Prospect Info: Cliff Pu (2016, 69th) – '18-19: Traded to Carolina

[Wisent42]

Last year in 63 games: 12 goals, 19 assists, 31 points
This year in 16 games: 12 goals, 18 assists, 30 points

Yeah, thats good progress.

Here's to hoping he doesn't go without points for the next 47 games.

But seriously, this is very impressive. I was happy when we picked him, and happier now.

 

[LaxSabre]

 

[McPhatty00]

Is he as good as the stats look? There is no coverage of the CHL here in Pennsylvania.

 

[stokes84]

Is he as good as the stats look? There is no coverage of the CHL here in Pennsylvania.

There was some noise about him being a late 1st round talent who was buried on an ultra talented team last season. He started to put together some good numbers in the playoffs and made the most of his chances. He can really fly and has some pretty good hands. If you can score in the CHL and you can skate, it's worth getting excited about. A lot of times, you get players who are putting up big numbers and people start to get excited, but the reality is they aren't athletic enough for pro sports and they never make it. Numbers and an athlete? You have to feel good about it.

 

[1972]

To me he isn't all that different then Baptiste in his D+1 year, although I don't think he's quite as fast he has higher hockey sense and better puck skills.

 

[hizzoner]

I love his playmaking, defence and skill on the face-offs. He excels there. He is above average on everything else without being a standout. He could be a good second liner or a high end third liner winning face-offs and shutting down the other team.

 

[AppsSyl]

I watched a lot of London games last year, because I was always interested to see Marner play and I was always very impressed with Cliff Pu's game. He has a great two way game and blazing speed. He and Max Jones were great together and both steadily improved as the season went on. It is great to see that this year he has progressed to a new level. He could be one of the steals of the draft and you are fortunate to have gotten at round 3. I think his style of play will translate well to the pro-game. Congrats on what is seeming to be a great pick. Even though I am a Leafs fan and our teams are rivals I like a few of the young players you have got in Buffalo and am rooting for them to succeed.

 

[Snippit]

Boy he looks good today.

Not so much the points (he could easily have 5 by now), but he's making great plays all over the ice. He's blown by the Battalion defender on the wing at least 2 or 3 times so far to create an odd man rush.

 

[1972]

Boy he looks good today.

Not so much the points (he could easily have 5 by now), but he's making great plays all over the ice. He's blown by the Battalion defender on the wing at least 2 or 3 times so far to create an odd man rush.

I won't be surprised if he makes noise in training camp next year, he's the real deal.

 

[Savitar]

Pu just scored! Now 1 goal and 2 points on the night. He's the real deal indeed!

 

[Savitar]

To me he isn't all that different then Baptiste in his D+1 year, although I don't think he's quite as fast he has higher hockey sense and better puck skills.

Pu is much faster than Baptists and 3 years younger

 

[Samsonite23]

Pu is much faster than Baptists and 3 years younger

...Pu is not much faster than Baptiate. Where are you getting that from?

 

[AustonsNostrils]

That's 38 points in 19 games - exactly 2 PPG. Sabres probably haven't had a prospect do that in a real long time. Just checked - only Turgeon, Martin and Perrault had 2 PPG seasons, Gare just missed.

 

[flashsabre]

London is a treat to watch. Speed, skill, dogged determination.

As I said before I watched Pu and McLeod play for Toronto Marlboros and I liked Pu better. McLeod can fly but I don't think his mind processes the game at the same speed. Pu though knows how to use his speed in every area of the ice and excels at all the little things. He is 1st pp, 1st PK and is a terror on the forecheck and at the face off circle.

Team Canada has to be looking at him for the WJCs, he can play any role and do it at an incredibly high pace.

 

[EichHart]

What's his playstyle like? Marner lite?

 

[Savitar]

...Pu is not much faster than Baptiate. Where are you getting that from?

I live I! London I've seen Pu play over 50 games and I've seen Baptiste like at least 20 times. Pu is the faster skater

 

[Samsonite23]

I live I! London I've seen Pu play over 50 games and I've seen Baptiste like at least 20 times. Pu is the faster skater

If he's faster it's very slightly. And I'm not even sure he is. You're probably just underestimating Baptistes speed. He is crazy fast just like Pu. If you're much faster than Baltiste, you're the fastest player in the NHL.

 

[MackAttack26]

London is a treat to watch. Speed, skill, dogged determination.

As I said before I watched Pu and McLeod play for Toronto Marlboros and I liked Pu better. McLeod can fly but I don't think his mind processes the game at the same speed. Pu though knows how to use his speed in every area of the ice and excels at all the little things. He is 1st pp, 1st PK and is a terror on the forecheck and at the face off circle.

Team Canada has to be looking at him for the WJCs, he can play any role and do it at an incredibly high pace.

Seen McLeod and Pu both multiple times this season, they honestly aren't all that much different. Both producing based of being some of the fastest players in the league, both are playmakers first, and are terrific two-way factors who are amazing at the dot. Only difference so far this year has been Pu's ability to finish, which was the reason I was hesitant to label McLeod as a top-10 prospect (or even top-20) like most last year.

He won't get a shot at the WJC this year unfortunately due to past reputations, but he has all the skills that some players that will make that team possess and more.

 

[AppsSyl]

Seen McLeod and Pu both multiple times this season, they honestly aren't all that much different. Both producing based of being some of the fastest players in the league, both are playmakers first, and are terrific two-way factors who are amazing at the dot. Only difference so far this year has been Pu's ability to finish, which was the reason I was hesitant to label McLeod as a top-10 prospect (or even top-20) like most last year.

He won't get a shot at the WJC this year unfortunately due to past reputations, but he has all the skills that some players that will make that team possess and more.

I honestly like Pu's upside more than McLeod. Pu has the drivetrain like McLeod, but has a better hockey IQ and more offensive upside. He is a steal where you guys picked him up and plays a modern NHL style of game.

 

[Snippit]

What's his playstyle like? Marner lite?

There are similarities, but Pu is more of a straight-line skater, while Marner had more of that East-West element to his game because he was so dynamic and good at turning.

 

[1972]

[QUq OTE=EichHart;124631295]What's his playstyle like? Marner lite?[/QUOTE]

Did you just choose Marner because they both played in London? Because I'm not sure how else they would compare.

 

[Wisent42]

He won't get a shot at the WJC this year unfortunately due to past reputations, but he has all the skills that some players that will make that team possess and more.

What reputation is this? What did I miss?

 

[MackAttack26]

What reputation is this? What did I miss?

I just meant more his past performance. Pu really didnt make a name for himself until this year, while for example a guy like McLeod has been highly touted for a long time now. I hope Im wrong, I just think HC will lean towards the guys with the successful reputation over a longer period of time.

 

[Wisent42]

I just meant more his past performance. Pu really didnt make a name for himself until this year, while for example a guy like McLeod has been highly touted for a long time now. I hope Im wrong, I just think HC will lean towards the guys with the successful reputation over a longer period of time.

Ah! I understand. I thought you implied that there was some sort of red flag on him, that he had a reputation of being a serial killer or something.

 

[CaseyMitts37]

What's his playstyle like? Marner lite?

Pre-draft they compared his style to Kyle Turris