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

[JetsFan815]

Knights 15-16' - 4.69 GF/G
Pats 16-17' - 5.41 GF/G

He's also playing on the same team (possibly same line?) as Adam Brooks, the 2nd leading scoring in the WHL, trailing by just 3 points. Why bother pushing a narrative? He's having an excellent season, why not leave it at that?

There was no narrative being pushed. Just a simple factual statement which appears to have riled you up for no reason. As others have pointed out he doesn't play on the same line as Brooks whereas Marner played with Tkatchuk who is producing as 1st liner in the NHL and Dvorak who is doing well on a very bad team. So that London line was a line of 3 NHL players, quite possible the most stacked line to have played in the OHL since the Patrick Kane's line with Gagner and Kostitsyn. Saying that was not a slight towards Marner, rather it was putting Steel's achievements in context.

The WHL isn't tougher to score in, and even if it was, it doesn't translate better to NHL scoring. If you age and league adjust his stats his season is pretty much equal to Marner's, which is damn impressive. But, considering your obsession with Leafs players being overrated its no surprise you would want to create this debate.

WHL has been a lower scoring league than both the Q and the OHL. Granted, the difference is not as big as it used to be in the mid 2000s but it is still there. Even if you age adjust his stats his PPG is still higher than Marner's. He is only 3 months older than Marner was in his draft + 1 year. So if you age adjust Marner's number to equate him to Steel Marner's PPG goes from 2.03 -> ~2.11. Still lower than Steel's 2.18. If you adjust for league the gap increases in Steel's favor again.

The comparison was made to simply put Steel's production in context. It was not an attack on Marner's honor as you seem to be taking it. There is no need to get defensive. I'll say that Steel draft+1 production is also better than Ehlers' and Scheifele's as well if that makes you feel any better

BTW. Corey Pronman must be obsessed with "Leaf's prospects being overrated" as well. He just tweeted this a few hours ago:

 

[93LEAFS]

There was no narrative being pushed. Just a simple factual statement which appears to have riled you up for no reason. As others have pointed out he doesn't play on the same line as Brooks whereas Marner played with Tkatchuk who is producing as 1st liner in the NHL and Dvorak who is doing well on a very bad team. So that London line was a line of 3 NHL players, quite possible the most stacked line to have played in the OHL since the Patrick Kane's line with Gagner and Kostitsyn. Saying that was not a slight towards Marner, rather it was putting Steel's achievements in context.



WHL has been a lower scoring league than both the Q and the OHL. Granted, the difference is not as big as it used to be in the mid 2000s but it is still there. Even if you age adjust his stats his PPG is still higher than Marner's. He is only 3 months older than Marner was in his draft + 1 year. So if you age adjust Marner's number to equate him to Steel Marner's PPG goes from 2.03 -> ~2.11. Still lower than Steel's 2.18. If you adjust for league the gap increases in Steel's favor again.

The comparison was made to simply put Steel's production in context. It was not an attack on Marner's honor as you seem to be taking it. There is no need to get defensive. I'll say that Steel draft+1 production is also better than Ehlers' and Scheifele's as well if that makes you feel any better

BTW. Corey Pronman must be obsessed with "Leaf's prospects being overrated" as well. He just tweeted this a few hours ago:

WHL scoring isn't as transferable, so even if lower scoring it may not be tougher to score in. Using either adjusted jr ratios or NHLe the OHL is ahead. Iain Fyffe's method gave the OHL a weight of 1.1 and the WHL one of 1.05. NHLe give it weights of .32 to OHL and .27 to the WHL. The USHL is actually lower scoring than either league, but I don't think anyone would say it is tougher to score in.

With your history of calling Leafs prospects overrated, you chose an interesting prospect to make the comparison.

 

[67Cup]

The Leafs Ducks trade that sent the pick that became Steel to Anaheim may be one of those rare trades that leaves both sides happy. Steel looks like a terrific prospect and there is a 2nd rounder yet to come. But Leafs fans sure aren't complaining about Andersen in nets!

 

[Goose of Reason]

The Leafs Ducks trade that sent the pick that became Steel to Anaheim may be one of those rare trades that leaves both sides happy. Steel looks like a terrific prospect and there is a 2nd rounder yet to come. But Leafs fans sure aren't complaining about Andersen in nets!

Freddie's a great goalie and I'm glad he's doing so well for you guys. Seems like a good trade for both sides right now.

 

[nbducksfan19]

The Leafs Ducks trade that sent the pick that became Steel to Anaheim may be one of those rare trades that leaves both sides happy. Steel looks like a terrific prospect and there is a 2nd rounder yet to come. But Leafs fans sure aren't complaining about Andersen in nets!

