He's been pretty vocal in spurning the CHL. He's hell bent on Vermont and doesn't seem to give a damn what anybody thinks about it. Personally I respect the hell out that. GMs may not find it so commendable, however.
Had an odd dream last night that the Yotes drafted Nicolas Kerdiles. No idea why my subconscious is already worried about the draft haha.
Kerdiles seems like a solid pick, though. Big, hard working power forward prospect from California, head to Wisco by way of the USA program in Michigan. Seen as already big and powerful, but a renowned gym rat and often complimented on his work ethic and desire. Leads the US team in goals, but his strength is said to be his defensive game. I've read he can play all forward positions, but is being used as a center, which is where he wants to be ultimately. Apparently he's excellent along the boards and in the crease. Loves to mix it up and score dirty goals.
I like tue scouting reports. We seem to like kids who are dedicated enough to move long distances and bounce around. They should ne al about desire and character given some of our recent embarrassments. Seems like this kid fits the bill. Whether he goes the way of JT Miller or the way of Boone Jenner, however, remains to be seen.
Kitchener Rangers Czech import Radek Faska, who took over the spot vacated by Colorado Avalanche rookie Gabriel Landeskog this season, has really impressed after not being on the radar of many scouts before this season.
Faska has provided Kitchener with a consistent offensive and physical threat up front and may even supplant teammate Matia Marcantuoni as the Rangers’ top draft eligible performer before too long. He displays an impressive combination of size, skill and mobility. Faska sees the ice well in the offensive zone, and distributed the puck quickly and with intelligence.
With a lot of intangibles that NHL teams covet and his showings early this season, Faska has some thinking a first round ranking or selection would not be a stretch.
Maloney likes the Kitchener Rangers. Hanzal, Vrbata and Klesla are all top players for us. Most of us want a Center picked in the first round. This guy might be my early favourite.
Tomas Hertl is another big Czech player. Had a very hot start (12pts in 12gp) in the best men's league in his nation. He's cooled off since putting in only a handful of points in his last dozen or so. If I recall, though, he's still leading his team in scoring.
Faksa is a good pick for an early favorite. With our reported interest in Nelson and Hayes, I could see Kerdiles as likely. Doubt Aberg falls, but Collberg might. Don't think Girgensons will fall either.
Should also mention big Stefan*Matteau**who has several things going for him that we've seen management seek out recently. First is blood lines. His dad is Stephane Matteau. The younger Matteau is also a get large, athletic kid. Hard nosed power forward type. Committed to UND(best D1 talent development of the last eight years) but likely open to the CHL, seeing as how he's lived in like nine cities. Big bad rough and tumble forward with some skill. Not unlike Hayes, Nelson, Brown, Lane, etc.
Speaking of big D1 talent, we've seemed to have gone for Wolverines frequently at the draft table over the years. Phil Di Giuseppe is leading Michigan in goal scoring while playing in what should be his senior year in high school. It's quite rare kids his age even get to play in games, let alone enjoy so much success.
Yes, it's definitely time for a forward. The way the International Scouting has the kids ranked, the following are falling into the space where the Coyotes should be selecting.
Frk, Girgensons, Galchenyuk
Now, Galchenyuk will probably still go top 10, but I'm very interested in getting Girgensons or Frk, but I'd lean towards Girgensons.
Yes, it's definitely time for a forward. The way the International Scouting has the kids ranked, the following are falling into the space where the Coyotes should be selecting.
Frk, Girgensons, Galchenyuk
Now, Galchenyuk will probably still go top 10, but I'm very interested in getting Girgensons or Frk, but I'd lean towards Girgensons.
Had a chance to watch Phil Di Giuseppe recently. Very intriguing talent. Silky smooth hands. His teammate Chris Brown, by the way, is progressing very well. kid plays the game with violent aggression. He will be a fan favorite.
Had a chance to watch Phil Di Giuseppe recently. Very intriguing talent. Silky smooth hands. His teammate Chris Brown, by the way, is progressing very well. kid plays the game with violent aggression. He will be a fan favorite.
I couldn't open that - maybe it's the mobile addy? Is it the video of the two of them on 'meet the freshmen'? Pretty funny.
