Prospect Info: Owen Beck

[Tyson]

Dvorak is a weird case. Guys on the team seem to really like him a lot. So obviously he has some sort of off-ice personality that he shows and people like. He just has literally nothing on the ice. He doesn't seem to get mad, or happy, or excited, or pumped, or.... anything. He's just there. And that's how he plays too.

I've said it in another thread but if his playing style was a meal it would literally be plain toast and room-temperature water.

Based on how much him and Evans get injured, I fully expect Beck to play at least 20 games with the big club.

It will be interesting if Kapanen comes in and takes that chair. He very well could.

 

[LaP]

I like the ''plain generic pair of blue jeans'' analogy for Dvorak myself, but it's the same sentiment

Here's a picture of Dvorak playing a shift in the 3rd period

 

[26Mats]

Dvorak is a weird case. Guys on the team seem to really like him a lot. So obviously he has some sort of off-ice personality that he shows and people like. He just has literally nothing on the ice. He doesn't seem to get mad, or happy, or excited, or pumped, or.... anything. He's just there. And that's how he plays too.

I've said it in another thread but if his playing style was a meal it would literally be plain toast and room-temperature water.

Based on how much him and Evans get injured, I fully expect Beck to play at least 20 games with the big club.

I disagree that he "has literally nothing on the ice."

Before injury, in his first season with us, over the 56 games he played, he scored at a pace of 48 points per 82 games - playing with linemates of limited talent level. While he's not flashy, he has a lot of positive attributes. He has pretty soft hands, he has some grit to win puck battles in the corners, his shot from the slot is good, he can finish around the net. Put him with Laine and Dach and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he put up 50-60 points. He would be the digger. The guy who goes into the corners and the front of the net, but who can also make plays with them. He doesn't have the hands of Chad Kilger, Steve Begin, Josh Anderson, etc...

And I will also say, imo, Dvorak is not dynamic enough to be a good 3c.

 

[montreal]

As you put it, not going for a cup, so why not see what's he got, nothing to lose.

Because that's a page out of the MB play book. This isn't a game of hey we have nothing to lose, but then again most don't seem to understand development and just think you are born with it or the tons of prospects that bust every year are just because they didn't want it enough.

But Hughes is smart and clearly has a plan, unlike MB who looked to do things that made no sense, so I am betting they will put him where he belongs.

 

[JoelWarlord]

I find it odd how down people are on Evans. He's not a star but he's put up 29/28 and 28 pace seasons as mostly a 4C without any help. I won't be upset if we move on to another 4C down the line given he's already 28 and bottom six guys can hit the wall very quickly, but it's not like he's some waiver fodder create a player, it's no shame at all if Beck isn't better than Evans yet.

Idk just hard to really understand why Evans is being treated like some total plug when we've seen Colin White and Chris Tierney play for the Habs as waiver acquisitions and Evans is miles better than guys like that. He's not some amazing perfect 4C or anything but he's a perfectly OK bottom six NHL center.

 

[Gaud]

Dvorak is a weird case. Guys on the team seem to really like him a lot. So obviously he has some sort of off-ice personality that he shows and people like. He just has literally nothing on the ice. He doesn't seem to get mad, or happy, or excited, or pumped, or.... anything. He's just there. And that's how he plays too.

I've said it in another thread but if his playing style was a meal it would literally be plain toast and room-temperature water.

Based on how much him and Evans get injured, I fully expect Beck to play at least 20 games with the big club.

I was commenting recently that i think Beck is ready to take Dvorak's place. I dont think he does nothing - he's just one of those players that when you dont notice them, it means they are doing their job.

I think the expectations were weird (like danault but with more offense is what they billed him as on RDS) and that he is overpaid, but on a 3rd or 4th line, he is ok.

 

[Rapala]

I find it odd how down people are on Evans. He's not a star but he's put up 29/28 and 28 pace seasons as mostly a 4C without any help. I won't be upset if we move on to another 4C down the line given he's already 28 and bottom six guys can hit the wall very quickly, but it's not like he's some waiver fodder create a player, it's no shame at all if Beck isn't better than Evans yet.

