Some brief thoughts on Calvin de Haan from last night against the Soo.
Even if some people have been disappointed slightly by his offensive production this season, he's really improved in his own end. That's not to say that he's ever been a poor defender, but he's taken his defensive game to the next level this season. The Hounds were just not able to do anything offensively when de Haan was on the ice. He anticipates direction so well and is a very strong lateral and backwards skater, that he's very tough to beat to the net. He's also added a physical element to his game this year and has become tough to win battles in the corner against. I'm not one for NHL comparisons, but de Haan really reminds me of now ex Leaf, Tomas Kaberle, in the way that he approaches things offensively and defensively.
Thanks, Brock. Always good to hear objective opinions on the Isles prospects from knowledgeable posters. Especially when it is a positive report.
Since I have basically stopped going to Bport games this year, I have turned my attention to BU and watching Trivino. Over his last 4 games he has looked very good, creating opportunities and playing well in all 3 zones. He is showing a good bit of foot speed and a pretty tricky quick release but he does play pretty soft.
BU is not a very good offensive team overall, they really seem to lack snipers. Don`t get me wrong they have some good NHL prospects but none that seem like big scorers atleast right now. Chiasson is there most offensively gifted player and West Haven, Connecticuts own Joe Periera is 2nd on the team in goals.
I hope that Trivino keeps taking his game in the right direction and fully develops as to what he was tabbed. As of right now I think he is a AHL/ECHL/Euro lifer but all can change.
Spurgeon - He's an interesting case, because he was dynamic in juniors. He was dynamic for several seasons. He's a kid who simply has the instincts necessary to survive with his size. To be honest, we should set ourselves up to accept the fact that he may actually have the better pro career than Ness, despite going like 10 picks later. Seeing how things are going, I'd even say I'd rather we have Spurgeon than Katic, but that's truly hindsight. Ho hum...
Wasn't Spurgeon signed by Minensota? I think he even had a cup of coffee int he NHL this year
Wasn't Spurgeon signed by Minensota? I think he even had a cup of coffee int he NHL this year
Yeah he's still with the Wild. He gets a good amount of playing time, including PP time. What a draft the Isles had. Yeah I guess in hindsight the Isles should have signed him, but lets remember its not a race to the NHL, its who becomes the best NHL player
With Spurgeon I think the excuse the Islanders used was that they couldn't take on any more contracts from guys they weren't sure about. I saw a few of his televised games in juniors and I really liked him. Its just the size, I don't blame the Islanders at all. Wish him luck though.
Anyone see anything on Kabanov lately? 21 points in 27 games isn't bad but it sure isn't great. I hope the kid is in juniors for another year, hopefully two?! Raw talent that needs saturating. If the Isles are really contending in say two years, he could be a spark plug that comes up big for us, as long as he gets his head on straight.
gregoire with three assists this weekend, donovan had a goal and an assist, lee with an assist, kessel had an assist, nelson had an assist, ness had three assists
Niederreiter - He's once again assumed a prime role on his team, something he needed time to regain as he joined a strong Winterhawks with set lines after his 9 game NHL stint. He's scoring BETTER than last year. Word is, he's become close with draft-eligible Sven Baertschi (Bärtschi - an 'ä' technically turns into 'ae' in English, although I dunno what name is actually located on his jersey). In any case, everyone keeps pointing out that it's NHL or WHL next season. I don't believe that's entirely correct. He could also play in Europe, but I believe he'd have to stay the whole season or otherwise be subjected to waivers? I don't see why his situation would make him any different from Figren, who was under contract with this team, but played in Stockholm for a year. The Swiss NLA would be an excellent intermediary station, should he not make the Isles out of camp.
Kessel - His team is leading hockey East. UNH is at the top. He's part of it! His season has not been as offensively effective as last season, where he went 10-28-38. He's still the topscoring blueliner and plays with one of college hockey's best lines, the senior unit of Thompson, Sislo and DeSimone. All will end this season with 40-60 points. Kessel will be lucky to scratch 30. Some in the know say he's playing at every bit the same level as last season, he's just not getting the pointage. He's a kid who'll surely be signed, but whose actual impact can first be interpreted at the pro level, like many college kids. It wouldn't be surprising if his impact mirrors that of Long Island native Matt Gilroy, when all is said and done. Very OK for a 6th rounder.
