Prospect Info: Owen Beck

[Spearmint Rhino]

Why does Kidney need to be bad for Beck to be good? We have both. Reading this thread is mind boggling.

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[BLONG7]

My initial thoughts were that Beck projected as a 3rd line C. But now, I’m wondering if his ceiling is not that of a top 6, plus his insane ability to dominate at faceoffs can make him indispensable at critical game junctures.

Let’s see how his play stacks up against NHL competition.

The kid looked good last night from what I saw, nice to find a kid like this.
It would seem we are overdue to find a gem, this could be ours.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Amazing draft pick by Habs. I'm very confident that this guy is going to reach the level of Bo Horvat one day. He is just too good...

Big big fan of him.

 

[Captain97]

He looks good but I'd expect him to be more of a middle six guy production wise vs a true 2nd liner.

That being said if he ends up a 40-45pt centre who wins all the faceoffs that would be fantastic.

 

[MarioLeMoose]

Really impressed with this kid. I haven’t seen enough of him to speak on his offensive potential so I don’t really know what his ceiling is, but his floor looks quite high. He looks like he could be a very useful bottom 6 centre as of this season. We may have a total steal on our hands here. Looking forward to seeing how he progresses over the next couple of seasons.

 

[Andy]

His play without the puck is very, very mature: excellent position, read the play very well, blocked lanes all night made smart passes to exit the zone.

Don't know about his offense, too early to tell, but from yesterday's game, he has an advanced defensive game.

 

[Beendair Donedat]

Kid is going to be a significant player in the NHL. He’s simply dominant in the face off circle and has a maturity beyond his years which is reflected in his commitment to solid defensive play. Not something you usually see in a prospect this young. There’s some decent offensive ability in there too, I look forward to watching his development. We picked up a really solid player here.

 

[QuebecPride]

Highest drafted defensemen in the past 15 years are Samuel Morin 11th OV in 2013, Noah Dobson 12th OV in 2018 and Jakub Zboril 13th OV in 2015. Morin busted, Zboril is an import that busted as well and Dobson is not even a Quebecer. The OHL produces alot more talents and future NHLers, the league has a better depth of fowards and defensemen year after year. The top Q teams can play with the best OHL teams as we saw at the Memorial cup in the last couple of years, but overall, the middle teams are better in the OHL from my viewings.

Outside of Dobson and Chabot, I think Letang and Vlasic are the last good ones the Q produced, so obviously, there is a problem.

Your argument was that it's easier to score goals in the 'Q. Which is false given how many goals are scored in the OHL vs. the Q. The OHL is a more offensive league the past decade or so. It doesn't mean it has less talent, just that the style of play is more towards the attack.

It's okay to admit you were wrong instead of grasping at straws and looking at defensemen to try to justify your point.

 

[Paddy17]

Like I said earlier, his floor is 3C. We absolutely need to develop his ceiling so he becomes top 6 material. He has the brains and the drive to work on his game and become more than just a middle-six player. As a team, the point is: don't settle for a 3C just because he's defensively sound. Aim for the stars and let things fall where they might in a few years.

 

[Matthew McConaughay]

Very happy with Beck so far.

 

[Pacciosoftie]

Looks like we found our new Danault with a better shot and hopefully more offense.

 

[Apfel Struble]

After Owen's performance this training camp and preseason, it's safe to say that, as far as centre depth is concerned, he's at the top of the Becking order

 

[Scriptor]

Been my favourite prospect to watch so far.

Mine as well, because he's definitely been consistent and, as an 18-year old, that's already huge. If you can count on seeing at least what is projected as a floor, night in, night out, he becomes a coach's reliable wet dream with tremendous upside remaining.

After Owen's performance this training camp and preseason, it's safe to say that, as far as centre depth is concerned, he's at the top of the Becking order

Always down for a good pun that's not too forced.

 

[Scriptor]

I would forget the statistics. Rely on the eye test: Kidney has largely been invisible this training camp while Beck has been a force in all three zones. Doesn’t preclude Kidney from developing into superior player, but right now, it’s not even close.

Kidney, at 5'11" and 170 lbs (to be generous) VS Beck, also at 5'11", but at 190 lbs already, the former is a twig and that surely affects how he can perform at this stage in his career, likely being more of a perimeter player and less confident on man to man battles for the puck.

If Beck can continue to play in the OHL while gaining bit more mass (to get near Suzuki and his 205 lbs), he'll be that much stronger when he comes up to the NHL. I also doubt it will impact on his current skating speed, another strength for Beck.

Lots to look forward to seeing with this kid.

