C Sam Steel - Regina Pats, WHL (2016, 30th, ANA)

[denominator]

Having seen Steel and Brooks occasionally for the past 3/4 seasons, it's definitely Steel that drives the offense.

I would even argue that on Brooks' line, Wagner (LA, 4th round 2015) is the more dynamic force - the kid has wheels. Brooks' skating is questionable but his passing is great.

Steel drives the offense for his line and is much more dynamic on the powerplay.

Since we have established that Brooks and Steel play on separate lines, we can compare the scoring of their linemates:

Steel plays with Leedahl (50GP, 26G42A) and Henry (51GP, 25G36A).
Brooks plays with Wagner (44GP, 24G29A) and Ahl (39GP, 22G16A).

Obviously there are going to be some powerplay effects, but generally speaking Steel's linemates are outscoring Brooks. You could make the argument that Steel has better linemates, but I would contend that Steel is the one driving their point totals up.

We can also compare powerplay vs even strength points:

Steel 29PPP, 9SHP, 58ESP
Brooks 32PPP, 4SHP, 54ESP

Which actually counters my above argument. Both are scoring at a comparable rate at even strength and on the powerplay.

I would be very interested to see Steel and Brooks compared in one category that isn't easy to look up: primary vs secondary assists.

 

[Goose of Reason]

Having seen Steel and Brooks occasionally for the past 3/4 seasons, it's definitely Steel that drives the offense.

I would even argue that on Brooks' line, Wagner (LA, 4th round 2015) is the more dynamic force - the kid has wheels. Brooks' skating is questionable but his passing is great.

Steel drives the offense for his line and is much more dynamic on the powerplay.

Since we have established that Brooks and Steel play on separate lines, we can compare the scoring of their linemates:

Steel plays with Leedahl (50GP, 26G42A) and Henry (51GP, 25G36A).
Brooks plays with Wagner (44GP, 24G29A) and Ahl (39GP, 22G16A).

Obviously there are going to be some powerplay effects, but generally speaking Steel's linemates are outscoring Brooks. You could make the argument that Steel has better linemates, but I would contend that Steel is the one driving their point totals up.

We can also compare powerplay vs even strength points:

Steel 29PPP, 9SHP, 58ESP
Brooks 32PPP, 4SHP, 54ESP

Which actually counters my above argument. Both are scoring at a comparable rate at even strength and on the powerplay.

I would be very interested to see Steel and Brooks compared in one category that isn't easy to look up: primary vs secondary assists.

Per Dub Network, www.stats.dubnetwork.ca/players , Steel has 33 PA and 24 SA, whereas Brooks has 47 PA and 13 SA. Steel has 72 primary points this season (1.60 Primary p/g) and Brooks has 77 (1.71 primary p/g).

 

[Sojourn]

How this guy wasn't selected for team Canada Jr?

I thought that was a questionable decision at the time, and the way the tournament played out just kind of reinforced it. There is no way to know if he is the difference between gold or not, but I definitely think he makes them a better team.

It made me smile that, based on his play, he didn't seem to sulk at all. He took it like a champ and just kept playing great hockey.

 

[denominator]

Per Dub Network, www.stats.dubnetwork.ca/players , Steel has 33 PA and 24 SA, whereas Brooks has 47 PA and 13 SA. Steel has 72 primary points this season (1.60 Primary p/g) and Brooks has 77 (1.71 primary p/g).

There is a major problem in the WHL, and CHL in general, when it comes to recording primary and secondary assists properly. This thread discusses it in detail. The conclusion was that there is no way to reliably establish primary from secondary assists in the junior leagues short of watching all the game tape.

Thus far though, all the stats are contradictory to my "eye-test" - Brooks is putting up comparable or better stats than Steel in every metric I can think of. So maybe I'm just wrong.

 

[tomd]

There is a major problem in the WHL, and CHL in general, when it comes to recording primary and secondary assists properly. This thread discusses it in detail. The conclusion was that there is no way to reliably establish primary from secondary assists in the junior leagues short of watching all the game tape.

Thus far though, all the stats are contradictory to my "eye-test" - Brooks is putting up comparable or better stats than Steel in every metric I can think of. So maybe I'm just wrong.

Probably not worth trying to compare them given that Brooks is two years older. Both are great junior level players but Steel is definitely a better bet at the NHL level. I suspect Brooks will likely end up playing in the AHL or Europe but he might buck the odds and make the NHL. Time will tell.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Steel hits 100 points tonight

39-61-100 in 48 GP

 

[Superlative Soup]

Another hattrick tonight!