Very true. I think some teams were scared off by the recent failures of goalies who played well in Anaheim and saw little success elsewhere (Hiller and Fasth). Glad we got Steel, but I always felt Andersen was better than he got credit for around the league.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Very true. I think some teams were scared off by the recent failures of goalies who played well in Anaheim and saw little success elsewhere (Hiller and Fasth). Glad we got Steel, but I always felt Andersen was better than he got credit for around the league.

I think hes terrific goalie, and his puck handling ablility helps with a young defense like the leafs, as far as avoiding the forchecks and setting up the break outs. I had 0 doubt hed be a great goalie for them.


Def not sad we got Sam Steel and we usually do well in the 2nd round so hopefully that pick ends up good.

 

[42]

What's the likelihood we see him in the NHL next season?

 

[Opak]

What's the likelihood we see him in the NHL next season?

Impossible to tell. Steel played for the Ducks during pre-season, but didn't exactly impress, looked like a junior player in a men's game. If he manages to keep this pace up, however, I'd imagine he at least gets a look though.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

What's the likelihood we see him in the NHL next season?

Tough to say we have
Getz
Kesler
Vermette


doesn't make sense to play him as a 4th C, so I think unless he beats out kesler as the 2c, not very likely. I guess there is also a chance we can lose vermette at the Entry draft. But as I remember he did look a bit nervous playing with the ducks in the preseason and what not... I'm sure hell get a chance/look tho.

Getz
Steel
Kesler
Vermette

I suppose would be great depth

 

[Werenski]

Tough to say we have
Getz
Kesler
Vermette


doesn't make sense to play him as a 4th C, so I think unless he beats out kesler as the 2c, not very likely. I guess there is also a chance we can lose vermette at the Entry draft. But as I remember he did look a bit nervous playing with the ducks in the preseason and what not... I'm sure hell get a chance/look tho.

Getz
Steel
Kesler
Vermette

I suppose would be great depth

Ana has good depth at center, I think if Steel makes it to NHL, he'll be converted to a wing, to start at least.

Rakell, Perry, Cogliano, Silverfberg, Ritchie are only ducks that come to mind that should be playing somewhere in the top 9. That leaves one wing spot open for Steel to take if he impresses at training camp.

Edit: Lot of plays who play center start out as wings for first couple of years anyways, hard for a 18/19/20 year old to come in and be expected to center a line and all the responsibility that comes with it. Though Steel's IQ and good two-way play, he could probably manage that. More room at the wings as well, most teams usually have their top 3 centers locked in, or at least top 2 and playing a high end prospect on the 4th line is just a waste.

 

[MMC]

Ana has good depth at center, I think if Steel makes it to NHL, he'll be converted to a wing, to start at least.

Rakell, Perry, Cogliano, Silverfberg, Ritchie are only ducks that come to mind that should be playing somewhere in the top 9. That leaves one wing spot open for Steel to take if he impresses at training camp.

Edit: Lot of plays who play center start out as wings for first couple of years anyways, hard for a 18/19/20 year old to come in and be expected to center a line and all the responsibility that comes with it. Though Steel's IQ and good two-way play, he could probably manage that. More room at the wings as well, most teams usually have their top 3 centers locked in, or at least top 2 and playing a high end prospect on the 4th line is just a waste.

Jones will challenge for a spot on the wing as well.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Hes leaching off Brooks, HF said so. He cant possibly be good on his own

 

[Werenski]

Jones will challenge for a spot on the wing as well.

Oh I agree, he will, but I think he's not likely to make the jump until at least 2018-2019 season.

I think Steel will wrestle 2nd line away from Kesler at some point, both from Kesler just slowing down with age and Steel's play making him earn it.

Does he have 1st line potential? Like a legit 1st line center and not a "well...we ain't got nobody else, so slot him in there".

Just thinking who takes over from Getz in 3-5 years.

 

[eternalbedhead]

Jones will challenge for a spot on the wing as well.

Don't see Jones being ready. I'd rather him get another year in juniors than likely spend a short stint on our 4th line.


Depending on how the expansion draft goes, Vermette might be out the door, so we do likely have the 3C spot open for Steel if he's ready for it.

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Tough to say we have
Getz
Kesler
Vermette


doesn't make sense to play him as a 4th C, so I think unless he beats out kesler as the 2c, not very likely. I guess there is also a chance we can lose vermette at the Entry draft. But as I remember he did look a bit nervous playing with the ducks in the preseason and what not... I'm sure hell get a chance/look tho.

Getz
Steel
Kesler
Vermette

I suppose would be great depth

Ducks can ease him into the league as a wing. Gonna be tough, but i dont want him coming into the league and rotting away as a fourth liner for Randy either.

