Nikolaj Ehlers

[nuckster33]

Ask Smashian Kassian for the link. I cannot recall. During their last series I focused on all of Ehlers' shifts and all of Drouin's shifts, looking for tendancies, positives and faults.

Ehlers is fairly easy to knock off the puck. He needs open ice to be effective. He cheats ahead to find it. He stays behind on backchecks to find it. He'll need to grow and develop some sorta defensive game before becoming an NHLer.

While most legit offensive stars can step in right away, Ehlers won't. He can't. He's not big enough for an NHL game, and he's not talented enough to overcome that. He'll be a project. And we all know that lightweight projects, like Schroeder for example, who was skilled in his own right, carry a lot more risk with them.

There will more talented, more balanced, more defensively enabled and less risky picks available to us at #6.

Good luck to him wherever he goes. Hopefully to the east, which has seen offense from players like Skinner and Giroux translate quickly. Perhaps i'm wrong about Ehlers' short-term upside and he'll succeed in the east right away.

Other than Eklbad and maybe Reinhart its highly likely no first rounder is stepping into the NHL next year bud

Falacy of many views here people think whomever we draft is going to help us next year when in reality we'll be lucky if its in the next 2-3 years

Is anyone in this draft (other than the top 3) better than Horvat? Unlikely, and he may or may not be ready next season, which would then be 3 years

Please....normalize your expectations, many here need to, therefore pick the most talented player available with a view that in 2-3 years they will be ready which is more realistic

When you think of it that way, size is less of an issue

You are welcome to debate the comparison to Horvat, but if you do I'll simply point to a player named Drouin and suggest that even he wasn't ready this year and few other first rounders last year were as well and last year was a much stronger draft

Ehlers is the best pick in our spot and he will put on size, plus our young prospects for the most part are not lacking 2 way players with size and this is what we are drafting for, tomorrow, not today

[ForsbergTheGreat]

You are trying to talk to a guy who has been told this 5 times already. You are wasting your time. He just makes up whatever he wants to believe.

This idea of being 'heavy' on the puck actually means 'strong' on the puck. Ehlers is very difficult to knock off the puck. His center of gravity is excellent. He is also one of the best forecheckers in the QMJHL and part of it is because he wants the puck and you can see it whenever he plays.

So I take it this 'heavy' on the puck must be some way where Ehlers would not be eligible due to the size advantage for Ritchie. Its a novel way to create a concrete negative that he thinks cannot be questioned.

If you want to spend your time correcting myths and then re correcting myths and then furthermore correct them some more then be my guest. At some point you may want to stop and ask yourself if these guys have an honest objection or are just using excuses to perpetually argue.

You just can't admit Ehlers has a flaw can you?

If Ehlers and Weber go into the corner and have a physical battle for the puck who wins?

Ehlers and Chara are having a battle in front of the net for shot position, who wins?

It's not necessarily a flaw anyways, Kane would also loose in those battles, it's just not the type of game they play. And if we pick a player like Ritchie that shows us that Linden wanted a player who can win those battles.

It's not even about size, it's about who plays a heavier games. Size and weight just make it easier to play that way but not a necessity . Marchand 5'9 Cooke 5'11, same size or smaller than Ehlers but play way heavier games. If you want to argue that be my guest you wont find many people who will agree with you on that.

On top of that, the NHL is full of stronger comp. then in the Q. Sure he might not get knocked off the puck against some 20 year old who isn't done developing, but compare that to a much faster 220lbs(+) 30 year old defenceman. It doesn't mean he wont go into the corners, just means he's going to have a lot harder time winning those battles compared to a big PWF. But again it's not really a flaw just not the type of game he brings to the table.

We have a team full of players who can't win those puck battles in the corner and in front of the net. We rarely have anyone score those garbage goals from the puck battles in front. Bert was amazing at that when he was in Van. Sedins are good in the corner but only when they have control of the puck not at retrieving the puck. Thats why Burr used to be the glue, hopefully he can bounce back. We have Kesler and Kassian, Booth, thats about it. In our prospect pool we have Horvat that could fit into that role.

I want Nylander, I can see the case why Linden would draft a player like Ritchie or Virtanen. They are different types of players. Your not going to see me try to convince other people that Nylander would be as effective as those two in that aspect of the game.

Rather than try to convince everyone that Ehlers is this top end all around player. Tops in every aspect of the game, that is strong on the puck and will win all these physical battles just stick to his actual strengths. He's fast, has hands and has decent vision.

[Absent Canuck]

You guys are wasting your time. The same troll objections these guys are putting up are the exact same ones that were asked and answered 20 pages ago -to the exact same guys.

They find joy in hiding behind the internet with a fake name and argue with other members of their supposed same team in a never ending game of belligerence.

We should get a sticky highlighting these points.

-Ehlers is not 'small' . He is 5ft 11 - 5ft 11.75 and anywhere from 170 to 176 pounds. He is the same size as many fantastic NHL players including Mac Kinnon, Datsyuk , Alfie, Kane, Zetterburg and dozens of others I am too lazy to list. If these players can play in the NHL without getting 'pasted' into the ice, so can Ehlers.

