General Prospect Discussion 2024 25
- Thread starter Fistfullofbeer
- Start date
I know this season has not been great for the Kraken but the Kraken prospects have done well as rookies in Coachella.
- Nyman has been good and has already started contributing offensively for the Kraken.
- Nelson has done surprising well. 27 points in 62 games does not seem much but I feel like that is really good for a 20 year old D-man in history first pro season.
- Firkus has been around 0.5 PPG for a big and I think that is pretty respectable for a small forward in his first pro season.
- Sale has been ok. 19 points in 44 games is a little disappointing BUT given how he did in juniors last season, I feel like this is a decent start to his pro season.
- Goyette started off pretty poorly but has bounced back recently. He had 7 points in the first 34 games but has had 7 in his last 10.
None of them exactly lit the AHL on fire but hopefully they continue developing and are close to making contributions by the 2026-27 or 2027-28 seasons.
I don't know if OFM makes it over the NA next season but guess that Jugnauth gets signed and starts in the AHL next season. Rehkopf is another prospect I expect to start next season. Maybe Price as well.
Overall Coachella has been better this season considering they went from one of the oldest teams to one of the youngest this season. That will likely continue next season as I expect atleast 2 or more of our prospects make it over. Outside chance that we bring on Hammell but I doubt they bring on 3 D-men as rookies.
- Nyman has been good and has already started contributing offensively for the Kraken.
- Nelson has done surprising well. 27 points in 62 games does not seem much but I feel like that is really good for a 20 year old D-man in history first pro season.
- Firkus has been around 0.5 PPG for a big and I think that is pretty respectable for a small forward in his first pro season.
- Sale has been ok. 19 points in 44 games is a little disappointing BUT given how he did in juniors last season, I feel like this is a decent start to his pro season.
- Goyette started off pretty poorly but has bounced back recently. He had 7 points in the first 34 games but has had 7 in his last 10.
None of them exactly lit the AHL on fire but hopefully they continue developing and are close to making contributions by the 2026-27 or 2027-28 seasons.
I don't know if OFM makes it over the NA next season but guess that Jugnauth gets signed and starts in the AHL next season. Rehkopf is another prospect I expect to start next season. Maybe Price as well.
Overall Coachella has been better this season considering they went from one of the oldest teams to one of the youngest this season. That will likely continue next season as I expect atleast 2 or more of our prospects make it over. Outside chance that we bring on Hammell but I doubt they bring on 3 D-men as rookies.
Fuhrious
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Sale is an interesting one. Iirc he started the season off really well and then had a solid WJC, but seems to have completely disappeared since?
luapejrug
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Jeff Tambellini already said in an interview that they want OFM to play in Coachella next year.
It's a long physical season. Firkus has kind of slowed down too. Not making excuses for him but it could be a conditioning thing.
That's good to hear. Let's see how he does here.
Tuned in to the end of the Chiefs/ Giants WHL playoff game yesterday, to see how our boy Berkley was doing. SPO had a 6-0 lead heading into the third but somehow Vancouver scored five straight goals to threaten OT, pretty crazy.
With four minutes left, Crystal got himself a five minute major for crosschecking (which I did not see, no replay either), giving VAN a chance to catch all the way up and force OT... until Catton stole it in the neutral zone and got the ENG to finish them off. He ended up with the GWG, the empty netter for insurance and a primary assist.
The whole WHL playoffs will be streamed for free on the Victory+ site / app also, seems pretty sweet.
With four minutes left, Crystal got himself a five minute major for crosschecking (which I did not see, no replay either), giving VAN a chance to catch all the way up and force OT... until Catton stole it in the neutral zone and got the ENG to finish them off. He ended up with the GWG, the empty netter for insurance and a primary assist.
The whole WHL playoffs will be streamed for free on the Victory+ site / app also, seems pretty sweet.
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Fuhrious
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What are you talking about, we're still IN THIS BABY! Gotta pull the goalie down 4-1 with 4 minutes left!
LOL.
We were eliminated game before last so I don't get why not call atleast one of Firkus, Nelson, Sale, Ottavainen. We have already seen some of Melanson and Winterton and would be good to see how the other 4 can do at this level.
Not sure if he'll make it all the way to the bigs, but Tyson Jugnauth sure has some offensive chops. Dude scores like mad and has one in tonight's game (plus 1A) against PG as well.
