Schmidt said that Skjei has more offense in him than his two points in 24 games would indicate.
“He’s more of a two-way guy than you think,” Schmidt said of the 6-foot-2, 197-pound defenseman from Lakeville. “He’s a tremendous skater and uses his feet well.
“One of the big things I’ve told him is that you don’t have to beat a team with one play. I told him he’s a first-round pick for a reason and don’t worry about it.”
Skjei has a McDonagh-like upside, but the odds of him (or any other prospect) reaching those heights are not great because of how good McD is. Keep in mind that McD was almost 22 when he made the NHL, after spending 3 years in college and half a season in the AHL, so even if Skjei is the next McD, we shouldn't expect him to play in the NHL another 3 calendar years. As everyone here knows, defensemen take longer to develop.
Skjei has a McDonagh-like upside, but the odds of him (or any other prospect) reaching those heights are not great because of how good McD is. Keep in mind that McD was almost 22 when he made the NHL, after spending 3 years in college and half a season in the AHL, so even if Skjei is the next McD, we shouldn't expect him to play in the NHL another 3 calendar years. As everyone here knows, defensemen take longer to develop.
McDonagh is a physical freak. He is a gym rat. That is partially why he is so good. He is freakishly strong fora player his size. Skjei needs to continue gaining strength because at 6'3 he should be able to man-handle some people.
McDonagh is a physical freak. He is a gym rat. That is partially why he is so good. He is freakishly strong fora player his size. Skjei needs to continue gaining strength because at 6'3 he should be able to man-handle some people.
Even when I was very unimpressed with Skjei's overall play earlier in the season, I had no complaints about his strength or willingness to engage physically.
Minnesota is on TV tonight. Fox Sports College channel.
Michigan-Notre Dame on CBS College Sports tonight.
Good games. Minn/St Cloud will be good. Nate Schmidt is from St Cloud. He was a fave of mine a few years back in the 2009 draft, when no team drafted him or even mentioned him around here. Now he's one of the most sought after FA's in College.
I also have the North Dakota/Nebraska-Omaha game lined up on this cold stormy night. College hockey and plenty of white outside, I'll be in heaven.
Even when I was very unimpressed with Skjei's overall play earlier in the season, I had no complaints about his strength or willingness to engage physically.
Yeah the times I've watched him he's thrown some very big hits, even in open ice. He's also very big for his size, I didn't see a whole lot of lankiness.
He's another player whose game will transition very well to the NHL.
A big part of the production surge, he said, is a move about a month ago from right wing to center.
“I think I’m more of a natural center,” Nieves said. “I played center my whole life before coming here, so I feel pretty comfortable playing center.”
Michigan coach Red Berenson said he knew coming into the season the Nieves was a natural center, but opted to start him out on the wing, given the large defensive role given to Wolverines centers.
“I had him play right wing, and he was fine there, but I think it really jumpstarted him when we put him at center,” Berenson said. “He felt more comfortable there, and he just took took off.”
Good games. Minn/St Cloud will be good. Nate Schmidt is from St Cloud. He was a fave of mine a few years back in the 2009 draft, when no team drafted him or even mentioned him around here. Now he's one of the most sought after FA's in College.
I also have the North Dakota/Nebraska-Omaha game lined up on this cold stormy night. College hockey and plenty of white outside, I'll be in heaven.
Pretty much my plan as well. Got a case of Molson to go with it.
Schmidt will definitely be a highly sought-after UFA when he decides to go pro.
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"Here we can see the agression of american people. They love fighting and guns. when they wont win they try to kill us all." -HalfOfFame
Boo Nieves sounds like a bigger more skilled version of Jason Chimera... if he is just as good as Chimera, Rangers got a good one here.. is that a fair comparison??
Seems like a lot of guys with second liner potential. Did we think we had a bunch of second line prospects during the dark ages?
The difference is that there is credibility to these claims. Look at how many 2nd-3rd line type of guys we have churned out: Callahan, Dubinsky, Anisimov, Stepan, Hagelin, and Kreider and Miller now seem well destined for that or better. I think it's safe to say that there's legitimacy to the claims as opposed to wishful thinking.
Boo Nieves sounds like a bigger more skilled version of Jason Chimera... if he is just as good as Chimera, Rangers got a good one here.. is that a fair comparison??
more skilled chimera but smaller lindros. a pass first, better skating john tavares.