- Ehlers is one of the fastest if not the fastest player with the puck in 2 years. His coach claims he is faster than Mac Kinnon and he would know. He coached all three of Drouin, Mac Kinnon and Ehlers.

- Ehlers played on the same team as Drouin -as did Mac Kinnon before him - but played on a separate line. They played on the PP together as well as doubled up in drastic situations. Ehlers scored 70% of his points without Drouin. Most of the 30% were when they were together on the PP together.

- Ehlers played without Drouin in the lineup for 17 games. He scored 25 points which expanded to a 63 game pace is 94 points.

- Ehlers is not 'soft' on the puck nor a perimeter player. He cuts to the middle, digs in the hard areas, and is one of the best forecheckers in the QMJHL . His +65 rating is the best in the entire QMJHL , 9 points head of the guy who finished 2nd.

-Ehlers had a great run in the playoffs which was only second to Drouin himself. Dominating their first opponents and securing 8 points in 7 games against Anthony Mantha's Val d'Or championship team before falling in game 7.

-Ehlers is hard working. He doesnt take a shift off. He is a consummate pro who does charity work outside of the games like many of the top prospects.

-Ehlers won several awards in the QMJHL although the rookie records were accomplished in his draft year, unlike many others who were 15 or 16 when they entered the league. His 104 points secured him a place with many great players who have also put up these kinds of totals in the QMJHL in their draft year. The players who have done so since the lock out are Sidney Crosby, Derrick Brassard, Claude Girioux , Johnathan Huberdeau and Johnathan Drouin.

-Ehlers had the added hardship of never playing on North American ice before this year. There was another highly touted prospect who came from Europe to play his draft year in the QMJHL recently. Jacob Voracek was imported from the Czech Republic and he went on to put up 86 points , while dressing in 6 fewer games than Ehlers did. Voracek was drafted at #7 in the subsequent NHL draft.

- His dectractors have also tried to discredit him by suggesting our current Vp Trevor Linden doesnt want players such as these. He wants to draft a big winger .

Trevor Linden has extensive experience with Euro wingers. He played with 3 of them during the best periods of his career . The two that come to mind are Markus Naslund and Pavel Bure. Both are 2 of the most cherished and popular Canucks and both have their uniform hanging in the rafters right beside Lindens own jersey.

Linden also has another euro winger playing for him now as well as his twin brother who plays center. While its true they are an inch and even 2 inches taller than Ehlers, both are 185 pounds soaking wet. Both are enormously successful and both will have their numbers hanging beside all the other 'soft euros' who now preside there.

It is said that the Western Conference is too big for Ehlers. In spite of all the players whom are 6ft and under, they seem to think Ehlers is incapable of gaining muscle and the size he was listed at when he stepped off the plane from Denmark at 17 is his final resting place. Or so their belligerent ranting tells you anyways.

It is also been argued that the guy is not strong enough to make the NHL next year so he is immediately deemed a 'project'. So all players who are not ready to make the NHL immediately are headaches who need extra attention lest they bust or self destruct.

Most prospects are not ready to make an impact until they are 21 or 22 years old. High end prospects are often rushed too fast , but sometimes they are not. Whomever our draft pick is far better served to be developed properly, unless we trade up for Reinhart. He might be able to take it at age 19.

These are the put downs that Ehlers fans have to endure almost every day. The more inflammatory ones are humorous and obvious trolling. These include:

-Ehlers is physically smaller than Ritchie and Virtanen ergo he is a girlie man the same size as Jordan Schroeder . We need real he-men like Ritchie and Virtanen who can handle themselves.

- No soft Euro winger has ever won the cup........ and that is the singular threshold we should consider in drafting a player. !! Well, not since the lock out anyways. Ok, Datsyuk and Zetterburg but they are primarily centers. Ok fine Selanne but he is 209 pounds at age 42 so he doesnt count either : :D

And my personal favorite :

Ehlers blows by defenders in the Q making them look like pylons. Swinging dicks like Virtanen Perlini and Ritchie muck in the front to score their goals so I feel we should draft someone like them.

In other words.............'Ehlers is so fast he makes defenders look like idiots, better not draft that guy!!

[Tangerines]

You guys are wasting your time. The same troll objections these guys are putting up are the exact same ones that were asked and answered 20 pages ago -to the exact same guys.

They find joy in hiding behind the internet with a fake name and argue with other members of their supposed same team in a never ending game of belligerence.

We should get a sticky highlighting these points.

-Ehlers is not 'small' . He is 5ft 11 - 5ft 11.75 and anywhere from 170 to 176 pounds. He is the same size as many fantastic NHL players including Mac Kinnon, Datsyuk , Alfie, Kane, Zetterburg and dozens of others I am too lazy to list. If these players can play in the NHL without getting 'pasted' into the ice, so can Ehlers.

- Ehlers is one of the fastest if not the fastest player with the puck in 2 years. His coach claims he is faster than Mac Kinnon and he would know. He coached all three of Drouin, Mac Kinnon and Ehlers.

- Ehlers played on the same team as Drouin -as did Mac Kinnon before him - but played on a separate line. They played on the PP together as well as doubled up in drastic situations. Ehlers scored 70% of his points without Drouin. Most of the 30% were when they were together on the PP together.