Wonder if Brown's gonna go pro next year. Didn't they push him pretty hard to sign this past offseason? His numbers have improved too. What does he project as?
Di Giuseppe jumped onto TSN's Craigslist to #31 this past list. That would make him the first pick...of the 2nd round. Good thing he practiced his acceptance speech and pose.
Someone that is expected to be a later 1st rd choice is Henrik Samuelsson and yes he is related to Ulf. He is Ulf's son. I actually went to high school with him and his older brother Philip here in AZ (Notre Dame Prep). From everyone I have talked to he seems to be on a quicker journey to the NHL than Phil.
Interesting note, I played high school hockey for NDP and our head coach was and still is Mark Ciaccio, the power skating coach for the Coyotes and he is well aware of the talent Henrik has. Could be interesting to see if we will take him given the chance.
If anything, I would think the Turris situation makes them put less weight on "character." Turris has tons of character. He's a good kid. But he still completely mishandled this situation.
If anything, I would think the Turris situation makes them put less weight on "character." Turris has tons of character. He's a good kid. But he still completely mishandled this situation.
There is an element of entitlement in that holdout. Willingness to work for minutes is definitely something I would ask during the interview process.
There is an element of entitlement in that holdout. Willingness to work for minutes is definitely something I would ask during the interview process.
Yeah, but these kids are so well coached on how to speak in interviews.
I meant doing homework on character. I remember when Chris Summers was picks our scouts mentioned they asked a bunch of kids from the usa team who they would most want to share a fox hole with in battle. Every single kid had the same answer; Chris Summers.
Colton Sissons is already team captain in Kelowna. He's renowned as one of the better captains in the Dub, as well.
I'm not talking "Awe schucks" character. I'm talking about wide spread reputation stemming from hard work and guts. Kyle Chipchura had it and was a bust, so its not a perfect system. I'm just tired of hating our own picks based on behavior.
Here's the Dec. 2011 top-30 rankings from RLR. Forward names bolded. At far right of table is how many spots up or down the player's ranking changed from last month:
RK
NAME
POS
SH
HT
WT
BORN
PLAYS FOR
NATL
LEAGUE
+/- NOV
1
Nail Yakupov (injured)
F
L
5.11
180
Oct 6, 1993
Sarnia Sting
RUS
OHL
SAME
2
Ryan Murray (injured)
D
L
6.00
182
Sep 27, 1993
Everett Silvertips
CAN
WHL
SAME
3
Filip Forsberg
F
R
6.01
176
Aug 13, 1994
Leksand
SWE
SuperElit
SAME
4
Mikhail Grigorenko
F
L
6.02
192
May 16, 1994
CSKA Moscow
RUS
MHL
UP 1
5
Mathew Dumba
D
R
5.11
172
Jul 25, 1994
Red Deer Rebels
CAN
WHL
UP 2
6
Zemgus Girgensons
F
L
6.01
182
Jan 5, 1994
Dubuque Fighting Saints
LAT
USHL
UP 2
7
Morgan Rielly (injured)
D
L
6.00
190
Mar 9, 1994
Moose Jaw Warriors
CAN
WHL
DOWN 1
8
Pontus Åberg
F
R
5.11
183
Sep 23, 1993
Djurgården
SWE
SuperElit
UP 6
9
Alex Galchenyuk (injured)
F
L
6.00
185
Feb 12, 1994
Sarnia Sting
RUS
OHL
SAME
10
Jacob Trouba
D
R
6.01
183
Feb 26, 1994
USA NTDP U17
USA
UP 7
11
Sebastian Collberg
F
R
6.00
180
Feb 23, 1994
Frölunda
SWE
SuperElit
SAME
12
Griffin Reinhart
D
L
6.04
202
Jan 24, 1994
Edmonton Oil Kings
CAN
WHL
DOWN 2
13
Henrik Samuelsson
F
R
6.02
192
Feb 7, 1994
MoDo
USA
