Colton Gillies?

[Circulartheory]

How's Gillies doing? His 'hands of stone' get any better?

 

[Vagrant]

Gillies has scored more this year than he did last year obviously going by stats alone. I would attribute that to another year of physical maturity over the competition that he was already a great deal stronger than. I would love to see Gillies converted to defense the way the Wild did with Brent Burns because his offensive weakness as a forward would then be a strength to his game. I have no idea as to their intentions with this young man but he is as hockey player. He'll play with the Wild in some capacity for sure and the Wild fans will have a fun time watching him. He is a prototype for their system.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Gillies has scored more this year than he did last year obviously going by stats alone. I would attribute that to another year of physical maturity over the competition that he was already a great deal stronger than. I would love to see Gillies converted to defense the way the Wild did with Brent Burns because his offensive weakness as a forward would then be a strength to his game. I have no idea as to their intentions with this young man but he is as hockey player. He'll play with the Wild in some capacity for sure and the Wild fans will have a fun time watching him. He is a prototype for their system.

Or how bout you attribute it to having pretty good offensive instincts that he looks to be finally showing in the stats?

Since he already is/was a great deal stronger than his competition, another year of maturity for Gillies type of prospect doesn't make a damn difference. It has no effect on his stats.

The guy has some skills that noone wants to give him credit for. I've seen him make some pretty passes with nice anticipation. He's not the most natural offensive player, but most do not know what the hell they're talking about when discussing Gillies because he has decent hands and knows when to get rid of the puck in attack.

 

[captain AARON MAIDEN*]

He's huge, a two-way player and would greatly benefit from Lemaire's coaching.

 

[Circulartheory]

Yay! But i doubt the Wild will move him to defense as I think DR said they will move him to wing from center.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Enh, I still see him as a potential big bruising forechecker in the bottom 6, or maybe a complementary top 6er doing the same sort of thing.

His offensive upside for the pros is pretty limited based on my viewings.

 

[MNWild1096]

Watching Gillies play in the WJC so far, he looks like a pretty darn good player, not that anyone was saying he wasnt but i think he's a lot better then people give him credit for. He skates like the wind and bangs people all over the ice, yes, he doesnt have the best hands in the world but its only a matter of time before they catch up with the speed of his body. Looked very good in todays game against Denmark, layed out a couple of guys and got a few good chances.

 

[Roulin]

Yay! But i doubt the Wild will move him to defense as I think DR said they will move him to wing from center.

They have the right idea, IMO. I really like Gillies, but I don't think his puck moving skills would be good enough for him to really help the Wild win games as a defenceman. As a forechecking winger though, I expect him to be a serious asset.

 

[MNWild1096]

The Past 2 weeks or so it seems like gillies has been on a pretty good streak...can anyone who has seen him play back it up a little more!? Are he and Fiala playing really well together?

 

[johnny canuckistan]

Enh, I still see him as a potential big bruising forechecker in the bottom 6, or maybe a complementary top 6er doing the same sort of thing.

His offensive upside for the pros is pretty limited based on my viewings.

Not everyone can be a goal scorer. You also need energy and checking players. Sounds like Gillies will be a little bit of a playmaker, and a checker and shift disturber. Probably a good future for the Wild encapsulated in this kid.

 

[flamesfan01800]

The Past 2 weeks or so it seems like gillies has been on a pretty good streak...can anyone who has seen him play back it up a little more!? Are he and Fiala playing really well together?

Him and Fiala at times play very well together other times go unnoticed. For the most part Gillies has been the man since the WJHC. He is the captain now because the Blades traded away McCrae. For the most part he is the only exciting thing to watch on this team. I hope he comes back next year because people here in Saskatoon are getting sick of losing. We have a young team but with Gillies for another year this team might be all right. Its starting to come around for us but what did us in was Lornes' comments at the start of the year about him thinking we where a top 4 team and possibly 100pts. With a young team like ares that is not the thing to say to the media. Most of those kids had not played a full year yet in the dub and to hear those kinda expectations for your first year can not be a good thing. But anywho Gillies is turning out to be quite the player. When he first came here he was a twig but now he starting to fill out a bit and man can he skate. Should be a solid contributor to the Wild and a couple of years just on his skating alone. One of the elite skaters in the WHL without a doubt especially for his size.

 

[MNWild1096]

Him and Fiala at times play very well together other times go unnoticed. For the most part Gillies has been the man since the WJHC. He is the captain now because the Blades traded away McCrae. For the most part he is the only exciting thing to watch on this team. I hope he comes back next year because people here in Saskatoon are getting sick of losing. We have a young team but with Gillies for another year this team might be all right. Its starting to come around for us but what did us in was Lornes' comments at the start of the year about him thinking we where a top 4 team and possibly 100pts. With a young team like ares that is not the thing to say to the media. Most of those kids had not played a full year yet in the dub and to hear those kinda expectations for your first year can not be a good thing. But anywho Gillies is turning out to be quite the player. When he first came here he was a twig but now he starting to fill out a bit and man can he skate. Should be a solid contributor to the Wild and a couple of years just on his skating alone. One of the elite skaters in the WHL without a doubt especially for his size.

Thanks for the insight! im glad he's turning out to be better than most give him credit for...i can only imagine he's exciting to watch when he can skate the way he does for his size.