So, Severson has 30 points in his last 25 games? That's amazing. That's an "elite" prospect type of pace. Like a 70+ point season, type of pace. Still very young too. Won't be 19 till August. Definitely one of the prospects I'm most excited about.
How do the d-man stack up in terms of proximity to NHL and impact, separately? By my estimation Larsson is a top 4 now and there are 7 leading D prospects: Urbom, Gelinas, and Burlon are in the AHL. Scarlett and Severson are CHL and Merrill and Helgeson are NCAA. I'm assuming Corrente is officially off the radar.
I think Urbom is closest simply by nature of having NHL experience. He looked particularly good in his most recent stint, and this current AHL season has a lot of people believing he's finally got his defensive game at an NHL level. Gelinas's all around game is still a little bit of a question mark, I think, but his offense certainly looks fantastic so far.
You're ignoring Merrill, who probably has the biggest offensive potential of all of them.
Severson is rapidly becoming my favorite of our defense prospects, though. With Larsson, Merrill, Severson, Gelinas, Urbom, Burlon, Scarlett... we're stacked.
No, I wasn't trying to ignore Merrill. He for sure could project with the best offensive of all the prospects. But if he does Severson and Scarlett aren't far behind.
And I do agree. That group you mentioned has a great deal of promise. The future is very bright.
Just noticed Graham Black got suspended 2 games for a check to the head in last Saturday's game. That's why he didn't play on Wednesday and was also out tonight
How do the d-man stack up in terms of proximity to NHL and impact, separately? By my estimation Larsson is a top 4 now and there are 7 leading D prospects: Urbom, Gelinas, and Burlon are in the AHL. Scarlett and Severson are CHL and Merrill and Helgeson are NCAA. I'm assuming Corrente is officially off the radar.
I like Severson a lot, I think he's going to be better than most of our current D prospects.
I think he's somewhere in the middle. To me, Merrill and Larsson are both higher than him, Gelinas and Urbom are at about the same level, and he's above the rest.
Any way you slice it, we have a strong group of defensive prospects, and there's a lot to excited about for the future of the defence.
Merrill has the skills and atheltic ability to be a great defenseman, but does he really want to be one is the question.
I'm not sure what you're talking about. He does look a bit slow on the plays, but that's his style. He conserves his energy well with proper positioning. It will make him a minute eater at the next level.
Jon Merrill - E, 2 shots, 2 blocked shots in Michigan's 3-2 win vs. Michigan State
Recording today's game between Michigan/Michigan State and will watch in a bit (I need a chaser after today's Devils game).
As for Friday's game, I thought it was the best that Merrill looked in awhile. He seemed to have that extra gear in his legs. He made some nice subtle moves through the defensive/neutral zone to create better breakout opportunities. He trucked a Spartan forward in the corner during a PK which led to an easy clear. Definitely was nice to see Merrill take the body.
He was on the ice for the first goal allowed, but Merrill didn't really do anything wrong on the play. It was a bit curious, several times during the game they had Merrill (left handed) playing the right D while his partner Brennan Serville (right handed) was playing the left side. Deep in the zone, Serville had the puck and needed an extra stickhandle to get the puck on his forehand. He ended up getting his pocket picked and the MSU forward immediately fired a shot from a bad angle which beat the goalie (should have been an easy save, but Michigan's goaltending all season has been an issue).
I suppose Merrill didn't do anything all that impressive, but it was good to see him more engaged and confident.
Gavrus back in the lineup tonight still looking for his first point since returning to the OHL.
Weird he hasn't even got a point yet.
From what I could read on Owen Sound Attack forums the first couple of games he was back, he was playing really well and it seemed like it was only a matter of time. Wonder what's happened since then. What line is he playing on, what kind of minutes is he getting?
From what I could read on Owen Sound Attack forums the first couple of games he was back, he was playing really well and it seemed like it was only a matter of time. Wonder what's happened since then. What line is he playing on, what kind of minutes is he getting?
I know he was in the top 6 when he returned and getting PP time. Not sure if he's been bumped down of not.
