Prospect Info: 5th Overall Pick, Alex Turcotte, C, USNTDP UPDATED: Signs 3 Year ELC 3/11/20
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Turcotte with a goal and assist against Ohio state denying them the Big Ten Title. I have no worries what-so-ever about Turcotte. Kid is a gamer. He has 25 points in 26 games and missed 7 games if I'm correct. I know some may have soured on him because of his 2 points at the WJC but he's going to be a good player. Wouldn't mind him stay one more year at Wisconsin. I've watched a few games this year and I know there's still a lot to learn but Turcotte will be just fine.
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Almost ppg despite going out with an illness that clearly sapped him.
It's a young, mediocre-at-best team, they're going to have issues like the Reign do, yet they're relying on Turcotte to be Mr. Everything. That should tell you what you need to know about the kid more than most anything else this year.
It's a young, mediocre-at-best team, they're going to have issues like the Reign do, yet they're relying on Turcotte to be Mr. Everything. That should tell you what you need to know about the kid more than most anything else this year.
8 points in his last 4 games. Pretty much 2 ppg. Yes many things to work on but once he fills out and matures mentally and physically he'll be a very good player for us in the future. Last game of the season tomorrow before the Big Ten tourney hope he tears it up.
Frolov 6'3
Unregistered User
Raccoon Jesus
We were right there
Does he has a full beard there ?
Haha. Pretty sure that's just a chin cup.
How impressive would it be if he could go from baby face to wolverine in 2 months
Eagle Fang
Less Defending, More Offending
- Oct 12, 2005
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Turcotte with an assist so far... game going into OT. He's been good since coming back from his injury
Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
- Mar 5, 2015
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I hope he signs....I think it is MUCH better to have Alex on the smaller ice, playing pro and the Kings' system, WITH future teammates, than going back for his Soph year.
1. play 80 game schedule
2. play NHL size ice
3. practicing at Kings training center
4. learn Kings system
5. playing with future teammates
6. learning to be a pro and not learning at being one of the better college players.
it all makes more sense. He's certainly ready for AHL hockey and will probably get games with the Kings during the season as well.
1. play 80 game schedule
2. play NHL size ice
3. practicing at Kings training center
4. learn Kings system
5. playing with future teammates
6. learning to be a pro and not learning at being one of the better college players.
it all makes more sense. He's certainly ready for AHL hockey and will probably get games with the Kings during the season as well.
Last edited:
cyclones22
Registered User
100% agreed. People often forget that the NCAA has limits on how much you can practice and be coached per week, besides the fact that games-wise, it's a lighter schedule. I'm hoping he signs after this season as well.
Another assist today 9 points in the last 5 games. Not bad to end the regular season. 26 points in 27 Games and the Big Ten tournament coming up. Really loving the way he's finishing strong towards the end of the season. Alex will be okay I think.
jfont
Registered User
Was re-watching the last 30 minutes of the game two days ago and the announcers were raving about turcotte
Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
- Mar 5, 2015
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Based on how good he is now doing, him also seeing Vilardi getting his chance and making it (kind of like you see a fellow co-worker get a promotion and makes you more driven, little jealous and want your promotion too)...and especially since we've all seen his quote "I want to play in the NHL as soon as possible" that's his goal and he's one focused and dedicated young man...why would he not sign this month? I would say the only thing that would not make him sign, is if he was struggling. He's not.
- May 9, 2014
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I’m not overly worried about the defensive issues this year because as has been pointed out the rest of his team has been bad defensively too. Good D is a collective thing and it relies heavily on making good reads off your team mates. If his line mates get things wrong regularly it’s going to affect him, no matter how well he plays. Granted I’ve only seen a small sample but the defensive issues on the team seem to be around collectively poor execution. That’s a tough situation to look good in.
At the NHL level most of the time his linemates will get things correct defensively, so reads will be much easier. I don’t think his current environment is a fair gauge of how he will do in the NHL defensively. I also think some of it is a reflection on the coaching.
At the NHL level most of the time his linemates will get things correct defensively, so reads will be much easier. I don’t think his current environment is a fair gauge of how he will do in the NHL defensively. I also think some of it is a reflection on the coaching.