Day - His Colgate team is at the bottom of the ECAC standings and his season hasn't looked anything like his last two. Ashame, because he's a senior and he's going out on low note. He's got 9-12-21 in 30 games and is fourth on the team in scoring after leading the team last season (or finishing second). It'd be quite the surprise if he's signed this summer. I could see him getting a two-way AHL/ECHL contract.
Lee, Gregoire, Ness - In light of our contract situation, I've gotta think they all stay in college next season. I can see why folks feel Lee could go pro now. He prolly wouldn't even be rushed in doing so. He's likely physically ready. When you're a 21 year old freshman forward and you've got 35 points in college hockey's best conference before the playoffs even start, that speaks volume (OK, some feel the WCHA is the best conference). But I think they'll let him stay because of the point above and well, because he only recently started focusing solely on hockey. Gregoire and Ness could both be signed after their senior seasons. The chances are likely. Since being drafted, many have questioned whether Ness shouldn't instead be a forward. This hasn't been tried at the college level. We'll have to see what is tried at the pro level. Ness' scoring in high school far surpassed that of Nick Leddy, who however is widely considered the better prospect. Ashame really that Ness hasn't at least put up the numbers coming from Donovan and Kessel. Gregoire will need to show that his size is no problem at the pro level. No need to sign him early.
Spurgeon - He's an interesting case, because he was dynamic in juniors. He was dynamic for several seasons. He's a kid who simply has the instincts necessary to survive with his size. To be honest, we should set ourselves up to accept the fact that he may actually have the better pro career than Ness, despite going like 10 picks later. Seeing how things are going, I'd even say I'd rather we have Spurgeon than Katic, but that's truly hindsight. Ho hum...
DiBo - Good for him for more than doubling his output of last season. He's doing it for what is currently one of the worst teams in the AHL, which is understandable in light of A) how few true AHL veterans were provided to begin the season and B) how injuries in the system have more or less 'r***d' this team of being able to contend. Still, according to my Sean-Bentivoglio-Scale, Dibo should be enjoying his first taste of Europe in Germany by the 2012-13 season.
***
For those interested, Bentivoglio currently has 5-15-20 in 37 games for Augsburg, a finalist in last year's championship, which is currently on the outside looking in in the playoff race. For comparison, his teammate Barry Tallackson (former NJD) has 28-25-53 and Darin Olver (former NYR 2nd rounder) leads the whole league in scoring with 22-46-68 in only 43 games. After having gone 31-42-73 in 70 games last season, there is now talk of Olver heading back to North America next season, as he'll only be 26.
The next Moulson/Parenteau???
This is written as if you just looked at stats and read others' reports on these players. Have you seen any/all of these prospects play this season?
I wonder if Ullstrom will get a cup of coffee sooner or later, he's gotta be better than Joensuu.
I'd rather see him build upon his recent success in the AHL, unless he goes on a total scoring rampage for the next 15 games or so.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BelovedIsles
That's like 5 goals in the past 2 games for DU.
Half his goals on the season have come in the past 3 games. Probably just a hot streak, but hopefully it's him figuring out how to score at the AHL level.
I wonder if Ullstrom will get a cup of coffee sooner or later, he's gotta be better than Joensuu.
I'm still mixed on if Ullstrom can make it in the NHL. However if we've learned anything from Matt Martin, it's better to keep prospects learning in the minors longer than bring them up when they're not ready.
This is written as if you just looked at stats and read others' reports on these players. Have you seen any/all of these prospects play this season?
Live?
Bentivoglio, Tallackson and Olver - yep, a half dozen times live or on TV.
The Isles' prospects? Not a one of them. I've not even been in North America this year.
Highlights online? Sure, most of them (seen nothing from Day).
As such, feel free to take it all with a grain of salt.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BelovedIsles
That's like 5 goals in the past 2 games for DU.
