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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 18, 2013 17:16:36 GMT -5
Leagues have started in Europe, and CHL seasons are getting underway, so perfect time to refresh our general prospect thread so we can keep up to date on their upcoming year. My first update is on 2013 second rounder Jacob DeLaRose who will be playing out his last contract year with his club who was newly promoted to the SHL (the new acronym for the top Swedish league). Now that the battle between Windsor and his Swedish club as to where he will be playing is over, we can focus on how he does on what should be a weak SHL team, and whether he gets a bit more ice time and opportunity to develop his offensive game. In only his second SHL game, he found the back of the net and also added an assist. He now has two points in his first two games. He is a guy I am quite glad we drafted, so hope to see him develop well this season as he is still only 18 years old. He is #9 in white. m.youtube.com/watch?v=L8DIt2CUud4&feature=player_embedded&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DL8DIt2CUud4%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded |
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Post by seventeen on Sept 18, 2013 20:38:25 GMT -5
I wasn't all that excited over the pick, because I had these visions of invisible force fields in front of opposing nets while JDR was shooting. He impressed the hell out of me in the WJC, with the exception of scoring production. You couldn't miss him because he was always in the action. If and I repeat, if, he somehow has discovered a scoring touch, then he'll have been a terrific pick. No biggie on the assist, but I liked his goal. A tip while in front and then picking up the rebound and roofing it so the goalie had no chance.
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Post by frozone on Sept 18, 2013 21:16:17 GMT -5
I've seen JDR play a couple times and his game reminds me a lot of Eller's. I know they play different positions, but they are both extremely athletic players and they are both hounds on the puck.
Even if JDR never becomes a significant point producer, he can still become a very important player. Its kinda surprising he was still available 34 imo because his downside is still quite high.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 18, 2013 21:40:54 GMT -5
I am a fan of this kid, so I hope we have a good one here. As I watched the TSN draft preview show tonight, I was reminded that they had DLR in their top ten at this point last season. Then he got limited 4th line ice time on his 2nd division team in a checking role, and he dropped as questions emerged about his offensive upside.
The kid has a pro style body already, checks and hits hard, wore the C for Sweden at the U18s and never seems to take shifts off. Most of the draft guides figured he had at least an NHL checking forward potential, so he was seen to be more of a safe pick as the draft neared.
Windsor put up a pretty big fight to get the kid over to the OHL this summer, and you don't do that for what you see is only a checking forward. You find them closer to home and dont use one of your Euro spots up. They were ready to put him in all key situations. TT's interviews after the draft let you know that he really likes this kid's potential.
Our top three picks from this past draft (McCarron, DLR and Fucale) could end up being a very good haul for us for many years to come. Time will tell.
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Post by blny on Sept 19, 2013 6:25:25 GMT -5
It's only one game, but he displays some pretty nice hands and vision.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 25, 2013 15:39:20 GMT -5
Our late second rounder from this past June is off to a good start in the Finnish league. His team is struggling to find offence with only 9 goals in their first 5 games; however, Artturi Lehkonen is doing his part with 5 points in those said games. He is a July birthday, so well towards the younger end of the 2013 draft. He was the Finnish men's league rookie of the year last year and has speed, incredible skill, and is a hard worker on the ice. His stock was really rising during the second half of the season, but there were always doubts about size. He has a skinny frame right now, so it will be important to see how his frame fills out over the next few years. He had a very productive WJC summer tournament in Lake Placid, so he should be a blast to watch in Sweden this upcoming year at the WJC. He is #62 in dark jerseys, and scores on a nice wrister on the PP. the speculation is that his gold on his helmet is because he is the team's leading scorer. Some things happening with some of our CHL kids, so will provide a bit of an update in a short while. Here is Lehkonen's latest goal. m.youtube.com/watch?v=55wMbiOuVdU&feature=player_embedded&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D55wMbiOuVdU%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 27, 2013 17:26:35 GMT -5
