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LD Travis Sanheim - Calgary Hitmen, WHL (2014, 17th, PHI)

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Spartans2810 said:
Found this thread thought Id bump it.

This kid has played exceptionally well on a pretty bad Calgary team. 40GP 10G 26A. Did Flyers find a steal at 17? His skating is unbelievably smooth and he has the brains and hockey IQ to go along with his physical tools. I think he is the Flyers best prospect by far, and if the draft was today I could think of a few guys he would be drafted over.

Thoughts on his play?
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The Hitmen are a pretty damn good team actually. These guys can score and I like their PP--granted, I'm biased but this is one of the better Hitmen teams in recent years for sure. They're a lot better than 5th in the east as the standings dictate. Outside of a couple of games they've actually played really well against the big dogs too. They thumped a Chartier-less Rockets team in December. I could see them winning a round or two for sure--I just don't see how teams outside of Kelowna can stop those 4 lines in a series, if that teams healthy. Just too much depth.

TLDR: Calgary is just rolling, and Sanheim's puck moving is a big reason for it. He's a really smart defender. I love watching him play.
 
Yeah Calgary's not a bad team, they just love to blow late game leads. Probably not a Mem Cup team, but might win a round or 2 in the playoffs like you said.
 
Spartans2810 said:
Thoughts on his play?
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It's been a frustrating year to watch the Hitmen, but Sanheim has been one of a few gems to watch. In my opinion (shared by some of the other season ticket holders I know), the coaching change at the start of the season has been tremendously detrimental, and the Hitmen systems and lines seem poorly thought out.

Sanheim has great vision and is playing upwards of 25 minutes a night as the clear #1 defenceman on the team. He had 3 assists last night, one of which was a great interception in the neutral zone while shorthanded and set up a 2-on-1. He's also wearing an A now, in a franchise that has always valued age when choosing captains.

The one thing missing from his game at the moment is physical play, in that there are a number of times it looks like he has an opportunity for a hit but doesn't take it (not the huge highlight reel hits, but run-of-the-mill rub-outs, finishing your checks in the corner, etc.). I'm not sure if this is fatigue management as he's playing huge minutes or if it's coaching as it seems the whole team is wary of playing the body.

Craig Fischer said:
The Hitmen are a pretty damn good team actually. These guys can score and I like their PP--granted, I'm biased but this is one of the better Hitmen teams in recent years for sure. They're a lot better than 5th in the east as the standings dictate. Outside of a couple of games they've actually played really well against the big dogs too. They thumped a Chartier-less Rockets team in December. I could see them winning a round or two for sure--I just don't see how teams outside of Kelowna can stop those 4 lines in a series, if that teams healthy. Just too much depth.
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FLYguy3911 said:
Yeah Calgary's not a bad team, they just love to blow late game leads. Probably not a Mem Cup team, but might win a round or 2 in the playoffs like you said.
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Seems to me that most of the issues with the team are coaching related. Their systems have been off, particularly gaining the zone on the powerplay, and there is an intense commitment to shot-blocking such that they stop playing defence or straightup screen the goalie. There's also the inconsistent lines (part of junior hockey), where every game seems to be different players playing together. The most concerning thing I'm seeing is that they are being told to play the trap on a 1 or 2 goal lead, but don't play it well and give up the middle of the ice (watch Provorov's game tying goal last Sunday or Bleackley's game tying goal last night).
 
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denominator said:
The one thing missing from his game at the moment is physical play, in that there are a number of times it looks like he has an opportunity for a hit but doesn't take it (not the huge highlight reel hits, but run-of-the-mill rub-outs, finishing your checks in the corner, etc.). I'm not sure if this is fatigue management as he's playing huge minutes or if it's coaching as it seems the whole team is wary of playing the body.
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Yeah, that's really the only glaring weakness I see. Its just not in his DNA. That's usually something you either have or you don't. My theory is he hasn't been a big guy his whole life (growth spurt at 15/16 I believe) and just always played a small man's game and its continued as he's gotten bigger. He's still slight of frame so that doesn't help. He has played with a little more edge it seems than last year though (not quite like his brother though).

The Flyers have lacked skill on the blueline for years, so if we have to sacrifice physical play to get it, that's alright with me.
Seems to me that most of the issues with the team are coaching related. Their systems have been off, particularly gaining the zone on the powerplay, and there is an intense commitment to shot-blocking such that they stop playing defence or straightup screen the goalie. There's also the inconsistent lines (part of junior hockey), where every game seems to be different players playing together. The most concerning thing I'm seeing is that they are being told to play the trap on a 1 or 2 goal lead, but don't play it well and give up the middle of the ice (watch Provorov's game tying goal last Sunday or Bleackley's game tying goal last night).
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They need a goalie to step up desperately. How Red Deer got a 3 on 2 in the last minute of the game, I can't figure out, but Burke has to make that save.
 