Prince George seems to want to talk shit and pick fights as much as anything so I hope PDX kicks their asses.
Prince George seems to want to talk shit and pick fights as much as anything so I hope PDX kicks their asses.
Kid has been pretty good all season long for the Hawks. He has 5 points in 2 playoff games.
I would have preferred to see him signed and play in Coachella next season but he will play at Michigan State. I remember reading in articles that he has been working with the Kraken team since he got drafted and they supported his decision to move from NCAA to the WHL. Guessing and hoping that the two sides already talked and agreed with this direction.
Ollie Josephson (4th round pick 2024, labelled as a bottom-6 workhorse) played with the Red Deer Rebels this season. Interesting that he gets a pro look already.
I'm very disappointed. I was hoping to get a peek at some of our future players. It seems like the least management could have done after this disappointing season
Firebirds are in a playoff race so limiting call ups could be related to ensuring they can still have success as 1st place in the division isn't out of the question (7 points back) and they have not clinched a playoff spot yet either (11 points up).
I know I am being selfish here but I was hoping to see someone else. I have not seen much from Winterton in his 2 callups and was hoping to see someone like Firkus or even Nelson. Not that I have given up on Winterton or anything, but I just want to see where the others are at.
I hear you, but tbh the others seem quite a bit aways still. Let's hope Winterton puts his best skate forward.
Quackenator
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It is interesting because Beniers and Nyman both got thrown into the fire right away with top-6 and special team responsibilities. But Wright and Winterton were deployed in the bottom-6 and were not really given much time in the top-6, till Wright got time recently.
Dead Coyote
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"End of season" scores for some of our prospects
Winterton: B-
Has shown he can do the minimum in the NHL and be defensively responsible and cycle the puck pretty well. Hasn't been put in a position to succeed in the NHL but should probably at least be an option next year in the rotation and I would hope for at LEAST 20 games in the NHL for him. He's perfectly fine in the AHL with a decent amount of talent and hustle and should be a perfectly fine player in the NHL bottom six, we need to at least give him the chance to earn some chemistry. Offense will always be his limiting factor but he has all the tools to succeed in the NHL, he just needs to get used to the schedule, train his body to be able to take it better, keep his energy up, and he WILL get opportunities with game time.
Nyman: A+
I was generally super impressed with Nyman in his callups and he looks like the type of player who might end up having chemistry on our top line with Beniers potentially. Even when he wasn't put in a position to succeed he was always active, always energized, and created quite a few chances for himself. He might want to get a bit stronger to get even better in front of the net but he should absolutely 10000% be in the NHL next year. He should be a mainstay on our roster if he plays like that again. At minimum he's a great energy player who can play up and down the lineup and at best he could unlock Beniers and be a 30g scorer (unlikely but possible) but there's no point in not keeping him up.
Catton: A
Catton has done everything he needs to and has only gotten better, at this point he's too good for the WHL so I hope he gets called up and at least sees 9 games. Not much more I could ask for from him. Just translate that success to the NHL and I'll be happy. He should get stronger and work on his endurance but having watched him play 30m a night in the WHL I don't think that'll be a problem for him.
Rehkopf: A
I think Rehkopf has shown at this point that a lot of the doubts about him just aren't true and I hope he continues to bring that into next year, He's done pretty much everything I also wanted from him and while there are still some flashes here and there, he's become a much more consistent, energized player in my viewings of him.
Villeneuve: B+
Villeneuve was a quiet surprise to me this year. He's really taking the spirit of his game to the extremes and has become a feisty little shit who isn't afraid to do anything and seems to me like he could be captain of the Wolves soon if he stays. He does a lot of the little things right and plays with an edge and a chip, but for the most part he isn't going to be a detriment to your club and he's still a good defensive player. He does need to get a tad bit better at staying on that edge and not taking penalties but I'm generally very happy with him and he is exactly the type of player we need more of, even though he's only 6'0 he plays like he's 6'5 and is a pretty solid mix of skill and edge.
AHL players (Sale, Nelson, Firkus etc): B+
I think they've all done quite well for the AHL. I sincerely hope that we see at least two of them called up in the NHL next year. I'd also really like to see Kokko get a shot in the NHL as Daccord's backup too. I don't expect anyone to instantly become a mainstay but the more chances you give them and the more you play them in the NHL the more they can work on conditioning and also gain chemistry with each other which has been a pretty big deal.