- Ehlers played without Drouin in the lineup for 17 games. He scored 25 points which expanded to a 63 game pace is 94 points.

- Ehlers is not 'soft' on the puck nor a perimeter player. He cuts to the middle, digs in the hard areas, and is one of the best forecheckers in the QMJHL . His +65 rating is the best in the entire QMJHL , 9 points head of the guy who finished 2nd.

-Ehlers had a great run in the playoffs which was only second to Drouin himself. Dominating their first opponents and securing 8 points in 7 games against Anthony Mantha's Val d'Or championship team before falling in game 7.

-Ehlers is hard working. He doesnt take a shift off. He is a consummate pro who does charity work outside of the games like many of the top prospects.

-Ehlers won several awards in the QMJHL although the rookie records were accomplished in his draft year, unlike many others who were 15 or 16 when they entered the league. His 104 points secured him a place with many great players who have also put up these kinds of totals in the QMJHL in their draft year. The players who have done so since the lock out are Sidney Crosby, Derrick Brassard, Claude Girioux , Johnathan Huberdeau and Johnathan Drouin.

-Ehlers had the added hardship of never playing on North American ice before this year. There was another highly touted prospect who came from Europe to play his draft year in the QMJHL recently. Jacob Voracek was imported from the Czech Republic and he went on to put up 86 points , while dressing in 6 fewer games than Ehlers did. Voracek was drafted at #7 in the subsequent NHL draft.

- His dectractors have also tried to discredit him by suggesting our current Vp Trevor Linden doesnt want players such as these. He wants to draft a big winger .

Trevor Linden has extensive experience with Euro wingers. He played with 3 of them during the best periods of his career . The two that come to mind are Markus Naslund and Pavel Bure. Both are 2 of the most cherished and popular Canucks and both have their uniform hanging in the rafters right beside Lindens own jersey.

Linden also has another euro winger playing for him now as well as his twin brother who plays center. While its true they are an inch and even 2 inches taller than Ehlers, both are 185 pounds soaking wet. Both are enormously successful and both will have their numbers hanging beside all the other 'soft euros' who now preside there.

It is said that the Western Conference is too big for Ehlers. In spite of all the players whom are 6ft and under, they seem to think Ehlers is incapable of gaining muscle and the size he was listed at when he stepped off the plane from Denmark at 17 is his final resting place. Or so their belligerent ranting tells you anyways.

It is also been argued that the guy is not strong enough to make the NHL next year so he is immediately deemed a 'project'. So all players who are not ready to make the NHL immediately are headaches who need extra attention lest they bust or self destruct.

Most prospects are not ready to make an impact until they are 21 or 22 years old. High end prospects are often rushed too fast , but sometimes they are not. Whomever our draft pick is far better served to be developed properly, unless we trade up for Reinhart. He might be able to take it at age 19.

These are the put downs that Ehlers fans have to endure almost every day. The more inflammatory ones are humorous and obvious trolling. These include:

-Ehlers is physically smaller than Ritchie and Virtanen ergo he is a girlie man the same size as Jordan Schroeder . We need real he-men like Ritchie and Virtanen who can handle themselves.

- No soft Euro winger has ever won the cup........ and that is the singular threshold we should consider in drafting a player. !! Well, not since the lock out anyways. Ok, Datsyuk and Zetterburg but they are primarily centers. Ok fine Selanne but he is 209 pounds at age 42 so he doesnt count either : :D

And my personal favorite :

Ehlers blows by defenders in the Q making them look like pylons. Swinging dicks like Virtanen Perlini and Ritchie muck in the front to score their goals so I feel we should draft someone like them.

In other words.............'Ehlers is so fast he makes defenders look like idiots, better not draft that guy!!

I hope we draft him if the big 5 aren't available.

[JeremyCuddles]

You guys are wasting your time. The same troll objections these guys are putting up are the exact same ones that were asked and answered 20 pages ago -to the exact same guys.

They find joy in hiding behind the internet with a fake name and argue with other members of their supposed same team in a never ending game of belligerence.

So keyboard warriors and trolls are only people with differing opinions then your own? That doesn't sound ignorant. In my books we should be thanking the hockey gods we are even fortunate enough to get any one of Ehlers Virtanen Ritchie, or even one of the top 5 should we be so lucky. Yet we spend 100's of pages across numerous threads bashing each others favourite prospects.

No one prospect is the perfect fit for us. We are in a dire need of top prospects like Horvat and Shinkaruk, and maybe Cassels who is coming along great. Still wouldn't classify him as top prospect but close. But I guess we can be at each others throat for another month about which prospects we like.

[TOMapleLaughs]

You guys are wasting your time. The same troll objections these guys are putting up are the exact same ones that were asked and answered 20 pages ago -to the exact same guys.

They find joy in hiding behind the internet with a fake name and argue with other members of their supposed same team in a never ending game of belligerence.

We should get a sticky highlighting these points.

-Ehlers is not 'small' . He is 5ft 11 - 5ft 11.75 and anywhere from 170 to 176 pounds. He is the same size as many fantastic NHL players including Mac Kinnon, Datsyuk , Alfie, Kane, Zetterburg and dozens of others I am too lazy to list. If these players can play in the NHL without getting 'pasted' into the ice, so can Ehlers.

