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

[CornKicker]

Reinhart > Barzal.......


ok nvm ill just leave

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Update for Barzal with 7 points in 4 games, +5 leading Seattle into the 2nd rd of the playoffs.

 

[PensBandwagonerNo272*]

One of the best prospects in the world right now. The 2015 draft was pretty deep but still the Isles got a steal picking this kid at 16OA.

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Just to think, the Bruins could have had both Barzal and Connor.

 

[Felix Unger]

This tandem could be fun to watch.

NYI make mistakes and take a long time to correct them, sometimes. But when they're done with the mistake they don't go back. The Strome/JT combo did not work. They won't be quick to try JT/Barzal.

OTOH, NYI finally stumbled on to playing Frans Nielsen on the wing which I've been hoping they'd do for some time. That opens up a center position somewhere for Barzal.

 

[PWJunior]

NYI make mistakes and take a long time to correct them, sometimes. But when they're done with the mistake they don't go back. The Strome/JT combo did not work. They won't be quick to try JT/Barzal.

OTOH, NYI finally stumbled on to playing Frans Nielsen on the wing which I've been hoping they'd do for some time. That opens up a center position somewhere for Barzal.

Strome and Barzal do share a lot of similarities in their games (vision and playmaking), but Barzal's skating is Leddy-esque and that's a big factor. While I do want Barzal at center, his game is more suited for JT's RW than Strome because of Barzal's ability to enter the offensive zone with relative ease due to his elite skating. As we've seen with Nielsen on JT's LW, the ability to gain the offensive zone takes a ton of pressure off of Tavares and allows him to find open ice. When Tavares is the primary zone entry guy, the opposition swarm him immediately at the blue line.

Another player who would also be a good match for Tavares in this way is Ho-Sang, he does have a very similar skillset to Barzal. It's no wonder Tavares' goal scoring has really picked up lately with Frans on his wing.

 

[fahad203]

One of the best prospects in the world right now. The 2015 draft was pretty deep but still the Isles got a steal picking this kid at 16OA.

As it stands today, Isles with the steal of the draft.

 

[covfefe]

As it stands today, Isles with the steal of the draft.

Kyle Connor might have something to say about that..

Nothing against Barzal, love his game, unbelievable talent.

 

[93LEAFS]

Kyle Connor might have something to say about that..

Nothing against Barzal, love his game, unbelievable talent.

Connor and Aho probably have bigger claims. Rantanen deserves a mention to, same with Boeser, White and Konecny.

 

[VanIsle]

Just to think, the Bruins could have had both Barzal and Connor.

But the Bruins are smart.

Morons running an organization that should be great, but head office has deflated my confidence.

Coming from a Bruins fan.

 

[93LEAFS]

But the Bruins are smart.

Morons running an organization that should be great, but head office has deflated my confidence.

Coming from a Bruins fan.

Zboril was drafted around where he was ranked but hasn't played great. Senyshen is actually playing up to his draft position, not high on Debrusk though.

 

[MoBoTFB]

http://new.whl.ca/video-channels/highlights/silvertips-1-thunderbirds-3

Barzal with two goals last night, at 50 seconds and 3:50 in the video.

Something I haven't seen discussed about him are his faceoffs. Does anybody know how he is in the dot?

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

http://new.whl.ca/video-channels/highlights/silvertips-1-thunderbirds-3

Barzal with two goals last night, at 50 seconds and 3:50 in the video.

Something I haven't seen discussed about him are his faceoffs. Does anybody know how he is in the dot?

Ive expressed my concerns about that many times. He needs to get stronger on faceoffs... he is a PERFECT centerman in all aspects of the game but he sucks at draws. There are many times during the game when a team NEEDS a win on a draw but I just never have faith that he will win those big draws. Sure he wins some but that's something I feel he needs to work on and get a lot stronger with. I realize hes still so young and has a ton of room to get stronger, but IMO that's something he needs to work on big time or he will get eaten alive in the NHL on draws

 

[MoBoTFB]

Ive expressed my concerns about that many times. He needs to get stronger on faceoffs... he is a PERFECT centerman in all aspects of the game but he sucks at draws. There are many times during the game when a team NEEDS a win on a draw but I just never have faith that he will win those big draws. Sure he wins some but that's something I feel he needs to work on and get a lot stronger with. I realize hes still so young and has a ton of room to get stronger, but IMO that's something he needs to work on big time or he will get eaten alive in the NHL on draws

Thanks for the response. I've read a couple things about him having a great work ethic so I'm sure he'll improve on that

 

[The Winter Soldier]

http://new.whl.ca/video-channels/highlights/silvertips-1-thunderbirds-3

Barzal with two goals last night, at 50 seconds and 3:50 in the video.