FLYguy3911 said:
Based on what I see. As I mentioned Fleury has better physical tools than Sanheim. He's bigger, stronger, his straight line speed is better, his shot is heavier. He just doesn't have the same instincts offensively. Instincts are Sanheim's best trait. He's smart and decisive with the puck. He's a better passer. That's not meant as a slight against Fleury.

Red Deer doesn't even run their PP through Fleury. If he was so dynamic why wouldn't they want him controlling the unit? They don't even set him up for one-timers. He's pretty much a 4th forward on the unit.

This isn't a 5 month evaluation. Sanheim was more dynamic at the U18s as well, while Fleury played a steady game. They're different kinds of players.

Not that points are everything, but Sanheim has as many points in his last 6 games as Fleury has all year. Just tip you hat and move on. Why would you come into another prospects thread and try to pump your own guys tires?

And Fleury's "horrible team" has more points than Calgary. :laugh:
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Boom
 
FLYguy3911 said:
Yeah, that's really the only glaring weakness I see. Its just not in his DNA. That's usually something you either have or you don't. My theory is he hasn't been a big guy his whole life (growth spurt at 15/16 I believe) and just always played a small man's game and its continued as he's gotten bigger. He's still slight of frame so that doesn't help. He has played with a little more edge it seems than last year though (not quite like his brother though).
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I have to assume they're non-identical twins based solely on the size differential, but it's odd that the bigger one (Travis) plays a skill game while the smaller one (Taylor) plays a grinder game.

FLYguy3911 said:
The Flyers have lacked skill on the blueline for years, so if we have to sacrifice physical play to get it, that's alright with me.
They need a goalie to step up desperately. How Red Deer got a 3 on 2 in the last minute of the game, I can't figure out, but Burke has to make that save.
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It was the exact same play as the Provorov goal at the end of Sunday's game - Calgary sat back while the opposition had the puck behind their net, then let the other team skate right up the middle and take a quality shot from the high slot. While I think a save from Burke would have been nice, or even expected, the team gave up a great scoring opportunity without any resistance.

Also would have been great to see Burke make a blocker save in the shootout. My seats are behind the other net, and even looking all the way down the ice you could see how wide open that side of the net was. That's why Red Deer didn't pick Bleackley in the shootout - he's a right hand shot. All 4 shooters were left handed and moved across glove to blocker, then quick shot to the wide open net. The one "save" he did make just hit him, he didn't actually react.
 
They Flyers have been inept at drafting defenseman for over a decade. They finally have 2 good ones in the farm in Sanheim and Morin.
 
sathersleepingagain said:
They Flyers have been inept at drafting defenseman for over a decade. They finally have 2 good ones in the farm in Sanheim and Morin.
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They were inept because they always chose forwards with their 1st rounders and rarely had 2nd and 3rd rounders due to trading them all away. And who could argue with drafting forwards when they draft Carter, Richards, Giroux, JVR, Downie, Couturier. Not a bad track record..no misses.

Now as for your comment on having 2 D prospects, we have more than that actually.

Shayne Gostisbehere looks to be an offense dynamo. Remember him going +7 in the Frozen Four Championship game? He has only played 5 games in the AHL before getting hurt....but put up 5 points.

Then we have Robert Hagg who is a 19 year old rookie in the AHL this year....3 time a WJC player.

And someone no one is talking about yet is 3rd rounder Mark Freidman. He is a rookie in college this year and has 15 points in 25 games as a dman. On Jan 25th, he was tied for 3rd in NCAA D1 hockey for scoring among freshman dmen.

Two players that he's tied/behind: Werenski and Hanifin. Granted, they're a year younger.

Nice company (thanks to Roo Mad Bro for this info)

So we do have more than just 2 D prospects worth while but they still have to keep developing. If they do, the future D for Philly looks pretty bright!

But since this is about Sanheim....now has 46 points in 45 games....tied for 2nd in WHL scoring for dmen...1 point behind leader.
 
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Tripod said:
They were inept because they always chose forwards with their 1st rounders and rarely had 2nd and 3rd rounders due to trading them all away. And who could argue with drafting forwards when they draft Carter, Richards, Giroux, JVR, Downie, Couturier. Not a bad track record..no misses.

Now as for your comment on having 2 D prospects, we have more than that actually.

Shayne Gostisbehere looks to be an offense dynamo. Remember him going +7 in the Frozen Four Championship game? He has only played 5 games in the AHL before getting hurt....but put up 5 points.

