LD Jake Bean (2016, 13th, CAR; traded to CBJ)

[rockhouse15]

How is Bean's defensive game?

Its getting there. He get's into position pretty well and has good awareness of where the puck, man and net are in the d-zone. He's not as great an athlete as a Chychrun and can't really just strip the puck away or bully a forward off it whenever he wants but he has promise in that regard if he bulks up. Already has an active stick and is very calm in getting the puck out of the zone in a controlled exit.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

Definitely better than last year, though he's not very physical. Don't think he'll ever be considered a stalwart, but his mobility allows him to mirror guys pretty well.

I scouted him last night. Bean is an absolute trainwreck defensively. As someone who's job is to watch players I can tell you that he is brutal in his own end. Every time a player tries to go wide around him, he can't stop them. He can't play physical and is constantly being stripped of the puck in his own end.

Lucky for me Sanheim wasn't playing and it's blatantly obvious that Bean benefits from playing with him. Offensively Bean couldn't make anything happen either so his numbers too are likely inflated.

With that said he is a very good passer and a decent skater.

I talked to a couple other scouts after the game (ones that have seen him more than me) and they said the exact same thing.

 

[Bezer]

Fun fact, Bean's father is the Flames' Chief Operations Officer.

As far as Bean goes, I liked what I saw and I really believe he will develop into a excellent defensemen.

 

[Tripod]

I scouted him last night. Bean is an absolute trainwreck defensively. As someone who's job is to watch players I can tell you that he is brutal in his own end. Every time a player tries to go wide around him, he can't stop them. He can't play physical and is constantly being stripped of the puck in his own end.

Lucky for me Sanheim wasn't playing and it's blatantly obvious that Bean benefits from playing with him. Offensively Bean couldn't make anything happen either so his numbers too are likely inflated.

With that said he is a very good passer and a decent skater.

I talked to a couple other scouts after the game (ones that have seen him more than me) and they said the exact same thing.

Calgary is also a bad team. Not having Sanheim is a big blow to that team. Sanheim, Fazleev and Bean are all the offense it seems.

I do wonder your thoughts on Sanheim if you have seen him in any games.

 

[FLYguy3911]

I scouted him last night. Bean is an absolute trainwreck defensively. As someone who's job is to watch players I can tell you that he is brutal in his own end. Every time a player tries to go wide around him, he can't stop them. He can't play physical and is constantly being stripped of the puck in his own end.

Lucky for me Sanheim wasn't playing and it's blatantly obvious that Bean benefits from playing with him. Offensively Bean couldn't make anything happen either so his numbers too are likely inflated.

With that said he is a very good passer and a decent skater.

I talked to a couple other scouts after the game (ones that have seen him more than me) and they said the exact same thing.

Haven't watched the games since Sanheim went down so you might be on to something. He looked OK earlier in the year. His biggest issue last year was that he really struggled in his backskate and that gave him a lot of trouble in his own end. He improved that this year. One thing hurting both he and Sanheim is they are the two best offensive players on a team that struggles to score goals so I don't think you always see them as engaged in the defensive end. They have to look to create offense on their own most nights.

We'll see how he handles himself in the Super Series,

 

[HeavyHitter99]

Haven't watched the games since Sanheim went down so you might be on to something. He looked OK earlier in the year. His biggest issue last year was that he really struggled in his backskate and that gave him a lot of trouble in his own end. He improved that this year. One thing hurting both he and Sanheim is they are the two best offensive players on a team that struggles to score goals so I don't think you always see them as engaged in the defensive end. They have to look to create offense on their own most nights.

We'll see how he handles himself in the Super Series,

Very good points. But being on a bad team is no excuse for an opposing winger going around Bean like he's standing still on almost every rush. It's also no excuse for him getting stripped of the puck in his own end constantly. They were also playing the Oil Kings who aren't a great team either.

There's just too much concern for me to take him in the 1st I think.

 

[zjh]

Very good points. But being on a bad team is no excuse for an opposing winger going around Bean like he's standing still on almost every rush. It's also no excuse for him getting stripped of the puck in his own end constantly. They were also playing the Oil Kings who aren't a great team either.

