Prospect Info: #46 Overall, RD Seamus Casey US-NTDP

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

one piece composite sticks have been available for more than 20 years now. There’s no difference in terms of stick between guys drafted this year and guys drafted in 2012. I wouldn’t be surprised if shooting technique has improved, along with broader access to ice rinks leading to a bigger pool of potential players.

Part of my claim is that you get better if you've been using it from early development, but I was curious about the timeline as I am not an expert and found this site:

History of the Hockey Stick | TheHockeyFanatic

www.thehockeyfanatic.com

Basically says around 2005 is when almost everyone in the NHL was using the sticks and I imagine it took some time to propagate to lower levels (cost and manufacturing). Also there's a bullet point:

2014 – minor hockey players across North America also adopt the composite sticks for parents and players that can afford them.

I don't know if maybe they were not allowed until then? In any case my claim is that the current generation of prospects has basically learned to shoot with the sticks, and that's pushed the quality of the shooting of the incoming classes much higher. I kind of see it analogous to how 3point shooting exploded in the NBA recently when the kids that always had a 3 point line in their game and just devoted hours to developing that skill finally hit the NBA. I don't know enough to comment on newer shooting techniques, but these guys are doing subtle wrist flicks and launch pucks to the corner with major velocity now.

I do agree that a lot of this is just the talent pool has grown substantially as teenagers all over the world try to make it to the NHL in larger numbers, in part because pro sports is big money and more accessibility to rinks.

 

[SirSamofHouseBennett]

This thread is as versatile as the player. How many different conversations?

We are now onto the history of a hockey stick!

Like I said, came for the Casey news, stayed for the (not odd anymore) banter.

 

[devilsblood]

Part of my claim is that you get better if you've been using it from early development, but I was curious about the timeline as I am not an expert and found this site:

History of the Hockey Stick | TheHockeyFanatic

www.thehockeyfanatic.com

Basically says around 2005 is when almost everyone in the NHL was using the sticks and I imagine it took some time to propagate to lower levels (cost and manufacturing). Also there's a bullet point:



I don't know if maybe they were not allowed until then? In any case my claim is that the current generation of prospects has basically learned to shoot with the sticks, and that's pushed the quality of the shooting of the incoming classes much higher. I kind of see it analogous to how 3point shooting exploded in the NBA recently when the kids that always had a 3 point line in their game and just devoted hours to developing that skill finally hit the NBA. I don't know enough to comment on newer shooting techniques, but these guys are doing subtle wrist flicks and launch pucks to the corner with major velocity now.

I do agree that a lot of this is just the talent pool has grown substantially as teenagers all over the world try to make it to the NHL in larger numbers, in part because pro sports is big money and more accessibility to rinks.

Skill development is also progressive across generations. Those early generations were just getting used to those sticks. More recent generations are building upon a much higher base.

It's played into why we see more and more smaller fwds, and why those guys have laser wrist shots. Hughes being drafted #1 probably doesn't happen without composite sticks.

Edit: Looking through the lists, with Crosby and Kane being drafted #1's, I'll step back from Hughes and the #1 pick point above, but I'll stand by the point that whippy composite sticks help the smaller guys scoregoals.

This thread is as versatile as the player. How many different conversations?

We are now onto the history of a hockey stick!

Like I said, came for the Casey news, stayed for the (not odd anymore) banter.

A very internetty thing though ain't it?

This board is good at limiting thread topics because dicussions do often deviate.

 

[forceten]

I’d be careful. You saw what happened with the lemons.

I’m getting pictures ready

 

[Blackjack]

Part of my claim is that you get better if you've been using it from early development, but I was curious about the timeline as I am not an expert and found this site:

History of the Hockey Stick | TheHockeyFanatic

www.thehockeyfanatic.com

Basically says around 2005 is when almost everyone in the NHL was using the sticks and I imagine it took some time to propagate to lower levels (cost and manufacturing). Also there's a bullet point:



I don't know if maybe they were not allowed until then? In any case my claim is that the current generation of prospects has basically learned to shoot with the sticks, and that's pushed the quality of the shooting of the incoming classes much higher. I kind of see it analogous to how 3point shooting exploded in the NBA recently when the kids that always had a 3 point line in their game and just devoted hours to developing that skill finally hit the NBA. I don't know enough to comment on newer shooting techniques, but these guys are doing subtle wrist flicks and launch pucks to the corner with major velocity now.