Then we have Robert Hagg who is a 19 year old rookie in the AHL this year....3 time a WJC player.

And someone no one is talking about yet is 3rd rounder Mark Freidman. He is a rookie in college this year and has 15 points in 25 games as a dman. On Jan 25th, he was tied for 3rd in NCAA D1 hockey for scoring among freshman dmen.

Two players that he's tied/behind: Werenski and Hanifin. Granted, they're a year younger.

Nice company (thanks to Roo Mad Bro for this info)

So we do have more than just 2 D prospects worth while but they still have to keep developing. If they do, the future D for Philly looks pretty bright!

But since this is about Sanheim....now has 46 points in 45 games....tied for 2nd in WHL scoring for dmen...1 point behind leader.
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reading through this thread seemed people forgot about him. Ghost IMO will be the best young dman you have in a few years...just so skilled and gifted, heck of a steal he will be.

I like Sanheim a lot, though it was a reach pick, but kid has proved otherwise. Flyers will have a solid defense for years to come with those two and Morin.
 
AmericanDream said:
reading through this thread seemed people forgot about him. Ghost IMO will be the best young dman you have in a few years...just so skilled and gifted, heck of a steal he will be.

I like Sanheim a lot, though it was a reach pick, but kid has proved otherwise. Flyers will have a solid defense for years to come with those two and Morin.
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The good thing is that all of them are different in styles....but can all skate.

Sanheim....looks to be a great 2way guy in the making....Pietrangelo.
Ghost....looks to be great offensively....Keith.
Morin....beast of a kid and mean....hmmmm....Chara.
Hagg....steady, not flashy....Oduya
Friedman....smaller all around guy....Timonen.

Boy....I wish those came true...lol. And relax people, I'm wishfully thinking here.
 
AmericanDream said:
reading through this thread seemed people forgot about him. Ghost IMO will be the best young dman you have in a few years...just so skilled and gifted, heck of a steal he will be.

I like Sanheim a lot, though it was a reach pick, but kid has proved otherwise. Flyers will have a solid defense for years to come with those two and Morin.
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Flyer's fans haven't forgotten about Gostisbehere. And if they did all you have to do is watch a Phantoms game without him. They are a mess right now. He's a game-changer.

You won't find a bigger fan of Gostisbehere than me, but you have to consider he's 3 years older than Sanheim. He's not as bad as people think defensively, but I don't think he'll ever have the impact Sanheim will on the defensive end. Offensively, Gostisbehere is more skilled, but Sanheim is going to put up points if given the opportunity. Both are silky on their skates. Gostisbehere probably has higher top end speed, but again he has 3 years on him.

Sanheim wasn't a reach. He was the guy I was hoping for on draft day, but I didn't think he would make it to our pick. Defensemen that are 6'3, can skate, can defend, are smart, and have the offensive game to match usually don't last long on draft day. Thankfully for us he didn't have much of a track record.

I think the most impressive thing about Sanheim's production is he has mostly done it playing on the 2nd PP and without jumping in the rush or lugging the puck end to end like he has showns in the past. He just makes smart smart plays with the puck. That and he's doing this as a string bean. I can't wait to see what he looks like when he physically matures.
 
Sanheim has been exceptional the last 2 months or so. As someone who sees most home games i would guess he was asked to play a shutdown type role to start the season by the new coaching staff. Lately he has come back to the dominant puck mover and great skater that he was at the end of last season. He is a true leader on the back end. His breakout pass is near perfect and always hits his players in stride. You guys got an absolute gem with Sanheim. Not to project expectations on him but he reminds me a lot of Alex Pietrangelo.
 
CornKicker said:
Sanheim has been exceptional the last 2 months or so. As someone who sees most home games i would guess he was asked to play a shutdown type role to start the season by the new coaching staff. Lately he has come back to the dominant puck mover and great skater that he was at the end of last season. He is a true leader on the back end. His breakout pass is near perfect and always hits his players in stride. You guys got an absolute gem with Sanheim. Not to project expectations on him but he reminds me a lot of Alex Pietrangelo.
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Thanks for the detailed and insightful post. Really excited to see this kid playfor the Flyers in the near future.
 
People will be looking back wondering how this kid lasted till 17.
 
Tankadelphia said:
The only thing is that he needs someone to teach him a better slapshot
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He just needs to get stronger. It's amazing this kid is as good as he is considering how scrawny he is. I'm more concerned with reluctancy to shoot at times. He's too damn unselfish.
 
Watching the Hitmen this guy really is a terrific offensive defenseman, easily the best in the WHL. He's improved his defensive game but still needs work in that area. It does help when you can skate like he can.
 
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