Prospect Info: '24-'25 Prospects Thread: Generation Z

[Peat]

Basketball. That’s actually why the thought came to me. Someone at work said they read an article that one of the reasons the NBA is more popular is because their superstars are on the court all the time and hockey is more a team sport.

I disagreed but it made me think. Anyways, I agree with your points. Just thinking out loud.

I keep forgetting basketball exists

I do think that in terms of popularity, the extent to which star players are less focal is a problem for hockey. All the action is there but being able to tune in to watch a star player do star things over and over just isn't happening in the same way it does for pretty much any other major American sport or soccer.

 

[SEALBound]

Basketball. That’s actually why the thought came to me. Someone at work said they read an article that one of the reasons the NBA is more popular is because their superstars are on the court all the time and hockey is more a team sport.

I disagreed but it made me think. Anyways, I agree with your points. Just thinking out loud.

I also tend to think that some sports are more popular than hockey because of the relative ease to understand the game and also play the game. Basketball is a lot easier to understand than hockey and it cost significantly less to play. I went to elementary school with a playground that had about 10 basketball hoops and no hockey rink. So if people want to join in and play the sport they also like to watch, it's easier to do that with soccer, baseball, football, and yes basketball.

Basketball is also a sport where the addition of one megastar catapults you to a legitimate chance at a championship. There may only be one hockey player that could do that - McDavid but it ain't like he's going anywhere anytime soon.

One thing I wouldn't hate seeing added to the CBA as a take from the NBA is the "optional" years at the end of a deal. Then, a player or team can elect to honor the remaining year of a deal or not. Great example would be Hayes for us or Tavaras for the Leafs. Plenty of times in recent memory teams wish they could opt out of a last year. Similarly, if a player is screaming a long and thinks they can get a better deal than the one they are on, they can go for it. Good example would be Sam Bennett.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

The NHL's done a f***ing abysmal job of marketing its stars for decades. Sid and Ovi should've been marketed to hell and the NHL failed to capitalize on the entire generation. Shit, for the first years, you had to watch those dudes play on the Outdoor Life Network.

 

[SEALBound]

The NHL's done a f***ing abysmal job of marketing its stars for decades. Sid and Ovi should've been marketed to hell and the NHL failed to capitalize on the entire generation. Shit, for the first years, you had to watch those dudes play on the Outdoor Life Network.

They were. We can talk about other players and there's good reason for disgust, but the NHL went all out Sid and Ovi, especially Sid vs Ovi. I really don't have much issue with how the NHL responded to those two entering the league and for nearly a decade after.

It get tough when it's Sid, then Ovi, and then...? Malkin? Thornton? The Sedins? Honestly, there was such a drop off after Sid and Ovi that I think it was tough. Toews+Kane was certainly doable. But it's hard to go out and market "The Sedin Twins" and a means to compete with the NBA, NFL, MLB, etc.

Today, they should be shoving McDavid, Draisaitl, and Matthews down everyone's throat the way they did Sid and Ovi. They do to an extent with McDavid but the problem is he's in f***ing Edmonton. Not LA, not New York, not Chicago...Edmonton.

 

[chethejet]

McDavid to the oilers was a disaster for the NHL. If he is NY, Boston, Chicago NHL has their boy.

 

[Ulf5]

Lol. Couldn't find the Olli gif to put this with so it's going here since he's Hallander's coach. Warning- NSFW.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Went to the ASU v North Dakota game last night. Good game, ASU won 4-1. Their goalie made some impressive flailing saves, got pretty chippy. Good time. Last goal by ASU was a beauty of individual skill and effort.

I tried to track Cruz Lucius whenever he was on the ice. He's thick, like TJ Oshie thick. Has some individual skill, and sees the ice really well, especially making some cross ice passes I thought had no chance of connecting that landed tape to tape.

That's the good. The bad is this kid has 0 urgency to his game. Plodding along like he's half asleep the whole time. I don't see him translating to the pro game, even at the AHL level, if he doesn't speed that up.



Lucius is #51.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Went to the ASU v North Dakota game last night. Good game, ASU won 4-1. Their goalie made some impressive flailing saves, got pretty chippy. Good time. Last goal by ASU was a beauty of individual skill and effort.

I tried to track Cruz Lucius whenever he was on the ice. He's thick, like TJ Oshie thick. Has some individual skill, and sees the ice really well, especially making some cross ice passes I thought had no chance of connecting that landed tape to tape.

That's the good. The bad is this kid has 0 urgency to his game. Plodding along like he's half asleep the whole time. I don't see him translating to the pro game, even at the AHL level, if he doesn't speed that up.



Lucius is #51.

Thanks for the insight, I would say that Lucius has missed almost all of this year due to injuries so he might just be getting back to game shape.

 

[Jacob]

Him going to ASU is a bit of a red flag in itself. And if you look at their roster like all of their most productive players are transfers that didn’t put him nearly the same point totals in other divisions, so I also think Lucius needs to really dominate just to stay in the conversation as far as prospects worth an ELC go.

But I liked what I saw of him in highlights at Wisconsin. Kind of a wild card or throw-in at this point, though.

 

[DesertPenguin]

Thanks for the insight, I would say that Lucius has missed almost all of this year due to injuries so he might just be getting back to game shape.

This was one of his first games back, so you could be right. It seemed to extend beyond hustle though. He made the right decisions on where to go, what to do almost alwats, but seemed to do it a bit slow.