Idk just hard to really understand why Evans is being treated like some total plug when we've seen Colin White and Chris Tierney play for the Habs as waiver acquisitions and Evans is miles better than guys like that. He's not some amazing perfect 4C or anything but he's a perfectly OK bottom six NHL center.

I find it odd that people won't acknowledge the fact that Evans wasn't playing 4th line for most of that time.
Go ahead and check how many point Evans put up as a fourth line center two seasons ago when he actually played a fourth line.

Here's a hint he played a fourth line up and until Monahan went down I think it was Dec 11th.
After Game 25 he had a grand total of 4 points.

Did he spend more than 2 games as a fourth liner last season nope Dach went down Jake got bumped.
So I get it if you like Jake Evans and see value there but stick to facts when it comes to his point production.

Personally I don't think he's a good fourth line center I don't think he'll put up points.
I'll go even further and say I don't think he particularly likes the role.
He's better off as a 3rd line center preferably with a couple of heavy wingers.

 

[JoelWarlord]

Go ahead and check how many point Evans put up as a fourth line center two seasons ago when he actually played a fourth line.

19P in 54 games, which is is a 28-29 pace over 82. Even his first full year he had 13 in 47 which is a 22-23P pace over 82.

I get that you're saying that due to injuries he played as a 3C more often than his depth chart position would suggest and I understand that, but again I'm not trying to say he's a stud, I just think he's a perfectly fine bottom six guy. I won't be upset if we trade him at the deadline as he's not a perfect fit at either 4C or 3C but I was generally responding to the idea that it would be somehow a bad sign if Beck doesn't win the 4C spot from Evans at camp when I don't see why that would be the case. Like I said we've seen what waiver 4Cs look like and Evans is clearly a much better player than someone like Colin White.

 

[yianik]

If Beck makes his case in camp ir Laval, he'll get his chance.
But Beck doesn't have best hands. I see his ceiling as Danault. And that may take some time to reach.

It took Danault some time to be Danault. And if Beck becomes Danault that's a grand slam.

 

[malcb33]

Here's a picture of Dvorak playing a shift in the 3rd period

View attachment 907470

Those have way too much crunch to be Dvo

 

[Rapala]

19P in 54 games, which is is a 28-29 pace over 82. Even his first full year he had 13 in 47 which is a 22-23P pace over 82.

I get that you're saying that due to injuries he played as a 3C more often than his depth chart position would suggest and I understand that, but again I'm not trying to say he's a stud, I just think he's a perfectly fine bottom six guy. I won't be upset if we trade him at the deadline as he's not a perfect fit at either 4C or 3C but I was generally responding to the idea that it would be somehow a bad sign if Beck doesn't win the 4C spot from Evans at camp when I don't see why that would be the case. Like I said we've seen what waiver 4Cs look like and Evans is clearly a much better player than someone like Colin White.

3rd line pace.
Here is where I am at. I'm thinking we aren't signing either Evans or Dvorak next season.
If that is the case I want Evans centering a 3rd line and Beck a 4th line as soon as possible.
The more experience he can get with the Big Club this season the better for next year.

 

[LaP]

19P in 54 games, which is is a 28-29 pace over 82. Even his first full year he had 13 in 47 which is a 22-23P pace over 82.

I get that you're saying that due to injuries he played as a 3C more often than his depth chart position would suggest and I understand that, but again I'm not trying to say he's a stud, I just think he's a perfectly fine bottom six guy. I won't be upset if we trade him at the deadline as he's not a perfect fit at either 4C or 3C but I was generally responding to the idea that it would be somehow a bad sign if Beck doesn't win the 4C spot from Evans at camp when I don't see why that would be the case. Like I said we've seen what waiver 4Cs look like and Evans is clearly a much better player than someone like Colin White.

It's important when it comes to Dvorak's stats to realize his TOI has been more of a 2nd liner than a 3rd liner. People might be tempted to compare his stats to 3rd liners but outside of last season and his first season and 3rd shortened season he has been given the TOI of a 2nd liner pretty much his whole career.

His career average is 39 points every 82 games and for a guy who played on average 16:36 a game in career it's really not great at all. He's not great defensively either. He's an okayish player in pretty much every aspect of the game outside of facoffs where he's great. If he was paid 3 millions it would be fine i guess but at the salary he's being paid it's not enough.