There's just too much concern for me to take him in the 1st I think.

I don't disagree with your view of not taking him in the first, it's not unreasonable, but I think you are being a little bit harsh on his defensive game. Personally I like how little time he spends in his own zone. Contrary to what you saw, I typically notice that he is able to transition out of his own zone so easily that he doesn't spend much time hemmed into his own zone. I think he loses his angles in the defensive zone a little bit too easily and loses inside leverage. I think his pivots are still a bit sluggish and he needs to accelerate faster, but my concerns of his game revolve around his lack of strength and just getting a little bit faster and quicker on his feet. Once he gets bigger and faster, I think his defensive efficiency should improve.

You also bring up a good point about how he often plays with Sanheim. One point I will make is that Bean has been quite a bit better this year. Most of Bean's production in his 16 year-old season came as a result of short passes on the power play. He has upped his game and is a real leader on the PP - he carries the puck up (not Sanheim), and Bean has really looked more confident extending plays and managing the ice. It should be expected that any player will look better playing with top players. I had a couple concerns when I saw Brett Howden about how much heavy lifting Brayden Point did on that line to create opportunities for his linemates. I don't think that Bean is being "carried" as much as I found Howden to be when I saw him. Point is, you can expect any player to be more effective playing with better players. You can interpret it as a positive because you know they will be able to compliment and work with smarter, faster players at the next level, or a negative that their play is being elevated by stronger linemates.

 

[HeavyHitter99]

I don't disagree with your view of not taking him in the first, it's not unreasonable, but I think you are being a little bit harsh on his defensive game. Personally I like how little time he spends in his own zone. Contrary to what you saw, I typically notice that he is able to transition out of his own zone so easily that he doesn't spend much time hemmed into his own zone. I think he loses his angles in the defensive zone a little bit too easily and loses inside leverage. I think his pivots are still a bit sluggish and he needs to accelerate faster, but my concerns of his game revolve around his lack of strength and just getting a little bit faster and quicker on his feet. Once he gets bigger and faster, I think his defensive efficiency should improve.

You also bring up a good point about how he often plays with Sanheim. One point I will make is that Bean has been quite a bit better this year. Most of Bean's production in his 16 year-old season came as a result of short passes on the power play. He has upped his game and is a real leader on the PP - he carries the puck up (not Sanheim), and Bean has really looked more confident extending plays and managing the ice. It should be expected that any player will look better playing with top players. I had a couple concerns when I saw Brett Howden about how much heavy lifting Brayden Point did on that line to create opportunities for his linemates. I don't think that Bean is being "carried" as much as I found Howden to be when I saw him. Point is, you can expect any player to be more effective playing with better players. You can interpret it as a positive because you know they will be able to compliment and work with smarter, faster players at the next level, or a negative that their play is being elevated by stronger linemates.

I agree with you on most of that. Once he gets the puck in the defensive zone with space you can guarentee he gets the puck out efficiently. I agree about his strength as he definitely needs to get stronger as he he doesn't handle defensive play well.

You mentioned his speed. That's something I noticed too, it's not that he's a bad skater his top speed and overall quickness needs work which will likely come with more strength.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Nice thread, folks. Thanks for all the insight.

 

[kingsfan]

I thought he looked great in the top prospects game. Very calm with the puck and makes good decisions from what I seen. Also creative on the fly to.

 

[BIitz]

IMO, the best WHL prospect this draft. A wonderful passer who can also create offense through his skating, shooting, or stick handling. You can hear the guy pass. He was a standout against PA on Friday and there were a BUNCH of hockey scout and management people in attendance after the TPG.

 

[WTG]

Jim Benning apparently is very high on the kid.

 

[Calgareee]

How would be compare to Kylington? Seems to have similar reviews (other than the skating). Great offensively, good passer, good vision, tendency to struggle in own zone.

Thinking more of during their draft year and wondering if Bean drops as much. Kylington by all accounts has become fairly responsible with Stockton.

 

[199991]

How would be compare to Kylington? Seems to have similar reviews (other than the skating). Great offensively, good passer, good vision, tendency to struggle in own zone.

