Prospect Info: Angus Crookshank 126th

[Que]

One of the best Simpson bits ever. Right up there with the Canyonaro.

 

[aragorn]

Crookshank reminds me of Dzingel, about the same size, both agitators & good fast skaters that can bring some offence, but just not quite good enough to stick around. Not quite offensively gifted enough for the top six & not quite big enough or rugged enough to fit the bottom six. Good replacement players, but not quite good enough to stick long term.

 

[Boud]

Crookshank reminds me of Dzingel, about the same size, both agitators & good fast skaters that can bring some offence, but just not quite good enough to stick around. Not quite offensively gifted enough for the top six & not quite big enough or rugged enough to fit the bottom six. Good replacement players, but not quite good enough to stick long term.

Bizzare comparison for Crookshank in Dzingel. Completely different players.

 

[aragorn]

Bizzare comparison for Crookshank in Dzingel. Completely different players.

How so? About the same size, both good fast skaters, both can score, both play with an edge & are agitators. Seem similar to me.

 

[Sting]

How so? About the same size, both good fast skaters, both can score, both play with an edge & are agitators. Seem similar to me.

Did you just say Dzingel played with an edge and was an agitator? That is quite literally the complete opposite of his game.

Crookshank projects much better in the NHL in my opinion because he'd be great in the bottom 6. Dzingel didn't fit in the top 6 (not good enough) or the bottom 6 (too soft).

 

[Boud]

How so? About the same size, both good fast skaters, both can score, both play with an edge & are agitators. Seem similar to me.

I don't know where you're getting that Dzingel was/is an agitator. Dzingel was about the softest player and became completely ineffective when the games got more physical. In the playoffs he completely disappeared. Dzingel is also an all offense type player with very little commitment to defense.

The biggest reason Dzingel has a hard time getting NHL reps is because he's not at all a fit on a bottom 6, and he doesn't produce enough at this point to play top 6 minutes. Dzingel produced based mostly on speed and shot from the perimeter.

Crookshank is a 200ft hard-working player that thrives when the games get more physical. He gives it all every shift and he's well rounded compared to Dzingel, he's very reliable defensively. Crookshank is the type of player who will be able to play bottom 6 minutes and has some good offensive tools. Crookshank is a Pageau type player, very different from Dzingel. He produces based on sheer will and his willingness to get in dirty areas, on top of having great offensive instincts. Very very different players.

Other than speed and size I really don't see any similarities.

 

[dumbdick]

Crooked is more like Zack Smith with better wheels.

 

[OD99]

Crookshank reminds me of Dzingel, about the same size, both agitators & good fast skaters that can bring some offence, but just not quite good enough to stick around. Not quite offensively gifted enough for the top six & not quite big enough or rugged enough to fit the bottom six. Good replacement players, but not quite good enough to stick long term.

I can't agree with the comparison or the projection. I think Crookshank ends up making the team as early as next season and will be called up regularly this year.

Kid seems to have, "it" to go along with his speed, tenacity and edge. He has a better shot than most think and a nose for the net. I think he will be a crowd favourite and end up scoring some big goals for us.

 

[aragorn]

I don't know where you're getting that Dzingel was/is an agitator. Dzingel was about the softest player and became completely ineffective when the games got more physical. In the playoffs he completely disappeared. Dzingel is also an all offense type player with very little commitment to defense.

The biggest reason Dzingel has a hard time getting NHL reps is because he's not at all a fit on a bottom 6, and he doesn't produce enough at this point to play top 6 minutes. Dzingel produced based mostly on speed and shot from the perimeter.

Crookshank is a 200ft hard-working player that thrives when the games get more physical. He gives it all every shift and he's well rounded compared to Dzingel, he's very reliable defensively. Crookshank is the type of player who will be able to play bottom 6 minutes and has some good offensive tools. Crookshank is a Pageau type player, very different from Dzingel. He produces based on sheer will and his willingness to get in dirty areas, on top of having great offensive instincts. Very very different players.

Other than speed and size I really don't see any similarities.

Dzingel was not soft in fast for a guy his size he was a pretty good fighter & had a few NHL fights. I don't disagree that Crookshank could be a better defensive player, I don't think we have had enough sample size to make that determination. I guess we disagree on the determination & getting into the dirty areas Dzingel did that as well, he was just passed by bigger & better players. Let's not also forget that Ottawa offered him a contract to re-sign, it was Dzingel that said no, thankfully. Formenton as it turned out is a much better 3rd line LWer.