I do agree that a lot of this is just the talent pool has grown substantially as teenagers all over the world try to make it to the NHL in larger numbers, in part because pro sports is big money and more accessibility to rinks.

From these very boards, nice little time capsule from 2011:

Making up the bulk of stick sales the last several years, one-piece composite sticks are the way of the future.

Equipment: - STICKS - Buying Guide and Advice PART 3

I wrote these articles to answer a lot of common questions I saw and to bookmark my thoughts on the matter. Read through these and feel free to ask any questions! ----- Choosing a Hockey Stick I. Introduction and Handedness II. Materials and Construction III. Size and Length IV. Flex and...

forums.hfboards.com

 

[Guttersniped]

If there's a reasonable chance he can be as good as Quinn Hughes then I don't think it's outrageous to say he's ahead of Reinbacher. At the very least it's a conversation. I'm choosing weasel words like "reasonable" and "best case" but Quinn Hughes is great, and Montreal would be lucky to have Reinbacher or Hutson turn out to be as impactful as Quinn Hughes.

In any case I hope Seamus takes a huge jump next year out of Luke Hughes's shadow, maybe plays some forward again. If the league is heading towards positionless offensive zone scheming that would suit Seamus perfectly potentially.

Hutson’s very boom/bust. I don’t actually care what they vote, it’s their poll. They can have at it.

He was a fun pick and they were the right team for him, as they seem very focused on player development.

He’s not retroactively a top pick though, his size makes him a real wildcard, plus he lacks the elite skating of Hughes and Makar to make up for it.

He could have gone higher because of his talent, but there’s really no such thing as PP specialists on defense anymore, with so few PP opportunities and only one defenseman typically on a unit. He’s so outrageously talented that it’s worth taking a swing but Hutson’s “reasonable chance” is way less than Quinn Hughes’ was.

The one thing that genuinely bugs me is how a number of their fans are deluding themselves about his size and just assuming he’s going to get to 180.

Hutson hasn’t gotten any heavier since the draft so it looks like it will be a struggle for him to get to 170.

He was always significantly smaller than Makar and Fox, who were respectively 5’11.25”/ 187.4lbs and 5’10.75”/ 185lbs at their Draft Combines.

And neither is heavier right now, Makar has the same stats on NHL.com and Fox is actually listed at 5’11”/ 182lbs.

Hutson was 5’8.25”/ 158lbs at 2022 Draft Combine and was reported to be 5’9”/ 158lbs at the recent Habs Development Camp.
Lane Hutson at the April/May 2022 U18 Championships:
1.74m/ 5’9” & 67kg/ 148lb
Lane Hutson at both Dec/Jan 2023 U20 & May World Mens Championships:
1.75m/ 5'9'' & 70kg/ 154lb

Quinn Hughes didn’t go to the 2018 Draft Combine, he was listed at 5’9”/ 173lb.
Hughes at both 2018 Dec/Jan U20 & May Men’s World Championships:
1.76m/ 5'9'' & 76kg/ 168lb
Quinn Hughes at both 2019 Dec/Jan U20 & May Men’s World Championships:
1.78m/ 5’10” & 79kg/ 174lb
Current stats on NHL.com:
5’10”/ 180lb
Even if you’re skeptical about his final numbers he’s definitely stockier than Hutson. (As are most other men on earth.)

I have no idea how much weight Hutson will eventually put on but it can’t actually be that much without affecting his skating. You can’t cheat your natural weight and build that much these days since skating is so important. (And Hutson’s build is extraordinarily lanky and thin.)

Like with with Girard:
Sam Girard (2016 NSH Rd 2 #47) at the 2016 NHL Draft Combine:
5’9”/ 160.02lbs
Current stats on NHL.com:
5’10”/ 170lbs

Casey has reportedly put on some weight already, so that’s nice:
Seamus Casey at the 2022 Draft Combine:
5’9.5”/ 173lb
Casey reportedly at NJD Development Camp:
5’10”/ 180lb

And we had a guy who did get significantly bigger after he was drafted but a growth spurt really helps.

