I don't know if any of you guys got your issue of Hockey News- Future Watch, but this had to be the WORST version ever. Just a total disgrace that they put this out there, and charged money. Unless they changed the format, they screwed up by putting guys on every teams top 10, that are playing in the NHL. Typically the Future Watch issue is all about players outside the NHL at this moment (hence future). I can understand timing issues, but they have guys who've played all season in the NHL within the top 10 rankings of certain teams. And THEN, to miss 2 major Islander's prospects in the top 10 is inexcusable. I'm not going to say who, because I know some people like read the issue without knowing the top 10 beforehand.
Then going to what I always enjoyed, a look ahead to the 2013 NHL Draft and 2014 Draft. They used to give the players current stats (as of that issue) and their vitals (height, weight) in their rankings, now, nothing, just ranked 1-10. I know that's a small thing, but I always like to see the stats, to compare each player in the draft rankings.
Just terribly unhappy with this issue, it may just be me, but didn't like it.
With Nino Niederreiter and Casey Cizikas no longer considered prospects, THN ranks the isles prospect pool 10th overall.
That's quite a gap between Strome and Brock Nelson.
http://www.lighthousehockey.com/2013...trome-reinhart Islanders Prospects: THN Ranks Isles System 10th; Strome, Reinhart, Nelson in Top 60
By Dominikon Mar 11 2013, 6:45a
The Hockey News' annual Future Watch 2013 issue ranks the Islanders prospect pool 10th in the NHL, with Ryan Strome (13), Griffin Reinhart (23) and Brock Nelson (59) earning individual ranks in their top 75.
Scott, not sure which two prospects you are talking about but other than Anders Lee, I think those are the top prospects in the system as well (though I have a different order). I like Mayfield but 7 is very generous, he should lead the next grouping with Pelech and Pedan in it.
Begs the question, Was Anders Lee an oversight, or does Peter Botte think he knows something [regarding his FA status].
Quote:
Originally Posted by CREW99AW
That's quite a gap between Strome and Brock Nelson.
... with Ryan Strome (13), Griffin Reinhart (23) and Brock Nelson (59) earning individual ranks in their top 75.
Actually in these lists a gap of 40 or so isn't as big as one would think. I'll say this though, I think it's justified. Nelson is still rated #59 which is pretty good, He's an organizational #2 Prospect in several systems for sure.
But the gap you alluded to is just. Strome is a legitimate potential Star in this league, borderline SUPERStar if everything goes right, and he is put in the right situation. The upside with him is just huge.
Scott, not sure which two prospects you are talking about but other than Anders Lee, I think those are the top prospects in the system as well (though I have a different order). I like Mayfield but 7 is very generous, he should lead the next grouping with Pelech and Pedan in it.
Begs the question, Was Anders Lee an oversight, or does Peter Botte think he knows something [regarding his FA status].
Actually in these lists a gap of 40 or so isn't as big as one would think. I'll say this though, I think it's justified. Nelson is still rated #59 which is pretty good, He's an organizational #2 Prospect in several systems for sure.
But the gap you alluded to is just. Strome is a legitimate potential Star in this league, borderline SUPERStar if everything goes right, and he is put in the right situation. The upside with him is just huge.
I was surprised at the gap because I didn't think it'd be that big. I thought Nelson's upside wasn't that far from Strome's, after reading that the NYI front office loves B. Nelson.
When you say the right situation for Strome.. are you saying you want him sent to Bridgeport for a full season? Or he needs to play in the NYI top 6, with skilled players?
I was surprised at the gap because I didn't think it'd be that big. I thought Nelson's upside wasn't that far from Strome's, after reading that the NYI front office loves B. Nelson.
When you say the right situation for Strome.. are you saying you want him sent to Bridgeport for a full season? Or he needs to play in the NYI top 6, with skilled players?
In a perfect world I'd like to see Strome get at least 40 games in Bridgeport. Then in December if he is destroying the competition, call him up forever. 40 games is a small price to pay, to make sure he is above all other competition outside NHL. If he isn't setting the world on fire leave him there for the year.
Then upon his promotion, I would put him on Tavares' wing. (Many won't agree and I see their point as he IS a natural center-man and probably good enough to lead a productive second line) BUT I would prefer the Islanders take the Logan Couture approach (2 years juniors, half year AHL then on the wing of Thornton) as opposed to Phoenix approach to Kyle Turris. All three are very similar players, and I think development and environment play a big part in production especially at age 20,21,22. Also Strome is a natural fit for Tavares, I believe their games compliment each other. Of course I would prefer a Power forward like Matt Martin or Anders Lee be on the left side instead of Matt Moulson, but that's another topic entirely.
