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LW Kyle Connor - Michigan, NCAA (2015, 17th, WPG)

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Whileee said:
Probably would benefit more from a year in the AHL. Michigan / Berenson would be pretty ticked off. My guess is that if the Jets don't think he's ready for the NHL they'll leave him with Michigan next year.
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If the Jets didn't think he was ready for the NHL but is close, wouldn't the AHL make more sense than the NCAA?

Same city as the big club, access to trainers, coaches, etc? The team wouldn't have to worry about his contract because if he played in the AHL wouldn't it slide? I'm just wondering if this is one of those situations where having the AHL team in the same city is an advantage?

I can easily see him back in Michigan, but just wondering if being on the Moose and part of the org wouldn't be better?
 
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I think it will depend on how he closes out this season. If he, for the remaining almost half season, keeps this pace up, I don't see us having him play another season in the league. While it would be a worthwhile experience to be the clear go-to guy on the team, with Compher and Werenski probably leaving after this season, he should be able to be that in the AHL as well.

If he, however, falters toward the end of the season, I don't think we'll sign him this summer.

It's an interesting decision that will need to be made.

Those number though... They're straight up unreal for a freshman. He's pacing join a group of only three freshmen to be nominated for the Hobey Baker award in NCAA history.
 
Huffer said:
If the Jets didn't think he was ready for the NHL but is close, wouldn't the AHL make more sense than the NCAA?

Same city as the big club, access to trainers, coaches, etc? The team wouldn't have to worry about his contract because if he played in the AHL wouldn't it slide? I'm just wondering if this is one of those situations where having the AHL team in the same city is an advantage?

I can easily see him back in Michigan, but just wondering if being on the Moose and part of the org wouldn't be better?
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Probably depends on Connor and what he would want to do. I think the Jets might prefer having him with their AHL team, but Connor might prefer another year of college over playing in the AHL.
 
Whileee said:
Probably depends on Connor and what he would want to do. I think the Jets might prefer having him with their AHL team, but Connor might prefer another year of college over playing in the AHL.
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Ahh, totally agree. If he wants to stay in school and play another year instead of the AHL that's up to him.

I was mainly thinking in this instance from the Jets POV. Would seem to be a nice combination of him being drafted from outside the CHL and being eligible for the AHL earlier, and the AHL team being in the parent clubs city.
 
Huffer said:
Ahh, totally agree. If he wants to stay in school and play another year instead of the AHL that's up to him.

I was mainly thinking in this instance from the Jets POV. Would seem to be a nice combination of him being drafted from outside the CHL and being eligible for the AHL earlier, and the AHL team being in the parent clubs city.
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I think it's more attractive to play for the AHL team in Winnipeg than if it was still in St. John's or somewhere remote. Being in Winnipeg and close to the Jets is probably a positive when thinking about going to the AHL, all things considered.
 
Whileee said:
I think it's more attractive to play for the AHL team in Winnipeg than if it was still in St. John's or somewhere remote. Being in Winnipeg and close to the Jets is probably a positive when thinking about going to the AHL, all things considered.
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Oh it makes it very easy. He's just a walk away from a call up. I like Romang's point about how his second half will play the biggest role. Ideally, he's ready for the pro game and can get used to the daily grind.
 
justified21 said:
Not sure about Michigan being such a good hockey program ( it's good not elite ) and Berenson has his detractors to be sure .

He's having an impressive rookie season and stepped up his production once he went to LW on the top line .

Connor is a dynamic player with elite speed that handles the puck and makes play without having to gear down . He also has great offensive instincts , reads the play , goes to open areas and also takes the puck to the net . Really nice shot too , and he's always ready to unload it .

Right now I see him back for one more year , but that is subject to change . It would not be a stretch to have him turn pro after Michigan's season ends , especially if Ladd gets traded .
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I am surprised you say this? University of Michigan have produced so many NHL'ers since Berensen became the Head Coach in the mid 80's.

Most recently players like Pacioretty, Cammalleri, Johnson, and now Dylan Larkin just to name a few players.

With Connor and Werenski most likely to join this list soon. To me, it's one of the best programs in the USA for developing talent.
 
The Mentalist said:
I am surprised you say this? University of Michigan have produced so many NHL'ers since Berensen became the Head Coach in the mid 80's.

Most recently players like Pacioretty, Cammalleri, Johnson, and now Dylan Larkin just to name a few players.

With Connor and Werenski most likely to join this list soon. To me, it's one of the best programs in the USA for developing talent.
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there have been some comments about the way he just lets guys go out there and do whatever they want in the past...I believe it was Dean Lombardi that ripped Berenson apart and wasn't happy with how players where developing out of Michigan. T.J Hensick, Jeff Jillson, Matt Hunwick, Chad Kolarick, etc all highly skilled guys that really never lived up to the hype...not my view of Berenson or Michigan but it is out there that Lombardi or someone in a GM role had heat about Michigan.
 