Ethan Edwards (2020 NJ Rd 4 #120) listed at draft:
5’9”/ 166lb
At Michigan 2021-22:
5’11”/ 185lb
At Michigan 2022-23:
5’11”/ 190lb

 

[My3Sons]

Hutson’s very boom/bust. I don’t actually care what they vote, it’s their poll. They can have at it.

He was a fun pick and they were the right team for him, as they seem very focused on player development.

He’s not retroactively a top pick though, his size makes him a real wildcard, plus he lacks the elite skating of Hughes and Makar to make up for it.

He could have gone higher because of his talent, but there’s really no such thing as PP specialists on defense anymore, with so few PP opportunities and only one defenseman typically on a unit. He’s so outrageously talented that it’s worth taking a swing but Hutson’s “reasonable chance” is way less than Quinn Hughes’ was.

The one thing that genuinely bugs me is how a number of their fans are deluding themselves about his size and just assuming he’s going to get to 180.

Hutson hasn’t gotten any heavier since the draft so it looks like it will be a struggle for him to get to 170.

He was always significantly smaller than Makar and Fox, who were respectively 5’11.25”/ 187.4lbs and 5’10.75”/ 185lbs at their Draft Combines.

And neither is heavier right now, Makar has the same stats on NHL.com and Fox is actually listed at 5’11”/ 182lbs.

Hutson was 5’8.25”/ 158lbs at 2022 Draft Combine and was reported to be 5’9”/ 158lbs at the recent Habs Development Camp.
Lane Hutson at the April/May 2022 U18 Championships:
1.74m/ 5’9” & 67kg/ 148lb
Lane Hutson at both Dec/Jan 2023 U20 & May World Mens Championships:
1.75m/ 5'9'' & 70kg/ 154lb

Quinn Hughes didn’t go to the 2018 Draft Combine, he was listed at 5’9”/ 173lb.
Hughes at both 2018 Dec/Jan U20 & May Men’s World Championships:
1.76m/ 5'9'' & 76kg/ 168lb
Quinn Hughes at both 2019 Dec/Jan U20 & May Men’s World Championships:
1.78m/ 5’10” & 79kg/ 174lb
Current stats on NHL.com:
5’10”/ 180lb
Even if you’re skeptical about his final numbers he’s definitely stockier than Hutson. (As are most other men on earth.)

I have no idea how much weight Hutson will eventually put on but it can’t actually be that much without affecting his skating. You can’t cheat your natural weight and build that much these days since skating is so important. (And Hutson’s build is extraordinarily lanky and thin.)

Like with with Girard:
Sam Girard (2016 NSH Rd 2 #47) at the 2016 NHL Draft Combine:
5’9”/ 160.02lbs
Current stats on NHL.com:
5’10”/ 170lbs

Casey has reportedly put on some weight already, so that’s nice:
Seamus Casey at the 2022 Draft Combine:
5’9.5”/ 173lb
Casey reportedly at NJD Development Camp:
5’10”/ 180lb

And we had a guy who did get significantly bigger after he was drafted but a growth spurt really helps.

Ethan Edwards (2020 NJ Rd 4 #120) listed at draft:
5’9”/ 166lb
At Michigan 2021-22:
5’11”/ 185lb
At Michigan 2022-23:
5’11”/ 190lb

If I was Montreal I’d consider trying Hutson on the wing if he struggles with defense once he makes the jump from college. Maybe he can be successful if asked to try to play more offense and less defense. If he pans out they can always use him at the point on the power play.

 

[Guadana]

If I was Montreal I’d consider trying Hutson on the wing if he struggles with defense once he makes the jump from college. Maybe he can be successful if asked to try to play more offense and less defense. If he pans out they can always use him at the point on the power play.

Sounds pretty reasonable. It doesn't look like he will be good board battles specialist, but with the puck he can help his team. May be even put him in center position to try.

 

[Saugus]

This thread is as versatile as the player. How many different conversations?