Something I haven't seen discussed about him are his faceoffs. Does anybody know how he is in the dot?

They are not a weakness nor are they his strength. Ryan Getzlaf caliber would be acceptable for all the elite skills he will bring to the Isles.

Faceoffs is a skill that can be taught. Being a natural Center can't be. Teams that lack quality Center depth may be kicking themselves they didn't pick Barzal.

He's had a terrific draft +1 year. Let's not forget he was named one of Canada' top 3 players at the WJC's along with Strome and Hicketts. He's well on his way to being being a good one.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

They are not a weakness nor are they his strength. Ryan Getzlaf caliber would be acceptable for all the elite skills he will bring to the Isles.

Faceoffs is a skill that can be taught. Being a natural Center can't be. Teams that lack quality Center depth may be kicking themselves they didn't pick Barzal.

He's had a terrific draft +1 year. Let's not forget he was named one of Canada' top 3 players at the WJC's along with Strome and Hicketts. He's well on his way to being being a good one.

exactly. I admit that I am quite critical with his draws, but that can easily be fixed. To me its a good sign that the only real thing he needs to work on is his face offs... but as I said before, that will come once he gets stronger

 

[PWJunior]

They are not a weakness nor are they his strength. Ryan Getzlaf caliber would be acceptable for all the elite skills he will bring to the Isles.

Faceoffs is a skill that can be taught. Being a natural Center can't be. Teams that lack quality Center depth may be kicking themselves they didn't pick Barzal.

He's had a terrific draft +1 year. Let's not forget he was named one of Canada' top 3 players at the WJC's along with Strome and Hicketts. He's well on his way to being being a good one.

Barzal was criminally underutilized that entire tournament unlike Strome and Hicketts.

Faceoffs will take time for him, he needs to get stronger and put in a lot of work. The Isles have a ton of other centers that are playing wing so they could fill in. Unfortunately, Tavares is the only strong faceoff guy the Isles have. It's never been a strong suit for Nielsen, Strome, or Nelson. Cizikas isn't bad, but he isn't great at it either.

I'm thinking that if Barzal puts in the work and is raring to go in training camp, he's got the type of skill set that could work on Tavares' RW. He excels at zone entry with his skating ability, has the playmaking ability to get Tavares the puck, and is showing like he could pot a couple here and there. I think that's the only way he'll be in the NHL next year, he'll need to start off on the wing because the Isles are flush with centers for now. Nielsen is playing #1LW right now, but could return to the middle assuming he re-signs which is looking likely.

 

[Brooklanders*]

Strome and Barzal do share a lot of similarities in their games (vision and playmaking), but Barzal's skating is Leddy-esque and that's a big factor. While I do want Barzal at center, his game is more suited for JT's RW than Strome because of Barzal's ability to enter the offensive zone with relative ease due to his elite skating. As we've seen with Nielsen on JT's LW, the ability to gain the offensive zone takes a ton of pressure off of Tavares and allows him to find open ice. When Tavares is the primary zone entry guy, the opposition swarm him immediately at the blue line.

Another player who would also be a good match for Tavares in this way is Ho-Sang, he does have a very similar skillset to Barzal. It's no wonder Tavares' goal scoring has really picked up lately with Frans on his wing.

Big difference is skating ability. Barzal is also a much better playmaker.
Strome has a shot which he doesn't use.
Kid needs to shoot the puck regardless.
Yet he misses the net way too much which is the Islanders problem as a team.
I blame this on trying to turn Centers into snipers.

 

[Brooklanders*]

But the Bruins are smart.

Morons running an organization that should be great, but head office has deflated my confidence.

Coming from a Bruins fan.

I agree that the Bruins messed up the draft but only because both Connor and Barzal were ranked accordingly.

It's unusual for two players ranked outside the top ten to exceed expectations and surpass players ranked much higher.

For instance No one is saying Boston messed up because they passed on Travis Konecny.

 

[Semantics]

Barzal was criminally underutilized that entire tournament unlike Strome and Hicketts.

He made some bad turnovers and missed defensive assignments early on, and lost the confidence of the coaches. That's on him. He eventually earned some of it back and played more in the final couple of games, but I don't see which of the centers ahead of him he deserved to take ice time from unless you think he should have been shifted to the wing?

 

[93LEAFS]

He made some bad turnovers and missed defensive assignments early on, and lost the confidence of the coaches. That's on him. He eventually earned some of it back and played more in the final couple of games, but I don't see which of the centers ahead of him he deserved to take ice time from unless you think he should have been shifted to the wing?

