Player Discussion Jayden Struble Part 2

Destopcorner

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with 30 games played in the NHL,for one of the worst teams with half the players having injuries, let say that i understand that Barron is sometime in trouble in front of the pressure
I remember reading it's one of the reasons why Sakic sacrificed him for Lecky. Making the right decision in a timely manner takes time for D's. Some are better than other, poised and deceptive ala Xhekaj, while others just react and dont process fast enough at NHL speed. I know he will improve but this year he is scary in his zone and shows questionable decision making.
 
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VirginiaMtlExpat

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Hopefully Struble proves coachable and he works with the likes of Adam Nicholas. He is an athlete and looks strong as an ox. Some mention parallels with Romanov, but Romanov has hockey in his lineage going back at least two generations. Struble does not come equipped with those kinds of priors. We'll see. I like the player but as many have said, we have depth at that position.
 

jfm133

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Strange to see no comments on Struble since his debut with Laval. I saw two games and I liked him a lot. He did not look overmatched in any ways. He made a seamless transition to the AHL level. Yes it's a very small sample, but I really like what I saw of him in these two games. I would even dare to say that he is not far from the NHL. Habs are in a position to be patient with him, but at only 21, he is a very legit prospect. Heineman is a proof that stat watching from a league to another can be misleading. I think that for a defense first D, watching stats can be even more misleading.
 

Skip Bayless

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Strange to see no comments on Struble since his debut with Laval. I saw two games and I liked him a lot. He did not look overmatched in any ways. He made a seamless transition to the AHL level. Yes it's a very small sample, but I really like what I saw of him in these two games. I would even dare to say that he is not far from the NHL. Habs are in a position to be patient with him, but at only 21, he is a very legit prospect. Heineman is a proof that stat watching from a league to another can be misleading. I think that for a defense first D, watching stats can be even more misleading.
I don't expect him to be a point producer by any means, but I already like him way more than Harris.

The people's Struble.
 
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Destopcorner

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Strange to see no comments on Struble since his debut with Laval. I saw two games and I liked him a lot. He did not look overmatched in any ways. He made a seamless transition to the AHL level. Yes it's a very small sample, but I really like what I saw of him in these two games. I would even dare to say that he is not far from the NHL. Habs are in a position to be patient with him, but at only 21, he is a very legit prospect. Heineman is a proof that stat watching from a league to another can be misleading. I think that for a defense first D, watching stats can be even more misleading.
Indeed he deserves props for the seamless professional start. Skating looks great, didnt get out of position for big hits, good defense. Exactly what you want to see.
 

Mister Hab

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Love what I'm hearing/reading from a few of you (the last 2-3 posts). Thanks for the update.

Been waiting a long time for this...Struble becoming a pro (with our Habs..farm team first...and hoping he's with our Habs for next season..or some of it..maybe most of it, but no rush...proper development first).

Go Struble Go!!
Go Habs Go!!
 

1909

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Even if they are equivalent, Harris becomes a great trade option for teams looking for a cost-controlled NHL-quality 18 minute D.
Habs have time to deal with that situation. Struble, Mailloux, Engstrom, Trudeau, Beaudin (?) are a good year or two from NHL hockey. Huston is even farther. In the meantime, some guys will go (Edmundson-Savard), and-or some will fade or be traded (Barron-Harris-Kovacevic-Wideman). And we all know about injuries by now ! Ask Guhle and Xhekaj how they feel.
 
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SOLR

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Strange to see no comments on Struble since his debut with Laval. I saw two games and I liked him a lot. He did not look overmatched in any ways. He made a seamless transition to the AHL level. Yes it's a very small sample, but I really like what I saw of him in these two games. I would even dare to say that he is not far from the NHL. Habs are in a position to be patient with him, but at only 21, he is a very legit prospect. Heineman is a proof that stat watching from a league to another can be misleading. I think that for a defense first D, watching stats can be even more misleading.

He won't be in the AHL a long time if he plays like that.
 

Pompeius Magnus

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It's good that they took their time with him, he's very much ready for the next level now. He has looked quite comfortable. I'm rarely a big fan of the ultra long development time highschool picks but some of them do work out.
 

SOLR

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It's good that they took their time with him, he's very much ready for the next level now. He has looked quite comfortable. I'm rarely a big fan of the ultra long development time highschool picks but some of them do work out.

They often work out because it's a much healthier path. I'm a big proponent of the 21-year-old entry date floor for the NHL, with only an exception for exceptional players at 20. That would make all the leagues under the NHL stronger and they would produce more talent overall because of it.
 
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Pompeius Magnus

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They often work out because it's a much healthier path. I'm a big proponent of the 21-year-old entry date floor for the NHL, with only an exception for exceptional players at 20. That would make all the leagues under the NHL stronger and they would produce more talent overall because of it.
We haven't been super lucky with guys picked out of high school in the past, outside of a few notable exceptions. I get what you're saying though.
 

