Prospect Info: Josh Brook Part 3

[Whitesnake]

I believe Brook has now replaced Juulsen as our most over rated prospect. I'm afraid he has journeyman written all over him.

Frankly....I don'T see people rating Brook at all. So not sure how he's overrated. The most overrated prospect BY FAR has to be Norlinder. Again, people thrive so much for a puckmoving d-man that Norlinder has been already penciled at one point to be in a top 4 in the NHL. Yet, doesn't dominate anything elsewhere. And is wondering himself what his play would look like in a smaller icesurface.

Obviously not the same type of player, but today, I would be more excited about freakin Fairbrother than Norlinder....and I'm not that excited about Fairbrother...lol

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Frankly....I don'T see people rating Brook at all. So not sure how he's overrated. The most overrated prospect BY FAR has to be Norlinder. Again, people thrive so much for a puckmoving d-man that Norlinder has been already penciled at one point to be in a top 4 in the NHL. Yet, doesn't dominate anything elsewhere. And is wondering himself what his play would look like in a smaller icesurface.

Obviously not the same type of player, but today, I would be more excited about freakin Fairbrother than Norlinder....and I'm not that excited about Fairbrother...lol

I think that Mailloux, warts and all, is probably our defensive prospect with the highest upside. As for Fairbrother, I have not seen much of his play, but of what little I did see, he passes the eye test. Something Brook never did for me, at any level.

 

[montreal]

Brook has become one of our more underrated prospects. He had lots of hype a year or two after he got drafted, now he rarely gets talked about since most the talk is about other D prospects like Norlinder, Harris and Guhle.

Brook is still just 22 and showed improvements last year, with his skating and puck movement I won't be surprised if he spends a solid amount of time in the NHL this year assuming we don't add another D.

it's hard to say with him, I was so high on him after that big year in the WHL, then his rookie year he started out so poorly and like Bouchard said he felt that Brook was lacking strength. Brook's game is all about passing or rushing the puck up ice and it's something you barely saw him do. Then this past season he looked much better but still far from what his game was. Now maybe Bouchard didn't want him to do much of that, to focus on the defensive side since that's where he was having so much trouble to start his pro career. He's made strides there for sure, but still has work to do though with added mass and strength I think it will get better but likely there will always be some poor decisions in his own end at times, just a matter of how often, how much offense can he generate, etc... to overcome this.

If he gained a good bit of strength then I really look forward to seeing what he can do this year.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I believe Brook has now replaced Juulsen as our most over rated prospect. I'm afraid he has journeyman written all over him.

Juulsen wasnt really overrated. His injuries is what ruined him.

 

[Rockomax]

Juulsen wasnt really overrated. His injuries is what ruined him.

He never was very good to start with either. Sure he could defend ok but nothing out of the ordinary for the NHL. No offense to his game, average skating, ok first pass. Never saw what people saw in him.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

He never was very good to start with either. Sure he could defend ok but nothing out of the ordinary for the NHL. No offense to his game, average skating, ok first pass. Never saw what people saw in him.

It's what people didn't see: a complete lack of lateral skating ability.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

He never was very good to start with either. Sure he could defend ok but nothing out of the ordinary for the NHL. No offense to his game, average skating, ok first pass. Never saw what people saw in him.

I thought he was borderline awful in every NHL game I watched of him. For someone touted for his defensive game did he ever get walked to the outside a lot. I was never impressed, the injuries didn’t help an already fringe prospect, but I was never expecting more than a 6/7 dman.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He never was very good to start with either. Sure he could defend ok but nothing out of the ordinary for the NHL. No offense to his game, average skating, ok first pass. Never saw what people saw in him.

Every single coach he had loved him. He was solid but more of a defensive type. Never got a chance to mature and when he was just touching his potential, his development/career got derailed by a freak injury. Not a sure shot top 4D but certainly on a good track

 

[Habs Halifax]

I thought he was borderline awful in every NHL game I watched of him. For someone touted for his defensive game did he ever get walked to the outside a lot. I was never impressed, the injuries didn’t help an already fringe prospect, but I was never expecting more than a 6/7 dman.

His projection was always 3/4/5 range on the back end (Not much more than you expected). Could have been a 5 or a 3 but he didn't get a chance to groom into a role in the NHL and then that freak two pucks to his face happened. Prior to that, he was on a very good track in development. The problem is thinking he was this offensive type or someone that was going to come in and dominate right away.

 

[Habs Halifax]

It's what people didn't see: a complete lack of lateral skating ability.