Point was terrible, so I'd start there. I remember Barzal starting well then fading later in group stages. He probably should stay 1 more year in the WHL, or at least do the up 9 games slightly separated, AHL "conditioning stint", WJC, back to dub to a contender for the 2nd half. Unless Dylan Strome goes down, I fully expect him to have a top center role, and Patrick or Dubois (probably put on the wing) to anchor the WJC squad. NYI can afford to be patient, and while having a great season, he can still learn more at the WHL level.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Barzal was criminally underutilized that entire tournament unlike Strome and Hicketts.

Faceoffs will take time for him, he needs to get stronger and put in a lot of work. The Isles have a ton of other centers that are playing wing so they could fill in. Unfortunately, Tavares is the only strong faceoff guy the Isles have. It's never been a strong suit for Nielsen, Strome, or Nelson. Cizikas isn't bad, but he isn't great at it either.

I'm thinking that if Barzal puts in the work and is raring to go in training camp, he's got the type of skill set that could work on Tavares' RW. He excels at zone entry with his skating ability, has the playmaking ability to get Tavares the puck, and is showing like he could pot a couple here and there. I think that's the only way he'll be in the NHL next year, he'll need to start off on the wing because the Isles are flush with centers for now. Nielsen is playing #1LW right now, but could return to the middle assuming he re-signs which is looking likely.

I never like to blame coaching for losing, but Lowry's decision making this tournament was terrible. This is the way I saw it. He totally under utilized Barzal when he was playing well, and only started using Konecny in the last game where he was terrific.

Barzal being named one of the 3 best Team Canada players in the tournament is a pretty good testament he didn't coach to the best by utilizing the talent he had.

 

[PWJunior]

Point was terrible, so I'd start there. I remember Barzal starting well then fading later in group stages. He probably should stay 1 more year in the WHL, or at least do the up 9 games slightly separated, AHL "conditioning stint", WJC, back to dub to a contender for the 2nd half. Unless Dylan Strome goes down, I fully expect him to have a top center role, and Patrick or Dubois (probably put on the wing) to anchor the WJC squad. NYI can afford to be patient, and while having a great season, he can still learn more at the WHL level.

I think Barzal will be back in the WHL next year. The Isles are really cautious with their kids ever since the Nina debacle. It's also a way of maximizing the ROI on their ELC contracts, they'll need as many cheap young players they can get when Tavares gets his $10M+ extension.

He definitely has more to learn at the CHL level, these kids can always make refinements to their game and he has the reported work ethic to do it. I know speed kills in the NHL these days and he's definitely got that, but it doesn't hurt to be a bit more physically mature when trying to make the jump to pro hockey. He'll tear up the WHL again next year, will likely be the #1C for Canada in the WJC, and could be traded or stay in Seattle to make a Memorial Cup run.

From there, I think he will spend at least half a season in the AHL and then get some NHL action. Basically, he'll be handled the same way Ryan Strome was handled. Hopefully Capuano is no longer with the Isles so he can't mishandle him the way he has mishandled Strome and every other young kid on the Isles when he makes it to the big show.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

I think Barzal will be back in the WHL next year. The Isles are really cautious with their kids ever since the Nina debacle. It's also a way of maximizing the ROI on their ELC contracts, they'll need as many cheap young players they can get when Tavares gets his $10M+ extension.

He definitely has more to learn at the CHL level, these kids can always make refinements to their game and he has the reported work ethic to do it. I know speed kills in the NHL these days and he's definitely got that, but it doesn't hurt to be a bit more physically mature when trying to make the jump to pro hockey. He'll tear up the WHL again next year, will likely be the #1C for Canada in the WJC, and could be traded or stay in Seattle to make a Memorial Cup run.

From there, I think he will spend at least half a season in the AHL and then get some NHL action. Basically, he'll be handled the same way Ryan Strome was handled. Hopefully Capuano is no longer with the Isles so he can't mishandle him the way he has mishandled Strome and every other young kid on the Isles when he makes it to the big show.

I think he will definitely be back in WHL. Next year the WHL wont push him much BUT he does have things he will need to work on and NYI will want him to work on it. It will be another typical too good for WHL but not ready for NHL debate. I have absolutely no problem with him coming back to WHL. A lot of people that watch him regularily and watch the WHL regularily feel he should come back to WHL, and a lot of people that just follow his progress online and don't watch him or WHL much at all assume he will be in NHL.

He will get some regular season games in NHL, he will be a star on WJC and he will be apart of a good Seattle team that will go far in playoffs next year. I have no issue what so ever having him have a season like that next year. I would say he would be a favorite to be the WHL leading scorer, but he will miss too many games due to NHL camp/some regular season games and WJC

 

[Curufinwe]

Giroux benefited from two post draft years in Junior, and I think Barzal will as well.