I can't agree with the comparison or the projection. I think Crookshank ends up making the team as early as next season and will be called up regularly this year.

Kid seems to have, "it" to go along with his speed, tenacity and edge. He has a better shot than most think and a nose for the net. I think he will be a crowd favourite and end up scoring some big goals for us.

I hope you are right, but if Formenton is cleared & re-signed Crookshank will still be behind him, Motte, Kelly & Joseph on the 3rd line. Then there is Gambrell & Hawryluk all left shots who can play LW, I guess we'll see how he does. I do like his tenacious attack style & hope he keeps it up.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Crooked is more like Zack Smith with better wheels.

Zack Smith was 6'2, 210lbs, Crookshank is 5'10, 180lbs

Don't get that comparison.

 

[BankStreetParade]

Crookshank reminds me of Dzingel, about the same size, both agitators & good fast skaters that can bring some offence, but just not quite good enough to stick around. Not quite offensively gifted enough for the top six & not quite big enough or rugged enough to fit the bottom six. Good replacement players, but not quite good enough to stick long term.

Sometimes I wonder if you watch the games with your eyes closed and just imagine what's happening while cycling through the player dimensions in your head. I find it hard to believe you watched any games with Dzingel with your eyes open and came away thinking "agitator" was an apt description for him.

 

[aragorn]

Sometimes I wonder if you watch the games with your eyes closed and just imagine what's happening while cycling through the player dimensions in your head. I find it hard to believe you watched any games with Dzingel with your eyes open and came away thinking "agitator" was an apt description for him.

I watched him up close at development camps, rookie tournaments & in numerous NHL games. People see what they see, what's your point about size, they are basically about the same size? Crookshank might be more of an agitator, we didn't see any of that in his game on Saturday while I've seen Dzingel have several good fights. I'm not hating on Crookshank, I like the player & the way he plays, he just reminds me of Dzingel, that's not a bad thing in my mind. Dzingel was an NHL player who played over 400 NHL games, what's bad about that?

 

[Xspyrit]

Crookshank plays more like Gallagher, he said it himself that he models his game after him

Don't agree with the Dzingel and Smith comparisons

 

[bert]

Did you just say Dzingel played with an edge and was an agitator? That is quite literally the complete opposite of his game.

Crookshank projects much better in the NHL in my opinion because he'd be great in the bottom 6. Dzingel didn't fit in the top 6 (not good enough) or the bottom 6 (too soft).

If Crookshank scores 20+ goals I'll be ecstatic.

I watched him up close at development camps, rookie tournaments & in numerous NHL games. People see what they see, what's your point about size, they are basically about the same size? Crookshank might be more of an agitator, we didn't see any of that in his game on Saturday while I've seen Dzingel have several good fights. I'm not hating on Crookshank, I like the player & the way he plays, he just reminds me of Dzingel, that's not a bad thing in my mind. Dzingel was an NHL player who played over 400 NHL games, what's bad about that?

It's not bad at all. Good post.

 

[coladin]

Crookshank plays more like Gallagher, he said it himself that he models his game after him

Don't agree with the Dzingel and Smith comparisons

I did not know he said that, but my initial impression was he is from the Marchand/Gallagher mold

 

[SpezDispenser]

Guve him time in Belleville. No rush

 

[dekem]

I like Crookshank, however I haven’t seen him in any games against an NHL lineup so can’t possibly say what he may become in the NHL at this point in his development.

 

[Xspyrit]

I did not know he said that, but my initial impression was he is from the Marchand/Gallagher mold

We haven't had a player in that "mold" since Jarkko Ruutu and it's been lacking. He won't be nearly as good as Marchand and not even Gallagher but players like that in the bottom-6 are amazing to have

Max McCormick was a bit in that mold but not good enough to be a NHL regular, same with Sabourin. Parker Kelly is also very close to be considered in that mold. We'll see what happens with him this season but imagine having all these guys in the lineup :

Brady Tkachuk
Ridly Greig
Angus Crookshank
Parker Kelly

lol it could actually be the whole LW

 

[PlayersLtd]

How so? About the same size, both good fast skaters, both can score, both play with an edge & are agitators. Seem similar to me.

