[NAZZYGUY]

For the 2010 NHL Entry Draft I would love it , if the Canucks where able to pick up Brett Connolly.

On a terrible Prince George Cougars team, he was able to produce 30G and 30A . Third in the WHL for rookies in points(60) and first for goals(30).

I think if Connolly was playing on either the Vancouver Gaints or the calgary Hitmen , he would have enough talent to be playing on the first or second lines at age 15. He could of had an 80 to 100 point rookie season with 40 to 60 goals.

Too bad for the Canucks, this Kid is going top 5 in 2010.

HE is going to be a high caliber NHLer to watch out for.

Just thought Connolly deserved some praise.

[VanCity88]

He's good, not great

[elvis15]

Yeah, he still isn't one of our propects though, and it doesn't sound like (by your own admission) he will ever be, so wrong forum.

[Xavior]

Isn't this a little premature?

At first I thought his stats were inflated because he played with Dana Tyrell but after Tyrell was injured, his goal production didn't drop very much at all. It'll be interesting to see how he develops next year, when he'll be the face of the Cougars.

[cyclone min]

I like Connolly a lot. He really impressed me this season with the Cats. I think he was the first rookie to score 30 goals in the WHL since Patrick Marleau.... pretty impressive. Although he wont captain the Cats next year (maybe Halliday, ugh tough times are ahead for the franchise) he is definitely the face of the franchise. Now all GM Dallas Thompson(who should be fired by now) needs is to do is to provide him with a supporting cast

[Rey]

I don't know. I doubt he goes top 5 in the 2010 draft. Theres already players light years ahead of him.

[Xavior]

cyclone min, on Apr 6 2009, 04:40 PM, said:

I like Connolly a lot. He really impressed me this season with the Cats. I think he was the first rookie to score 30 goals in the WHL since Patrick Marleau.... pretty impressive. Although he wont captain the Cats next year (maybe Halliday, ugh tough times are ahead for the franchise) he is definitely the face of the franchise. Now all GM Dallas Thompson(who should be fired by now) needs is to do is to provide him with a supporting cast

It takes a lot to be fired when you are married to the owners daughter

[timw33]

I hear he has ridiculous hands.

[**Pavel4Life**]

sweet. I hope he gets drafted by the Canucks too, but he prbably won't witch therefor negates this as Cancuks talk right?

[Doctor Canuck]

VanCity88, on Apr 6 2009, 03:53 PM, said:

He's good, not great

Uhh what? He was one of the top rookies in the league. He's a great BC boy with remarkable hands, skill, and speed. 30 goals for a rookie is not just good, it's great. He got even better when Tyrell went down, it would have been great to see them play together some more.
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=DRi6UwZSbz8 watch that first goal.

This post has been edited by Doctor Canuck: 06 April 2009 - 04:57 PM

[NAZZYGUY]

Rey, on Apr 7 2009, 12:40 AM, said:

I don't know. I doubt he goes top 5 in the 2010 draft. Theres already players light years ahead of him.

Who's light years ahead of him, name three. And remember Connolly lead all rookies in the WHL in scoring, playing for a terrible team.

[Rey]

NAZZYGUY, on Apr 6 2009, 05:03 PM, said:

Who's light years ahead of him, name three. And remember Connolly lead all rookies in the WHL in scoring, playing for a terrible team.

3 Right off the Bat.

Teemu Pulkkinen, Taylor Hall, Kirill Kabanov are all elite talent(Teemu is said to have Crosby skill set, and the other two are speedy forwards that have styles similar to Ovechkin), that are going to compete for the number 1 spot in the 2010 draft.

ISS Scouting Report:
"Talent way beyond his years, is 92 born, could be playing with U20 team, has a Crosby skill set, extremely strong on puck, carries the play, dictates the pace, great shot – hard and accurate, very quick release, always in motion, sees the ice at a professional level, decent size, in great shape, doesn't quit, deceptively fast, great agility, makes defenders look like they have never skated before, seems to love being on the ice and in the game, cheers for every goal, did struggle somewhat in the defensive zone 5 on 5."