The two prospects I was talking about are Niederreiter and Lee. To not have Niederreiter listed in the Islander's top 10 is a terrible oversight. He's our leading scorer in the AHL for Christ's sake. The Ranger's writer has Kreider as their #1 prospect, even though his season PALES in comparison to Niederreiter's. Niño has more GOALS in the AHL than Kreider has POINTS. He also has more assists than Kreider has points. Granted, it's 16 more games for Nino, but you get my point. Nino's season blows away Kreider's, yet Nino doesn't get a top 10 ranking. Anders Lee has been one of the top power forwards in college hockey the last 3 seasons, including this season, and isn't one of our top 10 prospects ?
The two prospects I was talking about are Niederreiter and Lee. To not have Niederreiter listed in the Islander's top 10 is a terrible oversight. He's our leading scorer in the AHL for Christ's sake. The Ranger's writer has Kreider as their #1 prospect, even though his season PALES in comparison to Niederreiter's. Niño has more GOALS in the AHL than Kreider has POINTS. He also has more assists than Kreider has points. Granted, it's 16 more games for Nino, but you get my point. Nino's season blows away Kreider's, yet Nino doesn't get a top 10 ranking. Anders Lee has been one of the top power forwards in college hockey the last 3 seasons, including this season, and isn't one of our top 10 prospects ?
Ahh, well for Nino it was a case of not qualifying for prospect Criteria, not an oversight. The Lee Omission was puzzling. No real suprise though I guess, he has been undervalued by most, I guess Botte is no exception.
The Nino omission was weird. He is listed as a 21 & under NHLer, meaning he is not considered a prospect. Yet somehow Brett Connolly, who is 4 months older and played 4 more NHL games is a prospect.
Ahh, well for Nino it was a case of not qualifying for prospect Criteria, not an oversight. The Lee Omission was puzzling. No real suprise though I guess, he has been undervalued by most, I guess Botte is no exception.
As noted, THN had weird criteria about who was and wasn't a prospect at the time they polled scouts. From the issue:
Quote:
Our dividing line between who's a prospect and who's an NHLer is 50 games. Players who have crossed the threshold are no longer part of Future Watch, although we make exceptions on a case-by-case basis if a player goes from the big leagues one season to back in the minors the next. A good example is Brett Connolly of Tmapa Bay. He spent all of 2011-12 in the NHL (68 games), then all of this season in the American League with Syracuse.
Some bubble prospects we consider NHLers are Jordan Caron, Andrew Shaw, Ryan Johansen, Andrei Loktionov, Ryan Ellis, Nino Niederreiter, Nazem Kadri, Matt Frattin, Chris Tanev, and Zach Kassian.
As for Anders Lee, this might have been a PR move. The top 10 lists are provided by the teams themselves. In the past, the Islanders did not list Kevin Poulin or Casey Cizikas when they were unsigned and nearing the re-entry deadline. I recall reading a Botta article which more or less said that the Islanders brass considered those guys as top 10 prospects, but didn't want the PR headache of listing it in print and have the risk of losing them a couple months later.
Carolina probably did a similar thing last year. Some of their posters were in disbelief that goalie Frederik Andersen wasn't listed among their top 10 after he had an impressive season in the SEL. The Hurricanes were having difficulty signing him and knew there was a good chance he'd re-enter the draft. Carolina likely omitted him on purpose.
In a perfect world I'd like to see Strome get at least 40 games in Bridgeport. Then in December if he is destroying the competition, call him up forever. 40 games is a small price to pay, to make sure he is above all other competition outside NHL. If he isn't setting the world on fire leave him there for the year.
Then upon his promotion, I would put him on Tavares' wing. (Many won't agree and I see their point as he IS a natural center-man and probably good enough to lead a productive second line) BUT I would prefer the Islanders take the Logan Couture approach (2 years juniors, half year AHL then on the wing of Thornton) as opposed to Phoenix approach to Kyle Turris. All three are very similar players, and I think development and environment play a big part in production especially at age 20,21,22. Also Strome is a natural fit for Tavares, I believe their games compliment each other. Of course I would prefer a Power forward like Matt Martin or Anders Lee be on the left side instead of Matt Moulson, but that's another topic entirely.
Props on Strome staying in B'port til he's GROWN into an NHL player. Props on Tavares' wing, but......if he becomes more a GIFTED distributor than a sniper, I'd like him on line 2 C. Bridgeport will give a capable GM time to evaluate talent and need and could end up being a sane means to rationalizing a trade of Moulson to get us IMMEDIATE help on D.
And I always liked the thought of trying Martin on line 1 wing for defense via fists/shoulders. I would LOVE this offseason if Martin went to "camp" with JT and others.