- Ehlers is one of the fastest if not the fastest player with the puck in 2 years. His coach claims he is faster than Mac Kinnon and he would know. He coached all three of Drouin, Mac Kinnon and Ehlers.

- Ehlers played on the same team as Drouin -as did Mac Kinnon before him - but played on a separate line. They played on the PP together as well as doubled up in drastic situations. Ehlers scored 70% of his points without Drouin. Most of the 30% were when they were together on the PP together.

- Ehlers played without Drouin in the lineup for 17 games. He scored 25 points which expanded to a 63 game pace is 94 points.

- Ehlers is not 'soft' on the puck nor a perimeter player. He cuts to the middle, digs in the hard areas, and is one of the best forecheckers in the QMJHL . His +65 rating is the best in the entire QMJHL , 9 points head of the guy who finished 2nd.

-Ehlers had a great run in the playoffs which was only second to Drouin himself. Dominating their first opponents and securing 8 points in 7 games against Anthony Mantha's Val d'Or championship team before falling in game 7.

-Ehlers is hard working. He doesnt take a shift off. He is a consummate pro who does charity work outside of the games like many of the top prospects.

-Ehlers won several awards in the QMJHL although the rookie records were accomplished in his draft year, unlike many others who were 15 or 16 when they entered the league. His 104 points secured him a place with many great players who have also put up these kinds of totals in the QMJHL in their draft year. The players who have done so since the lock out are Sidney Crosby, Derrick Brassard, Claude Girioux , Johnathan Huberdeau and Johnathan Drouin.

-Ehlers had the added hardship of never playing on North American ice before this year. There was another highly touted prospect who came from Europe to play his draft year in the QMJHL recently. Jacob Voracek was imported from the Czech Republic and he went on to put up 86 points , while dressing in 6 fewer games than Ehlers did. Voracek was drafted at #7 in the subsequent NHL draft.

- His dectractors have also tried to discredit him by suggesting our current Vp Trevor Linden doesnt want players such as these. He wants to draft a big winger .

Trevor Linden has extensive experience with Euro wingers. He played with 3 of them during the best periods of his career . The two that come to mind are Markus Naslund and Pavel Bure. Both are 2 of the most cherished and popular Canucks and both have their uniform hanging in the rafters right beside Lindens own jersey.

Linden also has another euro winger playing for him now as well as his twin brother who plays center. While its true they are an inch and even 2 inches taller than Ehlers, both are 185 pounds soaking wet. Both are enormously successful and both will have their numbers hanging beside all the other 'soft euros' who now preside there.

It is said that the Western Conference is too big for Ehlers. In spite of all the players whom are 6ft and under, they seem to think Ehlers is incapable of gaining muscle and the size he was listed at when he stepped off the plane from Denmark at 17 is his final resting place. Or so their belligerent ranting tells you anyways.

It is also been argued that the guy is not strong enough to make the NHL next year so he is immediately deemed a 'project'. So all players who are not ready to make the NHL immediately are headaches who need extra attention lest they bust or self destruct.

Most prospects are not ready to make an impact until they are 21 or 22 years old. High end prospects are often rushed too fast , but sometimes they are not. Whomever our draft pick is far better served to be developed properly, unless we trade up for Reinhart. He might be able to take it at age 19.

These are the put downs that Ehlers fans have to endure almost every day. The more inflammatory ones are humorous and obvious trolling. These include:

-Ehlers is physically smaller than Ritchie and Virtanen ergo he is a girlie man the same size as Jordan Schroeder . We need real he-men like Ritchie and Virtanen who can handle themselves.

- No soft Euro winger has ever won the cup........ and that is the singular threshold we should consider in drafting a player. !! Well, not since the lock out anyways. Ok, Datsyuk and Zetterburg but they are primarily centers. Ok fine Selanne but he is 209 pounds at age 42 so he doesnt count either : :D

And my personal favorite :

Ehlers blows by defenders in the Q making them look like pylons. Swinging dicks like Virtanen Perlini and Ritchie muck in the front to score their goals so I feel we should draft someone like them.

In other words.............'Ehlers is so fast he makes defenders look like idiots, better not draft that guy!!

Ehlers didn't really blow by anyone in the extended stretch I saw. Nor did he make any defenders look foolish. Maybe in less important games earlier in the season he did? He did buttonhook a lot. He seems a lot less shifty than Drouin certainly. At no time did he score in traffic. Needed open space.

He's not as skilled as Datsyuk or Zetterberg, esp. without the puck, which they're aces at. And Selanne is miles beyond Ehlers offensively. I see a player like Grabner perhaps. He can score.

He's not a physical factor at all. Maybe he shoves back now and then? Not sure. Didn't see anything of note when I watched him. Seemed to float in open areas without the puck and let his teammates do the gruntwork. Even Drouin mixed it up a bit more.

Ehlers is skinny. He weighs 162lbs according to ISS. Like it or not, that's a concern. He may peak at Raymond weight. And Raymond had his back broken.

