McShane is 35 pts in his last 27 after a slow start. I'd say it is pretty good. Needs to work on his skating but his IQ and skills are great. He outplayed Fonstad at the Hlinka, where he was named Canada's best forward.
HF Habs: Draft 2018: What are your immediate draft class feelings?
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McShane is 35 pts in his last 27 after a slow start. I'd say it is pretty good. Needs to work on his skating but his IQ and skills are great. He outplayed Fonstad at the Hlinka, where he was named Canada's best forward.
Eh it's okay. I want more. I want prospects to jump up and scream ''I'm making the NHL'' with their play. Otherwise, it's just okay or worse.
McShane didn't play at the Hlinka. He did outplay Fonstad at the U18s, and Fonstad did suck at the U18s, but that's ancient history.
montreal
Go Habs Go
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I missed that vid, I only saw the one about MB trading the pick that Timmins wanted to use for Hillis. But I've always wondered what goes on behind the scenes to why they pick one guy over the other in the mid to late rounds. How much say does one scout have over another. What other factors come into play. Like did they really pick Houde more for him being in the Q or was it due to him being a what 8th OA in the Q draft and thinking he was more of a late bloomer? It's interesting, I haven't talked to Grant in years but I'm sure he could offer some insight to this, never thought to ask in the past.
It would be the other way around as Gorniak played in a much less scouted league. In fact when I looked it up it appears that Gorniak is the 1st ever Habs draft pick from the Wisconsin USHS. They have picked many USHS players and many players from Wisconsin but not drafted them directly from the Wisconsin USHS. It's usually the Minnesota USHS that we draft out of as it's the top in the USA, the New England Prep is the 2nd best which we also have picked several guys from.
Perhaps they saw some scouts at Gorniak's games and felt Fonstad would be there later since he lacks size, strength but we can only guess.
I would never call a 19 year old a bust, but with McShane his skating, speed need a good bit of work and he does not move his feet much. He's on pace to have about the same production as last year so that's far from great. The goals are up which is a good sign but you hope to see this kids take a step forward not be more of the same. That said it's best to wait till the end of the season and then evaluate.
Gornaik is on a high scoring team and he gets time on the 2nd PP unit. His lack of production is very troubling, that said his speed and motor could easily get him a look in the NHL years down the road.
I don't know if Fonstad lacks work ethic but he's very skinny, lacks strength, is pushed off pucks easily. That's a legit concern but he'll have several years to work on it and if he improves there then they very likely have a quality prospect on their hands.
My bad, I confused the Hlinka with the U18. Its not that ancient tho, it was just before the draft, less than a year ago. Fonstad needs to work on his work ethic and McShane his skating. If both do, we might have steals. Hopefully Hillis heals well, I liked the pick.
Yep, I'm aware of those guys flaws, McShane is his skating, Gorniak, his offensive upside and Fonstad his strenght AND work ethic.
I've seen a bunch of undersized junior hockey player winning battle in the corners, I'm thinking about Connor Garland. The guy wasnt the strongest but was protecting the puck well and had great work ethic when the puck was on his stick (different story when he didn't have it). He is now in the NHL and doing well as he developped his game away from the puck and got stronger.
I think improving this area of the game is easier to improve someone's work ethic. Winning battle is important in my eyes at the jr level because the odds are that it will only get more difficult in the tougher league. Bouchard seems to be a guy who will push his guys, that might be great for a guy like Fonstad.
I will have a safer opinion on Gorniak's offensive production next year. I believe a lot of D+1 players have a hard time in their first NCAA year.
McShane skating is missing explosiveness, has great edge. He'll have to work on that for sure.
I actually didn't dislike any of our picks outside of Houde and Stapley. I think Slava Demin was first on my list when we picked McShane but I wasn't mad about the McShane pick at all. I think he was 5th on my list if I'm counting correctly. Stapley (Demin's team mate) has broken well for us.
