They have pro coaches in Saint John I don't think his skating will be a concern for long. He will be back there next year and they will be stacked again next year and will in all likleyhood rip up the Q again.
IIRC last year the biggest knock on skinner was foot speed/ acceleration.
Yeah, Skinner was getting slightly knocked for his lack of acceleration, not top end speed. His agility at speed, however, was ranked slightly above Crosby due to the figure skating background.
Honestly, Cullen has great acceleration, but no agility at speed. He could get the break away started, but could only finish sometimes. Madden didn't have the acceleration, but had the agility (for what it was). If memory serves, they led the Wild on shorties.
Even if he turns out to be 1/2 the player Adam Oates was (who he's been compared to) I think we luck out on this pick. Do you think he'll be playing for the Aeros next year?
I wasn't too crazy about this pick. His skating is just so suspect. Seems to be an OK problem with Fletcher though. You watch film of Phillips and his lack of skating ability is just so obvious. He doesn't even try to push the speed up, and his stride is pretty ugly. Awesome hands however. You need more than that in the NHL though. High bust potential IMO.
He's too young, hes a late 92 and he's in his 2nd season of junior. And the skating is a concern. He'll benefit from going back to a loaded saint John team which in all likely hood will win back to back
Memorial cups.
Phillips is very very good---a real steal !! His skating is good, high end speed very good his acceleration is average. Much of Huberdeaus success belongs to this guy, #1 centerman on the Memorial Cup winners and he goes at #28 ??
Character, character and more character just a fantastic pick !
Phillips is very very good---a real steal !! His skating is good, high end speed very good his acceleration is average. Much of Huberdeaus success belongs to this guy, #1 centerman on the Memorial Cup winners and he goes at #28 ??
Character, character and more character just a fantastic pick !
This honestly just got me pretty excited not going to lie
Russo posted this press conference with Phillips. I really like the pick after watching this. He openly acknowledges he needs to work on his skating and sounds like he's going to try to make it hard to cut him at any level. Also, Flahr said he was playing through an injury during the Memorial Cup... the Brunette comparisons just don't stop!
alright, I don't get the Brunette comparisons...or rather i don't understand the people who are using that as a negative. Yeah, would be really awful to pick up a guy in the late first round who had the career Brunette has had. Truly horrifying.
I bet Rocco Grimaldi doesn't play half the nhl games this kid does. If for nothing else the annoyance factor--i've only seen a couple interviews and already i want to slap him around.
just something about him.
alright, I don't get the Brunette comparisons...or rather i don't understand the people who are using that as a negative. Yeah, would be really awful to pick up a guy in the late first round who had the career Brunette has had. Truly horrifying.
I bet Rocco Grimaldi doesn't play half the nhl games this kid does. If for nothing else the annoyance factor--i've only seen a couple interviews and already i want to slap him around.
just something about him.
Andrew Brunette is a extraordinary rare breed. It's truly unbelievable that he's survived with his lack of skating ability. Poor skating is the #1 negative in a potential NHL player. It's evidenced by the fact that it's rare for someone to make it work out. Just ask James Sheppard.
Grimaldi's size will be a challenge too, but not on the same level as poor skating. Small, highly skilled guys are making a resurgence lately.
