Prospect Info: 2023-24 Prospect Thread
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Osakahaus
Chillin' on Fuji
- May 28, 2021
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I read that and thought I was seeing things.
I know the Islanders aren't a sexy team to follow but does anyone at McKeens proofread???
Top Corner
Registered User
The George assessment is bang on, dont see a lot of offensive flair in the games I’ve seen him play. Maybe a better skating Romanov if we are lucky
Osakahaus
Chillin' on Fuji
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George just doesn't have the offensive instincts to be a really highly rated prospect.
His floor is AHL fodder. His ceiling is probably a very good third pairing and PK guy. Think Mayfield but one who can skate well.
doublechili
For all intensive purposes, your nuts
- Apr 11, 2006
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I know George is considered to be a good skater, but if he's better than Romanov he would have to be really good.
SI90
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SI90
Registered User
Skip To My Lou
Abused Fan
I may be biased, as I loved George in his draft year, but I think the sky is the limit for him.
His offense never blew up the way it was supposed to in his junior career, but there are flashes of brilliance there. Defensively, he's already NHL-caliber, but will need to spend time in Bridgeport to get adjusted to not only the pro game, but to find his offensive touch.
I mean, I hope you're right. But there isn't really much to say he has a high offensive potential. He's an overager in juniors and still couldn't put up 1/2 PPG this season. It's only going to get tougher in the AHL and hopefully for him (and us) the NHL.
Sure, anything could happen, but realistically, he's probably not going to be an offensive force from the blue line.
If he can turn into a Scott Mayfield type with good skating ability, I think most reasonable Islanders fans would take that as a W considering he was a 4th round pick.
doublechili
For all intensive purposes, your nuts
- Apr 11, 2006
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High end skating and agility to be able to stick with shifty forwards and beat them to pucks entering the zone is very important. He doesn't need to be Makar. Look at FLA's D getting to pucks and just flipping it out to center ice. Moving forward, if you pair one PMD with a more defensive guy who can really skate and win races to pucks? That's the formula.
Sure, but he had that ability this season and couldn't produce too much in juniors despite being one of the oldest on the ice.
So why am I to expect a jump in offensive production against bigger, faster and more experienced competition?
SI90
Registered User
Jon sims son Landon gets 5?-‘d a game in the first period. Elbow to the face of top 2024 draft prospect Parekah.
doublechili
For all intensive purposes, your nuts
- Apr 11, 2006
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But I'm saying you don't need that jump in production if the expectation is that George will be a defensive guy that you pair with a PMD. But with his skating ability he's a new-NHL defensive defenseman, ie., with agility to stick with shifty forwards and speed to win races back to pucks.
Skip To My Lou
Abused Fan
I don't blame you for feeling the way you're feeling. His stat sheet is not sexy, and with no way to actually watch the games, that's the only conclusion to come to. I'd do the same thing.
I just think there's a lot more under the surface. He has a sneaky good skill set on the offensive end, he just doesn't use it. He's typically looking for the smart play, rather than being aggressive. It's hard for him to do so when you have guys like Sam Dickinson and Oliver Bonk ahead of you on the blueline.
What you'll usually get from him on the offensive end, is simple, but smart breakout passes (his first pass is exceptional), and he has really good instincts with the puck. Which is why I see something more from him. It's just a matter of him using those skills.
Obviously, it's just one play, but this is an example of George creating for himself, and using his elite skating to navigate through the o-zone.
You don't see defensive defensemen with that kind of confidence carrying the puck. If you can do that, I'll make a lot of time for you. The fact that he's already so solid on the defensive end, and uses the body the right way, I've been sold the second we drafted him.
Top Corner
Registered User
Was this from a previous season or recent season? The tools are there but the toolbox isn’t in my opinion. The question is does he have the confidence to make these plays when the opportunity presents itself? Not sure he does
I don't think that's very fair. I don't think he really looks like a point producer, but he seems to anticipate the play, and be in the right place defensively - so not an overall hockey sense/judgment issue.
About the McKeens list... Hard to take it seriously. Why is Dufour at the top? Why is Maggio and Gill ahead of Jefferies and Finley? Why does George get the writeup he does, and yet be 10th?
McKeens is overrating jr level production, and underrating athleticism. Dufour, despite the size, appears fringe. Nelson otoh plays a game that matches his physical strengths as do Jefferies, Finley, and George. My personal list would be very different. I'm leaving Odelius off because I have no info. Same on Gill, and Berg. I would strongly suspect Odelius would slot in around 3-4.
1. Nelson (size, hockey sense, physicality, he's quick enough, good judgment)
2. Maggio (has hockey sense, and hands, and can do more than Dufour)
3. Finley - he's a really good athlete, and seems a bit of a late bloomer physically. The athleticism makes it far more likely he'll become an NHL player than other forwards in NYI system.
4. George - I think his floor is pretty high. Could be a de Haan type. I see a likely bottom pair defender with far better positional play than e.g. Bolduc, which is good to have on a cheap contract.
5. Jefferies - I don't think he's quite the athlete Finley is, but he's also got some acceleration.
6. Lennox - Played for bad teams with gambling offensive Ds. But appears to move very well at that size.
I don't see an NHL player in Iskhakov. He reminds me of Rakshani, but not quite as good. (Rakshani had a really good SHL career, which wasn't surprising. He's a great hockey player, but not a NHL hockey player. Iskkhakov isn't quite that.) I don't see it with Dufour.
Top Corner
Registered User
I felt the same way about Dufour, just did not see the footspeed and agility needed.
George from seeing him last year and this year, not seeing the advancement I thought would come with being older & a little stronger. I do like his skating when he's moving with & without the puck. Maybe getting out of Junior will help advance his game .
FoxYou727
Registered User
I had so much hope for him, but I remember that post game interview vs the rangers were he said "I didn't expect that much speed" and I knew that was the end of him
Kevin27NYI
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- Aug 5, 2009
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Was that at MSG? Around Christmas?
His parents were there, I met them in the concourse. Nice folks !
Osakahaus
Chillin' on Fuji
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Kevin27NYI
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crashthenet
Registered User
I may not be remembering right but I think they pressboxed him for 2 months and rolled him out against the Rangers and Pens.
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