Lucic is Lucic. A 30 goal scorer and one of the better/toughest fighters in the game is a crazy combination. Plus he's gigantic. Not many players will turn out like him. He's a rare one that's for sure.
Lucic is a game changing player in skill and grit.
Especially playing for the Oilers owned Oil Kings. They get to see a lot of him, have inside information and have already shown a propensity for drafting Oil King players including Ewanyk, Pelss, and Gernat.
The Oilers drafted Gernat before he played on the Oil Kings. I'm not 100% but I believe Pelss was the same.
I didn't think very highly of Samuelsson before he came to the Oil Kings. From my limited viewings up to that point, I didn't see a kid with much potential other than as perhaps a checker.
But now that I've had a chance to see him much more, via webcasts and live, there's no doubt in my mind that he will be an NHL player. Definitely top 9, perhaps top 6. And for many years most likely. He's a prototypical power forward and has spurts of physical domination in the WHL, which should bode well for him in the NHL. He's probably at least 3 years away from playing in the NHL, though, as he's got some polishing up of his game to do still.
I didn't think very highly of Samuelsson before he came to the Oil Kings. From my limited viewings up to that point, I didn't see a kid with much potential other than as perhaps a checker.
But now that I've had a chance to see him much more, via webcasts and live, there's no doubt in my mind that he will be an NHL player. Definitely top 9, perhaps top 6. And for many years most likely. He's a prototypical power forward and has spurts of physical domination in the WHL, which should bode well for him in the NHL. He's probably at least 3 years away from playing in the NHL, though, as he's got some polishing up of his game to do still.
Thats exactly what he is. Hes not a tough guy per se, like Mitch Moroz could be, but hes chippy.
I just wonder if he can overcome his skating.
His skating is much better than it used to be, but definitely one of the reasons why he's at least 3 years away from the NHL. He's basically Hartikainen at the same age right now, but he's more polished offensively than Hartikainen was.
As for Moroz, I have a feeling that he's climbing fast up the rankings. I would not be surprised if he gets picked somewhere in the 2nd round, too, which would be impressive considering he probably wasn't on anybody's radar even as a 3rd rounder even a couple of months ago. If we're doing comparison's to Lucic, Moroz is probably a better comparison than Samuelsson.
Hope the Sabres draft this guy with Nashvilles first rounder, either him or Hertl.
A 1st rounder is too high for him, he is almost for sure going to make the NHL as he will hit his floor of a 3rd line guy but his ceiling is possibly a 2nd liner on an average team and it's debatable if he reaches that.
In other words a low risk guy but a low ceiling guy as well.
Clunky is the only way to describe his skating, there's no way around it. He skates like there is cement blocks attached to his feet sometimes.
But man can he power to the net and has great hands for his size which will make him a good pro player. There is always room for guys with that much size that have a touch around the net and a competitive will to win. He's no guarantee by any means, skating can really screw a guy over. But I'm very impressed at how well he adapted to the WHL and I think scouts have probably been impressed with that as well. I know he grew up playing in NA, but the Dub is a different beast.
I'd compare him to a Ryane Clowe, maybe a more physical Johan Franzen. Big body, controls the puck well, takes it to hard areas, throws his weight around, fairs decently in fight but he definitely is no superstar forward nor enforcer.... more somewhere inbetween.
Your old fashioned powerforward kind of deal. Big strong, slow... intimidating.
He was born in feb of 94, pretty sure he makes the cut off for the 2012 NHL entry draft.
Hes had quite the journey this season playing games in the SEL, and WHL. His stats in the season were underwhelming, however seems to be contributing to the Edmonton Oil Kings playoff success. Does anyone have a report on this kid?
2010-11 U.S. National Development Team USHL gp 27 g 4 a7 p 11 78 1
2011-12 Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik SEL GP15 G0 A2 P2 12 -7
2011-12 Edmonton Oil Kings WHL GP28 G7 A16 P23 42 18
Haven't seen him play as I haven't had a chance to catch the WHL playoffs but the one thing I noticed about his playoff stats is that he has 7 secondary assists and 1 EN goal. As I said, I haven't seen him play but there MIGHT be some luck involved in his production. Again, have not seen him play, not trying to discredit him, just noticed it yesterday when a poster brought him up on the Canucks forum.
One of the players I'd like to see Toronto try to trade up and get late in the 1st. Brian Burke and some other people from the Leafs were in Moose Jaw last night watching him play so you never know.
A future 3rd line of Brad Ross - Henrik Samuelsson - Tyler Biggs would be quite a pain in the ass to play against.
