Player Discussion Olen Zellweger

[IDuck]

so its pretty good eh?

 

[bsu]

He's definitely keeping his weight training up and taking things serious from the pictures and videos I keep seeing him in. I know he's short but I'm glad he has a frame that he is able to put muscle and weight on like he is. Thicc kid. He could probably pick up Drysdale

EDIT: Also cool that two of our best prospects last name starts with Z

 

[Kalv]

He's definitely keeping his weight training up and taking things serious from the pictures and videos I keep seeing him in. I know he's short but I'm glad he has a frame that he is able to put muscle and weight on like he is. Thicc kid. He could probably pick up Drysdale

EDIT: Also cool that two of our best prospects last name starts with Z

I hate tge Z thing with everything that's going on in the World. But well, it's not their fault.

But yeah, looks like Zell has the right attitude. His biceps is probably bigger than Pastujovs quads, lol

 

[bsu]

I hate tge Z thing with everything that's going on in the World. But well, it's not their fault.

But yeah, looks like Zell has the right attitude. His biceps is probably bigger than Pastujovs quads, lol

Even his back and legs are big, he's built like Crosby/Rossi type bowling ball type.

 

[bsu]

A lot of his friends call him zellwagon now apparently.... That is excellent

 

[barriers]

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

What excellent D-zone coverage on that kill. Small boxes suck

 

[barriers]

 

[bsu]

 

[Kalv]

Bedard was right, his deception is Terry-level

 

[Hockey Duckie]

 

[Kalv]

Yeah, lost in the McTavish crazy year, Zellweger had a decent and almost crazy year too.

After being barely eligible for the draft, he paced over 1.4 PPG in the WHL, leading the whole league in D scoring and being among the top in the league (and by a fair margin on his team) in +/-. Didn't lose a step in the playoffs but had to go out early because of the injuries on his team.
Then he was sheltered to 1 game in the AHL playoffs, got 1 point and +1.

Then he was the best scoring D playing on his off-side in the WJC against older guys again. He improved as the tournament went on. Counting the last 4 meaningful games (last group game vs Finland that awarded them #1 seed; quarter; semi; and then final), he got 8 points (2 PPG) and +6 with ice time improving with each game to over 24:30 in the final.

Has another year in juniors, and in WJC ahead of him.
And based on the latest IIHF measurements and eye test, he seems to be grown an inch to 5'11

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Yeah, lost in the McTavish crazy year, Zellweger had a decent and almost crazy year too.

After being barely eligible for the draft, he paced over 1.4 PPG in the WHL, leading the whole league in D scoring and being among the top in the league (and by a fair margin on his team) in +/-. Didn't lose a step in the playoffs but had to go out early because of the injuries on his team.
Then he was sheltered to 1 game in the AHL playoffs, got 1 point and +1.

Then he was the best scoring D playing on his off-side in the WJC against older guys again. He improved as the tournament went on. Counting the last 4 meaningful games (last group game vs Finland that awarded them #1 seed; quarter; semi; and then final), he got 8 points (2 PPG) and +6 with ice time improving with each game to over 24:30 in the final.

Has another year in juniors, and in WJC ahead of him.
And based on the latest IIHF measurements and eye test, he seems to be grown an inch to 5'11

The one thing I would like to see Zell improve upon is awareness along the boards. He got rocked so hard because he didn't think he would be hit. In the AHL and NHL, the players are even bigger, faster, and hit harder. The area of concern is the need to better awareness along the boards, but I know Zell is improving everything else. I'm hoping he'll be built like a tank after a year or two in the AHL to handle the physicality.

 

[CrazyDuck4u]

His play reminds me of theodore..

 

[bsu]

His play reminds me of theodore..

Not me. Korchinski reminds me most of Theodore. He reminds me of Girard and Spurgeon mix. Hopefully he turns out as good as either lol.

 

[tomd]

Not me. Korchinski reminds me most of Theodore. He reminds me of Girard and Spurgeon mix. Hopefully he turns out as good as either lol.

