Prospect Info: All-Purpose Prospect Thread v16.0

[bwanajamba]

Minnesota has only played 23 games, so I think Wheeler was assuming those sites hadn't updated to reflect the 3-point night yet but they actually had. Or he's posting from the future and Moore is going to have another big night tonight?

 

[ello]

3 points last night. Those websites must not have updated their #s yet.

Usually those sites don't update that quickly, not likely having the game people were posting clips from where he got 3 pts

I figured, it’s just weird cuz Nazar’s are up to date on EP from last night

 

[bwanajamba]

Rinzel with another 2 assists so far tonight. Kid is on absolute fire. First one was a beauty:

https://x.com/GopherHockey/status/1748886509892063573?s=20

 

[Larmer83]

Slaggert with 1g and 3a. Two of the assists were empty net.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Rinzel with another 2 assists so far tonight. Kid is on absolute fire. First one was a beauty:

https://x.com/GopherHockey/status/1748886509892063573?s=20

Rinzel may turn out to be best D we drafted to be honest

Has all the skills/traits to be a top pairing NHL defender honestly

 

[Bonin21]

Minnesota has only played 23 games, so I think Wheeler was assuming those sites hadn't updated to reflect the 3-point night yet but they actually had. Or he's posting from the future and Moore is going to have another big night tonight?

He might have had 3 points in the exhibition to start the year. Can't remember but feels possible. But that's not an official game and it is totally amateur if Wheeler thinks it is.

Now the Gophers have played 24 games. Rinzel had two assists, Moore had one.

 

[hawksfan50]

Rinzel has been getting better as season progress.. Real Progress defensively ..he ws solid at WJHC..you can tell hevis "developing" from raw project to lokibg like at least a 2RD and looks more advanced defensively than Kk is(though Kk Haralson been much better than the first part of the season in defending) button they are "develioping"...neither though has shown a special shot fron distance..May prevent them ecer from being a 1D impact goal scoring dnan.

But hapoy to see Rinzel's consistent contribution to the offense coming through,proving he has gotten better as season progressed.

Moorealso looks more confident since WJHC...and getting assists more consistently but still does not get off a lot of shots on goal and that limits goal scoring ..

 

[hawksfan50]

Nazar...not so good in the 7-5l loss to Michigan State tonight :

Only 1a -3 and Only 2 shots on goal and only 11-13 on draws in this game.

In the big win over Michigan State Fri night he was: 2a +2 but only 1 shot on goal ..

So for the back to back with Michigan State he was 2GP 0g 3a -1 with ONLY 3 SOG ...this does not impress me as anthibg that special that would hooe for an impact 2C after Berdard to lead the 2nd line of the top six..


He gets assists but like Moore does not generate copious shotscon goal to become a big goal scoring threat ..

I want to see more GOAL scoring impactvfrom both ....but they both need to be more selfish and shoot more.

Compare Nazar to T.J.Hughes(who is also a Soph. on Michigan...Also pllays Center... older at age 22 already...(if he decidesc to turn pro after this season going freexagent this sumner,Hawks should target him for signing) ...Anyway in tonight's loss to Michigan Stae he had:
2g 2a +1 7 SOG and 18-12 on draws

In theFRI win he had 1g 0a+2 and 11-10 on draws
.abd 4 SHOG..

So he scored 3g 2a+3 11 SOG and 29-22 on draws.


The most taking difference aside from the better production.. better +/- and bettercgaceoffwi% by T.J Hughes v ver Nazar was the11-3 shots on goal stat forvtgex2 games ...sjowingvthat Nazarvisxway too deferring and not showing enough to ever be much of a threat to goalies until he starts putting more shots to the net andcscoring goals off those.

Onlyv3 shotsvon goal in consecutive games is just anotger guy level....

Moorevis guilty ofvtgecsame disease..they need to generate more shots ongoal from their sticks..

Starvokayers in thecNHL score goals ...beat goalies consistently by generating shot on the net..

So I am concerned Nazarxand Moore are lacking I thisxarea such that they may only be commentary pklyers...not impactvstars...prcwill defer to let others shoot off passes to the shooters such that if Hawk lack goal finishers ,their pages may not result in much scoribg to the offense anway ...