I was really high on the US boys. I wanted Wise before Hillis. Man has he ever dropped. Madden was somewhere on my list, too bad we missed on him.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
montreal
Go Habs Go
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I haven't seen a ton of Fonstad but I thought he was a beast in the playoffs so that's why I didn't think he work ethic was problem. But in the games I saw this year he did not play that well so perhaps it is, i'll have to look more closely next time I see him.
McShane i haven't liked in any of the games i've seen. He coasts way too much, if anyone has work ethic issues I'd say he does. Really like his shot but just don't care for his game.
We haven't had any NCAA forwards struggle to produce in their D+1 year. Poehling, Kristo, Leblanc, MacMillan. They all had at least 20+ pts. But we'll see maybe next year he can take a step forward, he put up big numbers in the USHS.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
So thats the measure of work ethic? 5,5 bean pole cant win a board battle, lets put this on work ethic.
Win some lose some. I also had Wise way too high because I listen to the schlemiels in the draft thread. #neveragain. Vancouver did a really good job avoiding him in favour of Madden.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Lol AVOIDING
Calm down you johnny. Its not even 12 months into the 2018 draft.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Tbh Wise is playing on BU and every one is having a terrible season down there. Plus hes been injured, its too early to make a call. Hes toolsy as hell though. Im not letting Point 2.0 go by me so Id rather fan on a few picks.
26Mats
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Obviously Kotkaniemi and Romanov are looking really good. Also hearing good things about later picks Fonstad and Harris, and a certain Primeau.
But I'm impressed with Ylonen. He seems to be a sniper with a good sound overall game. The good thing about a sniper is they don't have to be crazy talented in terms of vision and hockey IQ, and being all over the ice. Just have to be able to get to the right spot and have a good release, which Ylonen looks to have.
But I'm impressed with Ylonen. He seems to be a sniper with a good sound overall game. The good thing about a sniper is they don't have to be crazy talented in terms of vision and hockey IQ, and being all over the ice. Just have to be able to get to the right spot and have a good release, which Ylonen looks to have.
I was so wrong about Romanov, and I love it.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Early returns show the danger it potentially moving up.
Is there anyone in the bottom of the first that we'd have over Ylonen and Romanov at this point?
Is there anyone in the bottom of the first that we'd have over Ylonen and Romanov at this point?
FrankMTL
Registered User
- Jan 6, 2005
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Not Romanov, but I would possibly take Veleno (I know you don't like his upside), Alexyev and Sandin over Ylonen right now.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
Oh I would take those guys (minus Veleno) over Ylonen. Just pretty certain I don't trade both Romanov and Ylonen for any of them right now.
FrankMTL
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Oh for sure, sorry I didn't understand your post. No, in hindsight it's good that we didn't package the 2 picks to move up 10 picks or so. I wouldn't take any player late in that first round for BOTH Romanov and Ylonen.
DramaticGloveSave
Voice of Reason
- Apr 17, 2017
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I wouldn't trade Romanov alone for any of those guys... I know AlexAlex perhaps has the sexier tool kit (especially size), but Romanov just processes the game so well... he already looks like a 10 year vet.
covfefe
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Fonstad needs to add strength, sure. He doesn’t fly into the corners with reckless abandon, sure.
Work ethic concerns though? I’ve watched PA closely this year and have not seen that. He’s pretty much done a 180 in terms of hustle, back check, and not cheating on breakouts. All were areas he notably lacked in last year that have looked way better this season. He is actually really good at picking up loose pucks, which is a skill that low work ethic types don’t generally thrive at.
Work ethic concerns though? I’ve watched PA closely this year and have not seen that. He’s pretty much done a 180 in terms of hustle, back check, and not cheating on breakouts. All were areas he notably lacked in last year that have looked way better this season. He is actually really good at picking up loose pucks, which is a skill that low work ethic types don’t generally thrive at.
Don't think it would've cost 35 and 38 to move up four spots. More like 35 and 56 or 62, which would've been fine. So would I take Alexeyev over Ylonen + Olofsson? Definitely. Even if I'm high on Ylonen. But I can't complain, he was the next guy on my list and both picks look very good right now.
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