theo5789
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Everything posted by theo5789
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There's a possibility those guys could walk, but I don't see how it is likely that they will just yet. Ferland may want to hit the open market to get a pay day (we could certainly use a player of his mold in our top 6), but maybe he enjoys his time in Carolina and calls it home. He's getting top 6 minutes and likely no one knows him there or will bother him. As for Fox, it's questionable what his intentions are, but if he signs with them, then the trade could even up even more and possibly lean more towards Carolina's way if he comes as advertised.
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Ferland has 14 points in 20 games (3rd in team scoring) and adds a physical element to "protect" Aho if needed. Calgary has a bit of an edge in current production, but Carolina didn't want to spend the money and saved themselves a couple of million in salary. Carolina also got the wild card in Adam Fox. I have to say the trade hasn't been bad for both sides so far.
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Can't really make a prediction as I know very little about him other than him breaking out this year, but like I said, the scouting should hopefully be able to determine if he's indeed taken another step (and has more room to develop) and is worth a draft pick or if he's simply one of the older guys and maybe rather try and sign him as a free agent. Basically he's a guy that you would have to sign to a pro contract right away rather than be able to develop him more in juniors. Some teams might like that he's closer to being ready, but perhaps his ceiling isn't much higher.
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I highly doubt he goes in the 2nd round. The scouts will be able to determine this, but they will have to gauge if he's simply become a better player or is he breaking out because he's years older than his peers and given his size (which will intrigue teams), that could be a major advantage against the younger opponents. The other factor is does he use his size and plays a physical game or is he just a big guy that plays like a 5'9 guy which we have seen many times over. With all this said, I can see a team using a 6th or 7th rounder, but I can also see him simply making it to free agency like many overagers who had very good seasons like a Dane Fox or even Zack MacEwen for example. Yanni Gourde would be a better example of a success, but took many years before finding his legs in the NHL, so even he would've been a gamble to use a 2nd rounder out of juniors.
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Maybe it's better that they don't make the team. Would hate to see them disappointed losing to Canada.
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Byram was partnered with Woo in the super series. That would be a nice future pairing for us!
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Erik Karlsson is a team worst -6 this year and was -25 last year, what a bum! Olli Juolevi is leading the blueline in points though, so there's that.
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So is Leipsic going to get death threats now?
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2018-19 Utica Comets Thread
theo5789 replied to stonecoldstevebernier's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
I think it's more about building a hard working, winning environment. When you win, you build confidence which hopefully gets translated to the next level. That's how you see the most potential in what players you do have. The AHL has triple headers at times and there are always going to be a rotation of players, so it's just early in the season and trying to get these young players adjusted to the next level. They have to get the vets going as well in case the big club runs into injuries or whatever depleting their lineup. With that said, just like the NHL, you have to earn you time and outplay who's there. This attitude seems to run through the organization. Who cares what age the players are? I look at how many actual Canuck prospects are playing and I see Gaudette, Juolevi, Chatfield, MacEwen, Palmu, Dahlen and Lind in game 1 along with Canuck property in Gaunce, Boucher, Sautner and things are looking more promising in the future already, but give it a couple more years before the graduates start to file in more consistently. With that said, remember when Green sat Boeser out for two games and what reaction that got? It worked out in the end, so I would wait until further into the season to see how things progress before being disheartened. -
2018-19 Utica Comets Thread
theo5789 replied to stonecoldstevebernier's topic in Prospects / Farm Team
I don't think Toronto and Tampa are on the same curve as the Canucks which is why there is a discrepancy in players transitioning. Toronto had been poor for nearly a decade and allowing them to accumulate high end players and having a Matthews boosted them to the next level, which is what has not happened for us yet, if at all. The Tavares element is another boost for them, but their defense still needs a lot of work and is questionable if they have much in the pipeline to help them soon. Tampa started improving their drafting and development after moving their farm team from Norfolk to Syracuse in 2012. I'd say we made a similar improvement maybe 3-4 years ago, so we are slightly behind them at this point. We have the players coming into the system now, so it's a matter of time before the graduating begins as our farm team now has farm more quality Canuck property than I can ever remember since maybe back in the Manitoba Moose days when Bieksa/Burrows/Kesler were there. It looks like our progression is on track and similarly following the Tampa model I would say. We could see Juolevi/Sautner/Chatfield getting regular call ups as soon as this season and on forward, I wouldn't be surprised to see guys like Gaudette and Dahlen get looks. The following year Jasek, Lind, Palmu, Brisebois, etc would get their turn. I'm glad we are not rushing things and none of these players made an impression to make the jump just yet. As for Gadjovich, there are a few guys ahead of him (I would say Gaunce and MacEwen) at the AHL level and it benefits us contractually to send him back to juniors rather than have him in the ECHL. -
Have to wonder if the Canucks didn't see enough potential to keep him in NA or if Zhukenov felt it would be better for his development to go to Russia rather than the AHL here. If it's the Canucks, then I guess we simply saw a non-player here. If it was him, I wonder if he regrets his decision because it's looking like we could use some centers right now which could have accelerated his development curve.
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Sutter?
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Good find, I might still give a look at Adam though once he hits free agency.
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Even Eriksson's contract becomes a modified NTC in 2 years. So it'll depend on how his next couple of seasons go to see where his value is at that point. It might benefit him to have some young blood offensively and maybe with the Sedins retiring, it'll give him some of the offensive minutes he needs to find his game again. He started his Canuck career with on a 30 point pace, then the next season on a 37 point pace (both seasons shifted into more of a shutdown role), so hopefully a boost into the 45 point pace this season and continuing that trend. There's also the possibility of a team taking him on (if the team is not on his 15 team no trade list) simply for his cap hit and lower salary cost.
