C Mathew Barzal - Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL (2015, 16th, NYI) II

[bossram]

I thought so at the time of the draft and it's playing out just how I thought. Snow hit it out of the park. Nabbing Barzal and Beauvillier where he did is just incredible.

 

[fredligh]

Good insights. On the size part, what you want to see is a player trending the right way. Before the draft last year he was listed at 5'11 175. He is now 6'0 187. This alleviates the size factor. He is growing and we won't know when it will stop. He may end up playing close to 200lbs and may top off at 6'1. But its a good sign he is still growing.

The draft/combine height is accurate. but sometimes, i think the height listing after the draft is exaggerated, especially to push someone over the 6' mark. You can grow after 18 and in extreme cases maybe two-three inches, but most likely 0-0.5 inch. google growth chart for men.

 

[seafoam]

Barzal's gross. When Seattle's season ends, is it possible that he could join NYI in the playoffs?

I'm not saying he's ready, I'm just simply asking if it would be possible.

 

[King In The North]

Barzal's gross. When Seattle's season ends, is it possible that he could join NYI in the playoffs?

I'm not saying he's ready, I'm just simply asking if it would be possible.

I think the Emergency callup rule is still in place, I'm not 100% on that.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Here are the highlights of Barzal's hatty. Those were high quality goals.

I have to admit. I feel good about this kid every time he has nights like last night.

Last year I had posters questioning me why I had him rated so high at #5 overall in my Final rankings. There were also debates that questioned Barzal's finish.

Barzal is putting all these arguments to rest with his continued excellent play in his draft +1 season.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=103378297&postcount=532

 

[MoBoTFB]

Good insights. On the size part, what you want to see is a player trending the right way. Before the draft last year he was listed at 5'11 175. He is now 6'0 187. This alleviates the size factor. He is growing and we won't know when it will stop. He may end up playing close to 200lbs and may top off at 6'1. But its a good sign he is still growing.

In the islanders prospect reports they actually list Barzal at 5'11 200 lbs. Not sure how true that is though.
http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=871309
Because every where else I see him at 187 6'0

Either way he's trending upwards, and I remember after the draft reading somewhere that he has a good work ethic in the weight room.

Edit: they also list MDC at 6'3 184 lbs, if thats true he really needs to bulk up.

 

[Felix Unger]

Best NYI prospect since Tavares (who wasn't a drafted prospect for very long), and it's not close. He's got a rare combination of pure skill and pure athleticism that should put him amongst elite drafted prospects.

Personally, I don't see any way he doesn't start out with the big club next year. He's done absolutely everything they could have asked of him.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

In the islanders prospect reports they actually list Barzal at 5'11 200 lbs. Not sure how true that is though.
http://islanders.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=871309
Because every where else I see him at 187 6'0

Either way he's trending upwards, and I remember after the draft reading somewhere that he has a good work ethic in the weight room.

Edit: they also list MDC at 6'3 184 lbs, if thats true he really needs to bulk up.

I don't think the bigger size listings are too far off. During the WJC. He looked a lot thicker than Point or Marner from what I saw. Height wise they may all be similar. But Barzal looks bigger, due to being wider and heavier.

Regardless, I don't see size being an issue for him. He's a guy that also played Center all throughout this career. I would not put it past him to be the 4th best true Center taken from last year's draft.

This is always a plus. Some of the others are wingers/centers. Barzal is a pure Center. Saying that, he could probably slide in on the wing to ease into the NHL. This is a tremendous advantage in my opinion.

 

[crasherino]

The draft/combine height is accurate. but sometimes, i think the height listing after the draft is exaggerated, especially to push someone over the 6' mark. You can grow after 18 and in extreme cases maybe two-three inches, but most likely 0-0.5 inch. google growth chart for men.

His combine height was 5'11.25. So, its not crazy for him to have grown .5 inches or so and be listed at 6'0. He could easily be playing at 6'0 200 lbs in the coming years without losing a step.

 

[kyle44]

At his current PPG pace, if Barzal would have played in all of Seattle's games he would have 101 points, which would place him 3rd in WHL scoring behind Brooks (19yr) and Hunt (20yr).

 

[The Winter Soldier]

At his current PPG pace, if Barzal would have played in all of Seattle's games he would have 101 points, which would place him 3rd in WHL scoring behind Brooks (19yr) and Hunt (20yr).

With 9 games to play. If Barzal maintains his pace. I have him at only 96 points this year. Not sure where you got 101 from?

Had he played all 72 games this year, he would have 116 points.

This while being on the 13th highest scoring team in the WHL.

 

[boredmale]

Barzal's gross. When Seattle's season ends, is it possible that he could join NYI in the playoffs?

Once(and if) Seattle gets eliminated he could go play for either the Islanders or Bridgeport

 

[kyle44]

With 9 games to play. If Barzal maintains his pace. I have him at only 96 points this year. Not sure where you got 101 from?

Had he played all 72 games this year, he would have 116 points.

This while being on the 13th highest scoring team in the WHL.