Lukas Sillinger on the other hand, someone should sign that guy ASAP as an UDFA. I think he's got a future as a bottom 6 player who chips in on the score sheet.

 

[PensFutures]

Another W for Murashov. 29 of 32 and 2 of 3 in the shootout, Nailers win 4-3. Not his best game, but held the fort in the 3rd and they scored late to send it to OT.

I filmed 5 of the attempts, gonna set up a YT channel for my prospect travels and upload some things for you guys. But in the meantime, it was star wars night so here's Buck Beaver wielding a lightsaber.

 

[PensFutures]

Here is the YT I set up for Nailers/WBS clips, all the shootout attempts from last night have been uploaded as shorts. Quality is better in the YT app.

 

[PensFutures]

Not much to write about from Wheeling tonight, 2-1 loss. Gauthier 27 of 29, Logan Pietila (brother of pens pick Chase) from Gabe Klassen with the only goal. Didnt notice him get hurt last night and he scored the SO winner, but Jack Beck was a scratch tonight. Hes been the main play driver this season and he was definitely missed.

Didnt see this posted anywhere but Sam Houde was granted his contract termination by Wilkes and signed for a team in Switzerland, so theres yet another big contributor gone. Sad reality of AA pro hockey.

Since I dont have any clips from tonight, heres Becks SO winner from last night. Probably will be at the 1/24 game in Wheeling and the 1/25 game in Wilkes, so hope to have some content coming soon.

 

[Tasty Biscuits]

Didnt see this posted anywhere but Sam Houde was granted his contract termination by Wilkes and signed for a team in Switzerland, so theres yet another big contributor gone. Sad reality of AA pro hockey.

Congrats to him, what an upgrade in quality of life.

 

[Jacob]

Good for him. Was always noticeable in the WB games I caught. Last year’s injury plus incoming prospects kind of got him lost in the shuffle.

 

[Solution]

Sam Houde was noticeable whenever I listened to WBS or Wheeling. Sad to see him go, but good for him.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Pronman just released his top-140 NHL players and prospects under 23 and the Penguins had Brunicke (94), Pieniniemi (97) and Pickering (116) on it. Yager is ranked 88th and McGroarty is not on the list, but Pronman has never been high on McGroarty due to McGroarty's skating.

 

[SEALBound]

Pronman just released his top-140 NHL players and prospects under 23 and the Penguins had Brunicke (94), Pieniniemi (97) and Pickering (116) on it. Yager is ranked 88th and McGroarty is not on the list, but Pronman has never been high on McGroarty due to McGroarty's skating.

I wish he would separate it out - best NHL players under 23 and best prospects under 23. It's odd to look at Pieniniemi (who I am high on after the WJC) being ahead of current NHL player Pickering who is doing very well by all counts. I'm not convinced that Pieniniemi is "a better prospect" than Pickering is a "current NHL player".

I was very underwhelmed by Yager at the WJC. I thought he'd be building on what he did last year but he looked about the same, sans the better linemates.

But hey, at least we have three guys on that list. When was the last time we had that?

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Pronman just released his top-140 NHL players and prospects under 23 and the Penguins had Brunicke (94), Pieniniemi (97) and Pickering (116) on it. Yager is ranked 88th and McGroarty is not on the list, but Pronman has never been high on McGroarty due to McGroarty's skating.

Scott Wheeler is doing his team prospect pool rankings on the Athletic as well, with a new team each day. Pens at least aren't No. 26-32 so far. We'll see what he says, if anything, about McGroarty and the others.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Scott Wheeler is doing his team prospect pool rankings on the Athletic as well, with a new team each day. Pens at least aren't No. 26-32 so far. We'll see what he says, if anything, about McGroarty and the others.

There’s also this massive thread about how shitty Pronman is here:

 

[cookthebooks]

jfc is that a takedown with receipts

 

[SEALBound]

Certainly not an unfair takedown. Reading the list, I had a ton of "Ummmm..." "Errrrr...ahhhh" "Yeeeeeeeeah..." "What?" and "f***ing what?" "Huh!?"

I think the players on the list are fine, it's the order.

 

[Gurglesons]

Pronman just released his top-140 NHL players and prospects under 23 and the Penguins had Brunicke (94), Pieniniemi (97) and Pickering (116) on it. Yager is ranked 88th and McGroarty is not on the list, but Pronman has never been high on McGroarty due to McGroarty's skating.

kind of shocked to see Pieniniemi over Pickering.

There’s also this massive thread about how shitty Pronman is here:

Yeah, but this guy writers for the Hockey Writer so uh..

Probably just jelly he is getting paid a nickel a story and Pronman has been a trusted voice in prospects for a decade plus at ESPN and the Athletic.

 

[cookthebooks]

kind of shocked to see Pieniniemi over Pickering.



Yeah, but this guy writers for the Hockey Writer so uh..

Probably just jelly he is getting paid a nickel a story and Pronman has been a trusted voice in prospects for a decade plus at ESPN and the Athletic.

this post otoh is the opposite of bringing receipts

 

[eXile3]

Pronman just released his top-140 NHL players and prospects under 23 and the Penguins had Brunicke (94), Pieniniemi (97) and Pickering (116) on it. Yager is ranked 88th and McGroarty is not on the list, but Pronman has never been high on McGroarty due to McGroarty's skating.

All I learned from this is this Pronman character is not someone I should concern myself with.