 

[CHwest]

Those have way too much crunch to be Dvo

Not if you leave the bag open in the kitchen for a week.

 

[BLONG7]

With a good camp, all things considered, can Owen Beck create a space for himself in the lineup??
Laval is more than likely ?

 

[WeThreeKings]

With a good camp, all things considered, can Owen Beck create a space for himself in the lineup??
Laval is more than likely ?

Laval is more than likely.

 

[Ozmodiar]

With a good camp, all things considered, can Owen Beck create a space for himself in the lineup??
Laval is more than likely ?

Ask us later today - after Dvo passes his physical eval.

 

[Tyson]

Laval is more than likely.

To be honest I am not as high on this player as many others are. I think Kapanen is the one to watch

 

[ChesterNimitz]

To be honest I am not as high on this player as many others are. I think Kapanen is the one to watch

One always has to be circumspect about one’s expectations of any young player. Is Kapanen a better prospect? Time will tell. I think Beck has a reslistic chance to be the equal (and more ) of the Blues’ Robert Thomas. I see Beck as a faster, more dynamic Thomas who has now evolved into a reliable 20+ goals center for the Blues.

If you are correct that Kapanen has more upside than Beck then we would really have an embarrassment of riches.

 

[Tyson]

One always has to be circumspect about one’s expectations of any young player. Is Kapanen a better prospect? Time will tell. I think Beck has a reslistic chance to be the equal (and more ) of the Blues’ Robert Thomas. I see Beck as a faster, more dynamic Thomas who has now evolved into a reliable 20+ goals center for the Blues.

If you are correct that Kapanen has more upside than Beck then we would really have an embarrassment of riches.

Admiral I always respect and appreciate the points you make but Beck could develop into a player more dynamic than Robert Thomas? Not seeing that level of upside but you have seen Beck many more times than me.

 

[Habs]

@Rapala keeps PM'ing me asking if Beckosaurus Rex is a cool nickname and if he should start using it. Sir, it isn't, stop.

 

[Bombshell11]

Was this listed before??

BECK IS 6,0' @ 190 LB!!

 

[WeThreeKings]

Admiral I always respect and appreciate the points you make but Beck could develop into a player more dynamic than Robert Thomas? Not seeing that level of upside but you have seen Beck many more times than me.

I like Beck but he's not in the same league as Robert Thomas. Robert Thomas is a very gifted playmaker and a true top 6C.. Beck will be a 3C and his offense will come off of his shot, he has surprisingly good hands but the playmaking is limiting the ceiling to 3C which is fine because his skating, details and face-offs means he should be a premiere one.

 

[lamp9post]

One always has to be circumspect about one’s expectations of any young player. Is Kapanen a better prospect? Time will tell. I think Beck has a reslistic chance to be the equal (and more ) of the Blues’ Robert Thomas. I see Beck as a faster, more dynamic Thomas who has now evolved into a reliable 20+ goals center for the Blues.

If you are correct that Kapanen has more upside than Beck then we would really have an embarrassment of riches.

That would truly be a major boon to this team, but I'm not sure Beck has the offence to put up PPG numbers.

To be honest I am not as high on this player as many others are. I think Kapanen is the one to watch

I think Kapanen doesn't get talked about much because of lack of exposure playing in Finland. His D+1 year was nothing to write home about and his stat line isn't eye-popping. Now that he finished this year strong in the playoffs and at the worlds he's finally being discussed as a legitimate prospect.

 

[Rapala]

@Rapala keeps PM'ing me asking if Beckosaurus Rex is a cool nickname and if he should start using it. Sir, it isn't, stop.

Remind me who you are again I'm not sure we've ever interacted.

 

[Rapala]

To be honest I am not as high on this player as many others are. I think Kapanen is the one to watch.

I see them as apples and oranges. Beck brings a type of game we need in our bottom 6.
Namely a player who's dossier includes being the main cog in a defensive team's run to an OHL championship (Peterborough).
To becoming a main cog in leading an offensive team to the Memorial Cup while adding more production to that defensive posture...
To the point of being named MVP.

I like Kapanen but I haven't seen him enough or even heard that he plays this same style of game.
Is Kapanen NHL center material is he a proven PK guy and face-off specialist?
I really don't think they are competing for the same ice.