I think Wagner has been underrated because of Coyle and Smith. I think that he is the real deal. Not that he will be a superstar but he is one of those high impact bottom 6 guys you need to win. Heart, leadership and skill. If everythin pans out he can become a 2nd liner some day.
I really love this pic!
Btw I would like to see Mark Zengerle at the Ducks as well. He will be Junior next season so it's likely that he will play another year at the Badgers. McNab could make a push for him .
I think Wagner has been underrated because of Coyle and Smith. I think that he is the real deal. Not that he will be a superstar but he is one of those high impact bottom 6 guys you need to win. Heart, leadership and skill. If everythin pans out he can become a 2nd liner some day.
I really love this pic!
Btw I would like to see Mark Zengerle at the Ducks as well. He will be Junior next season so it's likely that he will play another year at the Badgers. McNab could make a push for him .
Wagner really stepped up his game last year starting around the time the ECAC playoffs began and was a big factor in Colgate upsetting the top seed and going on a bit of a cinderella run. Good to see he's doing it again, players being able to step up their game, is always a great quality.
Like you mention, he sort of has the question mark of whether he is just a product of his linemates, but hes fourth overall in the nation in scoring now, very impressive for a sophomore as all those above him are seniors. He's also missed a few games due to high hit suspensions, so for those missing a bit of a mean streak in our bottom six, he may be able to provide a bit of that if it keeps working out for him.
With Schultz finally being a Duck in the next few days, it got me thinking about the immediate future of some of our picks.
June 1st guys
College:
Brett Perlini's college career ended today as well. Would figure the Ducks will sign him.
Ryan Hegarty is a senior as well. Wouldn't be surprised if the Ducks dont tender him, but you never now, we dont have much as far as D prospects in the AHL.
Europeans:
Tim Heed, is at a position of strength, PMD. But I see no reason why the Ducks would not try to sign him. PP qb, seems to be a big need in the AHL team.
Andreas Dahlstrom, injuries have set him back too much, Ducks give up rights to him.
Other than that, Im guessing Bobkov will finish up the season in Syracuse again, and Etem will be the only new face up there this season, as long as Medicine hat doesnt go on a run.
Wagner really stepped up his game last year starting around the time the ECAC playoffs began and was a big factor in Colgate upsetting the top seed and going on a bit of a cinderella run. Good to see he's doing it again, players being able to step up their game, is always a great quality.
Like you mention, he sort of has the question mark of whether he is just a product of his linemates, but hes fourth overall in the nation in scoring now, very impressive for a sophomore as all those above him are seniors. He's also missed a few games due to high hit suspensions, so for those missing a bit of a mean streak in our bottom six, he may be able to provide a bit of that if it keeps working out for him.
I don't think that's particularly meaningful. The ECAC is full of schools that don't offer athletic scholarships, so the level of competition isn't nearly as fierce as the CCHA, WCHA, or Hockey East. His numbers would be a bit lower in those divisions.
College:
Brett Perlini's college career ended today as well. Would figure the Ducks will sign him.
Ryan Hegarty is a senior as well. Wouldn't be surprised if the Ducks dont tender him, but you never now, we dont have much as far as D prospects in the AHL.
Ryan Hegarty, beside Clark there are not so much stay at home defenders in our system. Lind is on the top of my head. So I'd like to see him and Heed in the AHL next season. With Clark, Erixon, Hegarty and Heed we have some young defenders there. I hope we can get Dan DeKeyser via FA somehow as well.
Also in that article, John Gibson is ranked 2nd best shootout Goalie. That's very good for us if we continue to have inconsistent RPG, no Ketchup, and good defensive third line in the near future. LoL
Not sure if you guys have heard yet, but it looks like Karlsson will be moving to the Elitserien next season, as his contract with Västerås has a clause that allows him to do so (source).
Now that all of our NCAA prospects are out of the tournament as of this weekend, do any of them sign? (Hegarty or Perlini) I think we all know Schultz isn't coming, so do the Ducks go after Hegarty even though he is a completely different player?
Damn watched the videos, the more I see, the more the low hockey sense thing looks like hogwash to me, on the PP he goes to the absolutely right places on the ice to get the best shots....his speed creates a ton of chances, he's got that explosive first step, he can go from cruise control and then have that burst and leave dmen in the dust, he's going to be great, we have to develop him right there will be an adjustment period.
My concern with Etem is the way he scores a lot of those goals. It's the Grabner approach. Being faster than everyone. It's similar to players who are bigger and stronger in the Major Juniors, so they can steamroll their peers. Their game depends on being faster than everyone else, or being stronger than everyone else. Then, when they crack their way into the NHL, that's no longer the case. Oh sure, they'll still be one of the fastest on the ice, or one of the strongest, but the difference won't be as extreme. Suddenly, they aren't able to overpower the opponents, or blow right past them as if they were standing still. That, more than anything, is why I'm a little nervous about Etem's NHL upside.
I have the same concerns. I'd say at least 75% of the goals Etem scored this year were scored by blowing past a slower defenseman and getting in alone on the goalie. In the NHL that won't work. So he'll need to adjust his game a fair bit in order to succeed.
I tend to agree with you guys. I've seen him play against the Oil Kings, and his goals were scored more or less in that fashion. I'm not at all down on him, and I think there's a good chance he becomes a solid NHLer. But yeah he'll definitely need to adapt his game.
My concern with Etem is the way he scores a lot of those goals. It's the Grabner approach. ... That, more than anything, is why I'm a little nervous about Etem's NHL upside.
Well, Etem has more grit and forecheck ability in his game and a much better shot. That's the reason why I think he will succeed at the NHL level. The question will be on what role. I think he will be a Kunitz type of forechecker and I'm thrilled with that. 20-30 goals upside. I think thats great!
In the worst case he can be used like Jason Blake. I think he will be at the big club but I also believe he will need a year in the AHL as well.
My concern with Etem is the way he scores a lot of those goals. It's the Grabner approach. Being faster than everyone. It's similar to players who are bigger and stronger in the Major Juniors, so they can steamroll their peers. Their game depends on being faster than everyone else, or being stronger than everyone else. Then, when they crack their way into the NHL, that's no longer the case. Oh sure, they'll still be one of the fastest on the ice, or one of the strongest, but the difference won't be as extreme. Suddenly, they aren't able to overpower the opponents, or blow right past them as if they were standing still. That, more than anything, is why I'm a little nervous about Etem's NHL upside.
I have the same concerns. I'd say at least 75% of the goals Etem scored this year were scored by blowing past a slower defenseman and getting in alone on the goalie. In the NHL that won't work. So he'll need to adjust his game a fair bit in order to succeed.
That's all fine and good on the PP, but it's his even strength game I have concerns with.
I think he's a talented kid, and I feel pretty confident he can be a pretty good player, but it's also clear his current game is built more around Junior hockey than it is NHL hockey. It's a little less clear how successful he can be when he's playing said NHL hockey. I'm excited to see what happens, but it wouldn't surprise me to see him end up as more of a utilitarian player who gives you some offense than a pure goal-scorer.
.
