elvis15 Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Some of you may remember/topic/348154-hockey-prospectus-prospect-rankings-released-canucks-20/page__hl__%2Bhockey+%2Bprospectus"> the overall rankings I posted back in July, which had us 20th in the NHL, and Hockey Prospectus has finally released their detailed ranking of the Canucks prospects to expand on that ranking. Top 10 Prospects 2013: Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks Top 10 Prospects 1. Hunter Shinkaruk, Center 2. Bo Horvat, Center 3. Frankie Corrado, Defense 4. Nicklas Jensen, Left Wing 5. Brendan Gaunce, Center 6. Jordan Subban, Defense 7. Henrik Tommernes, Defense 8. Eddie Lack, Goaltender 9. Joseph LaBate, Center 10. Patrick McNally, Defense Organizational Ranking: 20th System Overview The Canucks system is a top heavy one; their top two are strong, and overall, their top four or five make up a pretty good core. However, the lower end of their system really lacks depth. That is not to say that there are not potential NHL players among Vancouver's top 15-17 prospects, but most in that range either have notable question marks or low upsides. --- 1. Hunter Shinkaruk, Center 2011-12 Ranking: N/A Date of birth: 10/13/1994 Age: 18 Height: 5'10'' Weight: 181 Shoots: Left Statistics: 64 GP, 37 G, 86 P (Medicine Hat, WHL) Acquired: First round, 24th overall in 2013 by Vancouver Year in Review: Shinkaruk was a top offensive player in the WHL again, and he was a second team All Star in his conference. The Good: Shinkaruk has unique offensive talent, and he can make a lot of plays. He is a very agile and shifty skater with a powerful stride. Shinkaruk's puck skills are high end, as he displays great coordination and creativity. His hands and his agility make him quite a tough player to check, even in tight spaces. Shinkaruk thinks the game well on offense, as he flashes good vision and makes quick plays. He also has an above-average shot. The Bad: Shinkaruk's physical game is a notable concern, as he is a small player who needs bulk and does not really have an aggressive element to his game. His defensive game also is a concern. Projection: He could be a top line forward. --- 2. Bo Horvat, Center 2011-12 Ranking: N/A Date of birth: 04/05/1995 Age: 18 Height: 6'0'' Weight: 206 Shoots: Left Statistics: 67 GP, 33 G, 61 P (London, OHL) Acquired: First round, ninth overall in 2013 by Vancouver Year in Review: Horvat trended up all season. He looked very good in the second half of the OHL season, and he was the OHL Playoffs MVP. The Good: Horvat is one of the more well-rounded prospects outside the NHL. He is a strong, tough, skilled center with defensive ability. Horvat displays impressive hand-eye coordination, and he got more comfortable with his puck creativity as the season went on, helping him to emerge as a playmaker. Horvat skates well, works hard, and drives the net, all of which make him difficult for defensemen to deal with. He plays against good players, takes important faceoffs, and generally can be used in any situation. The Bad: There is not really much to put here. Horvat is not a dynamic player, and he could ideally put up more points, but aside from gaining more experience and strength, it is hard to nitpick him. Projection: He could be a below-average top line center with good defensive value. --- 3. Frankie Corrado, Defense 2011-12 Ranking: 3rd Date of birth: 03/26/1993 Age: 20 Height: 6'1'' Weight: 191 Shoots: Right Statistics: 69 GP, 7 G, 45 P (Sudbury/Kitchener, OHL) Acquired: Fifth round, 150th overall in 2011 by Vancouver Year in Review: Corrado continued to progress, as he was a good two-way defenseman in his last OHL season. He was a final cut from Canada's World Junior team. The Good: Corrado is a really good skater. He is mobile and agile in every direction, and he has the first step to pinch or activate from the back end. He can also rush the puck well. He thinks the game at a high-end level, as he rarely makes mistakes, and he does not panic with the puck. Corrado makes a lot of stops, is great with his gap control, and makes a good outlet. The Bad: Corrado's pure offensive upside is his question mark. While he has progressed in that area, he remains just about average. He also could get gain more strength. Projection: He could be an good second pairing defenseman. --- 4. Nicklas Jensen, Left Wing 2011-12 Ranking: 1st Date of birth: 03/16/1993 Age: 20 Height: 6'3'' Weight: 203 Shoots: Left Statistics: 50 GP, 17 G, 23 P (AIK, SHL) / 20 GP, 2 G, 4 P (Chicago, AHL) Acquired: First round, 29th overall in 2011 by Vancouver Year in Review: Jensen was a quality offensive player in the SHL, especially for a U20. He was one of AIK's top offensive options, although his minutes were not too high. He was below average in the AHL. The Good: Jensen is a very gifted offensive player. He has great puck