GDT: 2022 Rookie Faceoff @SJ TechCU Arena (9/16/22 - 9/19/22)

[Raccoon Jesus]

It's a 3-2 league or something

 

[Steve Zissou]

 

[Mcsorley47]

Clarke looked great and Byfield Too.

Happy.

 

[King'sPawn]

Unfortunate. Several players played well.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I agree with @Herby to a degree that at some point production matters, but Byfield set up a couple of basically empty nets, and did everything but score. He looks like a dude on the verge of breaking through. Everything is just one inch off the goal line right now, that rush at the end would have been poetic.

 

[Statto]

Clarke and Byfield were obviously the 2 main guys out there. I can’t offer a meaningful view on if the play of Clarke will translate but if it does Blake has some big decisions to make. Its a great problem to have but Walker must be sweating…

 

[Herby]

I agree with @Herby to a degree that at some point production matters, but Byfield set up a couple of basically empty nets, and did everything but score. He looks like a dude on the verge of breaking through. Everything is just one inch off the goal line right now, that rush at the end would have been poetic.

I agree, he looks great. But yes, there has to be some production eventually, especially when it comes to goal-scoring in a setting like this.

He is way to good a skater and has way to good of a shot to have the goal-scoring results that he has across both the NHL and AHL level so far.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Clarke looks great. Hope he can make the opening night roster because sending him back to Junior would be like sending Elon musk to high school physics class.

 

[Herby]

I’m sure Herby can make Byfield score in this game in his PlayStation where he’s owner and GM.

Yet another wonderful contribution from one of the Disciples of Axl.

Just made an observation (far far from a criticism) followed by a glowing review of another player and that is not good enough for these people, it's truly amazing.

But yes I think Byfield is terrible and don't believe in him when last week I put my money where my mouth is by betting on his production this coming season. But I think he sucks and am a hater.

Clarke looks great. Hope he can make the opening night roster because sending him back to Junior would be like sending Elon musk to high school physics class.

I agree, based on how he looks tonight he is not going to be challenged if he is in the OHL next season. I bought tickets to see him play in Soo early in the year and I don't expect he is there. He at worst should get a chance to show what he can do at the NHL level.

The only thing though, Byfield was not going to be challenged going back to the OHL after his draft year (he had a PPG through the roof) but the Kings were apparently going to send him back had the season not been cancelled. While this might look like a no-brainer, don't underestimate the Kings and their almost dogmatic belief in slow-cooking and exposing players to the AHL before the NHL.

But still, I am betting he breaks camp with the team, they desperately need a guy like this.

Unfortunate. Several players played well.

Two players who probably have a realistic shot of spending meaningful time in the NHL this season and both looked good, two best on the ice for the Kings. That is what you want to see in a setting like this. As discussed earlier, I'd like to see QB find himself in position where he can score a couple of goals in the next couple of games to build on that going into camp. As I mentioned to RJ, only 17 goals in 92 pro-games, for someone with his size, skating and shot you want to see that creep up. I think he has the skills to score 20+ as early as this season.

 

[Telos]

I loved Byfield and Clarke. I think Byfield, if he doesn't start dominating, might suffer from a little bit of Frolov syndrome because he plays a little bit of a lackadaisical game and his skating and skill can give off a feeling of nonchalance that will be labeled as laziness if numbers don't inevitably follow. Still looked good and you can tell that many of the kids weren't used to playing with each other much and didn't offer much chemistry. Hopefully, we see a better result next game. No complaints on the same day Kings hockey returns. Hockey is back, baby! GKG!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

MOstly just copying and pasting what I said elsewhere:

At some point production matters but Byfield did everything but score. Pretty sure he didn't lose a faceoff, his line never left the offensive zone unless he did, he set up two basically empty nets that wouldn't go, and had a great rush at the end that was just neutralized by a good play by Annunen. Physically, he threw a few hits and stiffarmed one guy to the ground and a couple of others, his puck protection looked like Anze today. He's a guy who's basically one inch away from breaking through constantly. The process is there for sure. He looks ready. He's just boring as shit, like Kopitar. obviously I'm biased but he looks like a much more confident, stronger guy than last year, coming from a guy who has watched nearly every minute of all his pro games including AHL.

Clarke is an absolute madman and I'm here for it. Kings are going to have a hard decision to make on him.

Other Kings that looked good were Pinelli--set up some great plays, was pretty fast and feisty, Taylor Ward--plays a simply pro game but effective, he may push for a surprise depth spot, Nousiainen--just so solid and smooth all around, Helenius--absolute monster, faster than he gets credit for, lot of smart simple plays, and Madden--such a smooth skater and playmaker, seemed to complement Byfield well. Not so good--Grans was sloppy as hell, still very raw. Ingham--up and down, if he gets a clean look he's a brick wall, if he gets even a fly in his vision he falls apart. Jamsen is fun as hell but very raw. Didn't really get much else from any other forward or dman, it was an expectedly choppy game.

 

[Schrute farms]

We definitely need some true finishers.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

We definitely need some true finishers.

Chromiak, Kaliyev, even Simontaival, Fagemo....we have the lottery tickets

 

[Maynard]

Blake and Murray must be SO pissed they can’t put Clarke in the AHL this season.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Brandt Clarke is going to be a problem.

Sky is the limit but this guy's vision and improvisation is second to none. His ability to shake checks and buy time and space is better than even rookie Doughty.