"A complete lack of lateral skating" eh? Sounds like an exaggeration spin to me.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think that Mailloux, warts and all, is probably our defensive prospect with the highest upside. As for Fairbrother, I have not seen much of his play, but of what little I did see, he passes the eye test. Something Brook never did for me, at any level.

Guhle has the highest upside. Mailloux is in the mix after Guhle, Norlinder, and Harris. He could pass some of them but we have to wait. He's not the one with the highest upside. You are overlooking Guhle.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Guhle has the highest upside. Mailloux is in the mix after Guhle, Norlinder, and Harris. He could pass some of them but we have to wait. He's not the one with the highest upside. Your overlooking Guhle.

Perhaps. But there is a flair to Mailloux's game that intrigue's me. He has a presence on the ice that can't be taught. I strongly believe that if he can overcome his lack of maturity, Mailloux will prove to be one of the best selections of this past draft, with many teams saying to themselves: why didn't we take the chance? Drafting at 31, you swing for the fences. 'Safer,' less impactive style players can always be secured through free agency. After watching Guhle play at the U18s, I thought that Guhle could be an impact player in the NHL. However, after watching him play at the WJC, I was less sure. But the bottom line is that Brook is no longer in any rational discussion as being one of the team's prime prospects. That is because he is what he is: a journeyman who at best, will be a fringe NHLer.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

"A complete lack of lateral skating" eh? Sounds like an exaggeration spin to me.

Spin? Hardly. The tapes speak for themselves. His lack of lateral skating ability made him vulnerable off the rush. Injuries did not render him a fringe NHLer.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Perhaps. But there is a flair to Mailloux's game that intrigue's me. He has a presence on the ice that can't be taught. I strongly believe that if he can overcome his lack of maturity, Mailloux will prove to be one of the best selections of this past draft, with many teams saying to themselves: why didn't we take the chance? Drafting at 31, you swing for the fences. 'Safer,' less impactive style players can always be secured through free agency. After watching Guhle play at the U18s, I thought that Guhle could be an impact player in the NHL. However, after watching him play at the WJC, I was less sure. But the bottom line is that Brook is no longer in any rational discussion as being one of the team's prime prospects. That is because he is what he is: a journeyman who at best, will be a fringe NHLer.

Mailloux has a good toolbox of size and potential skill but it's too early to project. He needs to put it all together from age 18+. The Guhle you watched play at the WJC was at age 18. Harley and Schneider would have looked like that too if they actually made the team at age 18 but they didn't. What you seen from Guhle was a limited role to some degree cause they leaned on the 19 year olds more

Both players could stall in development moving forward but as it stands now, Guhle development resume and high end ceiling is better than Mailloux. Doesn't mean you will be wrong, it's just where it stands today. Things can from year to year and it usually does.

 

[Adam Michaels]

I'm excited to see how Brook will be this year. He looked better last year. A more complete defenseman. Not perfect, but he was good defensively, played physical, and had more confidence to express himself offensively.

Curious how the new coaching staff will handle him.

Also, hope he gets some NHL games this year (that he will earn, not just handed to him). But after two full years in the AHL, you would like to see a prospect get NHL games in his third year of his ELC.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Spin? Hardly. The tapes speak for themselves. His lack of lateral skating ability made him vulnerable off the rush. Injuries did not render him a fringe NHLer.

Seems like you agree it was a bit of an exaggerated spin? You changed your statement .

A "complete" lack of lateral skating
vs
Lack of lateral skating ability

This is his scouting report from 2015 when he was drafted (see below). I think his development was going along just fine before his injury and I do believe you are trying to deflate his mobility too much. You probably watched Barzal blow by him and came to that concussion . I think the descriptions of Juulsen below was spot on. No need to exaggerate him to some legit top 4D or someone with "complete lack of lateral skating"

A solid two-way defender, Noah Juulsen is able to force plays and always find ways to support his teammates. Juulsen is a smooth, yet not dynamic skater, and is mobile when he needs to be. Plays with a chip on his shoulder, and isn't afraid to take the hit to make the play. Sees the ice well and has the individual skills to carry out the possibilities he sees. Very poised with the puck; calm and controls the play with authority. Has good hands. Without the puck and in high-pressure situations, Juulsen tends to overthink things and can try to do a little too much; that will go away with time and maturity. All-in-all, an impactful presence on the ice that strives to be difficult to play against; given how hard he works and how smart he is with the puck, he can be a very difficult player to read with and without the puck.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Seems like you agree it was a bit of an exaggerated spin? You changed your statement .