Dzingel was never an agitator and despite the skating was about as vanilla as one could get.

Crookshank is still a wild card but he seems to be able to generate offence regardless of linemates by way of good puck luck, iq, finding open space, winning battles, nose for the net and has enough finish. To steal Gary Galleys words, he's the straw that stirs the drink on any given line. Combine that with his skating and agitating and I think you have someone with a much more complete bottom 6 skill set than Dzingle.

That said, like Parker Kelly, the jury is still out. If he doesn't in fact prove to be able to control possession with those skills at the NHL level, than yeah, he is just another high motor bottom 3 guy who may not get over the hump. Going back to his UNH days though, I think there is enough talent there and not just work ethic.

 

[aragorn]

Dzingel was never an agitator and despite the skating was about as vanilla as one could get.

Crookshank is still a wild card but he seems to be able to generate offence regardless of linemates by way of good puck luck, iq, finding open space, winning battles, nose for the net and has enough finish. To steal Gary Galleys words, he's the straw that stirs the drink on any given line. Combine that with his skating and agitating and I think you have someone with a much more complete bottom 6 skill set than Dzingle.

That said, like Parker Kelly, the jury is still out. If he doesn't in fact prove to be able to control possession with those skills at the NHL level, than yeah, he is just another high motor bottom 3 guy who may not get over the hump. Going back to his UNH days though, I think there is enough talent there and not just work ethic.

We'll see I hope your right.

 

[Cosmix]

We haven't had a player in that "mold" since Jarkko Ruutu and it's been lacking. He won't be nearly as good as Marchand and not even Gallagher but players like that in the bottom-6 are amazing to have

Max McCormick was a bit in that mold but not good enough to be a NHL regular, same with Sabourin. Parker Kelly is also very close to be considered in that mold. We'll see what happens with him this season but imagine having all these guys in the lineup :

Brady Tkachuk
Ridly Greig
Angus Crookshank
Parker Kelly

lol it could actually be the whole LW

I would still want a big bruiser policeman type on the 4th line. Watson is more of a dancer than a policeman.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

I watched him up close at development camps, rookie tournaments & in numerous NHL games. People see what they see, what's your point about size, they are basically about the same size? Crookshank might be more of an agitator, we didn't see any of that in his game on Saturday while I've seen Dzingel have several good fights. I'm not hating on Crookshank, I like the player & the way he plays, he just reminds me of Dzingel, that's not a bad thing in my mind. Dzingel was an NHL player who played over 400 NHL games, what's bad about that?

Dzingel was inconsistent with his physicality and IMO he had a tendency to duck hits. I think Crookshank is probably a bit more fearless, and a bit more pesty. Dzingel definitely had the ability to play that game, though, and when he was at his best he didn't shy away from physicality. I also suspect was/is quite a bit stronger & bigger than Crookshank. Will Crookshank give a better effort and be more effective defensively? That's the wild card. But I think there is definitely some merit t your comparison.

 

[Boud]

I would still want a big bruiser policeman type on the 4th line. Watson is more of a dancer than a policeman.

I know he signed a longer term contract this offseason but the one guy I really wanted the team to go grab was Nic Deslauriers. Absolutely love his game, always all in and can actually fight and isn't a liability. He's a warrior I think most teams would love to have him in their 4rth line.

I would've loved to see Kelly move to center (or Kastelic) and Deslauriers on the LW with Watson.

Tough to get these players though, they're a dying breed, especially the ones who can actually play hockey. Zach MacEwen, Kolesar, Carrier and Hathaway are pretty much the only other guys who can do it IMO. Would take any of them on the team.

 

[OD99]

I watched him up close at development camps, rookie tournaments & in numerous NHL games. People see what they see, what's your point about size, they are basically about the same size? Crookshank might be more of an agitator, we didn't see any of that in his game on Saturday while I've seen Dzingel have several good fights. I'm not hating on Crookshank, I like the player & the way he plays, he just reminds me of Dzingel, that's not a bad thing in my mind. Dzingel was an NHL player who played over 400 NHL games, what's bad about that?

Dzingel was definitely feisty and was a sneaky good fighter. I think he was a lefty too so caught a few people off guard.

One big difference is timing though. Dzingel took 8 years to play a full NHL season and 9 before he scored 20 in a season.

This is Crookshank's 4th season so his development is far ahead of where Ryan was.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Thought he would be in tonight but no