Thinking more of during their draft year and wondering if Bean drops as much. Kylington by all accounts has become fairly responsible with Stockton.

I think Bean's high Hockey sense separates them by a large margin.

 

[docbenton]

I think Bean's high Hockey sense separates them by a large margin.

Kylington is a faster and smoother skater. Bean's more reliable in his own zone, which isn't that much of a compliment, has better puck skills and is a better shooter and passer. Has a very high panic threshold. Can still be fumbly at times, though. I also think he has a ton of room to develop, as he's very young for this draft and seems physically immature still. Is a star in school, so you know the IQ on the ice is not a mirage.

 

[Zaddy]

IMO, the best WHL prospect this draft. A wonderful passer who can also create offense through his skating, shooting, or stick handling. You can hear the guy pass. He was a standout against PA on Friday and there were a BUNCH of hockey scout and management people in attendance after the TPG.

Probably, but it isn't saying too much since it's a pretty weak draft year for the WHL. I think Hajek and Dube are right behind him too.

 

[Mad Brills*]

Wonder if the leafs take him with the penguins pick/early 2nd round pick.

 

[kingsfan]

Seems like a mid-1st rounder to me.

 

[Visnovsky]

Wonder if the leafs take him with the penguins pick/early 2nd round pick.

If he falls to 2nd round, Toronto would be glad to take him with their own second - at least I think they would.

Maybe not with the penguins first, as there could be a big faller out of the top 10 that's available (I hope).

 

[PrinceOfPucks]

If Canucks pick between 10-15 it's almost a certainty they pick Bean. His offensive skills and transition first pass Is elite. The only thing holding him back from top 5 pick is size and Dzone strength.

 

[kingsfan]

If Canucks pick between 10-15 it's almost a certainty they pick Bean. His offensive skills and transition first pass Is elite. The only thing holding him back from top 5 pick is size and Dzone strength.

Its February. You can't say anyone is an 'almost certainty' to be picked by anyone at that spot. Who knows whose on the board then.

 

[PrinceOfPucks]

Its February. You can't say anyone is an 'almost certainty' to be picked by anyone at that spot. Who knows whose on the board then.

I can say it with certainty as close to 95% without full out guaranteeing it.

Benning was on National tv and said he is solely scouting 4 Dmen at the top prospect game.

Assuming Chychrun ,Juolevi and Sergachev are gone in top 10, Bean will be picked by Canucks somewhere in 11-16 spot.

They have heavily scouted this kid. Of course if one of those 3 Dmen are available then all bets are off and they will take who they see as BPA

 

[skyo]

Jake Bean hey, offensive dmen are so tough to gauge, for every top scoring dman in the NHL there are 100 scoring junior drafted dmen that don't make it for a variety of reasons.

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

I watch as much of Travis Sanheim as I can and he's also a Calgary Hitmen dman, so I end up seeing a bit of Bean as well.

In my opinion, he doesn't have a very high ceiling as a defender, probably a solid #4 at best. Could be a good puck moving dman but I wouldn't trust him with tough assignments. I dont know much about this draft class, but id probably rank him as a late 1st or 2nd round pick. I wouldn't get too hyped about drafting this guy, but if you have 2 or 3 dmen who will probably be ahead of him in the lineup, he'd be a nice pickup

 

[kingsfan]

I can say it with certainty as close to 95% without full out guaranteeing it.

Benning was on National tv and said he is solely scouting 4 Dmen at the top prospect game.

Assuming Chychrun ,Juolevi and Sergachev are gone in top 10, Bean will be picked by Canucks somewhere in 11-16 spot.

They have heavily scouted this kid. Of course if one of those 3 Dmen are available then all bets are off and they will take who they see as BPA

So because he's scouting Dmen, he's going to pick that specific one?

What if they see flaws in Bean? What if they go off the board like someone does every draft?

If you think you can say player X will be picked with 95% certainty by Team Y in the 10 to 15 spot of a draft five months ahead of the draft, you are pretty nieve. Even the teams themselves can't say that.