SEL
DOWN 9
14
Olli Määttä
D
L
6.01
198
Aug 22, 1994
D Team / FIN U20
FIN
Mestis
DOWN 2
15
Damon Severson
D
R
6.01
188
Aug 7, 1994
Kelowna Rockets
CAN
WHL
SAME
16
Nick Ebert
D
R
6.00
195
May 11, 1994
Windsor Spitfires
USA
OHL
DOWN 3
17
Slater Koekkoek (injured)
D
L
6.02
180
Feb 18, 1994
Peterborough Petes
CAN
OHL
DOWN 1
18
Gianluca Curcuruto
D
L
6.01
187
Feb 25, 1994
SSM Greyhounds
CAN
OHL
SAME
19
Jordan Schmaltz
D
R
6.02
175
Oct 8, 1993
Sioux City Musketeers
USA
USHL
SAME
20
Derrick Pouliot
D
L
5.11
192
Jan 16, 1994
Portland Winterhawks
CAN
WHL
SAME
21
Cody Ceci
D
R
6.02
203
Dec 21, 1993
Ottawa 67's
CAN
OHL
SAME
22
Matt Finn
D
L
6.00
197
Feb 24, 1994
Guelph Storm
CAN
OHL
UP 60
23
Brendan Gaunce
F
L
6.02
205
Mar 25, 1994
Belleville Bulls
CAN
OHL
SAME
24
Andrei Vasilevski
GK
L
6.03
200
Jul 25, 1994
Ufa
RUS
MHL
SAME
25
Oscar Dansk
GK
L
6.02
183
Feb 28, 1994
Brynäs
SWE
SuperElit
SAME
26
Radek Faksa
F
L
6.02
183
Jan 9, 1994
Trinec
CZE
Cze U20
UP 2
27
Martin Frk (injured)
F
R
5.11
190
Oct 5, 1993
Halifax Mooseheads
CZE
QMJHL
DOWN 1
28
Scott Kosmachuk
F
R
6.00
182
Jan 24, 1994
Guelph Storm
CAN
OHL
DOWN 2
29
Teuvo Teräväinen
F
L
5.10
161
Sep 11, 1994
Jokerit
FIN
Jr.A
DOWN 2
30
Colton Sissons
F
R
6.00
173
Nov 5, 1993
Kelowna Rockets
CAN
WHL
DOWN 1
Biggest riser is defenseman Matt Finn (up from 82 to 22). RLR calls Finn, "The biggest revelation for RLR this season after a mediocre performance at Team Canada camp last summer. Excellent puck-mover is playing with poise, aggression, and confidence."
Henrik Samuelsson fell the most, dropping 9 spots (from 4 to 13). Report from RLR is, "Has struggled with his footwork and the playing speed of the SEL. Was not quick enough to play against men yet, and is now struggling with confidence at the U-20 level."
Sissons is on pace for 40 goals in the Dub this season. That's more than RNH, Bartschi, McNeill, RyJo, Nino, Connolly, Howden, or Etem in their draft years. He's doing as team captain and a renowned gritty, lunch pail way. Not bad.
Sissons is on pace for 40 goals in the Dub this season. That's more than RNH, Bartschi, McNeill, RyJo, Nino, Connolly, Howden, or Etem in their draft years. He's doing as team captain and a renowned gritty, lunch pail way. Not bad.
I haven't heard much about him. Have you heard about any flaws in his game? Poor skating or lacking vision? I'm just wondering why he hasn't been rated higher.
I haven't heard much about him. Have you heard about any flaws in his game? Poor skating or lacking vision? I'm just wondering why he hasn't been rated higher.
I haven't seen him outside of YouTube. From what I can see, his skating stride isn't pretty by any means. It's a little hunched over and choppy. Doesn't seem to hurt his ability to get into scoring position or back check effectively. I think because Kelowna is so shallow, he gets top minutes five on five, pp, and PK. He has McColgan on one wing and Bulmer on the other. I think some folks might be inclined to say his stats are inflated as a result. Still, from what I understand, its his pro style game that stands out. Works angles effectively in the defensive zone, separates guys from the puck, gets it out in a hurry, works hard in the offensive zone, knows how to get into good position, is willing to pay the process to get there, works hard, will fight, hit and score in the clutch. Just seems like a kid who "gets it". The question is whether he will be Kyle Chipchura ot Brendan Morrow.