I'm pretty sure everyone is familiar with Hall.

http://www2.canada.c...29-cc944ebcf886
"A smooth skater with shiftiness and high-end puckhandling skills in tight quarters, Hall's lanky 6-foot-1, 168-pound frame gives him a significant reach advantage he puts to use to elude defenders."


Kirill Kabanov

http://www.thehockeyherald.com/?p=1967
"J.P. Barry, the agent for Mats Sundin and Evgeni Malkin, said Kabanov's quickness is comparable to Alex Ovechkin at the same age and other agents and scouts are similarly complimentary."




There's also, in the same draft - 2010.

John McFarland( Who also is a consideration for the 1st overall because of his size. He has the components of Steven Stamkos, but rumor is that he has attitude problems)
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=115642

Theres other WHL players, have top notch point in the WHL but aren't considered 1st round material for 2010 yet.

Josh Hishon
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=106824

Jordan Weal
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=110234

Ryan Martindale
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=106845

This post has been edited by Rey: 06 April 2009 - 05:25 PM

[NAZZYGUY]

Rey, on Apr 7 2009, 12:10 AM, said:

3 Right off the Bat.

Teemu Pulkkinen, Taylor Hall, Kirill Kabanov are all elite talent(Teemu is said to have Crosby skill set, and the other two are speedy forwards that have styles similar to Ovechkin), that are going to compete for the number 1 spot in the 2010 draft.

ISS Scouting Report:
"Talent way beyond his years, is 92 born, could be playing with U20 team, has a Crosby skill set, extremely strong on puck, carries the play, dictates the pace, great shot – hard and accurate, very quick release, always in motion, sees the ice at a professional level, decent size, in great shape, doesn't quit, deceptively fast, great agility, makes defenders look like they have never skated before, seems to love being on the ice and in the game, cheers for every goal, did struggle somewhat in the defensive zone 5 on 5."

To say they are light years ahead is not accurate they are better( Teemu Pulkkinen and Kirill Kabanov), but Hall and Connolly are closer than you think . Hall played for a first placed team in the Windsor Spitfire , he had alot more talent around him to help produce. Connolly didn't. Hall got 38G and 52A for 90 points , Connolly got 30G and 30A for 60 points. I will say it again if Connolly was on Van or Calg his points would be 80 to 100. Put it another way what kind of point total would Hall have playing for the Cougars, no where near 90.

[Doctor Canuck]

While I appreciate NAZZYGUY's enthusiasm for Connolly, the Cougars aren't a terrible team, they're just young and inexperienced. They were much better at home then on the road. At home in the playoffs, the Giants were only able to beat them by one goal in each game. They're going to get a lot better in the next two years.
That said, there's a reason why Connolly is the youngest player on Canada's U-18 team this spring.
Regardless, this is premature, we're talking about players who are rookies in the WHL, we don't know what'll happen in the next year or two. Just look at how the predictions for the 2009 draft has changed in the past year.

This post has been edited by Doctor Canuck: 06 April 2009 - 05:59 PM

[NAZZYGUY]

Rey, on Apr 7 2009, 12:10 AM, said:

3 Right off the Bat.

Teemu Pulkkinen, Taylor Hall, Kirill Kabanov are all elite talent(Teemu is said to have Crosby skill set, and the other two are speedy forwards that have styles similar to Ovechkin), that are going to compete for the number 1 spot in the 2010 draft.

ISS Scouting Report:
"Talent way beyond his years, is 92 born, could be playing with U20 team, has a Crosby skill set, extremely strong on puck, carries the play, dictates the pace, great shot – hard and accurate, very quick release, always in motion, sees the ice at a professional level, decent size, in great shape, doesn't quit, deceptively fast, great agility, makes defenders look like they have never skated before, seems to love being on the ice and in the game, cheers for every goal, did struggle somewhat in the defensive zone 5 on 5."


