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C Jack Eichel - Boston University, NCAA (2015 Draft)

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drw02 said:
They really aren't comparable players. Mack is more in the Crosby mold and Eichel is in the Toews mold...imo. Nobody would claim quick feet as a strength of Toew's game...still doesn't prevent him from being an elite player.
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I have literally said this 10 times already.

Money Baer said:
- Comparing foot speed to MacKinnon? That's like saying his slap shot is lacking if you compare it to Chara!
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Oh so we should rather compare it to someone less effective to make Eichel look better?

Before I watched a Wheat Kings game last year, I was asking my WHL friends if Pulock's slapshot has the potential to be around Shea Webers/Chara/Doughty's level because it was good to begin with. I didn't ask if it was around Matt Carle's level because that would be implying that it sucks.

DraftBuzz Hockey said:
The truth is in the middle.

Eichel isn't an explosive, 360 skater whose skating you notice for it being excellent on it's own ala Virtanen (S E P H's observation). What you do notice, is Eichel has perfect hockey skating and speed (Rabid Ranger/scoutman1) where his skating allows him to make plays and impact the flow of the game.

One could venture to say that although Virtanen appears to be the 'better' skater just by tool alone, Eichel is the one who is constantly terrorizing opponent's and could have his skating classified as a strength.
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Fair enough, this is something I can agree too.
 
S E P H said:
I have literally said this 10 times already.


Oh so we should rather compare it to someone less effective to make Eichel look better?

Before I watched a Wheat Kings game last year, I was asking my WHL friends if Pulock's slapshot has the potential to be around Shea Webers/Chara/Doughty's level because it was good to begin with. I didn't ask if it was around Matt Carle's level because that would be implying that it sucks.


Fair enough, this is something I can agree too.
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I apologize for using the term “piss poor†when disagreeing with you.
I believe when rating a developing player strengths or weaknesses you take into account the general population (players who are within a year or two of their age) into account and then project where they might end up. So if you are rating someone on skating you do not take the best skater you can think of and rank them based on that player. I do not believe that lessens the strictness. I think it just gives some context to the rating.
I believe Eichel is a strong, powerful skater with good speed. Yes, he does not have the agility or foot speed of the elite skaters but skating will not hold him back from his potential.
 
I didn't catch the exhibition game last night, but Chris Peters noted that once Eichel got his legs under him, he became one of their biggest threats as the game wore on. He tallied three shots on goal and one post.
USA forward Jack Eichel talks to NHL Network Steve Mears after a 3-2 OT win over Minnesota State.
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[nhl]514781[/nhl]
 
Really excited to see what Eichel can do at the WJC's this year. With Nashville currently stinking it up and likely to be bad again next year, I could see David Poile doing whatever he can to get his hands on another American future-star :nod:
 
Can anyone think of a player comparable for Eichel? He has extremely high hockey IQ and tons of poise, pretty good skating and a good active stick. I tried to think of one but found it pretty difficult, Mikko Koivu is the best active player comparison I could think of.
 
wings5 said:
Can anyone think of a player comparable for Eichel? He has extremely high hockey IQ and tons of poise, pretty good skating and a good active stick. I tried to think of one but found it pretty difficult, Mikko Koivu is the best active player comparison I could think of.
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It's very hard to compare him to a player, the closest I could think of is Eric Staal/Bobby Ryan-ish.
 
S E P H said:
It's very hard to compare him to a player, the closest I could think of is Eric Staal/Bobby Ryan-ish.
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It's pretty tough, Ryan is a winger and doesn't quite play like Eichel imo and Staal plays more of an up tempo game compared to Eichel who tends to slow the play down and look for the best options.
 
DKQ said:
Paul Stastny when he was at the top of his game comes to mind
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Stastny is a playmaker and pass first and second player. Eichel is more of a goalscorer, which makes me think Eric Staal is a more proper comparison. But I agree with the above that Eichel is more about patience and vision, whereas Staal is speed and power.
 
