my Markstrom pick, I agree some of the shine has come off. He's gotten lit up in the NHL a couple times. The 3.08 last year was in only three games (3 G in 8 minutes his first start (showin' Malcolm Subban how it's done) but just 1 allowed in the other two). And posting bad numbers on wretched Panthers teams is pretty understandable. I'm banking on the AHL numbers rather than the cups of coffee he's gotten thusfar and over the last four years he's posted SV % of .923, .920, .918, and .934 including a sub 2 GAA last year. The biggest reason for him over the others you mentioned though is the potential to get a starting gig. Ryan Miller is 35 and Eddie Lack got shipped to Carolina. That leaves Markstrom as the undisputed heir apparent to a Ryan Miller who missed significant time last season and was disappointing even when he did play. Compared to Malcom Subban who is blocked by an elite tendy in Tuukka and Hellebuyck who has to overcome another talented propsect in Hutchinson plus the current 1A in Pavelec, Markstrom has a much quicker path to starting and the pedigree is there. As a manager of a team who had only managed to snag one goalie to that point, getting another with a shot at minutes was very important. Call it shortsighted if you want, but I'd take Markstrom again (even if I had wanted Ryan Spooner there).

Round 4 Analysis.

Malcolm Subban, G, Bostom Bruins
Great goaltender, just stuck behind Rask at the moment. Still needs to mature his game but has the raw tools to become good in this league, but his consistency is a question.
4,62 Winnipeg Jets - Scott Darling, G, Chicago Blackhawks
Backup in Chicago. Was really good in the playoffs, and will be one of the best backups in a few years, but I don't see him stealing the job from Crawford, and I don't see him getting traded to another team for a starting position. Safe pick especially with the way goalies are valued, but do not see the ceiling to make him a 4th rounder.
4,63 Calgary Flames - Markus Granlund, F, Calgary Flames
NHL experiens and ready for the top 9 with Calgary. Was injured most of last season but scored at a good clip in his small AHL sample this year. Safe pick again.
4,64 Pittsburgh Penguins - Robby Fabri, F, St, Louis Blues
I was really high on him in his draft year, and I met him once and is a really nice guy and also went to my highschool. Another guy who falls in the draft because of his size. Skill is through the roof, and is responsible defensively as well. NHL ready this year along with Barbashev on St. Louis.
4,65 Tampa Bay Lightning - Dylan Larkin, F, Detroit Red Wings
My only regret with this guy is I didn't pick him earlier. I didn't know how good he was until I picked him. I know some teams really wanted him as well. Was second best player in the NCAA and was simply out of this world. Only 19 and in the AHL playoffs was electric every shift. The Red Wings got another diamond in the draft. Been hearing in the scouting world this guy has serious star potential, but I shouldn't get ahead of myself yet.
4,66 New York Rangers (Acquired via QUE) - Anthony Mantha, F, Detroit Red Wings
This guy is a perfect fantasy forward. Pure goalscorer who should rack up hits as well. One of the better picks of this round, but it will be interesting how he bounces back after a not so great season last year in the AHL.
4,67 Toronto Maple Leafs - Pavel Zacha, F, New Jersey Devils
Zacha is a guy who I personally think wasn't the greatest pick in the NHL draft. Scored under PPG in the CHL while Werenski, Provoorov and Barzal. Still a decent pick at this stage of the draft.
4,68 Columbus Blue Jackets - Nic Petan, F, Winnipeg Jets
One word to describe Petan is skill. All this guy did at junior is score, score and score. Bit smaller, but everywhere he went he suceeded and I expect the same in the NHL.
4,69 Arizona Coyotes - Christian Dvorak, F, Arizona Coyotes
Posted up good numbers, but I think only reason was playing with Marner and Domi the whole year. Still a decent pick, but most of his stats were inflated because of his team, and most his points came off relaying on Marner like most of Bozak's points come off relaying on Kessel
4,70 Columbus Blue Jackets - Oliver Bjorkstrand, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
He is another guy who only scores all the time. Similar to Petan, but with less skill, and more grit. Good pick at this stage.
4,71 Philadelphia Flyers - Zach Werenski, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
He is a guy who has a higher ceiling than Hanifan imo, but less of a sure thing. Could be a very good defenseman, but TWD are difficult to predict fantasy wise. Seems like a good pick.
4,72 Detroit Red Wings - Vincent Trochek, F, Florida Panthers
An NHL ready guy who should consitantly put up 30/40 points on a young Panthers team.
4,73 Chicago Blackhawks (Acquired via ANA) - Julius Honka, D, Dallas Stars
Really good OFD. Played against men already and produced. Honka can be a good producer on the blue line for many years.
4,74 Quebec Nordiques (Acquired via NYR) - Seth Griffin, F, Boston Bruins
Really good AHL resume, and should play decently on the Bruins this year.
4,75 Minnesota Wild - Dmitrij Jaskin, F, St Louis Blues
Oshie was traded to make room for guys like him. Looked good in my viewings. Just is there room in a crowded Blues team with Tarasenko, Schwartz, Fabbri, Lehtera, Stastny, Barbashev, Rattie, etc...
4,76 Chicago Blackhawks - Matt Murray, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
Was the best goalie in the AHL last year. Could be a really good starter in the league, just don't understand why Fleury got an extension with him in the pipeline.
4,77 Los Angeles Kings - Kyle Connor, F, Winnipeg Jets
Was another top NHL prospects pick in the actual NHL who fell. Was really good in his league, and in what he lacks in size and efense he makes up in skill and speed.
4,78 San Jose Sharks - Joni Ortio, G, Calgary Flames
San Jose may know something we do not, but when I look at Calgary's goalie situation he is the 3rd best goaltending prospect behind MacDonald and Gillies. May be closer to the NHL but still needs to get through Hiller, and Ramo.
4,79 Montreal Canadiens - Alex Stalock, G, San Jose Sharks
Shown a lot of potential and was supposed to be San Jose's starter before Jones came in. Has a good ceiling, but this year is do or bust for him in the NHL.
4,80 Boston Bruins - Connor Hellebuyck, G, Winnipeg Jets
One of the better goaltending prospects, but in a heavy Jets system. He should be the future starter there though as he has been good everywhere he played.

Best pick: Larkin because of his ceiling (I know people who agree with this). Honorable mention goes to Fabbri
Sleeper: Petan because he could crack the lineup and be in the top 6 in Winnepeg. Honorable mention goes to Murray if he gets called up in Pitt.
Questionable: Ortio. There were many better goalies available and I think SJ panicked because of the goalie run.

Alright I won't include my players in these rankings anymore. Sleeper of round 2 is Strome, best of round 3 is Theodore and best of 4 is Fabbri