 

[Sojourn]

What's the likelihood we see him in the NHL next season?

I think Opak said it well: It's impossible to tell. At least, at this point.

Anaheim is a team that is willing to let their prospects earn their way onto the team(with some difficulty, but it's possible), but they aren't a team that gifts roster spots to prospects. So, if Steel is going to play more than a couple of early season games, he's going to have to show up at camp and impress the hell out of the coaches.

This is probably one of those cases where we might prefer to be able to put him in the AHL, and have the option to call him up if he plays well enough, but the team obviously can't do that next season.

 

[SmellOfVictory]

BTW. Corey Pronman must be obsessed with "Leaf's prospects being overrated" as well. He just tweeted this a few hours ago:

How do you get that inference from his tweet? One of two comparative prospects was a Leafs prospect. He would've used them as examples because they're both highly-rated CHL prospects from a recent draft. If anything the tweet implies the exact opposite of overrating.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Ducks can ease him into the league as a wing. Gonna be tough, but i dont want him coming into the league and rotting away as a fourth liner for Randy either.

O I agree, if hes not playin as a 1st or 2nd line player next season there isn't really a reason to have him up with the big club... itll be a waste if hes on 4th line.


I also expect max jones will make the roster before steel tbh, I just think jones overall game is more transferrable to the nhl style game. And hes already basically NHL size.

 

[gilfaizon]

I think Steel will get a taste next year, especially if Vermette is snatched up by LV which I think he will be, But Steel likely doesnt get more than the 9 games

 

[93LEAFS]

O I agree, if hes not playin as a 1st or 2nd line player next season there isn't really a reason to have him up with the big club... itll be a waste if hes on 4th line.


I also expect max jones will make the roster before steel tbh, I just think jones overall game is more transferrable to the nhl style game. And hes already basically NHL size.

I'd say be extra patient with Jones to be honest. You don't want him in a Lawson Crouse situation where he is an effective NHLer but can't score at this level. Jones may be able to effective in a 4th line role next year, but it might serve the team better to eye getting him on the roster after he has some success in the AHL.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I'd say be extra patient with Jones to be honest. You don't want him in a Lawson Crouse situation where he is an effective NHLer but can't score at this level. Jones may be able to effective in a 4th line role next year, but it might serve the team better to eye getting him on the roster after he has some success in the AHL.

True but I don't really see jones as a future top line winger, I see him more of a shutdown style/energy forward with slight scoring upside.

Jones Nattinen Silfverberg is kinda what I had in mind as our future shut down line.

 

[Kalv]

On one hand - I`ll be really surprised if Steel will start in the NHL next year. He was among first cuts the past training camp and right after that cut he went to tear WHL apart right from the start. So even when he started to put the points up crazy like he has, he was very very far from the NHL hockey. So...

On the other hand - did a little digging and found out that Rakell was also among first cuts in his first training camp ( here you can see it, funny that other cuts were Cramarossa who is our best 4th liner this season, our #1 goalie and a goalie who is tearing up the KHL now, a good class of 'cuts'). Rakell went on to play 4 games in the NHL next year to start the year. Rakell was a bit bigger and more physically ready IIRC and Bruce was a more likely of a coach to put him in that situation. But who knows...

If I have to pick yes or no, I`ll still go with a no, but it is not that strict as I previously thought.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

On one hand - I`ll be really surprised if Steel will start in the NHL next year. He was among first cuts the past training camp and right after that cut he went to tear WHL apart right from the start. So even when he started to put the points up crazy like he has, he was very very far from the NHL hockey. So...

On the other hand - did a little digging and found out that Rakell was also among first cuts in his first training camp ( here you can see it, funny that other cuts were Cramarossa who is our best 4th liner this season, our #1 goalie and a goalie who is tearing up the KHL now, a good class of 'cuts'). Rakell went on to play 4 games in the NHL next year to start the year. Rakell was a bit bigger and more physically ready IIRC and Bruce was a more likely of a coach to put him in that situation. But who knows...

If I have to pick yes or no, I`ll still go with a no, but it is not that strict as I previously thought.

Doesnt rc usually cut drafted players from that year.

 

[Kalv]

Doesnt rc usually cut drafted players from that year.

Jones was second to last (behind Nattinen) Junior player cut by the Ducks.
The draft year doesn`t matter, the ready-ness is. Of course, it is nothing outstanding for 18 yo to be cut from NHL team in the first place

But Steel got one game (where he was unvicible, by pretty much all the reports) and was let go to Regina.
His next summer will be what can give him a roster spot next October. Right now, he is not ready and far away.

 

[Mad Brills*]

Happy for ducks fans. They get a great prospect and the leafs get a great goalie.

Fair deal.