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The question is if Honka (or Byram) are really top 5 talent or are they just simply the top of their position for the year. Kotkaniemi was probably not top 3 material, but he was classed as the best center of the draft which boosted him. Hayton I assume was also boosted up for this factor as well. There are a lot of good forwards at the top of this draft.
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He plays 30 minutes a night on average and is lazy? Perhaps he conserves his energy because going full out for 30 minutes a night will not go well. Has plays drawn up for him and that's why he's producing? How else do you expect plays to be drawn up? I'm certain any player with good offense will generally have the offense designed around them. Perhaps a guy like Hughes has more creativity, but that doesn't take away what Bouchard has accomplished. Skating was always in question for him, but had we taken him, I'm sure people will just say to get him on the Horvat training and he will be fine. So it's up to him to be determined enough to improve in this aspect of his game. I'm certain that the perspective of Bouchard would completely change if we had drafted him instead.
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Good thing there are plans to build a world class practice facility, which will allow the maintenance crew to have more time to work on any issues at Rogers Arena.
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I'm still not sure where the confusion is. I am not comparing their styles of play. I'm in agreement with you on how they play and have said some of the exact same things. I am suggesting that (from what I've seen) that he is capable of shifting into that offensive gear when he sees the opportunity or if the situation calls for it. Why can't a guy that is hard wired for a 200 foot game not go on an end to end rush sifting through the opposition before burying it or find the open man for a tap in occasionally? I am saying that Dahlin has the toolbox as well to play that game, but maybe Hughes just uses that toolbox much more often. So if you don't believe he has the toolbox, then that's fine that you disagree with me there, but the highlight packages (albeit not the full picture of his game) sure demonstrates to me that he is capable of the offensive game that Hughes has even if he isn't full throttle offense all game.
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Oh believe me, I'm excited too. My comments aren't to knock on Hughes' abilities. I was very impressed with how he would put the game in his hands. I just find it funny with all this talk about how Hughes has the potential to be better than Dahlin after we have drafted him. It's a very Toronto-esque. I'm not really sure what Hughes has done in between the draft (pretty certain it was clear cut who was the best dman up to that point) and now to warrant this discussion.
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I'll take your word for it since you have seen him far more than I have. I look at a package like this though (only two months worth of footage in the men's league) and I see him making rushes and sifting through players much like we expect Hughes would. If that's not the Hughes gear, then I guess Hughes will be outright incredible offensively to outdo Dahlin based on what little I've seen him be capable of.
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Even if it wasn't his best game, his style of play is going to lead to those plays going the other way often unfortunately. If it's happening at the junior level, it will surely happen more at the NHL level as a young dman. By "finish", do you mean putting up points or scoring goals? It's been quite clear that Dahlin has a shot in his arsenal and Hughes lacks there. Dahlin put up 20 points in the men's league in Sweden as a 17 year old defenseman. Hughes has had a brief stint against men and put up 2 points in 10 games. I say a bit bold to be suggesting that Dahlin totally lacks in that department. If Dahlin is not the best dman in the draft and I assume the suggestion is Hughes will be better, then great for us. If Dahlin is better than Hughes, well that's how the draft played out. Honestly is there some insecurity that some fans need to believe that we have picked the best player in every draft? There's nothing wrong with not having the best dman/player in the draft, we just need to make sure to develop our players to our needs and utilize them to our strengths.
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I think you're misinterpreting what I'm saying. I'm not saying Dahlin plays the same game as Hughes. I'm saying he has what Hughes can do in his repitoire. Hughes is all flash and dash on offense because that's what he excels in and will have to likely do to stand out in the NHL. Dahlin has much more to his game, but if he wants to get into that same Hughes gear, he is well capable of doing so. This is what I meant by Dahlin being able to do what Hughes can, plus the rest of his complete game. As for dynamic skating (Hughes has a lower center of gravity allowing him to be a bit more shifty) and playmaking (the fact he has a shot makes his passing even more threatening as defenders will have to guess more on what he might do), his highlight packages clearly show he has those skills in his arsenal. I think Dahlin can get the same amount of highlight reel plays without trying all game to accomplish them. Plus even if Hughes can put up more points and is more flashy, I wonder how fans will feel if he's coughing up pucks and allowing odd man rushes going the other way (of course barring him improving on this aspect). I ask this because in the game vs Canada, he had coughed it up a few times, leading to penalties or scoring chances going the other way. Some were recovered, but it's going to be costly if not worked upon. This is also a reason why I believe he needs a true stay at home dman to let him excel in his game.
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Is Hughes actually better than Dahlin in that defensive aspect or is it something simply impressive that Hughes is capable of and likely will have to depend upon for his defensive game? Dahlin has incredible skill and vision as well and surely he is just as capable of reading the opposition as well.
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Let's say Hughes is a ppg guy. Let's say Dahlin is a 70 point guy. So sure Hughes can generate a bit more offense, but Dahlin in the meantime also provides solid defense playing in all situations and can probably log 30 mins in a game. Will to win? Hughes has it, but so does Dahlin in spades and he will handle the playoffs when the physicality and intensity rises. Hughes may have an incredible career and anything is possible, but it's hard for me to see at this point that he will have the better career compared to Dahlin.
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Well my point is Dahlin has the skills offensively (stick handling, vision, speed, etc) as Hughes and if you added the rest of my post, he also has the complete package (shot, size, defensive play, etc). I agree that Hughes will play with much more risk to his game simply because the best he can offer is that offense, but I think if Dahlin is driven to make that offensive rush, he can do pretty much whatever Hughes can do as well.