Prospect Info: Isles Prospect Talk PART X

[seafoam]

Toews had a goal and two assists in a Bridgeport loss last night.

 

[Beautvillier]

Big scoring night last night for Bridgeport, team ultimately lost but they came back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the game and then scored with an empty net to put it back within one in the last few minutes of the game.

 

[BillD]

I haven't seen a Bridgeport game, but those stats from Toews is glorious. I like seeing that. I've seen Toews played a couple of times during the rookie scrimmages and he seems like a pretty smooth defenseman; just didn't know he had all that offense.

Can he play wing?

 

[leeroggy]

Can he play wing?

That would certainly be right down this organization to do something like that . . .

But right now he is starting to look and play like a younger Wade Redden and that would be a heck of an achievement if he gets to near that level. As well as making our defense really good.

His development this year might well make a difference in who we protect next year in the expansion draft. Particularly if he gets a call-up later in the season if the playoffs are out of reach and performs.

 

[Original Rob]

Fair enough, but that does beg the question about why he's on the 4th line, if he's that good and the team lacks offense to begin with. I know teams like to bring prospects along slowly, particularly rookies, but if someone stands out they're usually treated like the exception rather than the rule.

In any case, my comment is also based on his junior totals. A lot of games he'd look like the best player on the ice, based on the eye test, but then at season's end his numbers were rather mediocre (relatively speaking -- 80 points sounds, but in junior that's about the equivalent of a 60 point guy in the NHL). So it just leads to the question of why that is; how can someone who seemingly looks dominant, not actually produce all that much? What is it about his game that doesn't translate to the scoresheet more often?

Yea, I remember all those 60+ point NHL seasons by Justin DiBenedetto, Justin Mapletoft, Rob Schremp, et al

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Yea, I remember all those 60+ point NHL seasons by Justin DiBenedetto, Justin Mapletoft, Rob Schremp, et al

I'm not sure what the above has to do with what I said?

I wasn't saying that anyone who scored 80 points in junior would go on to score 60 points in the NHL, I was saying that it's about the equivalent in terms of how impressive it is for a star player to reach that mark.

 

[seafoam]

Toews two points behind Kearns for the team lead in Bridgeport with 18 on the season. Tied for 5th in defenseman scoring throughout the entire AHL (not just rookies).

The top four includes veteran AHL backend stars like Brad Hunt, TJ Brennan, Mark Barberio, and Matt Taormina.

Not bad.

 

[rikker]

Toews two points behind Kearns for the team lead in Bridgeport with 18 on the season. Tied for 5th in defenseman scoring throughout the entire AHL (not just rookies).

The top four includes veteran AHL backend stars like Brad Hunt, TJ Brennan, Mark Barberio, and Matt Taormina.

Not bad.

Graham is 22, just like Toews, and has a better PPG average and a better +/-.

as much as i feel that we need more size on the backend, maybe these two are better suited to the NHL's trend toward skill and speed?

 

[seafoam]

Graham is 22, just like Toews, and has a better PPG average and a better +/-.

as much as i feel that we need more size on the backend, maybe these two are better suited to the NHL's trend toward skill and speed?

Graham started the year in the ECHL as a third year pro and has been in and out of the lineup. I don't think he's a viable NHL prospect at this point.

I'd like to see a sample size larger than 7 games as well.

 

[Jester9881]

Any updates on how Sorokin did? Can't find anything

 

[Frankie41987]

Any updates on how Sorokin did? Can't find anything

Russia lost 3-1, Sorokin had 24 saves on 27 shots

 

[rikker]

Graham started the year in the ECHL as a third year pro and has been in and out of the lineup. I don't think he's a viable NHL prospect at this point.

I'd like to see a sample size larger than 7 games as well.

yeah, Toews is doing ok offensively, but i imagine that his defence needs work.

anyone seen him play? is he getting the tough assignments, or sheltered minutes? how good is his skating? Leddy-esque? was he a leader in college? any grit to his game?

he is putting up slightly better numbers than Hickey did, at the same age. that's a great sign!

 

[leeroggy]

yeah, Toews is doing ok offensively, but i imagine that his defence needs work.

anyone seen him play? is he getting the tough assignments, or sheltered minutes? how good is his skating? Leddy-esque? was he a leader in college? any grit to his game?

he is putting up slightly better numbers than Hickey did, at the same age. that's a great sign!

SlapShot723 has seen him the most, let him give the insight.

For what I saw in limited viewing last season at Quinnipiac, he was the dominant presence on the backline of a team that reached the NCAA championship game. There seemed to be no weakness in his game that stuck out. I made the Redden reference because that was what he looked like to me, doesn't make you say WOW, but at the end of the game he found a lot of ways to make an impact and when you look at Redden's career stats it's like 'really, did he do that much'?

Excellent skater and high IQ, positionally sound. Not very physical. Big enough not to get overwhelmed. Clutch player. 26 points in 29 games in college so the offense is there.

Have been saying for awhile now that he is our true 'sleeper' prospect.

 

[seafoam]

SlapShot723 has seen him the most, let him give the insight.

For what I saw in limited viewing last season at Quinnipiac, he was the dominant presence on the backline of a team that reached the NCAA championship game. There seemed to be no weakness in his game that stuck out. I made the Redden reference because that was what he looked like to me, doesn't make you say WOW, but at the end of the game he found a lot of ways to make an impact and when you look at Redden's career stats it's like 'really, did he do that much'?