I didn't say he would end up with 101 points at seasons end. I said at this point in time, given his current scoring pace (1.61 ppg), if he would have played in all of Seattle's 63 games he would be third in scoring behind Brooks and Hunt. 1.61 x 63 games = 101 points.

 

[Diamond Joe Quimby]

Here are the highlights of Barzal's hatty. Those were high quality goals.

I have to admit. I feel good about this kid every time he has nights like last night.

Last year I had posters questioning me why I had him rated so high at #5 overall in my Final rankings. There were also debates that questioned Barzal's finish.

Barzal is putting all these arguments to rest with his continued excellent play in his draft +1 season.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=103378297&postcount=532

So....I was summoned here via DM by this poster to answer for my sins, which were namely questioning 'the Mentalist' at the time's opinion on why he had Matthew Barzal ranked in his top five for the 2015 draft. {Mods, not sure if that counts as him\her trolling me, but you guys let me know - in the mean time, I'll carry on}

I'll place this here:

Barzal; trouble finishing; goal rate worst among CHL forwards ranked in first round.

I'll ask once more, in your respected, expert opinion, why he is ranked at 5 on your list.

And carry my original statement by saying that he now has the fifth worst GPG average of any North American forward taken in the 2015 first round still playing in junior (or college), only being ahead of the spectacular Lawson Crouse, Jake DeBrusk, Jack Roslovic and Nick Merkley.

He went exactly where he should have: mid first round.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

So....I was summoned here via DM by this poster to answer for my sins, which were namely questioning 'the Mentalist' at the time's opinion on why he had Matthew Barzal ranked in his top five for the 2015 draft. {Mods, not sure if that counts as him\her trolling me, but you guys let me know - in the mean time, I'll carry on}

I'll place this here:



And carry my original statement by saying that he now has the fifth worst GPG average of any North American forward taken in the 2015 first round still playing in junior (or college), only being ahead of the spectacular Lawson Crouse, Jake DeBrusk, Jack Roslovic and Nick Merkley.

He went exactly where he should have: mid first round.

For the record I did ask you to join the discussion on this thread politely via PM(feel free to share it with Mods if you want) there was nothing in there other than asking you to join the discussion here. Since you questioned Barzal's productivity ceiling and my ranking of him last draft. And he is producing well this year now that he is healthy, not to mention he was named as one of Canada's 3 best players at the WJC. I just wanted to know where you stand today?

That was all. Glad you could join the discussion.

 

[Leaf Rocket]

Barzal's gross. When Seattle's season ends, is it possible that he could join NYI in the playoffs?

I'm not saying he's ready, I'm just simply asking if it would be possible.

I think he can go to the AHL im not sure about the NHL

 

[Riseonfire]

I think he can go to the AHL im not sure about the NHL

When his season is over he can join NYI without burning a recall.

If he plays more than 9 games, regular season and/or playoffs he burns a year of his ELC.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

If Barzal is called up. I would start him right off the bat with JT. This may sound ambitious but I think there would be some chemistry there. 2 guys with elite vision and talent.

 

[Lame Lambert]

If Barzal is called up. I would start him right off the bat with JT. This may sound ambitious but I think there would be some chemistry there. 2 guys with elite vision and talent.

Who would play wing? I want Barzal in his natural position.

 

[Jester9881]

If Barzal is called up. I would start him right off the bat with JT. This may sound ambitious but I think there would be some chemistry there. 2 guys with elite vision and talent.

The Islanders could use him on the left side half wall for their power play.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Just to start him off guys if he is called up this year. Not going full Tyler Seguin on him by playing 3 years on the wing before moving to Center. But as a start, maybe having him with JT to start off his career, as Larkin also has done this year is not such a bad entry into the NHL.

I can definitely see some chemistry in JT and MB. Both think the game on a very high level. They could find space out on the ice that others would not be able to. I also think neither has played with similar creative talents on their respective teams.

This tandem could be fun to watch.

 

[Wintersun]

For some reason I don't see Barzal playing wing. He's a pure center who's strenghts all fit the center position much better than the wing. I'm not sure he'd do as well there as some other centers who've played wing before translating to the center position.

 

[PWJunior]

For some reason I don't see Barzal playing wing. He's a pure center who's strenghts all fit the center position much better than the wing. I'm not sure he'd do as well there as some other centers who've played wing before translating to the center position.

If Capuano is still the coach next year, he will have no problem playing Barzal on the wing. Just look at how he's handled Ryan Strome, another natural center who is miscast on RW.

Tonight against Winnipeg, Kulemin (has he ever played center before?) is slotted at center.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

Doesn't matter which position he plays, as long as he gets to face better competition. He is too good to play in the WHL or AHL.

 

[Backhandshelf81]

If Capuano is still the coach next year, he will have no problem playing Barzal on the wing. Just look at how he's handled Ryan Strome, another natural center who is miscast on RW.

Tonight against Winnipeg, Kulemin (has he ever played center before?) is slotted at center.

Kulemin played C for the Leafs in 13-14 for a short stint. Mostly because the team was bereft of centers.