Let's chat about another one of our 2013 draft picks, in fact, our last one chosen. Jeremy Gregoire was picked in the 6th round of this year's draft, so a very late pick. The kid was one of the youngest in the draft, being a Sept birthdate; however, he already has decent size for a just turned 18 year old at 6'0" 190. TT at the draft talked about his work ethic and clutch points in the Q, and the prospect reports I read did see a good hard worker who goes to the net, but all three reports knocked his skating, and some were quite critical of it. He will need to get a more explosive first steps and better top end speed, but one report did like his overall skating stride. Young Jeremy is on a very strong Baie-Comeau team, and he is lighting it up in the first three games of the season. He now has 8 points in those three games, with multiple point nights in all his games. He is #10 in these videos, so have a peek. m.youtube.com/watch?v=FRvj1rNAcSg&feature=player_embedded&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFRvj1rNAcSg%26feature%3Dplayer_embeddedm.youtube.com/watch?v=eaNYQ0-V3ls&feature=player_embedded&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DeaNYQ0-V3ls%26feature%3Dplayer_embeddedIn other news, big Mike McCarron makes his London Knights debut tonight. He won't be playing with Bo Horvat, as the Nucks announced that they are keeping him to start the season. They have the 9 games to play with, but hopefully he is back in London to help boost that very strong lineup and likely play a lot of time with big Mike. |
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Post by seventeen on Sept 27, 2013 17:51:47 GMT -5
A couple of things stand out for me in those highlights. The kid has a very quick release. There were several examples of pucks coming to him and he just does not let the puck settle. It's off his stick right now. He also goes to the net, off his shots for rebounds and off the shots of others. So he can get garbage goals, and that's a good thing. It was hard to tell how his skating is. I certainly didn't see any explosiveness but he seems to be able to make or find space. If you can't skate well, that's a necessary skill.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 27, 2013 22:03:09 GMT -5
A couple of things stand out for me in those highlights. The kid has a very quick release. There were several examples of pucks coming to him and he just does not let the puck settle. It's off his stick right now. He also goes to the net, off his shots for rebounds and off the shots of others. So he can get garbage goals, and that's a good thing. It was hard to tell how his skating is. I certainly didn't see any explosiveness but he seems to be able to make or find space. If you can't skate well, that's a necessary skill. I am sure the torid scoring pace will drop off sooner rather than later, but I don't think it will disappear for the reasons you mention seventeen. The kid goes to the net and keeps his feet moving and seems to have good instincts. Gotta cheer for those long shots! Mike MacCarron had his first OHL fight tonight and then finished things off with his first OHL goal. Check out the board work on the goal. Again, he goes to the net and good things happen. I cannot wait to see this team once (if) Horvat and Domi are returned. m.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-RvIihflFyU&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D-RvIihflFyU%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 28, 2013 8:04:30 GMT -5
19 year old Connor Crisp was a surprise pick to many when TT went off the grid a bit and picked the big rugged forward with our first third round pick this summer. He was passed over in his first draft year, where he lost most of it to injury. He manages just one assist in his mere six games. He bounced back nicely with 22 goals last year on a bad team, but he was known for his size and willingness to drop the mitts. The guy is 6'3" 226 already, so you think big tough guy. In the early third? But the guy has pretty decent hockey iq and some skills. The knock in the one scouting report I could find is skating, both about speed and heavy feet. Anyway, Connor was traded to Sudbury at the beginning of the season, and was held off the scoresheet in his first game with his new team. Not so last night, where he managed two goals and an assist. He is #77 in white. m.youtube.com/watch?v=X21F3zpsoGc&feature=player_embedded&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DX21F3zpsoGc%26feature%3Dplayer_embeddedHudon is wearing the C this season and had two goals last night including the OT winner. m.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AN3xhneT7dI&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DAN3xhneT7dI%26feature%3Dplayer_embeddedIn some other CHL prospect news, tiny buzz bomb Martin Reway who had everyone talking early on in camp, clearly had a little pro camp hangover. He and his team got shutout in their first game, and coach Benoit Groulx made Reway a healthy scratch the next game. He was back playing last night, so let's see if message has been received. Tim Bozon has been held pointless in his first 3 WHL games so far. Kamloops has lost some big players, so time for Tim to get out of the perimeter and engage more as I am sure his coaches and team mates will be expecting of him. |
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Post by seventeen on Sept 28, 2013 11:32:32 GMT -5
On last night's AHL exhibition game stats, I see that Dalton Thrower got two assists. He's a December birthday, so I suspect he doesn't have to go back to juniour. Does anyone know if the Habs have signed him to a pro contract? Is he staying in Hamilton? Cheers.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 28, 2013 12:50:39 GMT -5
