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C Nathan MacKinnon - Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL (2013 draft) II

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Smallz said:
If Edmonton gets the 1st overall pick again next year then they deserve to be relegated to the AHL

:laugh:
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This. Then you know they'd be tanking on purpose, unless of course 2 or more of the big 4 suffer long-length injuries, there's no way they should be in last place, or even in the bottom 3, unless they win the lottery.

Something still tells me Tambo isn't done yet picking in the bottom 3...idk, maybe that's just me.
 
Bump!

It is a huge year for Nathan and it starts with the U18 next month and then the Q season gets under way in September.

Looking forward to seeing him lead Canada to a U18 win, a great showing in the Prospects game and the Mooseheads to their first Q title and maybe even a Memorial Cup.

He should be on the World Junior team but should be and what Hockey Canada deems could be two totally different things. Hopefully the right decision will be made and the powers that be go with a talented young kid instead of a 19 year old plugger who won't get us the big goal when needed.

Depending in how many games he plays in this year I see him potentially hitting the 100 point mark.
 
NovaScotia Habsfan31 said:
Bump!

It is a huge year for Nathan and it starts with the U18 next month and then the Q season gets under way in September.

Looking forward to seeing him lead Canada to a U18 win, a great showing in the Prospects game and the Mooseheads to their first Q title and maybe even a Memorial Cup.

He should be on the World Junior team but should be and what Hockey Canada deems could be two totally different things. Hopefully the right decision will be made and the powers that be go with a talented young kid instead of a 19 year old plugger who won't get us the big goal when needed.

Depending in how many games he plays in this year I see him potentially hitting the 100 point mark.
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I think the odds are pretty high that MacKinnon plays for Team Canada at the World Juniors this year. If he continues to develop and puts up points like he is projected to in the Q this year, I dont think there is any question he will be there. He really has everything you need to compete. Will a few guys possibly making the NHL, the door will be open for Nathan.
 
Ghost Dog said:
On his highlight vids, I see some samsanov and some kessel. How is his passing playmaking?
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Please don't let those impressions convince you that he plays like either of those guys. I'm not huge for comparisons, he's his own player. But if I had to, I'd say he's a smaller Rick Nash in terms of a goal scorer and finisher with much better natural play making ability then Nash. He's still growing into his own as a hockey player and I believe this year will tell more of a story of what he will be as a pro then his rookie year did.

Everyone that under-rates him now and over the last 6 months ( leaving him off their WJC rosters etc ) are going to feel very stupid when he blows the doors off the Q this season.
 
Stephenson84 said:
Please don't let those impressions convince you that he plays like either of those guys. I'm not huge for comparisons, he's his own player. But if I had to, I'd say he's a smaller Rick Nash in terms of a goal scorer and finisher with much better natural play making ability then Nash. He's still growing into his own as a hockey player and I believe this year will tell more of a story of what he will be as a pro then his rookie year did.

Everyone that under-rates him now and over the last 6 months ( leaving him off their WJC rosters etc ) are going to feel very stupid when he blows the doors off the Q this season.
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Not really under rating him at at all. Some of the things he does with the Puck remind me of the two I mentioned. I would take him 1st if the draft. Were today. I'm hoping to see him in the Ivan hlinka tournament.
 
Ghost Dog said:
Not really under rating him at at all. Some of the things he does with the Puck remind me of the two I mentioned. I would take him 1st if the draft. Were today. I'm hoping to see him in the Ivan hlinka tournament.
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I think the point the poster was making is that Mackinnon does not shy away from physical contact at all, a trait that characterizes both guys you mentioned. He can absolutely destroy guys when he wants to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSkAnmd_Des
 
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Ghost Dog said:
On his highlight vids, I see some samsanov and some kessel. How is his passing playmaking?
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I'm normally not big on comparisons but if I had to I would say Kovalchuk/Hossa type of guy. Controls the puck well and has Kovy's shot. He is definitely a shooter first, passer 2nd. This year, a line of Drouin - Nate - Frk should be absolutely filthy.
 
