Yup, points in the junior level do not mean much, there are many other factors to be considered if the players game can translate to the NHL. I also do not think WHL is the best development league either.
Emerson Etem scored 61 goals in 65 games last season for the Medicine Hat Tigers. The entire prospect board was in a uproar that he is the next Mike Bossy in the making, claiming that he was the steal of the draft and a guaranteed NHL star.
He is now playing in the AHL and has scored 9 goals, 1 assist in 34 games.
That'd be 21 goals over a season for a rookie in his first year of pro hockey.
Players like Etem have a 'specialty' skillset...they score goals, no matter what league, they can put the puck in the net.
I would say Jensen is our only prospect with this type of skill.
I agree points aren't the best indicator if you can scout the 'tools' of a player. It's why I am so high on Lazar, he has a great shot, thinks and plays the game at a high level, and while his production has underwhelmed, I'd say its just his lack of assists that people get hung up on.
19 goals is good for 30th in the WHL, in a season where most would suggest he's struggling, is pretty good.
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Tiranis you can't tell me you've watched Kelowna and not questioned whether we should have taken Severson.
He looks good. It took me a while to warm up to Mallet, and I still hope the best for him, but he's a reach pick in the 2nd round.
His upside is trememdous, and he's on an absolute tear right now production wise.
I still wish we could have drafted both, and I still believe we could have.
I like the Mallet pick. How many hard hitting, skilled fighters does our prospect pool have? If he makes it, I think he could be very useful. Not that Severson wouldn't be, but we have Tanev, Corrado, Mcnally, Tommernes that are young legit hopefuls. Mallet fills a dire need imo, and if he pulls it all together he could be an high impact energy guy, responsible enough for a regular shift, and chip in a few goals here and there. We know he would've been taken by another team somewhere before our next pick, and no matter the outcome - I like that management took action instead of hoping their guy would slide to them, only to lose out and not address a more pressing need, as Canucks are set on D for the near-longish future.
I like the Mallet pick. How many hard hitting, skilled fighters does our prospect pool have? If he makes it, I think he could be very useful. Not that Severson wouldn't be, but we have Tanev, Corrado, Mcnally, Tommernes that are young legit hopefuls. Mallet fills a dire need imo, and if he pulls it all together he could be an high impact energy guy, responsible enough for a regular shift, and chip in a few goals here and there. We know he would've been taken by another team somewhere before our next pick, and no matter the outcome - I like that management took action instead of hoping their guy would slide to them, only to lose out and not address a more pressing need, as Canucks are set on D for the near-longish future.
I don't think Mallet would have been available later on. He was 2010 draft eligible, have a look at some of the forwards taken at the end of the 1st round. Mallet has out scored a number of them last season in juniors.
i don't think if it matters if he is available later on our not. if there are better players than him available before than you shouldn't draft him.
Who is to say there were better players available? It's way too early to judge him or anyone else. His production for his age was very good, better than some 1st rounders from 2010 (which would've been his original draft year).
i don't think if it matters if he is available later on our not. if there are better players than him available before than you shouldn't draft him.
There are variables. Maybe they saw something in Mallet that suggested his skill would translate well into the pro game. I imagine they liked his physical prescence and determined at the very least Mallet could be a good 3rd/4th liner in the NHL. And if he developed better? Heck, then you have yourself a top 6 powerforward in the making.
Mallet so far hasn't been exceptional in the AHL, but he has shown some flashes. For a guy who only broke out in junior last year, flashes are a step in the right direction. Junior scoring is flawed, if Mallet were back in the Q this year there's no doubt he'd be dominating as an overager.
I haven't seen enough of the games where Lack was in goal this season for an opinion but,
his stat's dont look impressive this year, should we be worried?
Tuned in long enough to see him miss in the Shoot out, fast hands on the move though....
What was his goal like?
edit...watched the stream long enough for highlights, jumped on a loose puck in the slot, and used his laser beam wrister to beat goalie glove side from 15-20 feet.
Tied for 4th in entire SEL for goals. Impressive kid.
Would a fair comparison to Jensen at this age be Hornqvist?
I would say he's been at the very worst as good as Hornqvist. Something to keep in mind about Hornqvist is that he played with a guy that put up 60+ points that season.
Jensen's shot is lethal, he doesn't need much time or space to get it off either.
If the highlights are available, his goal today was basically jumping on a loose puck one of his teammates had lost in his feet, as soon as the puck touched his stick it was off.
His release is something to behold, he doesn't need a big drag wind up for his wrister.
I like it. Pure skill. One shot scorer, who also scores the ugly ones in traffic.
Jensen's shot is lethal, he doesn't need much time or space to get it off either.
If the highlights are available, his goal today was basically jumping on a loose puck one of his teammates had lost in his feet, as soon as the puck touched his stick it was off.
His release is something to behold, he doesn't need a big drag wind up for his wrister.
I like it. Pure skill. One shot scorer, who also scores the ugly ones in traffic.
Indeed so Im so exited!!!
Here are the highlights if people havent already seen it