Dach could become only a temporary fix if Montreal gets to pick a franchise C at the upcoming 2023 draft. Who knows what putting Dach back on track (pardon the rhyming) can fetch us in the final year of his contract, with this likely C depth by then (in three years):

Suzuki
2023 draft pick
Beck
Evans

IMO, Beck has much more upside than Evans, but Evans could be an elite 4th line C. If Dach can perform well enough to be at least a borderline 2nd line C with size, he could potentially fetch us a top-6 winger with size or a top-4 D?

Having Beck in the system adds some securing depth at the position, but Dach or the 2023 draft pick are the real potential solutions for completing the top-6 at that position. If we do land a premiere C at the draft, Hughes won't have to put all his eggs in the same basket and, potentially, Dach could also become a playmaking winger with size if he becomes that good?

 

[lillypad33]

Looks like we found our new Danault with a better shot and hopefully more offense.

Isn't a new Danault with a better shot and hopefully more offense.... a Bergeron?

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Kidney, at 5'11" and 170 lbs (to be generous) VS Beck, also at 5'11", but at 190 lbs already, the former is a twig and that surely affects how he can perform at this stage in his career, likely being more of a perimeter player and less confident on man to man battles for the puck.

If Beck can continue to play in the OHL while gaining bit more mass (to get near Suzuki and his 205 lbs), he'll be that much stronger when he comes up to the NHL. I also doubt it will impact on his current skating speed, another strength for Beck.

Lots to look forward to seeing with this kid.

Dach could become only a temporary fix if Montreal gets to pick a franchise C at the upcoming 2023 draft. Who knows what putting Dach back on track (pardon the rhyming) can fetch us in the final year of his contract, with this likely C depth by then (in three years):

Suzuki
2023 draft pick
Beck
Evans

IMO, Beck has much more upside than Evans, but Evans could be an elite 4th line C. If Dach can perform well enough to be at least a borderline 2nd line C with size, he could potentially fetch us a top-6 winger with size or a top-4 D?

Having Beck in the system adds some securing depth at the position, but Dach or the 2023 draft pick are the real potential solutions for completing the top-6 at that position. If we do land a premiere C at the draft, Hughes won't have to put all his eggs in the same basket and, potentially, Dach could also become a playmaking winger with size if he becomes that good?

Let's all pray for Fantilli. And all will be good.

 

[Wats]

If he can develop into a Horvat we're set at C for a long time. Can't wait to see how he plays in OHL this season. Horvat didn't have great offensive numbers in his draft year either but blew up in his draft+1.

 

[waitin425]

Beck reminds me of Robert Thomas.

Let him dominate in the O this year and gain tons of confidence.

 

[Vachon23]

He's gonna be the successor of the Danault/Plekanec as good 2 way center

 

[Ozmodiar]

Looks like he’ll be able to replace Dvo in a couple of seasons.
That will net them a nice return from a trade and a few million in cap space at a time when they’ll start competing.

Now they just have to figure out if Dach is the answer for the top 6. I suppose there’s a different thread for that.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

If Beck can continue to play in the OHL while gaining bit more mass (to get near Suzuki and his 205 lbs), he'll be that much stronger when he comes up to the NHL. I also doubt it will impact on his current skating speed, another strength for Beck.

Sometimes gaining mass is a good thing and sometimes not. Subban 'massed' himself out of the league at the age of 33. Hopefully, both Beck and Kindey can gain mass that results in increased strength and speed. For Beck, that will mean he may be a star. For Kidney, that will mean he may make the NHL.

 

[Vachon23]

Looks like he’ll be able to replace Dvo in a couple of seasons.
That will net them a nice return from a trade and a few million in cap space at a time when they’ll start competing.

Now they just have to figure out if Dach is the answer for the top 6. I suppose there’s a different thread for that.

Agree and I don't think he will need to play in the AHL

 

[HuGo Sham]

I wanted Wright, but habs walked away with Slafkovsky + Dach and Beck which eases my (C) fears

 

[Paddy17]

Let's not make the same mistake with Beck as we did with Lekhonen. With the latter, we developped his floor by drilling that identity into him: hard-working, relentless forechecker, responsible defensively. Players forget about the other aspects because they become too focused on what they are identified by. Sure, Lekhonen turned out fine and was great, but I think he had a ceiling in offense that he never developped. Maybe he can get half-way to that ceiling now with the Avs, as he's been given a more offensive role.

I'm confident we won't make that mistake with Beck because we have a coach and GM that understands development much better. Judging from what MSL has said about Xhekaj (focus on his skill instead of just physicality), and about not caring about a player's floor to focus instead on his ceiling, I find it encouraging. MSL's actions back that up as well, as he has put Beck in an offensive role with good players.

I'm rambling.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I saw a decent amount of him during his draft season and I knew he would impress people with his skill level, but he's doing even better than I was anticipating. He's not your typical defensive center prospect, that's for damn sure. He's a legit top 6, two way center diamond in the rough that we can polish .