AmericanDream said:
there have been some comments about the way he just lets guys go out there and do whatever they want in the past...I believe it was Dean Lombardi that ripped Berenson apart and wasn't happy with how players where developing out of Michigan. T.J Hensick, Jeff Jillson, Matt Hunwick, Chad Kolarick, etc all highly skilled guys that really never lived up to the hype...not my view of Berenson or Michigan but it is out there that Lombardi or someone in a GM role had heat about Michigan.
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There are always criticisms of coaches. I don't know, all I can view is how U of Michigan has been a factory for developing NHL talent under Berenson. Connor is following in the footsteps of Larkin, and he may be even better, hard as that may seem given how Larkin's year has gone. I was really high on him last year. Credit to both the player and the U of Michigan program from where I sit. I may read up on this Lombardi angle. Thanks for the heads up. But My position on developing talent is you let players play, you do not want to turn them into a systems robots at this young age. If Berenson is doing this, I have no problem with his methodology as systems will come later in a player's development.
 
This is the past Lombardi quote that the Michigan detractors bit likely refers to:
“Michigan is the worst.†Lombardi added. “For hockey people, if you’ve got a choice between a kid—all things being equal—one’s going to Michigan and one’s going to Boston University, you all want your player [going to Boston University]. Michigan’s players—[head coach] Red [Berenson] doesn’t coach. It’s ‘do what you want.’ He gets the best players in the country.â€
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Anyway, Connor was interviewed on TPS earlier this week: https://soundcloud.com/pipeline-show/kyle-connor-jan18
Segment 3: Freshman Kyle Connor is having a fantastic season at Michigan this year after being chosen by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1st round of the 2015 NHL Draft.
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Woodhouse said:
This is the past Lombardi quote that the Michigan detractors bit likely refers to:
Anyway, Connor was interviewed on TPS earlier this week: https://soundcloud.com/pipeline-show/kyle-connor-jan18
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That was interesting. Lombardi is obviously not a fan.

For a contrasting view. Here is a positive article on Berenson.

Michigan coach Red Berenson's tough love helped Devils' Jon Merrill grow up

"What's not to love?" said Merrill, born in Oklahoma City but raised 45 miles west of Detroit in Brighton, Mich. "He did everything the right way. For so many years he played the game exactly how it's supposed to be played."
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From afar, Berenson feels like a proud second father. He loved Merrill's game as a player when they were together and he's thrilled now about Merrill having some NHL success in his first season out of college.
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http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/...h_love_helped_devils_jon_merrill_grow_up.html
 
IMO sometime it can be good for a player to be in a less structured environment and that they can develop offensive creativity they may not explore otherwise. I wouldn’t want to leave them there to long though
 
Im happy with him getting to do what he wants offensively. He's an offensive player. He can learn some D in the AHL or with the Jets.

Giving him a chance to be creative on offense is more important for his development right now imo.
 
The Mentalist said:
I am surprised you say this? University of Michigan have produced so many NHL'ers since Berensen became the Head Coach in the mid 80's.

Most recently players like Pacioretty, Cammalleri, Johnson, and now Dylan Larkin just to name a few players.

With Connor and Werenski most likely to join this list soon. To me, it's one of the best programs in the USA for developing talent.
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You say they have produced so many NHL players , I would say the UM players would have been equally as effective regardless of the program they selected.

Michigan is a great academic school , it also has a lot of other positives , they are one of the premier schools for attracting talent and of course have an advantage for in state players . UM is ranked pretty high this year but over the last number of years they haven't been a top top tier team for challenging for the national championship .

Don't get me wrong , I'm not intimating UM is a bad school but imo there are better HC's and staffs if the sole reason you chose to go to a program is to be best developed.
 
The Mentalist said:
I am surprised you say this? University of Michigan have produced so many NHL'ers since Berensen became the Head Coach in the mid 80's.

Most recently players like Pacioretty, Cammalleri, Johnson, and now Dylan Larkin just to name a few players.

With Connor and Werenski most likely to join this list soon. To me, it's one of the best programs in the USA for developing talent.
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The Lombardi comments were in context to Jack Johnson. Lombardi's criticisms basically amount to Johnson already being an elite talent that didn't get developed at Michigan and could freelance. When he got to the Kings, Johnson was still a raw talent that had to be reprogrammed. I kinda saw this with Jacob Trouba during his one year at Michigan as well. He was supremely talented and could get away with risky plays. Lombardi had another former Michigan standout in Jeff Jillson during his time with San Jose.

It's an interesting topic. That said, if you ever get a chance to see a game at Yost, it's an amazing atmosphere.
 
hes at what, 1.70+ PPG right now (hes matching Eichel's pace from last season, yes i know hes a year older but its still impressive)? even a stud like Larkin had around 1.30 PPG last season (in his draft +1 year).

thank god Boston didnt pick him :laugh:

they could have turned their franchise around by drafting a couple of homegrown players (White, Connor), yet they decided to pass on both of them 3 times!
 
Hits 20 goals on the season, in his 22nd game. Now over 1.77 pts / game (leading the NCAA Div 1).
 
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