He's a young freshman with about a dozen games under his belt. He will get better this year and next. He'll definitely be ready for the AHL after his sophomore season, though as a BC fan I hope he stays 3 years. It wasn't his best weekend in a BC uniform, but I do agree with the other things you wrote about him. The BC coaching staff is fantastic at developing defenseman. He'll be a beast in the NCAA next year
He could be ready to play a smaller role in the AHL, but because BC is such a good place to learn how to be a better defender, I'd much rather see Matheson be a top-pair player for the Eagles than a bottom-pair player for the Rampage.
Kyle Rau is very physical for someone who is 5'8. I don't know how that's going to translate to the NHL but that's a good attribute to have at his size, fearlessness.
HF just released all the team rankings and FL is listed at #2 just behind Minnesota and just ahead of Edmonton. The article states that the top 3 were so close that you could probably put them in any order (very true).
Quote:
2. Florida Panthers
Strengths: The Panthers are loaded with NHL talent at forward, defense, and in goal. They are extremely deep at center, with Nick Bjugstad, Jonathan Huberdeau, Rocco Grimaldi, Kyle Rau, and Drew Shore, all showing great promise. Many of their top center prospects are also very versatile and able to play the wing. On defense, Colby Robak and Alex Petrovic provide size, grit, and two-way play from the back end. The Panthers filled a need for a pure offensive blue line talent over the summer by drafting Mike Matheson 23rd overall. Jacob Markstrom remains one of the top netminder prospects in the world.
Weaknesses: Many of the prospects in the organization have been added over the past three drafts, meaning that the majority of the team's top prospects are still in their teens and a few years from making an NHL contribution.
Top 5 Prospects: 1. Jonathan Huberdeau C/LW; 2. Nick Bjugstad, C; 3. Jacob Markstrom, G; 4. Quinton Howden, LW; 5. Alex Petrovic, D.
Added: Michael Houser, Casey Wellman, Josh McFadden.
Saint John Sea Dogs playing the almighty Halifax Mooseheads today. Huberdeau with an assist, 3-2 Halifax with the lead after two periods. Some of these sports reporters and fans of other teams who think Huberdeau is overrated or underachieving this season are going to be in for a rude awakening when he gets to the NHL, IMO.
Saint John Sea Dogs playing the almighty Halifax Mooseheads today. Huberdeau with an assist, 3-2 Halifax with the lead after two periods. Some of these sports reporters and fans of other teams who think Huberdeau is overrated or underachieving this season are going to be in for a rude awakening when he gets to the NHL, IMO.
Isn't he playing on a depleted team? Are there any other good forward prospects left there this season?
Isn't he playing on a depleted team? Are there any other good forward prospects left there this season?
Yes, this. It is the polar opposite of the teams that he played on the last two seasons with Saint John. Those teams were powerhouses. He just had a fight in the 3rd period and is finished for this game since it was a double minor and runs past the end of the game. They're saying this is probably the last game he plays for Saint John in his career. I'm guessing they were talking about him getting traded to another junior hockey club or something like that.
Last edited by Howboutthempanthers: 12-09-2012 at 04:45 PM.
In what was Hube's last game as a Dog, he went out with a bang lol. With about 7 minutes left he got called for high-sticking, and as he got out of the box he does it again... The linemen escorts him to the box and a Halifax defenseman Mac Weegar says something to him. Something he said didn't sit well with Hube as he shakes off an official and fights him... The fight didn't go so well, as Weegar probably gets the decision.
Hube got abuse of an official, and two instigator penalties, so that should be a minimum of two games, plus whatever the league throws at him... Wasn't really a bad incident as the linesmen basically fell, but he was injured.... Who knows, he may get the "superstar discount"...
what can you guys tell me about Francis Beauvillier
Good physical two-way player who's found his offensive game this year. Rimouski are stacked for next year so he will probably be with Rimouski as a 20.
Also a third round pick by you guys Jonathan Racine can be best described as "a bit-ch to play against" lol. Punishing and annoys the other teams best players. Could top out as a bottom pair player in the NHL, but I think you have a good player there.
In what was Hube's last game as a Dog, he went out with a bang lol. With about 7 minutes left he got called for high-sticking, and as he got out of the box he does it again... The linemen escorts him to the box and a Halifax defenseman Mac Weegar says something to him. Something he said didn't sit well with Hube as he shakes off an official and fights him... The fight didn't go so well, as Weegar probably gets the decision.
Hube got abuse of an official, and two instigator penalties, so that should be a minimum of two games, plus whatever the league throws at him... Wasn't really a bad incident as the linesmen basically fell, but he was injured.... Who knows, he may get the "superstar discount"...
Notes:
- Didn't realize I wasn't including 2 of our prospects, Ed Wittchow & RJ Boyd. Boyd previously played at Ohio St last season until he went back to the USHL. This yr he's playing at Michigan St on their 3rd pairing. Wittchow is a freshman now at Wisconsin and is on their 2nd pairing
- After starting the yr 4-1-0, Sam Brittain has lost his last 3 starts giving up a combined 12 goals. The plan to save him for later in the season may not be working.
- We already know what Grimaldi did this weekend but interesting to note that he's been moved to RW and up to the 2nd line. Thats where I envision him for the Panthers.
- If you didnt see Matheson's goals from this weekend, check them out (highlights linked above) because his 2nd looked like he was a forward. Very reminiscent of Brian Campbell's goal last season with the Cats.
- Basaraba got a few game tryout on the top line and produced 2 goals out of 3 games there. Got moved back down to the 2nd line in the last game.
Been watching this kid Wittchow play for Wisconsin in a replay of their game from Saturday night. It's hard to get a read on him from one game but he has good size: 6'3-190lb(he's listed at 6'4-205 on the Wisconsin website, 6'3-189 on the Panthers website). He's a defenseman, he looks pretty poised and doesn't panic as far as I could notice. He just got his first assist of the season on Saturday. It's kind of hard to judge his offensive abilities because he plays on a bad Wisconsin team and they are really bad offensively. I would say from the little I have seen of him I think his biggest weakness is his skating. Considering he is a freshman(even though he is 20 years old) he should improve a lot by the time he leaves college, I could see him getting a good look from the Panthers by then.
In regards to Hubs, the lower output may not be due to poor teammates or whatever, in my opinion he is just too big of a fish in a small pond. He has outgrown the league, won everything that he could and now he needs a new challenge. The QMJHL just isnt a challenge for him anymore. I would take a guess that he will step his game up among better competition in the World Juniors.
In regards to Hubs, the lower output may not be due to poor teammates or whatever, in my opinion he is just too big of a fish in a small pond. He has outgrown the league, won everything that he could and now he needs a new challenge. The QMJHL just isnt a challenge for him anymore. I would take a guess that he will step his game up among better competition in the World Juniors.
He is playing with Stephen MacAulay who is an honest Joe, with average skills who wouldn't sniff the top 6 on a decent team and Ryan Tesink who while having put a PPG season last year, it is becoming more and more apparent he is a top 6 complimentary forward (grit and agitation), who can't create his own offense.
Right now, the offense is Hubie creates something, and someone else benefits. Look at his assist in the Halifax game for example. Hubie goes 1 on 1, shoots the puck at the side opposite of which he takes the two players and a goal happens. He could easily be the league leader in scoring if his linemates were capitalizing on the chances they are getting (they've missed a ton of empty nets). And that's without adding real top liners. Wait until he gets traded and gets good linemates.