All the name-dropping in your posts don't mean much, as Ehlers isn't even ranked that high in this weak draft based on his skill. He's a riser, yes. Good for him. But he's still 11th really. Other players in this draft are more skilled, just as fast, and don't have as little strength, little attention paid to defense or as much help (Drouin) attached to them.

In the playoffs Drouin was involved in the majority of Ehlers' points and most of those were on the powerplay. Drouin scored 41 and Ehlers 27. It's pretty clear who helped whom.

Yes, Ehlers scored a pile of points in this scenario. That's why he's gathered some attention. But enough to get all that excited about considering his weaknesses? Nope. Hence him being down the list in most rankings.

Many, many players as fast, slight and skilled as Ehlers have been decent, but not great NHLers. And we don't have to look far back in Canuck history to find a comparable. He reminds me a lot of Raymond.

I hope he gets drafted by an eastern team that has seen Raymond resurrect his career and has seen players like Skinner and Grabner succeed on so-so teams.

This isn't a trolling attempt. This is literally the best case scenario for Ehlers. We should hope he goes to the east. It just makes too much sense for him.

[nuckster33]

You just can't admit Ehlers has a flaw can you?

If Ehlers and Weber go into the corner and have a physical battle for the puck who wins?

Ehlers and Chara are having a battle in front of the net for shot position, who wins?

umm if the majority of nhl'ers go into a corner vs Chara and Weber who wins? you are absurd

[nuckster33]

 

Ehlers didn't really blow by anyone in the extended stretch I saw. Nor did he make any defenders look foolish. Maybe in less important games earlier in the season he did? He did buttonhook a lot. He seems a lot less shifty than Drouin certainly. At no time did he score in traffic. Needed open space.

He's not as skilled as Datsyuk or Zetterberg, esp. without the puck, which they're aces at. And Selanne is miles beyond Ehlers offensively. I see a player like Grabner perhaps. He can score.

He's not a physical factor at all. Maybe he shoves back now and then? Not sure. Didn't see anything of note when I watched him. Seemed to float in open areas without the puck and let his teammates do the gruntwork. Even Drouin mixed it up a bit more.

Ehlers is skinny. He weighs 162lbs according to ISS. Like it or not, that's a concern. He may peak at Raymond weight. And Raymond had his back broken.

All the name-dropping in your posts don't mean much, as Ehlers isn't even ranked that high in this weak draft based on his skill. He's a riser, yes. Good for him. But he's still 11th really. Other players in this draft are more skilled, just as fast, and don't have as little strength, little attention paid to defense or as much help (Drouin) attached to them.

In the playoffs Drouin was involved in the majority of Ehlers' points and most of those were on the powerplay. Drouin scored 41 and Ehlers 27. It's pretty clear who helped whom.

Yes, Ehlers scored a pile of points in this scenario. That's why he's gathered some attention. But enough to get all that excited about considering his weaknesses? Nope. Hence him being down the list in most rankings.

Many, many players as fast, slight and skilled as Ehlers have been decent, but not great NHLers. And we don't have to look far back in Canuck history to find a comparable. He reminds me a lot of Raymond.

I hope he gets drafted by an eastern team that has seen Raymond resurrect his career and has seen players like Skinner and Grabner succeed on so-so teams.

This isn't a trolling attempt. This is literally the best case scenario for Ehlers. We should hope he goes to the east. It just makes too much sense for him.

yes lets build a team of booth clones

lmao

no idea what it takes to build a team do you

[Sweathog]

I have nothing against Ehlers, but IMO he seems to be a high-risk/high-reward type player, someone I wouldn't want to risk a #6 pick with. I'd rather draft someone like Ritchie at #6, or someone who has a higher chance of sticking in the NHL.

I agree that Ehlers has the potential to be a very good player in the NHL, but with the situation the Canucks are in when it comes to youth, they aren't really in a position to take that big a gamble with such a high pick. Of course this is all a moot point if one of the top 5 falls down to us.

[nuckster33]

I have nothing against Ehlers, but IMO he seems to be a high-risk/high-reward type player, someone I wouldn't want to risk a #6 pick with. I'd rather draft someone like Ritchie at #6, or someone who has a higher chance of sticking in the NHL.

I agree that Ehlers has the potential to be a very good player in the NHL, but with the situation the Canucks are in when it comes to youth, they aren't really in a position to take that big a gamble with such a high pick. Of course this is all a moot point if one of the top 5 falls down to us.

I find it pretty amazing how people assume just because assume because a player has more size that they have better odds at being succesful

Firstly, that means size is the only factor that matters or the most important which it is clearly not

People yelling no to ehlers and yes ritchie/vertanen assume implicitly that size is the best predictor of success completely ignoring pure talent

Each player brings different things, but to suggest that one player has a better chance at success because of size is absurd. What about being a better skater? Better hands? Better hockey IQ? none of those factor into the basher argument do they, in regards to their amazing predictions!

Take a look at historical drafts people its always a crap shoot and size is no better a predictor of nhl success than any other factor this is a FACT

Therefore, if drafting a crap shoot, and you have a high pick, like any risk reward calculation, if your risk is arguably the same for any pick past number 2/3 then on a risk adjusted basis you take that opportunity with the highest reward = Ehlers because his ceiling is clearly the highest outside the top 5 and within the top 10.