I'm pretty sure everyone is familiar with Hall.

http://www2.canada.c...29-cc944ebcf886
"A smooth skater with shiftiness and high-end puckhandling skills in tight quarters, Hall's lanky 6-foot-1, 168-pound frame gives him a significant reach advantage he puts to use to elude defenders."


Kirill Kabanov

http://www.thehockeyherald.com/?p=1967
"J.P. Barry, the agent for Mats Sundin and Evgeni Malkin, said Kabanov's quickness is comparable to Alex Ovechkin at the same age and other agents and scouts are similarly complimentary."




There's also, in the same draft - 2010.

John McFarland( Who also is a consideration for the 1st overall because of his size. He has the components of Steven Stamkos, but rumor is that he has attitude problems)
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=115642

Theres other WHL players, have top notch point in the WHL but aren't considered 1st round material for 2010 yet.

Josh Hishon Connolly will be ranked ahead
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=106824

Jordan Weal Connolly will be ranked ahead
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=110234

Ryan Martindale Connolly will be ranked ahead
http://www.hockeydb.....php?pid=106845

All these players have played 1 more year than Connolly. Connolly will be ranked ahead of them after his second full year.

[Rey]

NAZZYGUY, on Apr 6 2009, 05:36 PM, said:

To say they are light years ahead is not accurate they are better( Teemu Pulkkinen and Kirill Kabanov), but Hall and Connolly are closer than you think . Hall played for a first placed team in the Windsor Spitfire , he had alot more talent around him to help produce. Connolly didn't. Hall got 38G and 52A for 90 points , Connolly got 30G and 30A for 60 points. I will say it again if Connolly was on Van or Calg his points would be 80 to 100. Put it another way what kind of point total would Hall have playing for the Cougars, no where near 90.

That concept about playing on a bad team suddenly makes the player better is flawed.

If he was in Van or Calg, he wouldn't get the same amount of PP or even strength ice time.



Connolly is a good player, but he is no where near Elite like Pulkkinen, Kabanov, and Hall.

[Rey]

NAZZYGUY, on Apr 6 2009, 05:56 PM, said:

All these players have played 1 more year than Connolly. Connolly will be ranked ahead of them after his second full year.

That still isn't saying much. The points the players are earning gives them chosen in the 4th round and later.

Jordan Weal played 3 games in his 1st year. It really doesn't matter. They are all the same age.


Hall put up 80 points as a 15 year old.


Joey Hishon has 80 points, when the closest guy on his team is at 50 points. He's the same age as Connolly, buddy.

This post has been edited by Rey: 06 April 2009 - 06:00 PM

[WOotKesler]

If we unfortunately turn into a lottery team in the future, then maybe we could consider

but now, lets just chill

[Trailblazer949]

haha i went to school with this kid, he's gonna go far. It was weird hearing don taylor saying his name when they were doing the playoff highlights. its like "I KNOW HIM!"

[NAZZYGUY]

Doctor Canuck, on Apr 7 2009, 12:54 AM, said:

While I appreciate NAZZYGUY's enthusiasm for Connolly, the Cougars aren't a terrible team, they're just young and inexperienced. They were much better at home then on the road. At home in the playoffs, the Giants were only able to beat them by one goal in each game. They're going to get a lot better in the next two years.
That said, there's a reason why Connolly is the youngest player on Canada's U-18 team this spring.
Regardless, this is premature, we're talking about players who are rookies in the WHL, we don't know what'll happen in the next year or two. Let's worry about the 2009 drift first.

Yes their last two games against Van were good but overall they were terrible this year young or not. Connolly isn't a player you watch and say "where is he tonight" , every time he touches the puck something happens. It never premature to spot stand out talent, and a player who can score 30 goals on a inexperienced team with very little supporting talent is what I call stand out talent.

This post has been edited by NAZZYGUY: 11 April 2009 - 12:55 PM