We are now onto the history of a hockey stick!

Like I said, came for the Casey news, stayed for the (not odd anymore) banter.

I'm always surprised to hear that other teams' boards on HF don't do this.

In our case, we have a long-standing and relatively large group of frequent posters who have been bantering with each other for years, resulting in disjointed conversations across multiple threads, weird memes and in-jokes, and a true sense of community.

For example, have you seen any of our fine collection of Ken Daneyko memes? If not, @NjDevsRR would be happy to hook you up.

 

[NjDevsRR]

For example, have you seen any of our fine collection of Ken Daneyko memes? If not, @NjDevsRR would be happy to hook you up.

@Brent Burns Beard

OH MY
OT: - Meme Bank

 

[Devs3cups]

@Brent Burns Beard

OH MY
OT: - Meme Bank

 

[Roomtemperature]

Casey being able to play as a foward on short notice if we are down a forward ect ect is a great asset to have. Really gives him a better chance of being in the nhl imo

Honestly I'm surprised young more offensive d-men don't get short runs at wing in the NHL. I mean I know its a different system and instincts but would a Luke Hughes be worse then an AHL plug for a game (as an example off the top of my head)

 

[My3Sons]

Honestly I'm surprised young more offensive d-men don't get short runs at wing in the NHL. I mean I know its a different system and instincts but would a Luke Hughes be worse then an AHL plug for a game (as an example off the top of my head)

Talented players can often play multiple positions in a sport.

 

[Nubmer6]

Talented players can often play multiple positions in a sport.

Bo knows hockey?

 

[devilsblood]

Bo knows hockey?

Didn't Gretzky shoot that idea down?

 

[My3Sons]

Bo knows hockey?

Most of it is cognition rather than athletic ability. My middle son was a linebacker a corner and a tight end in youth football and my oldest played attack midfield faceoff and pole in lacrosse. He could have been a goalie as well but he was a soccer goalie and refused to do it in two sports. My youngest probably has more talent than the other two (he could pitch and play QB) but his health condition meant he couldn’t run enough to play multiple spots. He found his niche as a pass first attack in lacrosse. it’s amazing how many really top notch athletes are incapable of learning any nuance in their sport or are flat out selfish.

 

[Guadana]

Most of it is cognition rather than athletic ability. My middle son was a linebacker a corner and a tight end in youth football and my oldest played attack midfield faceoff and pole in lacrosse. He could have been a goalie as well but he was a soccer goalie and refused to do it in two sports. My youngest probably has more talent than the other two (he could pitch and play QB) but his health condition meant he couldn’t run enough to play multiple spots. He found his niche as a pass first attack in lacrosse. it’s amazing how many really top notch athletes are incapable of learning any nuance in their sport or are flat out selfish.

If he is talented but couldn't run enough, so why he can't play baseball? He can gain millions. Or its boring even for American kids?

 

[My3Sons]

If he is talented but couldn't run enough, so why he can't play baseball? He can gain millions? Or it’s boring even for American kids?

He didn’t like getting hit by the ball. He has 20-15 vision so he could almost always make contact but after thr kids starting pitching with some velocity he just wasn’t willing to get hit with a fastball in the ribs. And he’s an average sized kid. He’d be too short to pitch above high school.

 

[Guadana]

He didn’t like getting hit by the ball. He has 20-15 vision so he could almost always make contact but after thr kids starting pitching with some velocity he just wasn’t willing to get hit with a fastball in the ribs. And he’s an average sized kid. He’d be too short to pitch above high school.

Table tennis!

 

[Xirik]

Table tennis!

Around these parts we call that Ping Pong, Friendo.....

 

[Guadana]

Around these parts we call that Ping Pong, Friendo.....

Table tennis, fiendo. Only old fat Chinese old men call it ping pong. What are you doing on this board, collecting personal data?

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

Table tennis, fiendo. Only old fat Chinese old men call it ping pong. What are you doing on this board, collecting personal data?

I actually laughed out loud at this one.

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[forceten]

Charlie Leddy too!

 

[Cheddabombs]

Time to redo the prospect polls, I'm ready to put Casey #1