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Post by seventeen on May 22, 2018 23:04:02 GMT -5
I can’t like the Titan and I think I’ve figured out why. They’re an old team. I looked up their top 7 or 8 guys. One is 18, 1 is19 and the rest are 20 or 21. I wouldn’t be surprised to find their average age is at least 1 year more than the other 3 teams in the tournament. You like to see guys who’ll be stars in the NHL and there's a dearth on the Titan. Dobson is one. Rubtsov could make the NHL, maybe, and that’s it.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 23, 2018 9:40:36 GMT -5
Dobson is going to be a good one. You can see why he is one of the top five defenders in next month's draft.
I guess this is as good a thread as any to point out the implications of the last round robin game tonight between the two WHL teams: Regina and Swift Current. If Regina wins, then there is a three way tie at 2-1 records. Acadie-Bathurst gets the bye to the final on Sunday based on goal differential in the games that these three teams played against each other. If Speedy Creek wins, then Hamilton goes to Sunday's final, Bathurst goes to the semi, and Regina and Swift Current play a tie breaker game tomorrow to see who goes to the semi.
Right now Bitten is guaranteed to play in the playoffs. Fleury and Regina will if they win tonight or if they lose tonight and then win the tie breaker tomorrow night. So far, our two prospects still have at least one hockey game each to play, and hopefully more.
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Post by seventeen on May 23, 2018 12:07:21 GMT -5
I haven't been impressed with the WHL representatives the last few years in the Mem Cup. I don't think the WHL is behind in talent, but its interesting to note that in the past 5 drafts, from 2013 to 2018, the WHL has had 4 guys picked in the top 5, so that's 4 out of 25 and 8 out of the top 10, or 8 out of 50. That's not great, so what seems clearer is that they aren't producing the elite players anymore...the guys who can make a difference. Those 4 guys in the top 5 were Sam Reinhart, Nolan Patrick, Leon Draisaitl and Seth Jones. The last 2 are guys who are closer to the elite category at this time, but compare those names to McKinnon, Nischier, McDavid, Marner etc. The Q and the O are attracting high end players while the W not so much. This year, Robert Thomas is standing out at the MEm cup and he could be an excellent player, while Swift Currenthas no one who was a first round pick and Regina has Sam Steel alone who was a first round pick. I'm not saying these are bad teams (though this might be the weakest group of teams in quite a while), but there are no players who will be super stars in the NHL (obviously I could be wrong, but right now, there's no one with that potential). Thomas is the most likely and then Steel and Dobson, but they are long shots
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 23, 2018 18:44:55 GMT -5
Seattle was terrible last year, but they were a surprise league champ. Swift Current played a league record 26 playoffs games and have lost their best player in the first game. They were way better in the Regina and Moose Jaw series for example. But you are so right, it has been a bad stretch for the Dub for too long.
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Post by seventeen on May 23, 2018 22:59:47 GMT -5
I wondered what happened to Steenbergen. Is he out for the season? Top draft on SC seems to be Heponiemi, at 40th overall.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 23, 2018 23:21:44 GMT -5
I wondered what happened to Steenbergen. Is he out for the season? Top draft on SC seems to be Heponiemi, at 40th overall. Hit from Titan captain Viel in his first game. No disclosure of the nature of injury. It is do or die for SC tonight, so if he was close to returning you figure they would have played him. |
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Post by seventeen on May 23, 2018 23:33:34 GMT -5
Cale Fleury. Soon to be two wins away from a Mem cup championship. Bitten vs Fleury on Friday.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 24, 2018 7:38:20 GMT -5
Cale Fleury. Soon to be two wins away from a Mem cup championship. Bitten vs Fleury on Friday. Yup, we will have a prospect in the final. That was a crazy finish to the SC Regina game last night. A flurry of goals back and forth late in the third, a too many men penalty by Skinner that was the momentum shifter. |
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Post by seventeen on May 24, 2018 13:26:06 GMT -5
It was a really weird, strange game....but terrifically exciting. I also thought the officiating was pretty good. Did you also notice that it didn't seem to take them ages to figure out a review? The NHL could learn from the CHL. Heck the NHL could learn from a fire hydrant. They are incredibly obtuse.
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Post by franko on May 24, 2018 16:01:26 GMT -5
It was a really weird, strange game....but terrifically exciting. I also thought the officiating was pretty good. Did you also notice that it didn't seem to take them ages to figure out a review? The NHL could learn from the CHL. Heck the NHL could learn from a fire hydrant. They are incredibly obtuse. |
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Post by blny on May 26, 2018 0:03:20 GMT -5
Fleury comes out ahead of Bitten. Pats off to final with 4-2 win. Fleury was a physical presence all game. Bitten was Hamilton's best forward imo. Scored a big goal late. Thought Thomas was largely invisible. Hamilton goalie makes a brutal play that leads to game winner.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 26, 2018 8:26:59 GMT -5
It was another entertaining game. This year’s Memorial Cup has been full of them.