On last night's AHL exhibition game stats, I see that Dalton Thrower got two assists. He's a December birthday, so I suspect he doesn't have to go back to juniour. Does anyone know if the Habs have signed him to a pro contract? Is he staying in Hamilton? Cheers. No contract yet. The Habs have to decide soon what they want to do with him. After last season that just never seemed to work out for him in Saskatoon, getting to go back to Vancouver under Don Hay, play big minutes, and be a leader on that team is a good option for his development. The Giants have not named their captain yet and are awaiting Montreal's final decision on Thrower. I am sure he would prefer playing pro, but it is going to be crowded in Hamilton and he likely would end up in the ECHL. A note from last night's game...Akim Aliu has been very good in camp and had two assists last night. He has a lot of tools, the question has been about the tool box. He is big, tough, skates well, has skill and the Berg knows him from CHI days. I hope they get him under contract as a result of his good effort to this point, we don't have a lot of guys like him. If we can get a potentially bigger, tougher, far more skilled Mike Blunden for free...why not?! A lot of his "baggage" comes from his junior days and that wing nut Downie, but he also had some reports of bar fights. The Berg and management will be in a far better position to assess if they think he has matured past that, or if he will just never quite get out of that label. I would send Thrower to the Dub, and sign try out Aliu to a deal of some sort. The Habs are at 45 contracts out of 50 now that the five junior aged kids with contracts have all been returned to junior/Sweden. Those contracts now slide to next year, at a minimum. |
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Post by seventeen on Sept 28, 2013 15:19:29 GMT -5
Yes, having him under Don Hay would be very good for DT and it ensures he'll get a lot of ice time. That's not going to happen in Hamilton and if he ends up in the ECHL, then his skill development will be slowed (and his knuckles will get more wear and tear).
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 29, 2013 14:18:43 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Sept 30, 2013 16:55:00 GMT -5
And some more Thrower news, he was just named the new captain of the Vancouver Giants. From the perennial doghouse in Saskatoon last season to being giving a clear leadership role and expectation in Vancouver. Has to be good for his development this season. vancouvergiants.com/article/dalton-thrower-named-captain |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Sept 30, 2013 17:46:42 GMT -5
And some more Thrower news, he was just named the new captain of the Vancouver Giants. From the perennial doghouse in Saskatoon last season to being giving a clear leadership role and expectation in Vancouver. Has to be good for his development this season. vancouvergiants.com/article/dalton-thrower-named-captainAs usual ypou are providing info I can't get anywhere else in LA. Thanks for a great job. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 1, 2013 11:48:49 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 6, 2013 10:22:19 GMT -5
Not a bad weekend for some of our CHL prospects. Captain Dalton Thrower made his Giants debut on Friday night and had a goal and an assist and the second star in a losing cause. Tim Bozon snapped his four game pointless streak on Friday with a goal and the first star. Brady Vail continued his hot hand with a goal on Friday, as he now has 8 points in his first five games with Windsor. McCarron returned to action this weekend after his minor shoulder injury forced him to miss a bit. They eased him back on the third line, but he still managed two helpers last night. He has 4 points in his first 4 OHL games now. Zack Fucale won two tight games this weekend, as both were settled in OT/SO. Good to see him battle in those close ones! Jeremy Gregoire had two more goals last night including the GWG, he now has 8 goals already! Martin Reway missed some time last week with some illness, but had a nice return with a goal and an assist last night and was named the game's first star. Our lads over in Europe have been pretty quiet this past week/weekend. The highlights from London's game last night. McCarron's assists are at 1:24 and 2:07. He is big #24 in white. ontariohockeyleague.com/video/index/id/329fb9ac6e0407d4d099d8507df5886c |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 6, 2013 14:37:23 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 8, 2013 10:36:00 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 8, 2013 16:03:40 GMT -5
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Post by sergejean on Oct 9, 2013 23:12:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the links. Greatly appreciated!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 11, 2013 12:37:55 GMT -5
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Post by oldhabsfan on Oct 13, 2013 0:16:31 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 13, 2013 20:56:59 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 14, 2013 18:50:31 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 18, 2013 13:00:56 GMT -5
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Oct 30, 2013 12:51:38 GMT -5
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Post by GNick99 on Oct 31, 2013 1:46:20 GMT -5
Good chance to get my first viewing on Gregoire |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Nov 1, 2013 4:47:54 GMT -5
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