KingLB
Registered User
- Oct 29, 2008
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Just from looking at the last few boxscores. Turcotte doesn't look to be playing with Caufield anymore. And since then the points have really started to flow? I am curious if anyone watching the games could comment/confirm that? Might have to wander into the prospect board and ask, though I'll probably get yelled at by MTL fans for such a suggestion....
- May 9, 2014
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I did feel that earlier in the year everything was built around getting the puck to Caulfield. I am not a Granato fan.
Eagle Fang
Less Defending, More Offending
- Oct 12, 2005
- 3,247
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Good. In the games I watched, they were linemates and it seemed Turcotte would only pass to Caufield... even if better options were available.
Not at all surprised his production goes up with different linemates
Frolov 6'3
Unregistered User
He has played a lot with Caufield but during the season he has played with other linemates a lot too. I think its about 60/40.
During his drought he even centered the 3rd line.
During his drought he even centered the 3rd line.
Peter James Bond II
"Man, we were right there" - De-Luc-sional
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Turcotte only took 64 shots and socred 9 goals, so his shooting percentage was still a robust 14.6. Appears to have some Kopiiatis and looks for pass as option 1, 2 and 3.
So, I am not worried about 9 goals in 27 games...he still had 26 pts in 27 games and has really come on strong, since coming back from his injury.
It takes some players a bit longer to hit their stride. I doubt that the Rangers figured Kakko would struggle this much. Maybe they shouldn't have rushed him to the NHL. Here were some notes on him from the Athletic:
Kakko’s one of the lowest scoring players in the NHL at 5-on-5, recording just 0.61 points per 60 minutes (397th of 410 forwards with at least 250 minutes played). While he’s been backed by a comically low 3.9 on-ice shooting percentage, he has the lowest Goals Above Replacement (Evolving Hockey’s measure of a player’s contribution to their team) of any player in the NHL.
Stylistically, Kakko is the same player he always was. He’s near-impossible to dispossess and can endlessly cycle the puck no matter the pressure on him. A unique blend of skill and strength allows him to power through defenders just as easily as stickhandle around them. His weapon is his symphony of skills, that came together to make every surrounding defender look like they’re moving in slow-motion.
Now, Kakko’s the one moving in slow motion. His skating, which I projected as NHL average, is closer to just below-NHL-average. The mechanics of his stride haven’t been notably altered – positively or negatively – since last season. Kakko’s stride extension is inconsistent, while his stride recovery (when the extending leg comes back to the front of the stride) flares wide – sometimes, dramatically so – decreasing stride efficiency. When combined with only partially extended crossovers, he’s unable to get as much feedback (i.e., speed) as he should for the energy he expends. Halfway through his shifts, Kakko’s stride noticeably worsens, amplifying the issues.
As a result of the skating, Kakko’s unable to free himself in situations where a better skater would generate a scoring chance.The lack of speed means that Kakko can’t turn the corner on defenders when he could in Liiga. Whether he’s breaking the puck out or gaining the zone, he’s often unable to separate, resulting in a turnover.
Skating improvements will allow Kakko to get into better spots, but the rush has never been Kakko’s primary method of creation. What made Kakko such a projectable talent last season was his absurd puck protection ability. He could out-handle, out-muscle, and out-skate defenders down-low. And he had a knack for getting the puck to the net with perfect timing – never over-doing the cycle. Those dominant puck possession sequences remain, but he’s creating far less with them for a multitude of reasons.
A consistent theme throughout the season is Kakko’s lack of shooting. The distance shooting ability that Kakko flashed is gone, and that’s probably for the better now. To get NHL-level power in his wrist shot, he swings his hips 90 degrees, then steps into the shot. But that type of release requires so much time the goaltender can read Part Two of Tolstoy’s War and Peace during the wind-up. Catch-and-release and two-touch shot opportunities become similarly drawn out, as he receives the pass, handles the puck, then starts his weight transfer. And the lack of speed means he’s not able to slip behind defenders for point-blank opportunities. Simply put, he’s not all that dangerous of a shooter because he’s not ready to shoot when the time calls.
