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WTG

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Posts posted by WTG

    Canucks' Team Toughness

    in Canucks Talk

    Posted

    Toughness isn't the problem, it's the fact this team doesn't have an identity.

     

    We aren't a fast team, we aren't a checking team, we aren't a tough team, we aren't a skilled team. We are a team without an identity. Also, toughness doesn't matter. You can be the toughest team in the league, but look how team "toughness" gets you knowhere if you don't have a good team. Toughness is a accessory not a necessity for good regular season teams. A team like Winnipeg can't beat you up, but it's all for nothing if they can't beat you on the score sheet. In that sense team toughness isn't necessary. It shouldn't be a point of focus until we get a good young competitive core together.

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    William Lockwood | RW

    in Alumni

    Posted

    Let me copy paste what I said about Lockwood from HF to here, since I think some of you would also be interested in Lockwood ;)

     

    I guess, since it's the end of the season, and I've watched him all season long. I'll say what I think about this player. Don't think there's any illusions that I really like the way he plays, I personally think he's a terrific prospect. One might glance at his point totals and write Lockwood off as a mediocre NCAA pick. Having watched him I can't disagree with that statement enough.

    Lockwood's playstyle is very easily transferable to the NHL. His elite motor and good hands are easily tools that will transfer into the NHL. Not to mention his hard, accurate shot. If I were to describe Lockwood's playstyle I'd call him a North-South power forward. His ability to forecheck and receive pucks with his speed are also aspects of his game that I think will transfer into the NHL.

    Now to talk about the elephant in the room, his production. Personally, I wouldn't put much stock in the fact he only got 20 points in 30 games. There are plenty of prospects who start off having lower productions in their freshman years. Not to mention you have to talk about the context to his low numbers. There's no mistake that this year, University of Michigan hockey team, sucked. Lockwood with his 20 points in 30 games was able to finish 2nd in points despite missing games (the leader in points had 21 in 35). This was a team that went 6 wins, 12 losses, 2 ties, finishing 2nd last in the division. It wasn't a great team, so you can't really expect Lockwood to be a PPG player in such a team, especially, since nobody on his team was close to being a PPG player.

    Having said all that, the main difference between players like Lockwood and other players that are top scorers on their respective bad teams. Is that Lockwood playstyle is very NHL friendly, as I already addressed. Some players just have that NHL style that makes it incredibly easy to transfer over and have success. Talking about players like Connor Sheary/Bryan Rust. These are type of players that aren't top scorers in their respective NCAA team. Rather they play the way that makes it easy for the production they have to transfer over. Unlike Sheary and Rust though is I actually think Lockwood's production will go up, much like Gaudette's production went up in his 2nd season, mostly due to Michigan's great recruiting program. Michigan's going to get a lot of re-enforcement next year.

    In conclusion, I think Lockwood is a terrific prospect. He's a prospect I'm very high on, someone that could potentially be a 2nd liner in the NHL if he develops well enough. He's got a great shot, fantastic speed, awesome hands, aggressively forechecks, isn't afraid to lay the body for an open ice hit. Somethings he needs to work on is his offensive positioning, sometimes he can seem a bit floaty and not in the right space, also he needs to grow his willingness to use his great shot.

     

    ------------------------------

     

    Originally Posted by Pip View Post
    WTG, what are your production expectations for Lockwood next year?

    It all depends on how good his team is, with sophmore seasons it's hard to predict. Sometimes their PPG go up, like Gaudette, sometimes their PPG goes down like Boeser. I think it all depends heavily on how good the team is, and if the player gets a bigger role on the team and is he able to adapt to that bigger role.

    Lockwood, started this year already playing big minutes for Michigan, he was treated like a top player, and unlike Boeser, his team is only looking to get better. In their last weekend of their regular season they went and swept a 2 game series against Penn State one of the top teams in the country (they lost the playoff game the next week). The team as a whole has developed and gotten better. Which is a really good sign for next season, as they are getting some really damn good recruits.

    Cutting to the question, I think Lockwood's PPG will improve. I expect him to be around a point per game or better. I also expect him to be above 3 shots per game (finished this year with 2.17 shots per game). I feel that would be a good improvement.

    So let's say he plays 35 games, I expect around 15 goals, 20 assists ~110 shots 1 PPG

    This year he had 30 games, 8 goals, 12 assists, 65 shots 0.67 PPG

    • Upvote 14

    Brock Boeser | #6 | RW

    in Current Roster

    Posted · Edited by WTG

    2 hours ago, Gooseberries said:

    Isn't it refreshing to finally have one of those prospects that literally had no nock on him?

     

    Honestly cdc was bent when we picked him. He's been nothing but incredible since that day. He scored a hatty in his 2nd ncaa ffs. 

     

     

    HIS LEGENDARY COACH SAID HE'S THE REAL DEAL LOL.

     

    Sorry. Got excited after today's day as a Canuck fan.

    Brad Berry is a 2nd year coach, hardly a legend.

     

    He did win the NCAA championship in his first year. It wouldn't surprise me if he became a NHL coach in the future. Plays the game a lot like the hawks, just line after line of pressure and allows talented players to their own style, that's pretty rare quality for a coach. Just this overwhelming playstyle, no gimmicks like long passes trap hockey, just everybody going hard every shift.

    Olli Juolevi | #48 | D

    in Alumni

    Posted

    Just now, LaBamba said:

     

    He can't it's Jr or the NHL thems the rules. 

     

    I could see him being loaned to Europe. 

    Yup, me too. If he doesn't make the team next year I'd send him straight to Europe.

    Olli Juolevi | #48 | D

    in Alumni

    Posted

    16 minutes ago, LaBamba said:

    My favourite pick thus far needs to have his development held above our success today. We seem to be deep enough to allow him to spend another year in Jr after this one. I don't want us to make the same mistake with Oli as we did with JV. He needs to get bigger and become comfortable at his size before jumping to pro. 

    It's case by case.

     

    Virtanen had more to learn in Junior, Olli seems to have surpassed a lot of his teammates and just needs weight. Juolevi would do well being in Utica to be honest.

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