What's the truth about his skating, really? Because I cannot see any other weaknesses in his game if it's not skating. So, is he average, above average, good, great or elite skater?
 
Loffer said:
What's the truth about his skating, really? Because I cannot see any other weaknesses in his game if it's not skating. So, is he average, above average, good, great or elite skater?
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who said his skating was a weakness?

the kid has such strong strides he can wiz past players out there. I don't know if I would call his skating elite, but it is nowhere near average or a weakness.
 
For a 16 year old with his build this guy has some great skating. He has an extremely strong stride and can really fly even if you don't think so initially because he isn't taking a ton of strides. His skating is definitely a strength imo. Marleau is a good comparison in regards to skating based on my limited viewings. Probably need to see him more however.

I remember one play against the Czechs when he picked up the puck in his own zone and without removing one hand from his stick just built up a huge head if steam carrying the puck into the zone. Really impressive acceleration and top end speed.
 
To be honest I don't see any real weaknesses in his game. Maybe some areas that are not as strong as others, but I definitely wouldn't call anything a weakness. The 2015 draft is going to make a lot of teams really happy. I know a lot of people are pining over McDavid, but having a "consolation prize" of someone like Eichel, Barzal, Hanifin, Konecny, Zacha, Kylington...etc. etc. Just a ridiculous draft in terms of talent.
 
Cujomi said:
To be honest I don't see any real weaknesses in his game. Maybe some areas that are not as strong as others, but I definitely wouldn't call anything a weakness. The 2015 draft is going to make a lot of teams really happy. I know a lot of people are pining over McDavid, but having a "consolation prize" of someone like Eichel, Barzal, Hanifin, Konecny, Zacha, Kylington...etc. etc. Just a ridiculous draft in terms of talent.
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this draft is just shaping up to be down right gross in talent....2015 draft picks at trading deadlines are going to be trading off for a premium. Jeremy Roy is up with those sick talent players, Roy is already a QMJHL number 1 dman better than a lot of veterans now.
 
wings5 said:
Can anyone think of a player comparable for Eichel? He has extremely high hockey IQ and tons of poise, pretty good skating and a good active stick. I tried to think of one but found it pretty difficult, Mikko Koivu is the best active player comparison I could think of.
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Only seen him play a handful of times but he reminds me of Jonathan Toews.
 
If Eichel reaches his potential and full size, I see a Getzlaf/E. Staal type player.

USA Hockey simply hasn't had one of those in years...maybe ever!

Bjugstad hopefully turns into something like that as well.
 
AmericanDream said:
If Eichel reaches his potential and full size, I see a Getzlaf/E. Staal type player.

USA Hockey simply hasn't had one of those in years...maybe ever!

Bjugstad hopefully turns into something like that as well.
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Just when the issue was settled and put aside it pops up again by this kind of comparisons.

So, what's reallly wrong about Eichel's skating??
 
wings5 said:
Marleau is a speedy sniper, Eichel is more of a patient playmaker type who can score as well.
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Depends on what Marleau you're talking about. Marleau used to be more of a playmaker, but turned into more of a shooter as he transitioned to the wing most of the time. That change also coincided with his growing into a great two-way player (he was merely average for the early part of his career.)

I could see a comp to Marleau circa 2005-2006. Although Marleau is one of the fastest players in the whole league so that's not quite right.
 
Loffer said:
Well, why to compare Eichel to those two players of all the possible ones? Either of them is exactly a rocket on the skates.
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why do people take projections so literal?

Getzlaf/Staal are two big bodied playmaking centers. That is exactly what I project out of Eichel. I couldn't care less about who exactly skates like who, just talking about stature and impact at the NHL level.

And to be honest, for their size, I have zero issues with Getzlaf and Staal's skating ability.

I would jump up and down if Eichel can turn into either of those ALL-STAR players.
 
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