BaseballCoach

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Habs have time to deal with that situation. Struble, Mailloux, Engstrom, Trudeau, Beaudin (?) are a good year or two from NHL hockey. Huston is even farther. In the meantime, some guys will go (Edmundson-Savard), and-or some will fade or be traded (Barron-Harris-Kovacevic-Wideman). And we all know about injuries by now ! Ask Guhle and Xhekaj how they feel.
LOL at everyone up in arms over Hutson not getting a Hobey Baker final-3 spot. Luke Hughes rckd up the exact same number of points, in only one more game, and is playing in the NHL tonight, while hardly anyone thinks Hutson should even play in Laval next year.

They often work out because it's a much healthier path. I'm a big proponent of the 21-year-old entry date floor for the NHL, with only an exception for exceptional players at 20. That would make all the leagues under the NHL stronger and they would produce more talent overall because of it.
No need for an artificial floor. Just make one rule: you draft a guy under 20, his UFA clock starts ticking right away. No sliding.

Right away, most guys will get drafted at 20, and spend at least one year in the AHL. The exceptions will be self-policed.
 

SOLR

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LOL at everyone up in arms over Hutson not getting a Hobey Baker final-3 spot. Luke Hughes rckd up the exact same number of points, in only one more game, and is playing in the NHL tonight, while hardly anyone thinks Hutson should even play in Laval next year.


No need for an artificial floor. Just make one rule: you draft a guy under 20, his UFA clock starts ticking right away. No sliding.

Right away, most guys will get drafted at 20, and spend at least one year in the AHL. The exceptions will be self-policed.

I wasn't prescriptive of the solution, thats a good one.
 

tnq

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Happy problem. Matherson, Guhle are locked for the left side let Harris, Strube... fight for the last one
 

26Mats

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Happy problem. Matherson, Guhle are locked for the left side let Harris, Strube... fight for the last one
Xhekaj?
Hutson?
Engstrom? (though he may be able to play the right also in the NHL)
 
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Destopcorner

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Xhekaj?
Hutson?
Engstrom? (though he may be able to play the right also in the NHL)
Imo X is much more effective on the left. Same for Hutson who's so good at creating opening from that side.

On the other hand I see Guhle, Harris and Engstrom having experience or more potential to play on right... With Barron, Kovacevic and Mailloux knocking, it will be quite the logjam soon.

Finally, the way Matheson is playing, he could be here for a long long time... He finally processing the game as fast as his skating and we all know D's mature in their 30s. He's been doing some incredible work since his return.
 
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tnq

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Xhekaj is a lock.

Nobody brings what he does to the table. He’s much more valuable than Harris or Struble and he’s only 22. He’ll be a Hab for a long time.
Wifi is good guy but right now he is 5, 6 defender as Harris is, unless he can play in the right side. Harris can play in the right side so he is in better position than wifi
 

Beendair Donedat

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Wifi is good guy but right now he is 5, 6 defender as Harris is, unless he can play in the right side. Harris can play in the right side so he is in better position than wifi
I think that’s a pretty incorrect evaluation of talent, attributes and abilities. If you did a straw poll among GM’s, I don’t think there’s a team in this league that would prefer having Harris ahead of Xhekaj. I like Harris and think he’s a solid defenseman that will continue to improve, but Xhekaj brings a lot more to the table, and is much higher up the depth chart.
 

26Mats

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Future's looking bright! (and it's sooner than later! quality and quantity!!):

Matheson
Guhle
Barron
Xhekaj
Struble
Kovacevic
Harris
Hutson
Mailloux
Engstrom
Norlinder
Trudeau

What is your criteria for ordering? Current level of play? Potential future level of play? A mixture of both?
 

goforit

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Even if they are equivalent, Harris becomes a great trade option for teams looking for a cost-controlled NHL-quality 18 minute D.
Kings have a huge logjam at RD. Since Jordan Spence have been sent back to AHL for that (beginning of the year), I'm hoping for a trade around Harris/Struble for Spence.
 

jfm133

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Another good game by Struble yesterday. He is already at ease in the AHL. Many were down on him because of his low offensive output in the last two years in the AHL, but the guy is very solid defensively, strong on his skates, and good with his first pass to exit his zone. He is also able to chose his moment to jump in on the offensive side. For me he is a future #4 in the NHL. I don't know if it will be in Montréal, but if he is to be traded, I would definitely not do it in the short term. Better to let him prove his full value before thinking about a trade. HuGo will have make breaking decisions to make on some of these left Ds. But the key is to get full value for those who will end up being traded. Also, I would not count out the possibility of a bold move like trading a guy like Guhle for a top young winger. At some point they will have to balance their roster, and to acquire a great young player, you need to give something of high value.
 

Mister Hab

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What is your criteria for ordering? Current level of play? Potential future level of play? A mixture of both?

Sorry for that...there was no particular order (in that list I listed...or it was a mix of this and that!). And, today's d-roster vs 1-2 seasons from now will look very different.


And, here (below) is a Jay Struble article for those interested (imo, Jay Struble is an underrated prospect):

 

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