Kakko hasn’t been good this season, but there’s still reason to be optimistic about his performance. A rookie having that level of puck possession ability — even though it’s not maximized yet — is rare. Even rarer are players with Kakko’s combination of hands, vision, and physicality in addition to all the flash, smarts, and more. The players with similar toolkits are generally high-end NHLers. To get there, a little bit of speed will help, but more assertiveness will drive improvement.
Kakko’s one of the lowest scoring players in the NHL at 5-on-5, recording just 0.61 points per 60 minutes (397th of 410 forwards with at least 250 minutes played). While he’s been backed by a comically low 3.9 on-ice shooting percentage, he has the lowest Goals Above Replacement (Evolving Hockey’s measure of a player’s contribution to their team) of any player in the NHL.
Stylistically, Kakko is the same player he always was. He’s near-impossible to dispossess and can endlessly cycle the puck no matter the pressure on him. A unique blend of skill and strength allows him to power through defenders just as easily as stickhandle around them. His weapon is his symphony of skills, that came together to make every surrounding defender look like they’re moving in slow-motion.
Now, Kakko’s the one moving in slow motion. His skating, which I projected as NHL average, is closer to just below-NHL-average. The mechanics of his stride haven’t been notably altered – positively or negatively – since last season. Kakko’s stride extension is inconsistent, while his stride recovery (when the extending leg comes back to the front of the stride) flares wide – sometimes, dramatically so – decreasing stride efficiency. When combined with only partially extended crossovers, he’s unable to get as much feedback (i.e., speed) as he should for the energy he expends. Halfway through his shifts, Kakko’s stride noticeably worsens, amplifying the issues.
As a result of the skating, Kakko’s unable to free himself in situations where a better skater would generate a scoring chance.The lack of speed means that Kakko can’t turn the corner on defenders when he could in Liiga. Whether he’s breaking the puck out or gaining the zone, he’s often unable to separate, resulting in a turnover.
Skating improvements will allow Kakko to get into better spots, but the rush has never been Kakko’s primary method of creation. What made Kakko such a projectable talent last season was his absurd puck protection ability. He could out-handle, out-muscle, and out-skate defenders down-low. And he had a knack for getting the puck to the net with perfect timing – never over-doing the cycle. Those dominant puck possession sequences remain, but he’s creating far less with them for a multitude of reasons.
A consistent theme throughout the season is Kakko’s lack of shooting. The distance shooting ability that Kakko flashed is gone, and that’s probably for the better now. To get NHL-level power in his wrist shot, he swings his hips 90 degrees, then steps into the shot. But that type of release requires so much time the goaltender can read Part Two of Tolstoy’s War and Peace during the wind-up. Catch-and-release and two-touch shot opportunities become similarly drawn out, as he receives the pass, handles the puck, then starts his weight transfer. And the lack of speed means he’s not able to slip behind defenders for point-blank opportunities. Simply put, he’s not all that dangerous of a shooter because he’s not ready to shoot when the time calls.
Kakko hasn’t been good this season, but there’s still reason to be optimistic about his performance. A rookie having that level of puck possession ability — even though it’s not maximized yet — is rare. Even rarer are players with Kakko’s combination of hands, vision, and physicality in addition to all the flash, smarts, and more. The players with similar toolkits are generally high-end NHLers. To get there, a little bit of speed will help, but more assertiveness will drive improvement.
SettlementRichie10
Registered User
- May 6, 2012
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I've heard Kopiiatis has an 11% mortality rate.
Stay safe and wash your hands, people.
BringTheReign
Registered User
For better or for worse, our other future center drafted 11th overall seems to be developing Kopiiatis as well. We must all pray that Fagemo and Kaliyev shoot every time they're given the puck.
So what your saying is that we'll have 2 of the best centers in the NHL... got it
admiralcadillac
Registered User
- Oct 22, 2017
- 7,785
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saw something about he hockey writers ranking him as the leagues #2 best prospect. Did anyone see who was #1?
OK, but didn't he manage to get himself wide open in the slot when he scored against the kings?
