I know you’re already getting a bit of a hard time on this list, but I will say I appreciate you making the effort before I say anything.
What makes you say Koivunen is driving play in Liga? His raw stats? Underlying analytics? Anecdotal? Just curious.
Are NCAA’s generally considered a minor league system? I’ve never heard of that if that’s the case. Is there a precedent for referring to it that way in other sports? I’m pretty clueless in other sports.
I’ll echo our list doesn’t do a ton for me either. The only sure shot to play the level imo is Nikishin and it’s iffy we ever see him. I like that Nadeau is clearly a dangerous offensive player at the levels he’s played at. Robidas is in the echl. Cant take much from that. After Nikishin we have a lot of B to C level prospects and I’m curious to what the scouting community says about anyone I’d call a B. They might not agree. I wouldn’t be surprised if the pro’s would say we have a ton of C’s.
We’ve got volume. Which checks out based on our drafting approach. We don’t have room for them all, and many seem to be player types that may have a rough road with the coach. Yet we don’t make trades with them very often. You’d think that’ll change at some point with the efforts to make bigger trades we’ve been involved in.
I’ve been high on Pono as a bottom six for awhile, I’m still there. Same with Rees. Robidas and Blake have similar expectations though if we have all four of them that would be a very small bottom six.
im not worried. I have more fun paying attention to the prospects than the game. so im usually kinder on the prospect ratings.
I havent spent much time digging into the metrics in non NHL leagues. I watch clips of the game and such. Koivunen wants the puck on his stick and he makes things happen. he isnt just a guy that floats to an area and waits for passes. He has a pretty good shot too. I am grading him on a curve as he is only 20 in a men's league.
NCAA has gotten better over the last 2 decades but I would consider it lower than the AHL and such a minor league. But i was rating more doing well vs top competition then those that are doing well in leagues that may not have the top competition.
Koivunen's knock will be his size. if he could add just a little bit of speed (he is a smooth skater by my eye) he could have a real chance at being a player in the league. his shot is good, he can handle the puck in tight with speed, etc.
Forsmark and Nystrom arent going to wow anyone with certain qualities. Their games are kind of like Forsling's. Nothing spectacular but he is a gamer and can play a solid all around game. They could make it, they could not. They are doing well for 20-21 year olds in a good league. Nystrom's biggest knock at the draft was his size at 5'10. he has grown 4 inches since then too.