A "complete" lack of lateral skating
vs
Lack of lateral skating ability

This is his scouting report from 2015 when he was drafted (see below). I think his development was going along just fine before his injury and I do believe you are trying to deflate his mobility too much. You probably watched Barzal blow by him and came to that concussion . I think the descriptions of Juulsen below was spot on. No need to exaggerate him to some legit top 4D or someone with "complete lack of lateral skating"

A solid two-way defender, Noah Juulsen is able to force plays and always find ways to support his teammates. Juulsen is a smooth, yet not dynamic skater, and is mobile when he needs to be. Plays with a chip on his shoulder, and isn't afraid to take the hit to make the play. Sees the ice well and has the individual skills to carry out the possibilities he sees. Very poised with the puck; calm and controls the play with authority. Has good hands. Without the puck and in high-pressure situations, Juulsen tends to overthink things and can try to do a little too much; that will go away with time and maturity. All-in-all, an impactful presence on the ice that strives to be difficult to play against; given how hard he works and how smart he is with the puck, he can be a very difficult player to read with and without the puck.

Well, let's put it this way: a complete lack of NHL level lateral skating ability. Even I have some lateral skating ability, and I walk with a cane. Montreal gave up on him and the Panthers recently exposed him in the expansion draft. If another team decides to take a chance on him, it will inevitably be three strikes and you're out. You can't mask skating limitations in today's NHL. The days of Terry Harper, Ted Harris and Rick Green are long gone.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Well, let's put it this way: a complete lack of NHL level lateral skating ability. Even I have some lateral skating ability, and I walk with a cane. Montreal gave up on him and the Panthers recently exposed him in the expansion draft. If another team decides to take a chance on him, it will inevitably be three strikes and you're out.

His lateral mobility was not elite level but it was not something that was keeping him away from the NHL. He was on a good development path before his injury. I think you are being too hard on him. Could still end up a good 4-6 guy on the back end. Panthers don't claim him if his mobility is as bad as you say it is

 

[Habs Icing]

That would mean the next potential RHD would be 3-4 years away.

Not if Timmins is still in charge of drafting. For starters try doubling those years.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

His lateral mobility was not elite level but it was not something that was keeping him away from the NHL. He was on a good development path before his injury. I think you are being too hard on him. Could still end up a good 4-6 guy on the back end. Panthers don't claim him if his mobility is as bad as you say it is

It says more about the state of the Panther's team than the relative strengths of this player. And of course, NHL General Managers never make mistakes.

 

[Habs Halifax]

It says more about the state of the Panther's team than the relative strengths of this player. And of course, NHL General Managers never make mistakes.

Do you think he is done? Can't be a 4-6 guy on D at this stage? Seems like you never liked him and that was before his injury

 

[Schwang]

Mailloux has a good toolbox of size and potential skill but it's too early to project. He needs to put it all together from age 18+. The Guhle you watched play at the WJC was at age 18. Harley and Schneider would have looked like that too if they actually made the team at age 18 but they didn't. What you seen from Guhle was a limited role to some degree cause they leaned on the 19 year olds more

Both players could stall in development moving forward but as it stands now, Guhle development resume and high end ceiling is better than Mailloux. Doesn't mean you will be wrong, it's just where it stands today. Things can from year to year and it usually does.

Guhle looked very composed in his AHL time. I wouldn't be worried about him at all. Forget about the juniors when he was 18.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Hope he makes it and has a good run with the Habs.

 

[Habs Icing]

I think that Mailloux, warts and all, is probably our defensive prospect with the highest upside. As for Fairbrother, I have not seen much of his play, but of what little I did see, he passes the eye test. Something Brook never did for me, at any level.

I'm not pointing you out by quoting your post. Your post simply demonstrates what I'm about to say.

Notice the trend with our prospects. They're all golden until they need to graduate to the NHL then they become wooden and we move on to younger prospects. Rinse and repeat.

WS is facetiously looking forward to Fairbrother. ChesterNimitz to Mailloux. In a few years Fairbrother will have gone from golden to wooden and a year or two after that Mailloux.

I understand not every prospect will make it to the NHL but when it comes to Timmins' prospects the success rate is abysmal.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Guhle looked very composed in his AHL time. I wouldn't be worried about him at all. Forget about the juniors when he was 18.

I liked his age 18 WJC. I thought he was very good for a 18 year old on D. That's rare. And I have not seen too much sample size of his AHL time last year so I'll have to trust you on that one.

I like Guhle. It's hard to nit pick flaws in his game and he's at that point where he can rocket up more in development if he has a full season this year.