Agreed. That's a better phrase. It's all about financial security. Winning a Cup is nice, but it comes second.
I hope you realize I was poking fun of another poster with my post who said "so they don't want to win a cup?"
Agreed. That's a better phrase. It's all about financial security. Winning a Cup is nice, but it comes second.
I hope you realize I was poking fun of another poster with my post who said "so they don't want to win a cup?"
Production in the NCAA is never a bad sign but it is a far cry from a solid determinant of pro success.
As someone who has followed the NCAA for ages, you really have to look at the underlying characteristics of a player and try to see how they could mold and shape their game to fit at the NHL level. As I say so often, Smith, not McDonagh, was the big point producer for Wisconsin in the NCAA. But with the lack of time and space at this level, McDonagh ended up with more offense simply by the virtue of being able to use his mobility to earn space in a way Brendan Smith never was.
We look at Carl Hagelin- he used his speed in the NCAA and you could see he had it- but he was much more of a east-west possession player for Michigan. He didn't have the hands (or vision) for that in the NHL and so he used his best natural asset to reform his game and become a long term bottom 6 winger.
Kreider scored at a modest pace for most of his time in the NCAA, and did not do as much around the net work as he does now. He speed was his skill set, and the poor bastard couldn't find the puck when it was between his skates at the NHL level for years before he was able to redifine his game.
So when you look at Laba, it's great news that he's a top scorer and drawing attention. But the big thing you want to look at is what kind of player and role do we think with his skill set that her can carve out at this level. Because the number of mid round picks that have solid NCAA careers that become 70 point scoring wingers is pretty low. So with Laba, my biggest question is whether his defense can come along enough at this level to be much more than an Anthony Duclair clone.
Same applies to CHL big time point producers. Some are the real thing and some are illusions.Production in the NCAA is never a bad sign but it is a far cry from a solid determinant of pro success.
As someone who has followed the NCAA for ages, you really have to look at the underlying characteristics of a player and try to see how they could mold and shape their game to fit at the NHL level. As I say so often, Smith, not McDonagh, was the big point producer for Wisconsin in the NCAA. But with the lack of time and space at this level, McDonagh ended up with more offense simply by the virtue of being able to use his mobility to earn space in a way Brendan Smith never was.
We look at Carl Hagelin- he used his speed in the NCAA and you could see he had it- but he was much more of a east-west possession player for Michigan. He didn't have the hands (or vision) for that in the NHL and so he used his best natural asset to reform his game and become a long term bottom 6 winger.
Kreider scored at a modest pace for most of his time in the NCAA, and did not do as much around the net work as he does now. He speed was his skill set, and the poor bastard couldn't find the puck when it was between his skates at the NHL level for years before he was able to redifine his game.
So when you look at Laba, it's great news that he's a top scorer and drawing attention. But the big thing you want to look at is what kind of player and role do we think with his skill set that her can carve out at this level. Because the number of mid round picks that have solid NCAA careers that become 70 point scoring wingers is pretty low. So with Laba, my biggest question is whether his defense can come along enough at this level to be much more than an Anthony Duclair clone.
Duclair was never the defensive forward of the year in any league, on any team at any level. Hahaha. They play so completely different of a style I don’t get the comparison. But for a pick at his draft spot to become a 6’4” 225lb Tony Duclair clone would actually be a bit of a home run. HahahahProduction in the NCAA is never a bad sign but it is a far cry from a solid determinant of pro success.
As someone who has followed the NCAA for ages, you really have to look at the underlying characteristics of a player and try to see how they could mold and shape their game to fit at the NHL level. As I say so often, Smith, not McDonagh, was the big point producer for Wisconsin in the NCAA. But with the lack of time and space at this level, McDonagh ended up with more offense simply by the virtue of being able to use his mobility to earn space in a way Brendan Smith never was.
We look at Carl Hagelin- he used his speed in the NCAA and you could see he had it- but he was much more of a east-west possession player for Michigan. He didn't have the hands (or vision) for that in the NHL and so he used his best natural asset to reform his game and become a long term bottom 6 winger.
Kreider scored at a modest pace for most of his time in the NCAA, and did not do as much around the net work as he does now. He speed was his skill set, and the poor bastard couldn't find the puck when it was between his skates at the NHL level for years before he was able to redifine his game.
So when you look at Laba, it's great news that he's a top scorer and drawing attention. But the big thing you want to look at is what kind of player and role do we think with his skill set that her can carve out at this level. Because the number of mid round picks that have solid NCAA careers that become 70 point scoring wingers is pretty low. So with Laba, my biggest question is whether his defense can come along enough at this level to be much more than an Anthony Duclair clone.
Where does he have Mancini?For what it's worth, Cory Pronman of the Athletic, made a 2022 re-draft.
He has Laba ranked 62nd, instead of 111th (where he was selected);
and BMB is ranked 94th, instead of 97th (where he was selected)
Both are under Tier #7, "Has a chance to play NHL games"
Yeah, that's why I said "for what its worth"...Where does he have Mancini?
Edit: I checked the article. He doesn't have either Mancini or Sykora listed in his top 115 ranking.
How can he have a grouping of "Has a chance to play games" and then leave off a guy who has already played 3 games in the NHL and projects to get considerably more over the course of the season?
And Sykora, despite being undersized, held his own as the youngest player in the AHL last year. He has no chance to play NHL games?
It's obvious that these guys stat surf. It's damn near impossible to have an informed opinion on that many prospects spread across like 20 different development leagues. Mancini had 10 points in 40 games during his junior season in the NCAA. Those are underwhelming numbers unless you actually have the context of having watched him play, which I guarantee Pronman didn't. In 95% of cases, you can probably write a guy off based on that stat line.Yeah, that's why I said "for what its worth"...
Sykora was drafted 62nd, I believe and I'm certain he hasn't slipped out of the top 115 players listed.
As for Mancini, the only explanation I have is he was drafted in the 4th round, and maybe that's why he's not mentioned
Perreault just scored to put BC up 2-0.
Forced a TO and set up Leonard earlier who rang one off the bar.
BC has to throw Hagens up between them eventually, Jelvik is not it.
For those watching, is he taking over games?
I watched a few of his games last year, including all the WJC games, and while he was opportunistic I would have liked to see him own the puck more. I guess that’s hard to do when you play with Smith and Leonard though!
I know it’s not as much his style, but he showed in the NCAA final - where he was the best player on the ice for either team - that he has it in him.
For those watching, is he taking over games?
I watched a few of his games last year, including all the WJC games, and while he was opportunistic I would have liked to see him own the puck more. I guess that’s hard to do when you play with Smith and Leonard though!
I know it’s not as much his style, but he showed in the NCAA final - where he was the best player on the ice for either team - that he has it in him.