Caden Price: B
I thought Price was the bees knees early in the season and was really impressed with him...but he hasn't looked the same at the end of the season. He did look pretty good for Canada IMO though so it may just be a fluke. Next year will be an important one for him.
Winterton: B-
Has shown he can do the minimum in the NHL and be defensively responsible and cycle the puck pretty well. Hasn't been put in a position to succeed in the NHL but should probably at least be an option next year in the rotation and I would hope for at LEAST 20 games in the NHL for him. He's perfectly fine in the AHL with a decent amount of talent and hustle and should be a perfectly fine player in the NHL bottom six, we need to at least give him the chance to earn some chemistry. Offense will always be his limiting factor but he has all the tools to succeed in the NHL, he just needs to get used to the schedule, train his body to be able to take it better, keep his energy up, and he WILL get opportunities with game time.
Nyman: A+
I was generally super impressed with Nyman in his callups and he looks like the type of player who might end up having chemistry on our top line with Beniers potentially. Even when he wasn't put in a position to succeed he was always active, always energized, and created quite a few chances for himself. He might want to get a bit stronger to get even better in front of the net but he should absolutely 10000% be in the NHL next year. He should be a mainstay on our roster if he plays like that again. At minimum he's a great energy player who can play up and down the lineup and at best he could unlock Beniers and be a 30g scorer (unlikely but possible) but there's no point in not keeping him up.
Catton: A
Catton has done everything he needs to and has only gotten better, at this point he's too good for the WHL so I hope he gets called up and at least sees 9 games. Not much more I could ask for from him. Just translate that success to the NHL and I'll be happy. He should get stronger and work on his endurance but having watched him play 30m a night in the WHL I don't think that'll be a problem for him.
Rehkopf: A
I think Rehkopf has shown at this point that a lot of the doubts about him just aren't true and I hope he continues to bring that into next year, He's done pretty much everything I also wanted from him and while there are still some flashes here and there, he's become a much more consistent, energized player in my viewings of him.
Villeneuve: B+
Villeneuve was a quiet surprise to me this year. He's really taking the spirit of his game to the extremes and has become a feisty little shit who isn't afraid to do anything and seems to me like he could be captain of the Wolves soon if he stays. He does a lot of the little things right and plays with an edge and a chip, but for the most part he isn't going to be a detriment to your club and he's still a good defensive player. He does need to get a tad bit better at staying on that edge and not taking penalties but I'm generally very happy with him and he is exactly the type of player we need more of, even though he's only 6'0 he plays like he's 6'5 and is a pretty solid mix of skill and edge.
AHL players (Sale, Nelson, Firkus etc): B+
I think they've all done quite well for the AHL. I sincerely hope that we see at least two of them called up in the NHL next year. I'd also really like to see Kokko get a shot in the NHL as Daccord's backup too. I don't expect anyone to instantly become a mainstay but the more chances you give them and the more you play them in the NHL the more they can work on conditioning and also gain chemistry with each other which has been a pretty big deal.
Caden Price: B
I thought Price was the bees knees early in the season and was really impressed with him...but he hasn't looked the same at the end of the season. He did look pretty good for Canada IMO though so it may just be a fluke. Next year will be an important one for him.
Thanks for the info.
I have not had much of a chance to follow Rehkopf this season but I will admit I have concerns about him because I have read/seen reports which say that despite his size he is not physically engaged and shies away from contact.
Regarding Price, you think he gets a legit shot to play in Coachella next season? He qualifies I believe because he has already played 4 seasons in juniors, including this one.
Dead Coyote
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I think he could go to CV and I hope that he does and stays there. Ideally him, OFM, and a few others would replace the guys we should have giving time in the NHL based on performance. I think it's debatable whether he stays there or not as he could definitely use some more seasoning in the CHL but he's fine defensively so we'll see. If he plays like he did in the first half I think he sticks. But since his trade he hasn't looked the same and while some of that is on the system and change, some of that is on his own play too. He just hasn't looked as dynamic or confident.
Rehkopf isn't physical but I wouldn't say he's been a perimeter player too. He doesn't respond to contact or seek it out but I wouldn't say he shies away from it either. It could just be that it's Juniors and he's bigger than most people there but I watched him go in the corners a decent amount. Can't really speak for whether he's been engaged, but he has been decent defensively and a lot more consistent game to game. He still has off games but they're a lot rarer.
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