IMO...
Korchinski = Gardiner
Mintyukov = Theodore

 

[bsu]

IMO...
Korchinski = Gardiner
Mintyukov = Theodore

Mintyukov plays with way more skill imo. Theodore is more natural talent. (if that makes sense)

 

[KaseMeOutside]

Yeah but he can't hold a candle to Brandt Clarke

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Yeah but he can't hold a candle to Brandt Clarke

Kings drafting and developing is so overrated based on where they drafted their players.
Zellweger at #34 vs #8 Clarke - if Zellweger continues getting more buff the size disadvantage he has won't be a problem at all. Francois Beauchemin was 5'11 according to NHL.com, his true height was put up there after he retired.

Byfield at #3 vs McTavish at #3 - i feel like Byfield went too high in the draft and Lundell should have gone higher.
Turcotte at #5 vs Zegras at #9

 

[bsu]

Yeah but he can't hold a candle to Brandt Clarke

Trueeeee

 

[GunnarStahl]

Zellweger with Girard’s offense and Spurgeons defense

 

[Kalv]

Kings drafting and developing is so overrated based on where they drafted their players.
Zellweger at #34 vs #8 Clarke - if Zellweger continues getting more buff the size disadvantage he has won't be a problem at all. Francois Beauchemin was 5'11 according to NHL.com, his true height was put up there after he retired.

Byfield at #3 vs McTavish at #3 - i feel like Byfield went too high in the draft and Lundell should have gone higher.
Turcotte at #5 vs Zegras at #9

It does seem more of the case. They were able to take some prominent names but further development have been not so great.

Also they had a couple of years where they had the most players in the WJC which got the hockey fans raving about them. But quantity I guess have not translated to quality in the NHL at least not yet.

Which is another reason to be excited about our guys dominating the WJC's lately. Zegras and McTavish as MVP's back to back. Zellweger highest scoring defencemen who was munching some serious minutes on the ice as the tournament went on as a 18 yo, and even Drysdale, who even tho was not scoring much, was incredible #2 on Team Canada as an 18 year old (and got Gold at 17 yo).
Not that long ago Dostal was dominant there as well, even tho in his last year in the tournament he got screwed by the food poisioning or virus.

Then we have Minty who is not playing internationally because Russia. He might be good too

Edit: Zellweger is still 18 lmao

 

[Anaheim4ever]

It does seem more of the case. They were able to take some prominent names but further development have been not so great.

Also they had a couple of years where they had the most players in the WJC which got the hockey fans raving about them. But quantity I guess have not translated to quality in the NHL at least not yet.

Which is another reason to be excited about our guys dominating the WJC's lately. Zegras and McTavish as MVP's back to back. Zellweger highest scoring defencemen who was munching some serious minutes on the ice as the tournament went on as a 18 yo, and even Drysdale, who even tho was not scoring much, was incredible #2 on Team Canada as an 18 year old (and got Gold at 17 yo).
Not that long ago Dostal was dominant there as well, even tho in his last year in the tournament he got screwed by the food poisioning or virus.

Then we have Minty who is not playing internationally because Russia. He might be good too

Edit: Zellweger is still 18 lmao

We need a new rule that each year a team gets to select one prospect who can go to AHL no matter what their age is, which would be used on players who are too good for the juniors but team wants to develop them more before NHL.

Giving more time for Clarke to develop he should do well.
The fact Zellweger wasn't rushed has me optimistic.
I'm down on Turcotte though, i see 3C upside with a chance at 2C.

 

[Kalv]

This is from EP Rinkside, I suggest anyone try out the premium, these guys generally know their stuff. They have had some great takes on players like Zegras before the mainstream picks up.
After the WJC, this was part of what they (wel, Cam Robinson, their director of film scouting) said about Zellweger:

On ice for just 2 goals against is not bad, especially with that offensive output and the fact he played more and more as the tournament went on.

 

[Anaheim4ever]

This is from EP Rinkside, I suggest anyone try out the premium, these guys generally know their stuff. They have had some great takes on players like Zegras before the mainstream picks up.
After the WJC, this was part of what they (wel, Cam Robinson, their director of film scouting) said about Zellweger:

View attachment 580047


On ice for just 2 goals against is not bad, especially with that offensive output and the fact he played more and more as the tournament went on.

Having the 2nd worst record to get the 2nd highest pick in the 2nd round of 2021 to draft Zellweger really paid off i think, its like having an extra 1st round pick when its that high of a 2nd rounder.

Imagine if years ago Edmonton did better with its 2nd round picks when it was drafting #1 overall every other year.