So before any of you get so excited Bouton Nazar consider the dekerium Winnipeg fans about the impact stardom for Ruther McGroarty (akso 19 years old)....he was 2g 2a-1 and 14 SOG in the loss Sat night and in the win FRI night he
was 1g 3a +1 and 5 SOG ....fora weekend total of 3g 5a Even and an anazing 19 shots on goal
Now that is a prospect to get crazy excited about
(must have learned from watching Jimmy SRacial Slurud a at tfe WJHC and tcopying he shoot first and often mentality that star goal scorers must have ...).

Bottom line is Hawks have such a lowvbar hoping theircprospectsxarexgreat whenthecreskitybiscotgercteamschave prospects really looking like go to superstars for top lines in thecNHL.

So ...no..Ivam not getting excited for Nazarvor Moore... Sure...more talented than a lot of the bums up front on the rosyer now which is why the bar iscdo low for hope for "some" kick to the future offense from them..butcakss I see no real star pioential(so far) and in any case theyare nit going to becready till They show more ability to beat goakiescand score goals more consistently.

OR put it yhusxway:at this stage of devipment they do not look as good a bet to help our team as would signibg the currently more dangerousx(free agent if he leavescearly( T.J.Hughrsvof Michigan.

I want to see them generate more shotscongoal and more goals before I get much excited about them.

 

[TheFridge]

Rinzel may turn out to be best D we drafted to be honest

Has all the skills/traits to be a top pairing NHL defender honestly

He's certainly a tantalizing combination of size, skating and puck skills but the knock on Rinzel is that he doesn't play with enough pace. Assuming he stays in college for at least another year, it'd be nice to see him really take over games and dominate next year. He's been behind the curve since we drafted him but next year will be the first time he's returned to a league since high school. It'll be a good test for him.

 

[Taze em]

I don’t find it important to “play with pace”. Some of the best D I know look lazy on the ice. Not everyone needs to be cracked out like Keith. There are Prongers too.

 

[TLEH]

Who are the best D that look lazy?

I think Rinzel is progressing well and I like his game. He still needs to learn a lot but he’s looking great. He can definitely improve the speed at which he plays in the defensive zone. More about the speed of his decision making.

Game is fast I’m not sure who is playing slow and is really good. This is the modern game. Heiskanen, Makar, Hughes,Josi, Fox. Are any of these guys playing slow? I mean I could list the top guys and they all play pretty quick. Only Fox is a non elite skater of this group and his brain is elite and he moves the puck fast.

Guys like Slavin, Pelech, Toews.. they play a slower game but they still make decisions quick.

 

[CallMeShaft]

 

[Taze em]

Who are the best D that look lazy?

I think Rinzel is progressing well and I like his game. He still needs to learn a lot but he’s looking great. He can definitely improve the speed at which he plays in the defensive zone. More about the speed of his decision making.

Game is fast I’m not sure who is playing slow and is really good. This is the modern game. Heiskanen, Makar, Hughes,Josi, Fox. Are any of these guys playing slow? I mean I could list the top guys and they all play pretty quick. Only Fox is a non elite skater of this group and his brain is elite and he moves the puck fast.

Guys like Slavin, Pelech, Toews.. they play a slower game but they still make decisions quick.

I think I might be confused because I agree with you, you have to make quick smart decisions with the puck and you have to have a brain that processes quickly and correctly. I Thought the poster meant that he had low “activity” on the ice. Scouts call it playing in a rocking chair. Lidstrom, Pronger types that look lazy much like a goalie can look just “solid” because they’re always in position making correct reads.

On Rinzel, he can skate and judging by his games he makes a great first pass. We are picking nits on a kid who made WJC, played WJC and has been bumped to first pair at Minny PPG when expectations were:
WJC camp invite, “learn the college game”, “slow burn”

 

[TLEH]

I think I might be confused because I agree with you, you have to make quick smart decisions with the puck and you have to have a brain that processes quickly and correctly. I Thought the poster meant that he had low “activity” on the ice. Scouts call it playing in a rocking chair. Lidstrom, Pronger types that look lazy much like a goalie can look just “solid” because they’re always in position making correct reads.

On Rinzel, he can skate and judging by his games he makes a great first pass. We are picking nits on a kid who made WJC, played WJC and has been bumped to first pair at Minny PPG when expectations were:
WJC camp invite, “learn the college game”, “slow burn”

Yeah okay. I get that part. Its simplified movements because you're reading the game at a high level. Understand better.

Definitely exceeded my expectations for his first NCAA year, although he is 19.

