Canucks LB
My Favourite, Gone too soon, RIP Luc, We miss you
- Oct 12, 2008
- 80,195
- 36,218
C Gabriel Vilardi (2017, 11th, LAK)
- Thread starter Brew
- Start date
tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
I don't get where not flashy comes from. He's not Keller or Marner flashy of course but then that would describe nearly everyone. Vilardi has great hands and a nice shot, he's a playmaker and a goal scorer, I mean if that's not flashy now? It's like being good at everything is now boring.
Random Forest
Registered User
- May 12, 2010
- 14,638
- 1,334
These are all pretty superficial qualities that don't really describe how either player actually plays/thinks the game though. Those traits describe Leon Draisaitl and Sean Couturier too, but they're not exactly comparable players either.
I think people have a tendency to focus on these types of superficial attributes without considering how these guys process the game and make decisions in terms of reading plays, being aggressive v. conservative with the puck, attacking the net with the puck v. finding soft spots in the offensive zone, etc. Those things determine which players are stylistically comparable, imo.
JoemAvs
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2011
- 13,614
- 4,116
I think tonight will be big for him.
If he really shows up tonight and puts up a couple more points, the Stars will have quite the decision on hand.
Tonight could be the difference between getting picked #3 or #5-6 for him given how much some teams value Memorial cup performance (e.g. the Avs).
Oh and looks like to some people you have to skate like the wind to be deserving of the label "flashy"...
If he really shows up tonight and puts up a couple more points, the Stars will have quite the decision on hand.
Tonight could be the difference between getting picked #3 or #5-6 for him given how much some teams value Memorial cup performance (e.g. the Avs).
Oh and looks like to some people you have to skate like the wind to be deserving of the label "flashy"...
firstemperor
Registered User
- May 25, 2011
- 8,755
- 1,445
Vilardi is a better prospect than Horvat in their draft year by a fair amount. His playstyle is like a Hossa/Landeskog type except there's a fair chance he develops into a center. He has issues with consistency and productivity. He needs a lot of help in the development side of things but the tools are there. If you trust in the player development aspect of your organization, you take him #3 in this draft.
So is it true Dallas is comfortable with there d going fwd and will probably take a fwd at 3?
If thats the case is it a guarantee Heiskanen will go 4 to the avs?
If thats the case is it a guarantee Heiskanen will go 4 to the avs?
tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
No, it's not a guarantee to me at all that the Avs take Heiskanen. They haven't drafted a defender in the first round since 2011, they haven't taken a defender with their first pick since 2008. Tyson Barrie in 2009 is the last under 6'1 defenseman they've drafted earlier than the 5th round. They prefer bigger two-way goal scorers. Sergachev was the top D on their board last year. I get there's a first time for everything but that's a lot of trends to break in one selection.
So is there any indication who the Avs may take at 4 assuming there guy is on board still? Vilardi or Glass or Mittelstat? Word out of Vancity is the Canucks are eyeing Glass Makar and Liljegren
tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
Personally I think Vilardi and Glass are the types they like. I have heard they like Glass, I just don't know if they like him the most out of the forwards that would be available. Hopefully some rumors from the combine might point in the right direction.
Marc the Habs Fan
Moderator
Nac Mac Feegle
wee & free
- Jun 10, 2011
- 35,869
- 10,408
Dallas should be salivating at the thought of him and Benn on the ice at the same time. Trying to take the puck from them will be impossible.
If there are still OHL scouts who have Tippett ahead of him, they are going to make a big mistake.
If there are still OHL scouts who have Tippett ahead of him, they are going to make a big mistake.
Dallas has Seguin/Spezza/Eakin and potentially Faksa/Janmark down the middle, Vilardi is a good prospect but they need someone like Heiskanen way way more. Their D is absolutely brutal.
WhatWhat
Registered User
- Aug 7, 2014
- 5,685
- 1,119
Our D is young, but between Klingberg, Lindell and Honka we have a decent young base. Adding Heiskanen would be great as it could lead us to have a legit solid complete top 4 but Spezza's contract is also up in 2 years. So drafting a C this high would be also smart has he could easy slip into the 2C hole that will be there.
So Dallas drafting Heiskanen isnt a given by any stretch
Magua
Entirely Palatable Product
So is their offensive fire power after their top few guys, just like their defensive depth after Klingberg. I don't think it's so clear cut; they have needs all-around. Spezza is turning 34, so he shouldn't be any decisive factor. And you shouldn't make draft decisions based on depth guys like Eakin, Faksa, and Janmark. Even if they're for the most part solid depth guys.
But it's also no given that Vilardi ends up at center. I think he's smart enough to have that versatility, and it's still possible, but there are legit questions and if it's best for him long-term. For a team with a 1C already, if they view Vilardi and Heiskanen equally as BPA, and also project Vilardi as a wing, a defenseman could hold more value in terms of fit/need than a winger. I won't be surprised what Dallas does, though Heiskanen feels the right play to me at #3. They like to surprise or reach though, so who knows.
Crease Master
Registered User
- Dec 17, 2016
- 700
- 417
I think when people talk about Vilardi not being flashy it's because he's not a guy who's going to use multiple toe drags and shifty moves to fake out defenders or use speed to blow by them. He is however going to use his superior puck control and smarts to accomplish the same things. He's so strong from behind the opposition net because he can't be contained and he'll get the puck on an open stick out front. It won't make a year end highlight package but it will win you a hockey game.
BB88
Registered User
- Jan 19, 2015
- 41,861
- 22,443
David Castillo
Registered User
Honka could very easily end up better than Klingberg (already has better raw tools), but otherwise I agree. Good post. And good av.
Still, as good as Vilardi is offensively, his defensive game is atrocious. He's slow to react to the play and doesn't move his feet. Sometimes I feel like his poor skating comes from how he looks against the play and in his own zone. People will say "well you can fix all of these things with good coaching". How many players do we continue to say this about well into their NHL careers?
He's obviously talented, and I love his puck work along the boards. Dude can dangle in a shark tank. But I'd take Heiskanen, Mittelstadt, or Glass over him. Mittelstadt in particular will look excellent as the quick center between Dallas' hulking wingers like Tufte and Gurianov.
JoemAvs
Registered User
- Jul 2, 2011
- 13,614
- 4,116
The main reason why I think Dallas might go with Vilardi is that the top tier centers always go at the top of the draft. Atleast recently.
Since 2009 the only big time center I recall not being drafted in the top10 is probably ROR. Maybe add Kuznetsov to the list but that is almost it. Wennberg might have a chance of getting there. But aside from that?
Matthews, McDavid, Draisaitl, MacKinnon, Scheifele, Marner, Nylander, Barkov, Tavares, Seguin, Eichel, Johansen, Duchene, Monahan, etc.
They have one thing in common. All of them top10 picks. Most of them top5 picks.
If you want a stud C to replace Spezza in the future, this is the time to get one. They almost never get traded and the Stars probably won't pick in the top5 any time soon again.
There is always hope that you can get good to great Ds and wingers in the rest of the draft. But if you want a really quality C, you need to pick him high almost all of the time.
Vilardis defensive play is not terrible. His lack of speed sometimes exposes him a bit but he is great at forcing turnovers. Especially on the boards.
There is room for improvement but he is still very young and again most of it IMO has to do with his main flaw. His skating. He will have to improve that anyways if he wants to do much at the NHL level.
But that is why he is only a prospect. And a very young one at that. There is no flawless prospect. Especially not in this draft.
