i don't contest that at all, i love the group we have down there up front. there's a fantastic range of skillsets, but i like that several play at a high pace/with an aggressive temperament. only thing missing is a dynamic offensive talent. i think a couple could play now, a couple more will have nhl careers, and i love how they're built for today's game. i wasn't at all saying anything negative about them, i just think there's nothing wrong with leaving them in hfd for the time being. let them grow together, esp being on a winning team with what sounds like a really positive culture. i have little doubt we see othmann this season, and i think edstrom/berard prob could get a look but not sure cap will allow for it unless we keep getting decimated by injuries.
Prospect Info: 2023-2024 Rangers Prospects Thread (Prospect Stats in Post #1; Updated 05.22.2024)
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i don't contest that at all, i love the group we have down there up front. there's a fantastic range of skillsets, but i like that several play at a high pace/with an aggressive temperament. only thing missing is a dynamic offensive talent. i think a couple could play now, a couple more will have nhl careers, and i love how they're built for today's game. i wasn't at all saying anything negative about them, i just think there's nothing wrong with leaving them in hfd for the time being. let them grow together, esp being on a winning team with what sounds like a really positive culture. i have little doubt we see othmann this season, and i think edstrom/berard prob could get a look but not sure cap will allow for it unless we keep getting decimated by injuries.
eco's bones
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The AHL is not an easy league to produce big numbers in especially for first year players. Season to season you don't see as many 100 point or even point a game players in that league as you do in the NHL. A first year player like Othmann running close to a point a game is quite a good adjustment. He's also got 79 shots on goal....one of the top numbers in the league. In years past there have been loads of 20 year olds who'd run rampant in the CHL and hit the wall as soon as they come into the AHL and never recover. It's been a graveyard as well for lots of respectable and older European and College prospects.
Pretty much all the Rangers forward prospects in the AHL have IMO done as well or even better than I expected---maybe the one exception is Trivigno. Even lower ceiling forwards like Edstrom, Rempe, Henriksson and Korczak have turned into competitive players even if they're not high producers.
Prospect defensemen in Hartford not quite as good but keeping in mind we lost Emberson. Garand is a really good prospect in goal though.
Lamber from in front. He assisted on the prior goal as well.
He has been hot and cold but is up to 7-6-13 in 17 games including tonight after having 8 points all of last season.
Laba is on the board with a goal.
BMB had two assists.
BMB had two assists.
Laba scored the GWG 35 seconds into OT. So 2 for him tonight. 8-5-13 in 15.
f***ing beaut. Laba is a legit prospect. Maybe not high-end but he has a solid third line profile.
The Crypto Guy
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Coast to coast, that was pretty sweet.
A scrappier Dom Moore maybe?? Not bad for a 4th round pick.
I like his potential. Just not sure what his upside is.
Laba is a junior aged Sophomore but basically a PPG on that team is not a small feat.
CC isn't very good but going there was the best decision he could have made. He's gotten loads of ice time from the jump and his game has improved for it.
Looking forward to seeing what he can do in the A next year.
CC isn't very good but going there was the best decision he could have made. He's gotten loads of ice time from the jump and his game has improved for it.
Looking forward to seeing what he can do in the A next year.
i think a guy like trevor lewis is probably the upside with him in terms of role/production.
Right. Like many guys who aren't the top tier of prospects, Laba started college at age 19--a year older than your "typical" freshman. Brody Lamb did the same thing. As did Mancini, Karpa, Chmelar, Kempf, etc. on down the line. The guys who aren't elite prospects often do a year in the USHL or BCHL or wherever (Mancini played in Sweden as well as the USHL and of course Chmelar was in Finland). Ty Henricks is doing the same thing and Rasmus Larsson is in the USHL and will start college at age 20. NCAA hockey players skew older than the average college population.
CC was indeed a great choice for him. He was basically the 1C out of the gates, gets lots of ice time in all situations. He'll wear a letter next year. I like his game--he has a really solid frame and is tough to knock off the puck, skates well, plays with a ton of energy and good physicality, and has surprising skill. He's getting to develop all of those things playing a huge role for his team.
I think worst case scenario for him is someone like Steven Fogarty, who somewhat disappointed as the #72 pick, but ended up as a good organizational guy. There's definitely a lot more upside than that, but the floor is still a useful piece out of a guy drafted at #111.