Bitten’s goal was a beauty. It featured his speed and nice hands. It was also huge as it drew the Bulldogs to within one goal with four left in the third. Clutch. In the video you also see big Fleury coming across from the right of the screen. Bitten had beaten Fleury’s partner to the puck and Cale made a decent effort to try and catch and angle out Bitten, but he was too fast and already had too much space on his side.
As blny said, Fleury was physical as usual. Some of his hits really hurt guys, as a few times guys lumbered back to the bench after meeting #4. He reads the play really well, and uses his mobility to angle out guys and often physically stop them in their tracks. Mahura is their offensive go-to guy on D, so Fleury gets to be the top shut down guy. He also jumps in the play too, and gets a lot of his point shots through. He was in the slot with a gaping net at one point last night, but the puck jumped over his stick in what would have been an almost certain goal. Every time Thomas’ line was out, so was Fleury.
Should be a good final on Sunday.
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Post by seventeen on May 26, 2018 11:28:45 GMT -5
Fleury does indeed punish with his hits and at least they're clean. His exit passes aren't bad and his speed is ok, so I think he's got a chance to make the NHL. He's not offensively creative enough yet to be a top pairing guy, but he very much on his way to being a shut down #4, for example, who doesn't hurt you when he has the puck.
Bitten woke up after a sleepy first 3 games.
Let's hope the Pats play as well against the Titan and Fleury can claim a juniour championship. I love it when our players experience winning.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 27, 2018 20:09:03 GMT -5
It is the Max Paddock show after two. He is the only reason this game is not over already.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 27, 2018 21:14:27 GMT -5
Bathurst win 3-0 for their first ever Memorial Cup.
Too bad for Fleury, as it would have been nice to have another prospect with a big championship on his resume. He did make a few big hits in the third, including this one.
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Post by folatre on May 27, 2018 21:27:29 GMT -5
Bathurst played the best in the tournament, so the outcome feels right.
This was Fleury's hit right before the empty-netter, no? He really crushed the Titan player rushing the puck.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 27, 2018 22:34:26 GMT -5
Bathurst played the best in the tournament, so the outcome feels right. This was Fleury's hit right before the empty-netter, no? He really crushed the Titan player rushing the puck. Yes, Bathurst deserved this. That hit was just before the empty netter. Earlier he crushed Viel into the boards behind the net. Viel went to the bench all hunched over. It was a payback hit as Viel caught Fleury right before on the shift when he pinched in the Bathurst end. |
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Post by folatre on May 28, 2018 11:20:55 GMT -5
NW, I know Cale looks a lot like his older brother in terms of stature and body type. Was Hayden's game in the WHL characterized by physicality and hitting?
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 28, 2018 11:50:16 GMT -5
NW, I know Cale looks a lot like his older brother in terms of stature and body type. Was Hayden's game in the WHL characterized by physicality and hitting? Haydn was considered a very good overall defender, that did everything good but nothing great (as of his draft year). He was always in the shadows of Ekblad that draft when it came to draft eligible defenders. He was physical and was able to angle guys out or use his size to lean on them along the boards. He was not seen as aggressive a hitter as Cale has turned out to be this season. I think Cale looks for that big hit more than his brother did while with the Rebels. At least from what I can remember!! |
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Post by seventeen on May 28, 2018 12:38:49 GMT -5
From the little I saw, I'd say Cale needs to improve his foot speed a bit. Not that he's a bad skater, but he seems to cruise a bit and in the NHL, that just ensures you don't get to the puck first. Normal development required.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on May 28, 2018 14:14:07 GMT -5
From the little I saw, I'd say Cale needs to improve his foot speed a bit. Not that he's a bad skater, but he seems to cruise a bit and in the NHL, that just ensures you don't get to the puck first. Normal development required. That's why I think it would be a good idea to sign him this summer. You can cheat a bit in juniors on the foot speed, but it is a lot harder in the AHL where things move faster. He will learn that better playing against men rather than against younger teenagers. And with the changes in the coaching staff in Laval, it is no longer a development black hole...so let our players get there and learn. |
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Post by seventeen on May 28, 2018 17:23:12 GMT -5
From the little I saw, I'd say Cale needs to improve his foot speed a bit. Not that he's a bad skater, but he seems to cruise a bit and in the NHL, that just ensures you don't get to the puck first. Normal development required. That's why I think it would be a good idea to sign him this summer. You can cheat a bit in juniors on the foot speed, but it is a lot harder in the AHL where things move faster. He will learn that better playing against men rather than against younger teenagers. And with the changes in the coaching staff in Laval, it is no longer a development black hole...so let our players get there and learn. My attitude toward players going to Laval has totally changed. I used to cringe, thinking of the Lefebvring they'd be subjected to, but they'll be in much better hands with Bouchard. As an aside, to give you an idea of the previous quality, Don Dufresne has just gotten a job with Rimouski Oceanic. As an assistant coach. I'm glad for Dufresne as it's good for him to be employed again, but to go from an assistant in the AHL to an Assistant in the Q is a bit of a drop. No word yet on what Nic Carriere's future holds for him. |
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