skills and can, at times, make really difficult plays due to his combination of size and skill. Jensen has a good frame, protects the puck well, and gets to the net well when he drives. Jensen also has a high-end shot, with great technique on his release. The Bad: Jensen's skating is roughly average. While he has a clean stride, he could generate more power. His defensive game notably needs improvement. His consistency remains an issue as well. Projection: He could be a quality second line winger. --- 5. Brendan Gaunce, Center 2011-12 Ranking: 2nd Date of birth: 03/25/1994 Age: 19 Height: 6'2'' Weight: 215 Shoots: Left Statistics: 60 GP, 33 G, 60 P (Belleville, OHL) Acquired: First round, 26th overall in 2012 by Vancouver Year in Review: Gaunce had a solid season; he was one Belleville's best forwards at both ends of the ice. The Good: Gaunce is a big, strong forward who plays a pretty impressive power game. He hits well, wins battles, and attacks the high percentage areas. Gaunce works hard at both ends, displaying impressive defensive IQ. He has a solid skill level with good hands in tight. Gaunce also displays above-average vision and offensive instincts. The Bad: Gaunce's skating still is not the best. His top speed is average, but he is not a blazer or a very elusive player. Exactly how high his offensive upside can go is also a minor question mark on his game. Projection: He could be an above-average regular, although it is unclear if he will do so as a checker or scorer. --- 6. Jordan Subban, Defense 2011-12 Ranking: N/A Date of birth: 03/03/1995 Age: 18 Height: 5'9'' Weight: 175 Shoots: Right Statistics: 68 GP, 15 G, 51 P (Belleville, OHL) Acquired: Fourth round, 115th overall in 2013 by Vancouver Year in Review: Subban was one of the OHL's top offensive defensemen. He ranked third on his team in scoring. The Good: Subban is a top-end skater with the ability to push the pace up the ice and get back quickly even when he is deep in the offensive zone. He is a very gifted player with the puck. He has the hands, flashiness, and pace to his game to make players miss, as well as create offense quickly. Subban has good vision and overall quality offensive hockey sense. He works hard, and he will battle well for a little guy. The Bad: As mentioned, Subban is pretty small, especially for a defenseman. He can be overly risky with his rushes and offensive attempts. He also needs work on his defensive reads, and he needs to bulk up a lot. Projection: He could be a second pairing defenseman who is great on the power play, but also somewhat sheltered. --- 7. Henrik Tommernes, Defense 2011-12 Ranking: Unranked Date of birth: 08/28/1990 Age: 22 Height: 6'0'' Weight: 185 Shoots: Left Statistics: 54 GP, 5 G, 16 P (Frolunda, SHL) Acquired: Seventh round, 210th overall in 2011 by Vancouver Year in Review: Tommernes had a good last season in the SHL, where he played a ton of minutes for Frolunda. The Good: Tommernes is a gifted offensive defenseman. "He's just so quick," said one NHL source who praised his above-average to plus skating skills. Tommernes' agility, mobility, and speed make him a nuisance to check. He is able to stay with faster forwards. He is also a skilled puck mover with good offensive hockey sense, and he excels on the man advantage. Tommernes can make difficult plays with the puck. The Bad: Tommernes' most notable weaknesses have historically been in his own end. While he has improved in that area, especially with his reads, he could use a little more work. He is slightly undersized, and not the toughest guy on his checks, either. Projection: He could be a fringe second pairing or good third pairing defenseman who slots in on a power play. --- 8. Eddie Lack, Goaltender 2011-12 Ranking: 8th Date of birth: 01/05/1988 Age: 25 Height: 6'4'' Weight: 200 Catches: Left Statistics: 13 GP, .899 SV% (Chicago, AHL) Acquired: Free agent Year in Review: Lack's season did not go as planned due to a hip injury that affected his performance and made him miss most of the campaign. The Good: Lack is a calm goalie in the net who does not tend to overreact positioning-wise, but when he needs to make a second save, he shows good effort fighting through traffic or trying to scramble up loose pucks. Lack is also an athletically-gifted player who moves well for his size. He reads the play well, and squares up pucks consistently with his giant frame. The Bad: Lack, despite his injuries, was inconsistent in his small amount of games last season, and he sometimes displayed a lack of focus. He lacks a game-breaking element, as he will not be a player who steals games at the NHL level. Projection: He could be a league-average goaltender. --- 9. Joseph LaBate, Center 2011-12 Ranking: 9th Date of birth: 04/16/1993 Age: 20 Height: 6'4'' Weight: 200 Shoots: Left Statistics: 41 GP, 9 G, 23 P (Wisconsin, NCAA) Acquired: Fourth round, 101st overall in 2011 by Vancouver Year in Review: LaBate had a solid sophomore season, although his scoring production remained roughly the same as the season before. The Good: LaBate is a pretty toolsy player. He is a big forward who can make above-average offensive plays. He has good vision and can flash solid puck skills. Given his size and age, he is already a pretty coordinated player. He can protect the puck well with his big frame, establish position in front of the net, and win battles. The Bad: LaBate just does not really stand out in any one area of the game. His skating is just average, he is a good (not great) offensive player, and he is not a standout defensive forward, either. He could continue to gain strength as well. Projection: He could be a third line forward. 10. Patrick McNally, Defense 2011-12 Ranking: 7th Date of birth: 12/04/1991 Age: 21 Height: 6'2'' Weight: 190 Shoots: Left Statistics: 7 GP, 1 G, 3 P (Harvard, NCAA) Acquired: Fourth round, 115th overall in 2010 by Vancouver Year in Review: McNally missed most of the season due to a suspension by Harvard. The Good: McNally is a really gifted offensive player with a lot of tools. He is a high-end skater and puck handler who can really dazzle with his skill. He also flashes high-end vision. His top speed and acceleration are great, and while he can weave in and out of traffic, he can also slow the play down. McNally has a big shot from the point. The Bad: McNally's main issue has always been his defense. He has good hockey sense in terms of creativity, but his reads and risk averseness are not impressive, as he frequently can be caught out of position. The suspension and significant missed time are obvious knocks as well. Projection: He could be a third pairing defenseman, a power play specialist with an outside chance of being a top-four player. --- The Next Five 11. Anton Cederholm, Defense: He will not wow you with skill, but Cederholm is a good defender with size and mobility who thinks the game well. 12. Alexandre Grenier, Right Wing: Grenier bounced between the Austrian league, ECHL, and the AHL last season. He has good hands, finishing skill, and a big frame but needs to get a quicker first step. 13. Joacim Eriksson, Goaltender: Eriksson has a fine all-around skill set. He is calm and squares up pucks well. He lacks a dynamic element, per one Swedish scout. 14. Darren Archibald, Left Wing: Archibald skates well, and plays an above-average power forward game. He flashes decent hand-eye coordination, but he is not an overly creative player. 15. Peter Andersson, Defense: Andersson is a big defenseman who skates well for his size and makes good defensive reads, but he brings little in terms of offensive skill. The Sleeper: Miles Liberati, Defense Liberati skates really well with flashes of good offensive skill. He is still quite raw, but there is "puck moving defenseman" potential in his game. --- Vancouver Canucks Organizational Top 10 Players 22 or under as of 09/15/2013 or still considered a prospect as defined here. 1. Hunter Shinkaruk, Center 2. Bo Horvat, Center 3. Zack Kassian, Right Wing 4. Frankie Corrado, Defense 5. Nicklas Jensen, Left Wing 6. Jordan Schroeder, Center 7. Brendan Gaunce, Center 8. Jordan Subban, Defense 9. Henrik Tommernes, Defense 10. Eddie Lack, Goaltender Kassian was below average in the NHL last season, and while he did not get a ton of ice time, he was given opportunities to succeed, including playing alongside the Sedins at one point. He is a big, skilled forward who can flash tremendous upside, but his lack of consistency, and at times, poor on-ice sense has not led to a breakout yet. He has the tools to be a top line power forward. Schroeder added better defensive elements to his game last season, but as a small, fast, skilled player, his game is on offense. He could still potentially be a top-six player, but he needs to show more at the NHL level soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herberts Vasiljevs Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 20th eh. Better than before I must say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kazmanian Devil Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Drops off so hard after the top 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phamda Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I think it's interesting that he labels Labate projection as a third liner vs Gaunce "nhl regular not sure if scorer or checker" while in other rankings I've seen him write things along the lines of "average second liner with get defensive ability" or "above average third line with offensive upside" just interesting working I find. Surprised he says Shinkaruk doesn't have that physical side to him I've seen him in junior and even preseason he's not afraid to make a hit or take on but I agree with the