Prospect Info: Herman Traff (LW/RW - #91 Overall - Round 3 - 2024 Draft)

evnted

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Apr 14, 2016
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hv71 recalling traff for 2 games because they're overrun by injuries right now. maybe he knew he was on his way out and his heart wasnt in it yesterday :sarcasm:
 

evnted

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Apr 14, 2016
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better energy level today, and he was rewarded for it. hustled hard. challenged defenders. greater physical focus. bit more of a dump and chase style but it worked, he was pressuring on the forecheck

scored his first SHL goal after a heavy battle for position in front, modo D were giving it to him. goal was pretty greasy, jumped on a bouncing puck that was shot into traffic, but he showed good anticipation/timing on when to spin out of the way/position himself for a rebound

had a couple really good setups, too. first one, puck shot past modo D at the blue line and traff raced up the ice to get it near the corner. sauced it over a defender's stick to find his linemate crashing the net. second one, traff had the puck around the top of the faceoff circle, shot it toward his teammate out front looking for a redirect, connected but sent high

puck possession showed some bobbles per usual but i liked the ideas today. tried to be evasive in transition. slipped around coverage, kept the puck moving, shielded it pretty well. some great possessions down low, too. high intensity, incorporated a lot of cutbacks. didnt generate much in terms of chances but you can see how it would wear down the opposition

defensive zone involvement still feels a little passive but he did make a couple plays/pressure for turnovers. had a good clear mid 2nd, grabbed a loose puck in front after a high danger chance and cleanly sent it out. nothing too remarkable, but liked the composure/decision making to not just immediately launch it

if guys start to mix it up after the whistle, he will be there. its almost funny how he just beelines it for any scrum he sees

gonna tempt hv71 into extending his recall if this is how he looks next game lol this was good
 

evnted

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Apr 14, 2016
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quick thoughts today. largely the same game as last time. worth highlighting:
  • thought he was getting more touches on the forecheck. same ideas but better results. his pressure along the half wall forced a turnover that led to the 2nd hv71 goal
  • probably had fewer overall shot attempts (5v5 at least), but the tradeoff was better passing plays. incorporated delays, circled back for space, used defenders at the point, etc. confident/composed possessions
  • played right point on pp2. didnt generate much but boy was he firing the puck
  • got sent out after orebro scored ENG to go up 5-3 and man, you wouldnt have been able to tell the game was over. he went into overdrive. high intensity on the puck, rifling shots at the net, fighting through traffic, steamrolling the crease, and of course jawing with about 3 different opposing players. thats that statement stuff you see in the playoffs
slated to go back to nybro now. ill keep an eye out if anything changes
 

devilsblood

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Mar 10, 2010
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quick thoughts today. largely the same game as last time. worth highlighting:
  • thought he was getting more touches on the forecheck. same ideas but better results. his pressure along the half wall forced a turnover that led to the 2nd hv71 goal
  • probably had fewer overall shot attempts (5v5 at least), but the tradeoff was better passing plays. incorporated delays, circled back for space, used defenders at the point, etc. confident/composed possessions
  • played right point on pp2. didnt generate much but boy was he firing the puck
  • got sent out after orebro scored ENG to go up 5-3 and man, you wouldnt have been able to tell the game was over. he went into overdrive. high intensity on the puck, rifling shots at the net, fighting through traffic, steamrolling the crease, and of course jawing with about 3 different opposing players. thats that statement stuff you see in the playoffs
slated to go back to nybro now. ill keep an eye out if anything changes
How would you rate his speed and quickness?
 
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evnted

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traff staying with hv71 for the week and its already up in the air if he goes back at all. feel for nybro here, but this is a glowing endorsement of our boy. the two games i caught were great, so injury issues aside, its understandable that theyd still wanna retain him
 

evnted

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Apr 14, 2016
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in what wasnt the greatest game for hv71, traff stood out (as well as devils legend nikola pasic lol)
  • big snipe on the pp. crisp reception at the point, quick to challenge the net, and beat the goalie cleanly from range. didnt look like a late 3rd round bottom 6 projection on that one
  • youve seen me praise his compete/physical game but today seemed a little extra good, he really went out of his way to play into contact and finish checks. some great physical instincts on the puck, too
  • solid pressure, quick to jump on pucks, just couldn't get a lot going at even strength today
  • couple brain farts on some passing plays otherwise puck movement was fine and even showed good ideas again
  • might be time for nybro to give up hope that hes coming back
traff comes off as a more confident/involved offensive weapon on the pp, in fact dramatically so. 5v5 he almost exclusively looks like a checking line forward (which is fine, its what we should be bracing for), but on the man advantage you could be convinced hes a top 6 mainstay. threading cross ice passes, driving high danger scoring locations (not just peppering the net), trying to manipulate defenders and find space rather than just power through them. i dont know if its fair to say the pp runs through him, but there are extended stretches of that being true. makes it feel like theres more to come
 

My3Sons

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in what wasnt the greatest game for hv71, traff stood out (as well as devils legend nikola pasic lol)
  • big snipe on the pp. crisp reception at the point, quick to challenge the net, and beat the goalie cleanly from range. didnt look like a late 3rd round bottom 6 projection on that one
  • youve seen me praise his compete/physical game but today seemed a little extra good, he really went out of his way to play into contact and finish checks. some great physical instincts on the puck, too
  • solid pressure, quick to jump on pucks, just couldn't get a lot going at even strength today
  • couple brain farts on some passing plays otherwise puck movement was fine and even showed good ideas again
  • might be time for nybro to give up hope that hes coming back
traff comes off as a more confident/involved offensive weapon on the pp, in fact dramatically so. 5v5 he almost exclusively looks like a checking line forward (which is fine, its what we should be bracing for), but on the man advantage you could be convinced hes a top 6 mainstay. threading cross ice passes, driving high danger scoring locations (not just peppering the net), trying to manipulate defenders and find space rather than just power through them. i dont know if its fair to say the pp runs through him, but there are extended stretches of that being true. makes it feel like theres more to come
You wonder if with more experience some of that finesse and skill can be brought to bear at even strength? Thanks for these reports along the way. Definitely always a great read.
 
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Guadana

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I really hope he and Lenny will continue with their good performances on higher levels and it will help Fitz to stop with drafting RWs again and again. It should help to close this geschtaldt.
 

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