There is a falacious assumption in many 'Ehlers bashers' that they can predict, with higher certainty, that Ritchie or Vertanen will develop better. This, is as I said, absurd and simply an opinion which is certainly not grounded in any sort of data, because if they looked at history, they would see as I said, that simply being bigger does not translate into NHL success.

You cannot teach skill, speed, and hockey IQ, size, but you can put weight on and gain strength.

[S N Y P E R S 7]

Something tells me you know his favourite restaurant. Lol. I'm kinda hoping we draft him just to see fangirl out or something.

Hopefully it's not Boston Pizza LOL. Hm... I have a feeling he'll like Samurai Sushi or Sushi Mura here in Vancouver.

Seeing as he's the electric ehl, he probably likes fried eel

[JeremyCuddles]

Hopefully it's not Boston Pizza LOL. Hm... I have a feeling he'll like Samurai Sushi or Sushi Mura here in Vancouver.

Seeing as he's the electric ehl, he probably likes fried eel

If he doesn't like sushi Linden better avoid him. Don 't need that here in the west coast.

[Sedintwinpowersactivate]

You guys are wasting your time. The same troll objections these guys are putting up are the exact same ones that were asked and answered 20 pages ago -to the exact same guys.

They find joy in hiding behind the internet with a fake name and argue with other members of their supposed same team in a never ending game of belligerence.

We should get a sticky highlighting these points.

-Ehlers is not 'small' . He is 5ft 11 - 5ft 11.75 and anywhere from 170 to 176 pounds. He is the same size as many fantastic NHL players including Mac Kinnon, Datsyuk , Alfie, Kane, Zetterburg and dozens of others I am too lazy to list. If these players can play in the NHL without getting 'pasted' into the ice, so can Ehlers.

- Ehlers is one of the fastest if not the fastest player with the puck in 2 years. His coach claims he is faster than Mac Kinnon and he would know. He coached all three of Drouin, Mac Kinnon and Ehlers.

- Ehlers played on the same team as Drouin -as did Mac Kinnon before him - but played on a separate line. They played on the PP together as well as doubled up in drastic situations. Ehlers scored 70% of his points without Drouin. Most of the 30% were when they were together on the PP together.

- Ehlers played without Drouin in the lineup for 17 games. He scored 25 points which expanded to a 63 game pace is 94 points.

- Ehlers is not 'soft' on the puck nor a perimeter player. He cuts to the middle, digs in the hard areas, and is one of the best forecheckers in the QMJHL . His +65 rating is the best in the entire QMJHL , 9 points head of the guy who finished 2nd.

-Ehlers had a great run in the playoffs which was only second to Drouin himself. Dominating their first opponents and securing 8 points in 7 games against Anthony Mantha's Val d'Or championship team before falling in game 7.

-Ehlers is hard working. He doesnt take a shift off. He is a consummate pro who does charity work outside of the games like many of the top prospects.

-Ehlers won several awards in the QMJHL although the rookie records were accomplished in his draft year, unlike many others who were 15 or 16 when they entered the league. His 104 points secured him a place with many great players who have also put up these kinds of totals in the QMJHL in their draft year. The players who have done so since the lock out are Sidney Crosby, Derrick Brassard, Claude Girioux , Johnathan Huberdeau and Johnathan Drouin.

-Ehlers had the added hardship of never playing on North American ice before this year. There was another highly touted prospect who came from Europe to play his draft year in the QMJHL recently. Jacob Voracek was imported from the Czech Republic and he went on to put up 86 points , while dressing in 6 fewer games than Ehlers did. Voracek was drafted at #7 in the subsequent NHL draft.

- His dectractors have also tried to discredit him by suggesting our current Vp Trevor Linden doesnt want players such as these. He wants to draft a big winger .

Trevor Linden has extensive experience with Euro wingers. He played with 3 of them during the best periods of his career . The two that come to mind are Markus Naslund and Pavel Bure. Both are 2 of the most cherished and popular Canucks and both have their uniform hanging in the rafters right beside Lindens own jersey.

Linden also has another euro winger playing for him now as well as his twin brother who plays center. While its true they are an inch and even 2 inches taller than Ehlers, both are 185 pounds soaking wet. Both are enormously successful and both will have their numbers hanging beside all the other 'soft euros' who now preside there.

It is said that the Western Conference is too big for Ehlers. In spite of all the players whom are 6ft and under, they seem to think Ehlers is incapable of gaining muscle and the size he was listed at when he stepped off the plane from Denmark at 17 is his final resting place. Or so their belligerent ranting tells you anyways.

It is also been argued that the guy is not strong enough to make the NHL next year so he is immediately deemed a 'project'. So all players who are not ready to make the NHL immediately are headaches who need extra attention lest they bust or self destruct.

Most prospects are not ready to make an impact until they are 21 or 22 years old. High end prospects are often rushed too fast , but sometimes they are not. Whomever our draft pick is far better served to be developed properly, unless we trade up for Reinhart. He might be able to take it at age 19.