 

[yankeeking]

I do not understand why they have QB on the half wall , i know he has great passes but also has great hand to eye coordination and is 6-4 and 220 minimum seems like in front of the net would be the place on the PP at least, in the one good WJC game we hear about he was planted in front and tipped in a couple that game. Not pretending to know enough to second guess but it seams like they want him to follow kopi's lead just on the other side

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I do not understand why they have QB on the half wall , i know he has great passes but also has great hand to eye coordination and is 6-4 and 220 minimum seems like in front of the net would be the place on the PP at least, in the one good WJC game we hear about he was planted in front and tipped in a couple that game. Not pretending to know enough to second guess but it seams like they want him to follow kopi's lead just on the other side

He did it in ontario too, half his goals were using his size, reach, strength to score within 10 feet of the net

But it's a tossup, if he's going to be your best offensive player, you probably don't want him just hanging out on the doorstep, you want him getting touches.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

FWIW, and Sturm also said he came into camp in phenomenal shape



Granted it was his peers but it showed today, his power game was unbelievable, night and day difference from last year there. that play where he stiffarmed the Av to the ground was great

 

[Schmooley]

MOstly just copying and pasting what I said elsewhere:

At some point production matters but Byfield did everything but score. Pretty sure he didn't lose a faceoff, his line never left the offensive zone unless he did, he set up two basically empty nets that wouldn't go, and had a great rush at the end that was just neutralized by a good play by Annunen. Physically, he threw a few hits and stiffarmed one guy to the ground and a couple of others, his puck protection looked like Anze today. He's a guy who's basically one inch away from breaking through constantly. The process is there for sure. He looks ready. He's just boring as shit, like Kopitar. obviously I'm biased but he looks like a much more confident, stronger guy than last year, coming from a guy who has watched nearly every minute of all his pro games including AHL.

Clarke is an absolute madman and I'm here for it. Kings are going to have a hard decision to make on him.

Other Kings that looked good were Pinelli--set up some great plays, was pretty fast and feisty, Taylor Ward--plays a simply pro game but effective, he may push for a surprise depth spot, Nousiainen--just so solid and smooth all around, Helenius--absolute monster, faster than he gets credit for, lot of smart simple plays, and Madden--such a smooth skater and playmaker, seemed to complement Byfield well. Not so good--Grans was sloppy as hell, still very raw. Ingham--up and down, if he gets a clean look he's a brick wall, if he gets even a fly in his vision he falls apart. Jamsen is fun as hell but very raw. Didn't really get much else from any other forward or dman, it was an expectedly choppy game.

Yea Byfield was good on faceoffs and he was doing things positionally that will keep him in the lineup on a Mclellan coached NHL team. Things that were missing from his game last year he seemed to focus on which is great.
Its really just the finish. Its almost like if he scored his first game last year on that Kopitar-esque rush when he burned Girard his confidence would be at a different level and hed be putting up points. It looks like he knows he is having trouble finishing and needs to relax when he has his chances.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I agree, he looks great. But yes, there has to be some production eventually, especially when it comes to goal-scoring in a setting like this.

He is way to good a skater and has way to good of a shot to have the goal-scoring results that he has across both the NHL and AHL level so far.

Everything I've read said his shot was average.......unless I completely misread it

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Next draft hopefully the focus is on “sniper knows how to find the back of the net.”

 

[King'sPawn]

Two players who probably have a realistic shot of spending meaningful time in the NHL this season and both looked good, two best on the ice for the Kings. That is what you want to see in a setting like this. As discussed earlier, I'd like to see QB find himself in position where he can score a couple of goals in the next couple of games to build on that going into camp. As I mentioned to RJ, only 17 goals in 92 pro-games, for someone with his size, skating and shot you want to see that creep up. I think he has the skills to score 20+ as early as this season.

I thought more than 2 players looked good, unless I'm being too literal. I thought Byfield, Clarke, Helenius, and Nousiainen all looked very good.

Pinelli, Ward, and Madden all looked decent.

Regarding Byfield's production, I think we both know his statline doesn't reflect his level of play.
- I didn't see any specific stats, but he only lost a handful of faceoffs (I'm guessing around 4)
- one opportunity he was at the side of the net and he missed his one-timer
- at the end of the game, he used his speed and size to try chipping the puck with a net drive, but used his momentum to help recover the puck
- on multiple occasions, he picked the pocket either controlled by the opposition or 50/50 pucks.
- there was the zone entry where he threaded the puck through multiple players leading to a scoring chance
- he, himself, had at least 3 quality scoring chances with a clean shot in a high-danger area

The points, on average, will come with performances like this.

I understand the position about production, but I just focus on the how. As long as his level of play continues to improve, the points will come.

However, I think this game also is a good example of Byfield being a project. Despite his skillset, at his age, he's not a "carry the line" level yet. He really needs to have good veterans alongside him to reinforce these good habits, so he can produce as well.

Edit: also, while this is a "tourney", it's glorified exhibition among rookies and prospects. Spence, Chromiak, and Thomas all sat today. Clearly winning is a bonus, but these matches are about getting your skating legs in and showing "good habits".

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Next draft hopefully the focus is on “sniper knows how to find the back of the net.”

And “gowlee.”

 

[Little Psycho]

Brandt Clarke is going to be a problem.

Sky is the limit but this guy's vision and improvisation is second to none. His ability to shake checks and buy time and space is better than even rookie Doughty.

Sounds like Doughty too judging by today's article. He's doing everything to make the roster.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yea Byfield was good on faceoffs and he was doing things positionally that will keep him in the lineup on a Mclellan coached NHL team. Things that were missing from his game last year he seemed to focus on which is great.
Its really just the finish. Its almost like if he scored his first game last year on that Kopitar-esque rush when he burned Girard his confidence would be at a different level and hed be putting up points. It looks like he knows he is having trouble finishing and needs to relax when he has his chances.

Yeah, he does everything to get there, then appears to be just squeezing the stick too tight.

Needs the floodgates to open.