Im so happy the NHLN will be showing so many WJC games this year. I just wish we had more Russian and Swedish coverage. Oh well. I LOVE World Juniors. I really hope the NHLN picks up the Mem Cup this year too. I can't get enough Jr. Hockey.
The thing I really like about that highlight video is Hudon's ability to create on a broken play. Too frequently these prospect videos reflect only beautiful break away goals, or guys going totally unmolested inside the circles. That kind of stuff rarely happens in today's NHL. Coverage is generally air tight, sticks stay in lanes, angles are cut off and the NHL has really become a pin ball game in the offensive zone. I love to see a player who can grab a puck that's been bouncing all over the zone, wrangle it in, get control in an instance, and put it in the back of the net before anyone on the ice knows what hit them.
Just think of our ugly ass PP. Pluck flies everywhere, and there's just no order out there. I'd love to see a player like Hudon out there, who can snag a puck, turn around on a dime, and bury it in a flash.
I just feel like that specific skill can translate really well to the NHL, and make a player exceptionally valuable.
Tomas Hertl looked fantastic against a very weak Denmark team. If he can look half as good against the Canadian powerhouse tonight, he will be one everyone's radar.
Hertl was solid defensively and maintained a physical element to his game. No offensive zone chances.
The Czech Republic was badly out coached. They shortened their bench to six forwards right from the start and they played the night before. It took about thirty minutes for them to be totally gassed and completely overwhelmed. That head coach needs to be replaced. That was a coaching loss more than anything. Jiri Fischer looks ready to take over to me.
Ruutu looked decent in the two games I saw him play. I only saw one game with Gormley in it, and he looked okay. Nothing like the number one d-man he was projected to be. At least not to me. Vis looked pretty good. He is still so early in his development as far as goalies go, so I don't feel like judging him too much.
Is Connor Murphy ever going to play hockey again? What the hell is wrong with that guy.
Ruutu looked decent in the two games I saw him play. I only saw one game with Gormley in it, and he looked okay. Nothing like the number one d-man he was projected to be. At least not to me. Vis looked pretty good. He is still so early in his development as far as goalies go, so I don't feel like judging him too much.
Is Connor Murphy ever going to play hockey again? What the hell is wrong with that guy.
I must've watched much different games than you did.
I must've watched much different games than you did.
Don't get me wrong, Gormley looked good, but he doesn't look like what many are advertising him to be. He looks like he will pan out to be a solid player on the blueline, but people speak of him as if he will be dominant. I just do not see that in him.
As for Ruutu, I'm sticking with what I said. I think he looked decent.
Vis has looked worse if you ask me. He wasn't too bad in the only game I watched.
OEL is still the future #1 on this team. Yandle, Rundblad and Gormley will round out the top 4. I see Gormley as a fantastic 3 or 4 d-man that can fill in on the top pairing. I think it was rt that said his game reminded him a bit of Z's. I would agree although I think Gormley has better offensive upside than Z ever did.
Visentin's play still scares me. But as mentioned he still has a lot of time to work on the holes in his game.
Gormley's been rock solid so far. He always makes a safe smart play. His passes are spot on. He's getting number one pp and pk time. Anytime I've seen Canada down 5 on 3 Gormley's been on the ice. He's not flashy but not once have I seen him make a questionable play. Oh and he did make one outstanding diving knock-away to save a break away for the Finns.
OEL is still the future #1 on this team. Yandle, Rundblad and Gormley will round out the top 4. I see Gormley as a fantastic 3 or 4 d-man that can fill in on the top pairing. I think it was rt that said his game reminded him a bit of Z's. I would agree although I think Gormley has better offensive upside than Z ever did.
Visentin's play still scares me. But as mentioned he still has a lot of time to work on the holes in his game.
I'll agree with where you placed him. I always envisioned him battling OEL for the number one spot. Then again, it isn't Gormley's fault we are stacked with defensive prospects.
Lanky, I saw that play you are talking about, and I loved it. Just like OEL, Gormley is really good with his stick. I think that is such an underrated skill in hockey.
Perhaps I just need to lower my expectations as far as Gormley's offensive production goes.
OEL is still the future #1 on this team. Yandle, Rundblad and Gormley will round out the top 4. I see Gormley as a fantastic 3 or 4 d-man that can fill in on the top pairing. I think it was rt that said his game reminded him a bit of Z's. I would agree although I think Gormley has better offensive upside than Z ever did.
Visentin's play still scares me. But as mentioned he still has a lot of time to work on the holes in his game.
Goalies don't peak until their early 30's. The AHL is littered with goalies who were stars at the WJC only to falter once they made it to the show. Montoya was hardly an AHL backup when we dealt him and he resurrected his career in Long Island. We have Pogge in our system and he was absolutely stellar during his stint.
Visentin has a lot of internal demons to conquer. His game has been inconsistent since the groin injury and this tournament is in his head. Look at the number of posters who solely blame Visentin for the Canada breakdown last year. This is just part of the maturation process.
I've been really impressed with Tomas Hertl. Offensively, defensively, and physically impressive. Big bodied kid, undeniable skill, great on the back check, likes to mix it up physically and still looks like he's fourteen years old. I doubt he shaves. He's already lighting up the top men's league over in the Czech Republic, and he's still got a lot of time to even further develop.
He's not a fast skater, but he's excellent positionally, which I think is more important.
There's some good writeups on this midseason OHL prospect ranking. Gaunce is described in a similar way as rt described Hertl, and Faksa is described as similar to Gaunce. If a big bodied center is on the Coyotes shopping list then I hope they're doing their homework in order to pick the right one.
At #9 I would guess that Yakupov, Forsberg, Galchenyuk and Grigorenko will be off the board unless a few defensemen jump ahead. Who's the next best forward after that? Girgensons?
At #9 I would guess that Yakupov, Forsberg, Galchenyuk and Grigorenko will be off the board unless a few defensemen jump ahead. Who's the next best forward after that? Girgensons?
Yeah. Probably Girgensons, Gaunce, Collberg, and Aberg.
I might trade down a few spots for Hertl. As much as I'd hate to do it, I might be forced to take Trouba if he's on the board. Oh lord not another D.
Maybe Maloney's plan all along has been to hoard all of the best D prospects so there are none left for anyone else, forcing them to go off the board and draft defensemen, letting the forwards fall to the Coyotes.
Maybe Maloney's plan all along has been to hoard all of the best D prospects so there are none left for anyone else, forcing them to go off the board and draft defensemen, letting the forwards fall to the Coyotes.