mapes said:
I'm normally not big on comparisons but if I had to I would say Kovalchuk/Hossa type of guy. Controls the puck well and has Kovy's shot. He is definitely a shooter first, passer 2nd. This year, a line of Drouin - Nate - Frk should be absolutely filthy.
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his accuracy is no where near Kovalchuk's....unless he worked on it a lot in the summer, I found his shot though he was a shooter first I found his shot was not super accurate, his accuracy was average, but he has a hard release, but he could have worked on it.
 
nate needs to use the next year to start refining his skating technique. it seems that every time i see him he flies on to every shift, full speed, and keeps full speed for the entire shift - no matter the circumstances. that's a great way of dominating in junior hockey - and a great way to end up as road kill in the NHL. it's not the skating itself that needs to change - he needs to learn how to use his speed effectively.

...an example of someone who did this well from early on is Patrick Kane - even as a really young guy, he had that ability to use his speed in a sophisticated way to the extent he could (and can) force others on the ice to slow down almost at will.

as players, MacKinnon and Kane's general style doesn't have much in common - but MacKinnon would really elevate his game if he could start being more responsible (and effective) in the way he utilizes his speed - everything is there for him, skill-wise - he just needs to use it better.
 
You'd think it would be odd to criticize MacKinnon's skating, but you're right, he needs to slow down the play more often.
 
HalifaxDucks said:
You'd think it would be odd to criticize MacKinnon's skating, but you're right, he needs to slow down the play more often.
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yes. it's not even the quality of skating itself, per se...it's just using obvious skill in a more effective way. i think it would be great if he could work on it while still in junior while he's so dominant and has more breathing room to "practice" things.

assuming he plays in the NHL as an 18 year old...like i mentioned above, i think he's going to get run over he trying to just blast around like he does in jr. hockey. given how high quality his skating is, i think it should be easily fixable if he puts his mind to it...but that might be easier said than done - b/c he so offensively dominant there's that obvious tendency to try to grab the puck and steam roll his way toward the goal, unopposed.

in any event, the "speed" issue isn't some sort of fatal problem obviously :laugh: but if he could work on correcting it a bit i think it would actually elevate his game a lot when you consider the rollover from jr hockey to the NHL.
 
Hat trick in the 4-0 gold medal game win at the Ivan Hlinka tournament vs Finland Today. He finished with 6 goals and 5 assists in 5 games in the tournament (top scorer I believe).

He should be getting a reputation for having his biggest games when it matters at this point. Hat trick today, the amazing playoffs he had this year, as well as a hat trick in the 3-2 final of the U-16 ACC a few years ago.
 
Not like he needs more people to pump his tires but... Yes, in big games he has the extra "gear" or whatever amd brings out the best of him....

Now let's curb those charging minors eh? ;)
 
Would it be wrong to say he plays like Peter Forsberg? Saw some power moves and with his size and skating stance thats what i first thought of.

only saw one period mind you
 
KlattNazty said:
Would it be wrong to say he plays like Peter Forsberg? Saw some power moves and with his size and skating stance thats what i first thought of.

only saw one period mind you
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That's fairly accurate. He has a power forward side to his game and plays bigger than he his. Could definitely compare to Forsberg.
 
I think he's more of a speedster than Forsberg ever was. Peter would pick you apart by either going at you with power or making subtle moves to create space for himself.

MacKinnon also has the ability to simply blow by the opposition with his speed.

Not sure who I would compare him too, just making an observation.
 
Renegade Stylings said:
I think he's more of a speedster than Forsberg ever was. Peter would pick you apart by either going at you with power or making subtle moves to create space for himself.

MacKinnon also has the ability to simply blow by the opposition with his speed.

Not sure who I would compare him too, just making an observation.
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Fair enough. I only had a limited viewing so it was just a quick comment. Although Nathan seems to have the ability to both at this point.

Peter was also probably one of the best passers and most gifted playmakers of his time, and while Nathan seems exemplary in that area, its his goalscoring that strikes me as his greatest gift.

Could be wrong. Probably am.
 

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