These are the put downs that Ehlers fans have to endure almost every day. The more inflammatory ones are humorous and obvious trolling. These include:

-Ehlers is physically smaller than Ritchie and Virtanen ergo he is a girlie man the same size as Jordan Schroeder . We need real he-men like Ritchie and Virtanen who can handle themselves.

- No soft Euro winger has ever won the cup........ and that is the singular threshold we should consider in drafting a player. !! Well, not since the lock out anyways. Ok, Datsyuk and Zetterburg but they are primarily centers. Ok fine Selanne but he is 209 pounds at age 42 so he doesnt count either : :D

And my personal favorite :

Ehlers blows by defenders in the Q making them look like pylons. Swinging dicks like Virtanen Perlini and Ritchie muck in the front to score their goals so I feel we should draft someone like them.

In other words.............'Ehlers is so fast he makes defenders look like idiots, better not draft that guy!!

Well said! I would be happy with Ritchie or Ehlers. Personally I think that Ehlers will be an offensive star in the East or the West. Canucks need grit, speed and offence. Probably speed and offence more than grit. Hence Ehlers= good fit for Canucks

[TOMapleLaughs]

 

yes lets build a team of booth clones

lmao

no idea what it takes to build a team do you

Build a team? Is drafting Ehlers somehow equating to that? Explain. And explain 'Booth clones' too.

[nuckster33]

Build a team? Is drafting Ehlers somehow equating to that? Explain. And explain 'Booth clones' too.

kassian 6'3 215

jensen 6'3 202

mathias 6'4 223

zalewski 6'2 205

archibald 6'3 210

horvat 6'0 206

gaunce 6'2 207

lain 6'6 210

shinkaruk 5'10 181

now, do you see size, two way players missing from that prospect group? or elite skill

thanks

[Sweathog]

I find it pretty amazing how people assume just because assume because a player has more size that they have better odds at being succesful

Firstly, that means size is the only factor that matters or the most important which it is clearly not

People yelling no to ehlers and yes ritchie/vertanen assume implicitly that size is the best predictor of success completely ignoring pure talent

Each player brings different things, but to suggest that one player has a better chance at success because of size is absurd. What about being a better skater? Better hands? Better hockey IQ? none of those factor into the basher argument do they, in regards to their amazing predictions!

Take a look at historical drafts people its always a crap shoot and size is no better a predictor of nhl success than any other factor this is a FACT

Therefore, if drafting a crap shoot, and you have a high pick, like any risk reward calculation, if your risk is arguably the same for any pick past number 2/3 then on a risk adjusted basis you take that opportunity with the highest reward = Ehlers because his ceiling is clearly the highest outside the top 5 and within the top 10.

There is a falacious assumption in many 'Ehlers bashers' that they can predict, with higher certainty, that Ritchie or Vertanen will develop better. This, is as I said, absurd and simply an opinion which is certainly not grounded in any sort of data, because if they looked at history, they would see as I said, that simply being bigger does not translate into NHL success.

You cannot teach skill, speed, and hockey IQ, size, but you can put weight on and gain strength.

I think you are the one who is making assumptions here...

First of all, I am not an "Ehler basher" like you seem to claim I am. I would be happy if the Canucks could aquire a #10 or #11 pick and draft him. I've never claimed to be an expert on Ehlers or Ritchie, but I did do some research, and based on that I feel Ritchie would be a better pick for us. I expressed my opinion, simple as that.

Second of all, when in my previous post did I ever mention size? I thought so. Ritchie's size is a point in his favor, but there are other aspects of his game that I like: his hockey IQ, he's got a wicked wrist shot, he stands up for teammates etc.

And lastly, I do realise that all draft picks are a crapshoot, I just that Ritchie is a better risk for the Canucks to take at #6. You like Ehlers, I get it, that's cool with me. But if Ehlers is such a pure talent, why does ISS rank him #11?

[nuckster33]

I think you are the one who is making assumptions here...

First of all, I am not an "Ehler basher" like you seem to claim I am. I would be happy if the Canucks could aquire a #10 or #11 pick and draft him. I've never claimed to be an expert on Ehlers or Ritchie, but I did do some research, and based on that I feel Ritchie would be a better pick for us. I expressed my opinion, simple as that.

Second of all, when in my previous post did I ever mention size? I thought so. Ritchie's size is a point in his favor, but there are other aspects of his game that I like: his hockey IQ, he's got a wicked wrist shot, he stands up for teammates etc.

And lastly, I do realise that all draft picks are a crapshoot, I just that Ritchie is a better risk for the Canucks to take at #6. You like Ehlers, I get it, that's cool with me. But if Ehlers is such a pure talent, why does ISS rank him #11?

sorry didnt mean to imply you were, meant it in a rhetorical way, others on this board, i can see you just hope whomever we get is a star, i am just trying to point out the false assumptions many are making!

to your point on iss rankings, take a look at history, scouts have always had a size bias (ie see where Sakic was ranked in his draft year, guy had 100pt back to back seasons in the whl and wasn't ranked top ten bc he was too small at 5'11)

and ehlers has only had one year in the Q vs many players who have had 2-3 years minimum in major junior

and finally, players from the Q are typically, unless they are light years ahead of others (Lemieux,Crosby, Mckinnon) seen as a more risky because of again, bias that the Q is an easier league, yet Ehlers put up Crosby like numbers as a rookie, this cannot be ignored.