weight and strength addition. Not sure how it "drops so hard after top 5" when you have 2 dmen who he thinks can be top 4 guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watermelons Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 I really like what Shinkaruk has shown so far....and as many have already said, we have a strong top 5 prospects but after that we lack depth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFCanuck Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 The Tampa Bay Lightnings prospects pool is off the charts good. They are locked and loaded for the future. http://www.hockeyprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1556 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bookie Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Interesting to see Subban at #6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Tommernes>Subban. Andersson? Eriksson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted September 19, 2013 Author Share Posted September 19, 2013 I really like what Shinkaruk has shown so far....and as many have already said, we have a strong top 5 prospects but after that we lack depth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Algur Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 Surprised to see Eriksson didn't make the top 10. I don't know much about LaBate but from what I have read I'd rate him and McNally much lower than Eriksson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Tommernes is closer to the NHL, but I wouldn't say he's better when looking at what Subban could do in the near future. Andersson's a mobile defender, not an offensive guy, so he can't compare as directly but I think he'll be an NHL 3rd pairing D. Eriksson's a goalie so not even sure why you put him in there unless to say you think he should be higher, although your post suggests Tommernes is better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonberries Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Pretty good list, though Subban and Tommernes seem high. He doesn't see Cole Cassels in the top 15? Horvat Skinkaruk Gaunce Corrado Jensen Lack Labate Cassels Lain McNally Edited:forgot about Kellen Lain for a second there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Langdon Algur Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Pretty good list, though Subban and Tommernes seem high. He doesn't see Cole Cassels in the top 15? Horvat Skinkaruk Gaunce Corrado Jensen Lack Labate Cassels Lain McNally Edited:forgot about Kellen Lain for a second there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off_The_Schneid! Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 Somebody should start up that prospect stats tracker similar to last year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Lots of work, do you want to take it on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 Tommernes will probably be a better player in the future and aswell a better prospect as of now which is what we are talking about? Eriksson>Labate, Eriksson has played well in the prospects tourney while Labate as not played like he should be in the top 10 of our prospects. Andersson and McNally will be a close one but Andersson is the more ready, better defensively defensemen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canvoucer Vanuck Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 I disagree. I think Subban has much better upside if he does make it, being highly skilled. Tommernes is smooth and good offensively, no doubt, but he doesn't have the ceiling Subban does. Apples and oranges for the other comparisons (or apples and chicken in the case of LaBate/Eriksson). LaBate has good potential with his size to be an NHL player, and a handful of games in NA for Eriksson doesn't solidify much yet even if I do think he has a real chance to be quite good. McNally has a long ways to go defensively but is also miles ahead of Andersson offensively so which do you rate more highly? Andersson has a safer projection for sure though. It was a little confusing the way you worded it though, as it seemed you were saying Tommernes was better than them but then saying some were better than him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonberries Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Agree with this. Horvat for sure would be the top prospect, though there's no way I put Lain in the top 10. I think Mallet and even Blomstrand have more upside than him. Lain is pretty close to a finished product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted September 26, 2013 Author Share Posted September 26, 2013 He's not going to be a top 6 guy or anything, but he does fit a nice role we've been looking for on this team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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