I am through with these polls. I'm going to eat a box of macaroni twice a day in protest until you people see the light (or until I become diabetic). I don't care anymore.
These polls are kinda stupid. People vote Bortuzzo and Strait 'cause they are closest to NHL ready. But what's their upside? Not very high, so that's why I vote someone like Blueger, Kühnhackl or Marcantuoni for example and I think I'll vote Blueger.
What good is someone's upside if they'll never make it in the NHL?
I am through with these polls. I'm going to eat a box of macaroni twice a day in protest until you people see the light (or until I become diabetic). I don't care anymore.
Now that we're at 10 I just wanted to see other peoples top 10 list. I'm using the pickable players even though some guys don't fit prospect material anymore.
Exactly. Tangradi, Strait and Bortuzzo are what I consider journeyman now. They either stick or will be waived or traded. I doubt any of them make it back to WBS.
Now that we're at 10 I just wanted to see other peoples top 10 list. I'm using the pickable players even though some guys don't fit prospect material anymore.
I think everyone has different versions of the top 7 and then there's a gap. I value upside so thats why a guy like DePo is high on my list.
I'm interested to see where Bennett falls on peoples lists. I think people will watch him and kind of write him off. Then when he gets plays in the pro camp and gets pro support around him he'll look great. His IQ will really stand out and he'll thrive playing that cleaner game.
I agree. I think that though Bennett's skating is average, he thinks the game at a very high level, and has some serious creativity. When you have guys like that, they overcome any sort of speed deficiency, typically.
I agree. I think that though Bennett's skating is average, he thinks the game at a very high level, and has some serious creativity. When you have guys like that, they overcome any sort of speed deficiency, typically.
Exactly... he lets the puck do the work but he knows how to use himself as a lure and open up lanes.
Does anyone else think he looks like Morozov? He's not the same player but just a look on the ice.
These polls are kinda stupid. People vote Bortuzzo and Strait 'cause they are closest to NHL ready. But what's their upside? Not very high, so that's why I vote someone like Blueger, Kühnhackl or Marcantuoni for example and I think I'll vote Blueger.
Why is it stupid? Yes, Blueger, Kuhnhackl and Marcantuoni have a potential higher upside, but they also have a greater potential to bust out entirely. It's that latter factor that leads many to rank them lower than the guys that have already played in NHL games and not looked out of place. These rankings are fluid - as prospects demonstrate whether they'll reach their potential or not, their rankings will change. Personally, I expect that many people's rankings will end up changing following training camp, for example.
Frankly, though, I think that ignoring the very real possibility that the prospects you listed might bust out completely is a bit optimistic. Particularly since all of them were drafted outside the first round, and none of them has played a single pro game between them.
Exactly... he lets the puck do the work but he knows how to use himself as a lure and open up lanes.
Does anyone else think he looks like Morozov? He's not the same player but just a look on the ice.
Comparing him to Jeff Skinner is silly, but Skinner had some very similar deficiencies. I think the biggest difference between the two is that Beau is sort of average in skating all the way around where Skinner's top end speed is just average. When he's in small areas, he is pretty explosive, and can get around tremendously well.
The point still sort of stands...Skinner's lack of top end speed doesn't make him any less effective, and that's because he is a supremely intelligent hockey player.
1. Joe Morrow
2. Simon Despres
3. Olli Maatta
4. Derrick Pouliot
5. Beau Bennett
6. Brian Dumoulin
7. Scott Harrington
8. Eric Tangradi
9. Tom Kuhnhackl
10. Robert Bortuzzo
11. Ben Hanowski
That's my top 11 (wanted to include Hanowski in my list). Yup...no Strait, no Mac n Cheese, no Teddy Bluestuff. Didn't overrate Dumoulin or Pouliot, showed some much needed love to Maatta, Kuhnhackl and Hanowski.
I know, I know...it's a perfect list. No need to debate it I suppose.
I am pretty close to what the board has decided, which is pretty cool. I value Despres' readiness over Morrow's high end potential, and Harrington over Pouliot for the same reason. The key factor here was that the drop off from Morrow's potential to Despres', and from Pouliot to Harrington is not that drastic IMO.
who'd be on your list of top five most disappointing/underwhelming prospects in the system? just a really rough go:
1. Patrick Killeen/Alexander Pechurskiy
2. Carl Sneep
3. Alex Velischek
4. Keven Veilleux
5. Alex Grant
sheds some light if you ask me. you can't really write off any of these guys (maybe the goalies) which just goes to show most of the prospects seem to be doing well.
1. Joe Morrow
2. Simon Despres
3. Olli Maatta
4. Derrick Pouliot
5. Beau Bennett
6. Brian Dumoulin
7. Scott Harrington
8. Eric Tangradi
9. Tom Kuhnhackl
10. Robert Bortuzzo
11. Ben Hanowski
That's my top 11 (wanted to include Hanowski in my list). Yup...no Strait, no Mac n Cheese, no Teddy Bluestuff. Didn't overrate Dumoulin or Pouliot, showed some much needed love to Maatta, Kuhnhackl and Hanowski.
I know, I know...it's a perfect list. No need to debate it I suppose.
I'm not sure what to think about Hano. I watch him and want to puke all over his skates but his stats speak for themselves. Maybe it says a lot about him that he can do that while skating so poorly. If he can end up getting his skating to at least average watch out.
no idea how people have despres so far ahead of dumoulin.
The majority voted him as the third ranked prospect and that's right where I would put him. But considering most of us have never seen him play it's not that hard to believe.
His past year really must have turned people off. The guy is going to be a NHL-calibre player very soon. Even if he doesn't pan out ("busts"), he could still theoretically contribute in a bottom-six role. His game lends itself to that.
Don't get me wrong, I love Brian Strait. Right now, he's earned a spot over any one not named Martin, Niskanen, or Letang. But what we see is what we get. An incredibly solid, but not spectacular, defenseman. Kuhn's upside is so friggin' high - I have to lean towards him.