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Maybe, but I'm thinking Laba plays (at least) another NCAA season before signing
and with the recent seasons changes at NCAA, re transfers, maybe at stronger program
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eco's bones
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I think it's more typical for college hockey freshmen to start at 19/20 years of age than it is at 17/18. Of our guys playing college now after Perreault I think Chmelar is the most intriguing for me. That said Laba, Fortescue and Lamb are all having very good years and Ollas and Mancini are doing okay. Sometimes people should look at the teams they play for. They're not all the same. Teams like BC, BU, Michigan U., Minnesota U. always are getting top recruits and a mid or late round pick won't usually get the same opportunities playing for teams like that that they would elsewhere. Some teams are also more and gun and some more structured. Some are perennial bottom feeders or stuck kind of in the middle year to year and their ability to recruit oftentimes reflects that.
eco's bones
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I would think Laba plays his junior year and possibly even his senior year. Most likely of our guys to come out early are Perreault (who I think will need at least two years) and Chmelar who I could easly see turning pro after next year. I see Chmelar as having an edge over Laba.
The ice time and role have to be there at a bigger program for that to make sense though. I won't deny the value of potentially getting to play with better players (it goes beyond just having pretty numbers because not everyone can play with great players) but most of these top teams already have guys in those roles or will recruit guys who will fill those roles.
I agree that Chmelar is the most pro ready guy of our NCAA prospects but theres no way Laba needs an additional 2 years.
He's ready physically and his game has grown to the point where I feel throwing him back in college for another year will do more harm than good, let alone 2 more years. He's older than a true Soph.
@nyr2k2 nailed it, this is a guy who really has, at best, "3rd" line upside (I put that in quotes as I don't think that there is a traditional 3rd line anymore but I know what he meant.) The skills he will need to be that kind of guy (board play, defense, PK, etc) are things that should be honed at the pro level instead of continuing to do them at the NCAA level.
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one last comment re NCAA juniors who might sign -
maybe Mancini when his season ends?
the season overseas likely helped with this readiness,
and while i usually wouldn't use need as a reason to sign early,
RHD is a need w Braden up, Emberson and Nils gone
Mancini will be 22 in May, and have close to 100 NCAA games if stays healthy
maybe Mancini when his season ends?
the season overseas likely helped with this readiness,
and while i usually wouldn't use need as a reason to sign early,
RHD is a need w Braden up, Emberson and Nils gone
Mancini will be 22 in May, and have close to 100 NCAA games if stays healthy
UAGoalieGuy
Registered User
I've been impressed with Fortescue from what I've seen of him (outside of Perreault). Kid is solid defensively, will be able to PK and is not allergic to the puck. He also has a solid shot.
If all breaks well for him I see 4D on the depth charts.
Really hope he gets a shot on the US WJC.
If all breaks well for him I see 4D on the depth charts.
Really hope he gets a shot on the US WJC.
The Crypto Guy
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When does Gabe and Fortescue leave for the WJC camp? Did they leave already or will be at the BC game today?
NYR Viper
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I get Barron vibes from Laba. Barron is a good 3rd line forward in the NHL.
UAGoalieGuy
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Camp starts on the 14th so I assume they'll play today but who knows
Irishguy42
Mr. Preachy
Pretty good goal. Was challenged for like...half a second but with his momentum it was basically a nothing stick check. Love to see it.
eco's bones
Registered User
I look at Laba as a big fish in a smaller pond. If he were at BC or Michigan or Minnesota he might be on the 3rd line.....definitely not on the first. He's got good size but Chmelar is a lot bigger and maybe even a better skater. They both project if they hit their ceilings as 3rd line more likely 4th line wingers with an edge to Chmelar. Too early IMO to sign Laba for next year.....possibly okay for Chmelar this year.
romba
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Yup, looks like both defenders kind of assumed the other guy would cover Laba. Once the chasing forward realized this was not the case he tried to turn up the speed but too little too late.
GAGLine
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Chmelar just got 5 and a game misconduct. I think it's a bad call. Should have been 2.
Synergy27
F-A-C-G-C-E
He just got walked pretty badly in this game against Providence.
And as usual, Perreault is looking like the smartest player on the rink. Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier are very skilled but they just go fast and shoot. Not very creative players.
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