Excellent skater and high IQ, positionally sound. Not very physical. Big enough not to get overwhelmed. Clutch player. 26 points in 29 games in college so the offense is there.

Have been saying for awhile now that he is our true 'sleeper' prospect.

I went to Quinnipiac!

I've seen Toews for three years. He matched up against top lines and played on both #1 special teams units for his last two years at Quinnipiac. I assume he is getting some heavy minutes in Bridgeport as well because he's the type of guy that can earn a coaches trust really quickly.

 

[leeroggy]

I went to Quinnipiac!

I've seen Toews for three years. He matched up against top lines and played on both #1 special teams units for his last two years at Quinnipiac. I assume he is getting some heavy minutes in Bridgeport as well because he's the type of guy that can earn a coaches trust really quickly.

Thanks!

 

[scott99]

I went to Quinnipiac!

I've seen Toews for three years. He matched up against top lines and played on both #1 special teams units for his last two years at Quinnipiac. I assume he is getting some heavy minutes in Bridgeport as well because he's the type of guy that can earn a coaches trust really quickly.

Great stuff, thanks seafoam. I only saw him once in a college game, he seems to have one very important thing besides his obvious skills, great hockey sense. I have to give Garth and crew some credit when it comes to drafting these overagers (Toews, Golyshev, Williams, etc). Good job by those guys finding these guys, and some other LATE round guys (Lee, Cizikas). It seems like they have trouble with the mid rounds for some reason, rounds 3 or 4 they go way off the board sometimes when obvious talent is there.

 

[SI]

I went to Quinnipiac!

I've seen Toews for three years. He matched up against top lines and played on both #1 special teams units for his last two years at Quinnipiac. I assume he is getting some heavy minutes in Bridgeport as well because he's the type of guy that can earn a coaches trust really quickly.

The numbers are impressive, but is he another Donovan?

Do you guys seem him as a potential top 4?

 

[leeroggy]

The numbers are impressive, but is he another Donovan?

Do you guys seem him as a potential top 4?

Go back some pages, we already discussed that.

Let's just take him as is, not what he might be.

 

[Jester9881]

Just saw this on Twitter...





The sad fact is, we just do not draft much out of Europe in the early rounds. But when you look at how few Eros are drafted in the 1st round as compared to North Americans, that 40% turns into a very good conversion rate for Euros.

This is something I really hope we rectify in the future.

 

[YearlyLottery]

Just saw this on Twitter...





The sad fact is, we just do not draft much out of Europe in the early rounds. But when you look at how few Eros are drafted in the 1st round as compared to North Americans, that 40% turns into a very good conversion rate for Euros.

This is something I really hope we rectify in the future.

As of now it doesn't matter with the way we develop prospects. This is not meant to reject your point, because I would love to draft a Euro with some of our earlier picks but as of now it doesn't matter.

The one time I would've drafted a Euro ahead of our good old Canadians was when we passed on Ehlers for MDC. I also would not have minded Nylander, but I really wanted Ehlers that year.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

WJC:
What are we looking at right now?
Barzal, Bellows and Koivula. That's about it for now, right?

Not sure Bellows is even a lock at the moment...

PS) While we're at it, one of the kids I REALLY had hoped the NYI would peg in a later round of the 2015 draft was ex-Isle Tom Fitzgerald's son Casey, who was coming off of U18 Gold as a top 4 Dman heading to BC.

I was disappointed that we didn't take him and SHOCKED that no-one took him.

9-31-40 and +35 in 58 career NCAA games to date - and likely to be at this WJC.

 

[LordNeverLose]

WJC:
What are we looking at right now?
Barzal, Bellows and Koivula. That's about it for now, right?

Not sure Bellows is even a lock at the moment...

PS) While we're at it, one of the kids I REALLY had hoped the NYI would peg in a later round of the 2015 draft was ex-Isle Tom Fitzgerald's son Casey, who was coming off of U18 Gold as a top 4 Dman heading to BC.

I was disappointed that we didn't take him and SHOCKED that no-one took him.

9-31-40 and +35 in 58 career NCAA games to date - and likely to be at this WJC.

Pretty sure the rosters are set, so yes those guys made it

 

[xIsle]

Pretty sure the rosters are set, so yes those guys made it

The U.S. roster is not set yet. Bellows can still be cut.

 

[xIsle]

WJC:
What are we looking at right now?
Barzal, Bellows and Koivula. That's about it for now, right?

Not sure Bellows is even a lock at the moment...

PS) While we're at it, one of the kids I REALLY had hoped the NYI would peg in a later round of the 2015 draft was ex-Isle Tom Fitzgerald's son Casey, who was coming off of U18 Gold as a top 4 Dman heading to BC.

I was disappointed that we didn't take him and SHOCKED that no-one took him.

9-31-40 and +35 in 58 career NCAA games to date - and likely to be at this WJC.

Yes, that's about it. Barzal was named alternate captain for Canada. Dylan Strome will be the captain.

 

[xIsle]

Canada is facing Finland tonight at 7pm for an exhibition game. Will have the chance to take a look at both Koivula and Barzal. Barzal is projected to play on the 2nd line with Mathieu Joseph and Taylor Raddysh. Koivula will probably play on the 4th line.