 

[clydesdale line]

Yeah okay. I get that part. Its simplified movements because you're reading the game at a high level. Understand better.

Definitely exceeded my expectations for his first NCAA year, although he is 19.

He's 19 because he's raw. Hawks decided to leave him in the USHL another year which was absolutely the right move. Could he have had played college after high school? Sure, but he would not be nearly as good as he is now. Probably would've barely kept his head under water. His development this season has been leaps and bounds.

 

[belfour30]

He's 19 because he's raw. Hawks decided to leave him in the USHL another year which was absolutely the right move. Could he have had played college after high school? Sure, but he would not be nearly as good as he is now. Probably would've barely kept his head under water. His development this season has been leaps and bounds.

I think he played USHL because he was still in HS. IIRC he graduated HS in 2023.
He has a June birthday and he may have started school later.

Cutoffs for starting school might be different in MN vs IL.

 

[TLEH]

He's 19 because he's raw. Hawks decided to leave him in the USHL another year which was absolutely the right move. Could he have had played college after high school? Sure, but he would not be nearly as good as he is now. Probably would've barely kept his head under water. His development this season has been leaps and bounds.

I mean I understand all of that. I’m saying you have to take that into account. He’s a year older than almost all freshman and two years older than some high end hockey freshman. I’ve been pumping Rinzel’s tires for a bit.

 

[hawksfan50]

Goaltending Update:

DREW COMMESSO Rockford AHL

18GP 2.82 GAA .897 save%
last 3GP .899 save % 7GA on 74 shots faced

ADAM GAJAN Green Bay USHL

22GP 3.16 GAA .906 sv%
last 3GP .860 save% 13GA on 93 shots faced
last 8GP .899 save% 26GA on 258 shots faced

DOMINIC BASSE St.Cloud St. NCAA

19GP 2.44 GAA .905 save
Last 5 GP .896 save% 14GA on 134cshots faced
Last 10GP .907 save% 25 GA on 268 shots faced


They need to decide whether to sign Basse or not as he is playing his SR season in college

...GAJAN faces a lot of rubber in GreeBay...but still since coming back from World Juniors he has been lineup.badly..

However so far none of these 3 have displayed Belfour or Crawford elite level save% ...l

 

[Larmer83]

I think he played USHL because he was still in HS. IIRC he graduated HS in 2023.
He has a June birthday and he may have started school later.

Cutoffs for starting school might be different in MN vs IL.

No. Look at Kaiser, a July birth month who started in the NCAA after being drafted. It's not unusual for non-USNTDP high school players to play a year in the USHL after being drafted.

That was probably the best path for Rinzel. If he was dead set on going to Minnesota it also made sense as he would be playing behind Faber, Chesley, and a LH-dman playing the right side.

 

[bwanajamba]

No. Look at Kaiser, a July birth month who started in the NCAA after being drafted. It's not unusual for non-USNTDP high school players to play a year in the USHL after being drafted.

That was probably the best path for Rinzel. If he was dead set on going to Minnesota it also made sense as he would be playing behind Faber, Chesley, and a LH-dman playing the right side.

While it probably was simply the best path for Rinzel, I believe it is true that he didn't finish high school until this past year. Since he's a late bloomer he probably didn't do much of the early grad preparation stuff guys typically do to get into the NCAA as soon as possible. At any rate the plan he's on seems to be working out for him so far. Would be really exciting for the home run swing they took on him to connect

 

[Paul Allen]

While it probably was simply the best path for Rinzel, I believe it is true that he didn't finish high school until this past year. Since he's a late bloomer he probably didn't do much of the early grad preparation stuff guys typically do to get into the NCAA as soon as possible. At any rate the plan he's on seems to be working out for him so far. Would be really exciting for the home run swing they took on him to connect

Yes, there’s an interview with him from a few months ago and he stated that he played in the USHL last year because he didn’t have the credits to start college yet.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Very few non-USNDTP kids play in the NCAA at age 18.

 

[CallMeShaft]

 

[TLEH]

I mean like 10 pages back I was pumping Rinzel's tires immensely and told to stay grounded lol. I am fully on board with the Rinzel praise. Just providing some context that he is an older freshman, not saying they shouldn't have done it.

 

[Taze em]

Tampa 1st and hawks 2nd gets to the 7/8th pick.
Levshunov Catton!
Cayden Buium!