Vance is so new to playing high level hockey, and he made major steps in his development last year as a defensive defender. That's more important to his future in the NHL than his offense. As long as he can continue to improve as a defender first, his size, skating, and aggression will make him a solid, consistent NHLer.
That's not to say though that he has no hope as an offensive defender, but I just don't think he has the potential to be a PP specialist. His upside to me is similar to Dillon. Should he make the NHL, it'll be on his reliable play, and his offense is just a bonus.
Compared to Klingberg, I just think even though Klingberg's offense is a potential home run, I value Vance and his overall game more. I think the same is true of Jokipakka for me as well.
If Molin finally wins A. Smith is my next choice. The quality of competition argument is appropriate, and would be why a Hobey Baker candidate would be placing all the way down at 16th on the list. As has been pointed out, I'm not sure what else he could've done to re-insert himself back into the conversation of legitimate prospects. And damnit, I'm going to give him extra points for being a local kid. I don't care.
Too bad Smith isn't a center with excellent faceoff skills otherwise I'd say his potential was Stu Barnes late in his career. Even though he was never the most important player on the team, Stu Barnes is still one of my all time favorite Dallas Stars.
I think Smith, who did learn good defensive hockey in the ECAC, could be a very good Bottom 6 contributor if he reaches his potential.
His speed could make him an excellent scoring threat on the PK, and like Barnes, I imagine Smith could score the occasional, supremely important goal.
Smith isn't going to crack my Top 20 just yet, but he's a nice prospect. Only 6 more guys make the list ... this is definitely the toughest year. After Vance and Molin for me, you still have Dallas' new 2nd rounders who are impressive, Gemel Smith is a guy that I think will win the hearts of Stars fans, and you've got solid defensive options in Klingberg, Jokipakka, Lindell, and Sinitsyn. That's a tough group to pick only 4 names.
Well I would hope Sceviour is in the conversation as well for the final spots. He improves every year and is about as close as you can get to the NHL. His career trajectory is still pointed upward.
Molin here, only player left I see as having top 6/top 4 potential (outside of the 2012 draftees).
Gonna go with Vance, then Klingberg. Don't see either as being more than a bottom pairing defender, but Klingberg's type often don't last or stick around that much (see Kaberle, MAB), while Vance reminds me of a bigger Fistric. With our future depth though, it'll be quite a struggle for either to stick permanently.
Next 2 for me will be A. Smith (will be a great bottom 6er who can pop 10-12 a year IMO) and Sceviour. Not sure where to rank the new 2nd rounders, haven't read up enough on them. Also not sure Vance belongs in the top 20 at this point, he still has a lot to prove.
Vance isn't in my Top 20. If A. Smith gets knocked for low quality of competition, so should Vance. The way his offense completely dried up in the 2nd half of the season is concerning. You don't expect that to translate to the next level, but you'd at least like to see it in juniors, especially in such a high-scoring league.
Klingberg learned some great lessons this year about what coaches expect of him in order to receive playing time. This injury will hopefully give him time to workout and fillout as he's still underweight for his current size. Going back home, hopefully where he's comfortable when he's finally able to play should help him gain confidence.
He's got all the skills you can't teach and at his age more than enough time to learn defense, positioning and when to time his rush up the ice. His potential is better than just about anyone still on the board.
now that molin is (likely) finally selected, i'm putting troock's foot forward. this again is purely my personal observations from development camp. he stepped it up on the last day's scrimmage. not necessarily voting him next (will continue to read others' comments) put wanna inject his name for conversation. other candidates for me are a. smith, sceviour, winther, and shore.
count me as another not convinced of vance's nhl prospects. he (and jokipakka) showed below average skating skills that cannot suffice at the nhl level, especially for defensemen.
I think it's pretty surprising that only two of our recent draftees are on this list so far, especially when everyone of our 2011's made the list last year... I guess that's a testament to how our prospect pool has grown but personally I have every player picked in rounds 1 through 3 this year on my top twenty... I think we had a really solid draft this year, Lindell is one player that I think is underrated, he may not be as far along as Klingberg but he has less question marks and a similar offensive ceiling as him
now that molin is (likely) finally selected, i'm putting troock's foot forward. this again is purely my personal observations from development camp. he stepped it up on the last day's scrimmage. not necessarily voting him next (will continue to read others' comments) put wanna inject his name for conversation. other candidates for me are a. smith, sceviour, winther, and shore.
count me as another not convinced of vance's nhl prospects. he (and jokipakka) showed below average skating skills that cannot suffice at the nhl level, especially for defensemen.
Troock will likely never be a top six player but he's got the potential to be an awesome third liner.