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Steel hits the 110 point mark

He's starting to get into the territory of the highest scoring seasons of WHL players in the last 20 or so years now. Where would he be had he not missed any games?

 

[alcolol]

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

What's his pro potential?

 

[firstemperor]

What's his pro potential?

Ceiling is probably around a Mike Ribeiro/Giroux type in my viewings. Not sure if he will ever be as good of a 2-way player as Giroux though.

If a re-draft were to occur today, he'd be in the top 10 for me... maybe top 5 but very debatable.

 

[Ducks Nation*]

I've already said it but he does remind me a lot of Giroux

 

[wings5]

Great decision by HC not taking him on the WJC team.

 

[AcerComputer]

Just think the Leafs traded away the pick. Ugh.

 

[Werenski]

Just think the Leafs traded away the pick. Ugh.

1: You got Anderson out of it, so you didn't get nothing. Plus with the goalie pit that Toronto has been the last decade, you needed one bad

2: Nylander...Marner...and you won the Lottery and got Matthews
No Leaf fan is allowed to complain for the next 5 years lol

 

[Mad Brills*]

I doubt the leafs would've picked him.

They have the top2 C's locked up already, and nylander is ready soon as well.

 

[Vipers31]

I doubt the leafs would've picked him.

They have the top2 C's locked up already, and nylander is ready soon as well.

I think the Leafs' drafting has improved enough to not draft for needs in the 1st. That said, there's really no drop-offs late in a 1st round and usually a pretty large group of players in the same tier, so it really is a hell of a long shot that Steel would have been their selection there.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Regina has 11 games left...Steel sits at 113 points, wonder if he can hit the 130 mark, only happened one time in the new millenium. 10 point lead on Adam Brooks and a 23 point lead on the nearest non Pat and they've all played more games than him

gonna be very interesting to see what happens next year with him, going back to the WHL would be my preference unless he's going to have a regular spot in the ducks lineup

 

[93LEAFS]

People have to realize, when you trade a pick in the 30's, just value it as the pick, not the player it becomes. For all we know the Leafs would have taken Korshkov there. Outside of top 5 picks, there is very little certainty in what teams will take after that. Draft boards vary significantly at that point. I will say, the Ducks do well anytime they get picks from us.

 

[lakai17]

Regina has 11 games left...Steel sits at 113 points, wonder if he can hit the 130 mark, only happened one time in the new millenium. 10 point lead on Adam Brooks and a 23 point lead on the nearest non Pat and they've all played more games than him

gonna be very interesting to see what happens next year with him, going back to the WHL would be my preference unless he's going to have a regular spot in the ducks lineup

a little over 2 points a game can be had for him yes.

 

[AvsGuy]

Steel is having an unreal year. 113 points in 55 games now.

If Tyson Jost somehow joins Regina, they are going to be unstoppable.

 

[Werenski]

Steel is having an unreal year. 113 points in 55 games now.

If Tyson Jost somehow joins Regina, they are going to be unstoppable.

Well damn, who the heck would the #1 center be then!?

Jost has such a high pedigree and has been doing great in college, but Steel has been driving that 1st line all year.

 

[NickLidstrom]

What's his pro potential?

High end offensive number one would be his ceiling, in my opinion. Giroux is a pretty good comparison, but I don't see him ever being on Giroux's level defensively.

 

[RandyBobandi]

Well damn, who the heck would the #1 center be then!?

Jost has such a high pedigree and has been doing great in college, but Steel has been driving that 1st line all year.

I'm hoping Jost would join the Pats next year for their memorial cup run and he could slide into Brooks spot be a 1A/1B type center with Steel.

 

[Beckett]

I'm not so sure Steel doesn't make the Ducks roster next season, at least the 10 game trial anyway. Every time I see him he gets better, seems to have found another gear with his acceleration (check out the Pats site and watch his breakaway goal and the rush after).

IMO He already thinks the game as well as a legit NHL top 6'r, he just needs to get stronger to compete in the corners, especially in the Pacific and playing for the Ducks. Although with the way the NHL has trended I dont think he needs to bulk up much, just needs to learn how to be crafty in the corners. I think if he takes a page out of Rakell's book and realizes how to be slippery in the corners/middle of the ice and opportunistic in front of the net he could have a similar impact as Raks as soon as next season.