Dont be surprised to see this debate moot, and see someone take Ehlers before we even pick

[Gollumpus]

I find it pretty amazing how people assume just because assume because a player has more size that they have better odds at being succesful

Firstly, that means size is the only factor that matters or the most important which it is clearly not

People yelling no to ehlers and yes ritchie/vertanen assume implicitly that size is the best predictor of success completely ignoring pure talent

Each player brings different things, but to suggest that one player has a better chance at success because of size is absurd. What about being a better skater? Better hands? Better hockey IQ? none of those factor into the basher argument do they, in regards to their amazing predictions!

Take a look at historical drafts people its always a crap shoot and size is no better a predictor of nhl success than any other factor this is a FACT

Therefore, if drafting a crap shoot, and you have a high pick, like any risk reward calculation, if your risk is arguably the same for any pick past number 2/3 then on a risk adjusted basis you take that opportunity with the highest reward = Ehlers because his ceiling is clearly the highest outside the top 5 and within the top 10.

There is a falacious assumption in many 'Ehlers bashers' that they can predict, with higher certainty, that Ritchie or Vertanen will develop better. This, is as I said, absurd and simply an opinion which is certainly not grounded in any sort of data, because if they looked at history, they would see as I said, that simply being bigger does not translate into NHL success.

You cannot teach skill, speed, and hockey IQ, size, but you can put weight on and gain strength.

I don't have a dog in this fight. If the Canucks were to choose Ehlers, fine. I'll cheer for the kid. If the Canucks were able to drfat Ritchie I'll cheer for him as well.

What I find amazing is how people assume that just because a player has more size he would be the lesser of two choices.

Size is not the only factor or the most important. This being said, size, and the knowledge, ability, training and will to use it effectively is a very important factor. It appears to be something which is constantly being overlooked by "smaller" player advocates.

As I see it, people who say yes to Ritchie are not "completely ignoring the pure talent" of Ehlers, but rather are accepting a trade off. Does Ritchie lack Ehlers' talent? It would appear so. This being said, Ritchie is still a pretty skilled player, something which is glossed over by Ehlers fans. Advocates of Ritchie are willing to take a bit less of the kind of talent Ehlers' has in exchange for the advantages that a larger player brings.

It is good to see that you acknowledge that each player brings "different things" to the table. This being said, you go on to suggest that size is the only thing that a player like Ritchie has in his favour. Ritchie is a pretty good skater, has good hands and shows good hockey IQ. Once again, advocates of Ritchie are willing to take a bit less of the virtues which Ehlers (supposedly will display at the NHL level) in exchange for size.

Drafts can be a crap shoot. Large players fail and small players fail, or succeed. This being said, players (regardless of size) who are rated with loads of talent also fail. If there is little certainty that any guy a team picks will succeed (as you suggest), then it seems to me that they would be better off drafting the larger guy. If the small guy fails as a top-6, he spends his time in the AHL, KHL or elsewhere. If the big guy fails to be a top-6 player, there's better chances that he can still be a very serviceable 3rd/4th liner.

It should be noted that "falacious assumptions" are not restricted to one side or the other.

Your last comment is a bit misleading. Skill can be taught, otherwise Ehlers wouldn't be the player he is, right? Players can improve their on ice performance, with proper coaching. Are we talking going from a 4th liner to Gretzky? No, but there can be improvement. A player's skating ability can be improved. And if the player is already starting at a higher level of talent, and has size, then that is a pretty good gamble.

Players generally put on weight as they get older and physically mature. Smaller players do not put on enough weight/muscle so as to be confused with a larger alternative over which they were drafted, or if they do, then the skill and skating ability as usually negatively affected, no?

regards,

G.

[Sweathog]

sorry didnt mean to imply you were, meant it in a rhetorical way, others on this board, i can see you just hope whomever we get is a star, i am just trying to point out the false assumptions many are making!

to your point on iss rankings, take a look at history, scouts have always had a size bias (ie see where Sakic was ranked in his draft year, guy had 100pt back to back seasons in the whl and wasn't ranked top ten bc he was too small at 5'11)

and ehlers has only had one year in the Q vs many players who have had 2-3 years minimum in major junior

and finally, players from the Q are typically, unless they are light years ahead of others (Lemieux,Crosby, Mckinnon) seen as a more risky because of again, bias that the Q is an easier league, yet Ehlers put up Crosby like numbers as a rookie, this cannot be ignored.

Dont be surprised to see this debate moot, and see someone take Ehlers before we even pick

No apologies necessary, misinterpretation on both sides I think.

You make a good point on the ISS rankings, Detroit has certainly proven scouts wrong with the gems they have picked with the later rounds, and Ehlers could easily be the dark horse of this draft. Just want a solid pick this year. Go Canucks Go!

[S N Y P E R S 7]

Kevin Fiala has a broader, more heavy-set build than Ehlers.

That being said, he's not going top ten.

He's an amazing player and will be a top 6 forward in the NHL, but when you look at the other players available for top 10, he doesn't come close to them.

We could trade down, or get Fiala in a package deal for a lower pick.