Ok
for the sake of my sanity I hope you’re right
Fair point. I don’t know what to expect of them they’re a real wildcard for me
I have just come across these forums from last season and now the of season. I have noticed many of you and especially frontsfan67 hate uens. I know the family, the kid, and real knowledge/conversations with these players. first off anyone who listens to frontsfan67 he knows nothing to the fact i see he's stated budnick is a "room guy". The players didn't like him do to his ego and he wanted a trade because he knew no one liked him.
so now i start with Uens,
After an incredible rookie season and looking to become a big OHL name things went downhill for him offensively i will admit which i will get to later on. However none of you understand what he has dealt with and why you assume he lost his passion and drive. (I spoke recently with Uens he is more determined then ever he is going to bounce back this year) So imagine moving away at 16 years old playing under a hard ass coach, uens starts fighting blocking a crazy amount of shots getting blown up to make plays all while standing at 5,8. This kid has taken a skate to the face broke his nose and missed one shift then came out for the last shift of the period and blocks 2 shots one being a one timer. (He's crazy and refuses to show people he's hurt). Being this size playing this way his head has become a serious issue. No medical staff or any one in owen sound or kingston organization knows this, his family i don't believe is even aware. Everyone go watch his fight early on in his second year against jorian donovan. He starts the fight without a helmet doing great then takes bad blows to the back the head in obvious pain. He then the next game misses his only game in his career do to 'sickness' (only missed others for suspension). The kid told the staff he's crazy sick and couldn't play over the phone. Meanwhile, it was heard his girlfriend that night took care of him and he was burnt up puking every time he stands. Then next day he couldn't open his eyes yelling in pain throwing up unable to move. Now take in he practices the next day because he knows his teammates look to him as a warrior and doesn't want to show weakness likely because he's always been told he's to small. so now i have heard he is getting much better after 2 years but has dealt every day and night with paranoia and his head bothering him without telling anyone this is just rumors that have came from someone very close to him who certainly would know these things/seen them so i assume this is the case . I have even heard stories of him puking in intermission again telling people he's sick but came after a big hit or fight. So please grow up and get off the kid that battles for you every night doing the things no one else will at half there size.
So now you can see i have some inside scoop i also have access to elite advanced stats. you say uens is a offensive defensemen and terrible defensively. your 100% right his offensive game has been a bust to what we saw his rookie season and the stats dont lie. Not point stats, real stats that you'll never get your hands on as you don't have any involvement with the league no matter how much you think you know . However his defensive game has grown to be elite the stats don't lie as it follows
Pros
-Shot blocking 96.4th percentile
-Exit passes 88.2th percentile (turnover machine though right?
-Puck battles 94.7th percentile (to Small?)
-Gap Set 98.0th percentile (average gap set at 7.8ft, that is a very elite stat)
-Kill/dump rate 96.7th percentile
Cons
Carries out of neutral zone rate 54th percentile (likely due to being a pass first player)
point shots on net 45th percentile
expected offence 58th percentile
passes to slot allowed rate 57th percentile
expected points 44th percentile
For those who don't understand the percentile metric. This is comparable to all defensemen in the league averages. for example if there was a 100 defensemen, the 20th best shot blocking numbers would land you in the 80th percentile. Hope that makes sense
90-100 is extremely elite
70-90 is great
70 good
50-60 ok
30-50 weakness
30 under liability
Uens best categories all are defensive and point towards him being a elite defender.
His only real low defensive stat is pass to slot allowed rate which is likely due to him trying to be to physical at times allowing passes through his feet to the slot as he doesn't give anything up off the rush. The offensive stats are not impressive at all he knows and he's working on it I'm sure.. The team has access to all this info they see him as a inspiration in the room there's a reason he won the unsung hero, no one respects his game other then the ones who truly understand the game he will break out his offense just watch.
This d core looks great this year with burns and likely pienemi as a 1,2 however McGowan and Uens are very good together and i believe they both will have breakout seasons offensively while continuing to dominate defensively. To add McGowan is the next best is in gap set on the team in the 96th percentile which makes these to elite when working together.
Uens plays his best with those who have good gaps as if one defenders gap is off it can kill someone who has a good gap with defenders sneaking behind them. This is why holmes and uens struggle together. where as chromiak with much worse defensive stats played much better with holmes.