6 in his last 3 games, I believe. 3 of the last five have come from practically the same point on the ice.
By the way, the current gamesheet at www.theahl.com says Dibo had three assists.
First regulation in win in ages....
In the 6-4 loss Saturday, Koskinen was switched out after allowing 4 goals on 11 shots. He was run into pretty hard on the second goal against and very slow to get up. Also, Rechlicz not only scored for Hershey (his first of the season), but had one of the best fights I've seen in a while against call-up Gallant. They slugged it out big time, but ultimately the Wrecker got the better of it - quite clearly by the end.
Quote:
Originally Posted by periferal
I'm still mixed on if Ullstrom can make it in the NHL. However if we've learned anything from Matt Martin, it's better to keep prospects learning in the minors longer than bring them up when they're not ready.
Now, Ullstrom is a kid I saw a fair amount of the last two seasons (a number of HV71 games could be viewed online).
For my money, he will be an NHLer. Don't know what the scoring upside is, but there's a good, good chance that he'll have a career that doesn't pale in comparison to, for example, Sami Pahlsson.
Since I have basically stopped going to Bport games this year, I have turned my attention to BU and watching Trivino. Over his last 4 games he has looked very good, creating opportunities and playing well in all 3 zones. He is showing a good bit of foot speed and a pretty tricky quick release but he does play pretty soft.
BU is not a very good offensive team overall, they really seem to lack snipers. Don`t get me wrong they have some good NHL prospects but none that seem like big scorers atleast right now. Chiasson is there most offensively gifted player and West Haven, Connecticuts own Joe Periera is 2nd on the team in goals.
I hope that Trivino keeps taking his game in the right direction and fully develops as to what he was tabbed. As of right now I think he is a AHL/ECHL/Euro lifer but all can change.
I haven't seen him play since his freshman year. Has he bulked up at all? He was so skinny and frail when he was drafted (not unlike deHaan) and seemed to be the type of guy who'd physically mature much later than many NHL prospects.
That's one thing about drafting players at 18 that makes it so tough. A guy like Matt Duchene at 18 was physically mature, already close to 200lbs and could skate as well as any NHL player, if not better.
But Trivino at 18 was MAYBE 160lbs, with equipment on.
How a player physically matures and develops, and at what time, is somewhat unpredictable just as how his game will evolve. It may be that Trivino simply isn't that good but he's lucky to have gone the College route giving himself 4 years to physically mature, while getting an education!, and develop his game.
Lee, Gregoire, Ness - In light of our contract situation, I've gotta think they all stay in college next season. I can see why folks feel Lee could go pro now. He prolly wouldn't even be rushed in doing so. He's likely physically ready. When you're a 21 year old freshman forward and you've got 35 points in college hockey's best conference before the playoffs even start, that speaks volume (OK, some feel the WCHA is the best conference). But I think they'll let him stay because of the point above and well, because he only recently started focusing solely on hockey. Gregoire and Ness could both be signed after their senior seasons. The chances are likely. Since being drafted, many have questioned whether Ness shouldn't instead be a forward. This hasn't been tried at the college level. We'll have to see what is tried at the pro level. Ness' scoring in high school far surpassed that of Nick Leddy, who however is widely considered the better prospect. Ashame really that Ness hasn't at least put up the numbers coming from Donovan and Kessel. Gregoire will need to show that his size is no problem at the pro level. No need to sign him early.
Lee will turn 21 in July and will return to ND next year as they will be very strong contenders for a National Championship with 12 returning and very talented freshmen. ND will also open a new 50+million arena next fall.
Now, Ullstrom is a kid I saw a fair amount of the last two seasons (a number of HV71 games could be viewed online).
For my money, he will be an NHLer. Don't know what the scoring upside is, but there's a good, good chance that he'll have a career that doesn't pale in comparison to, for example, Sami Pahlsson.
Sami Pahlsson a defensive master. Maybe with DU's size and liking to drive the net, he is more offensively productive than SP.
Anyway, a nice piece as 3rd line checking specialist.
