Prospect Info: Owen Beck

[Brock]

Really indepth piece on Beck’s progress that I thought you’d all enjoy.

 

[Tyson]

Really indepth piece on Beck’s progress that I thought you’d all enjoy.

Thanks for posting, very insightful

 

[habmercy]

Beck appears to be helping Laine a lot more than Dach and this injury may be a bit of a blessing. Laine may have been frustrated with the linemates he was given as he played well in 4 Nations and has become more of a playmaker wit Dach gone. Newhook although he was enrgized before Christmas continues to improve and the team will definitely need to reevaluate Dach/s future with the club after this injury. Not sure what Dach is worth (maybe a 3rd or 4th at best) but with some good prospect in Laval and a couple of prospects ie. Demidov arriving next year it would be a good time to move this player.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Another great piece from 2022 draft.

I think he can develop into a very solid 3rd line player, like Newhook, Heineman. They are perfectly suited to become very good 3rd line players.

 

[OldCraig71]

Beck just needs some more reps, he does not look out of place and as his confidence grows so will his point totals. He plays the game like a center and has a bright future.

 

[tooji]

Gives me same vibe of when Danault joined the team late in the season after acquiring him at the TDL.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Gives me same vibe of when Danault joined the team late in the season after acquiring him at the TDL.

He plays a very similar game and determination off the puck. Beck has a better shot, but Danault had amazing puck retrieval skills and extended a lot of posession time for the players he played with.

Beck is a good puck carrier though, I'm looking forward to him developing his in zone offense, he skates well with the puck.

 

[le_sean]

Maybe my standards are too high, but I don't think Beck, Kapanen or Evans are a 3C on a contender.

I would certainly never want one filling in for an injured 2C like Eller did for example for Backstrom in 2018.

Beck just had a 44 point rookie season in the AHL. He definitely has elite 3C potential.

 

[dcyhabs]

Maybe my standards are too high, but I don't think Beck, Kapanen or Evans are a 3C on a contender.

I would certainly never want one filling in for an injured 2C like Eller did for example for Backstrom in 2018.

Evans can fill in, but not full time.

Beck was expected to take the spot, and he still has time to grow, but it’s iffier than it was. Similarly Kapanen may get there, but he’s not there yet.

The organization is still short of centers.

 

[WinterLion]

Maybe my standards are too high, but I don't think Beck, Kapanen or Evans are a 3C on a contender.

I would certainly never want one filling in for an injured 2C like Eller did for example for Backstrom in 2018.

Its a bit too early to tell in the case of Beck and Kap...

but I agree on Evans...

I think when Evans was their age he was struggling in the AHL with Bouchard...

 

[Playmaker09]

Beck just had a 44 point rookie season in the AHL. He definitely has elite 3C potential.

Although a little older, so did Evans. And so did Roy last year (32 in 41).

I don't think it means that much and there's little in Beck's game when watching him that jumps out as a potential trait of a play driver in the NHL, which is what an elite 3C is. He's pretty mid across the board.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Although a little older, so did Evans. And so did Roy last year (32 in 41).

I don't think it means that much and there's little in Beck's game when watching him that jumps out as a potential trait of a play driver in the NHL, which is what an elite 3C is. He's pretty mid across the board.

Which 3Cs are play drivers in the NHL? The elite ones are those who have high end defensive details, are great in the face-off circles, kill penalties at a high rate, and chip in offensively in the 30-40 point range. All of which Beck has done at the AHL level this year and has shown nothing that he can't get to in the NHL to this point.

 

[themilosh]

That’s what Beck is…

I don't see Beck as any more that a young Evans. Honestly.. nice to have, but he's not ever going to be anything higher than an every day 4C. He's totally trade fodder atp.

 

[Playmaker09]

Staal, Lundell, Eller, Gourde, Pageau, Bolland, Bonino, end-of career LA Mike Richards are elite 3Cs. I'd argue Danault is just a misplaced elite 3C. They all averaged about a 40 point pace in the playoffs or better in their prime (mostly 5v5), tilted the ice in their teams' favor and provided a significant matchup advantage vs their opponents. Those are play drivers in my book.

I also think Beck's IQ and defensive game is over rated. He's closer to average on both accounts. He's great on faceoffs, physical (sometimes recklessly so), has a touch of offense, though inconsistent, and he won't hurt you. He's a good player, happy we have him, but he's yet another in a long line of prospects who've gotten over rated when the Habs-colored glasses get put on.

 

[TomKosto]

I don't see Beck as any more that a young Evans. Honestly.. nice to have, but he's not ever going to be anything higher than an every day 4C. He's totally trade fodder atp.

A more physical Evans woulb be welcome in playoffs.

 

[Artaud]

I never would have believed it a year ago but Florian Xhekaj has passed Beck in the prospect ranks. The traits are more projectable on the bottom 6, the progression curve is steeper.

 

[Miller Time]

Staal, Lundell, Eller, Gourde, Pageau, Bolland, Bonino, end-of career LA Mike Richards are elite 3Cs. I'd argue Danault is just a misplaced elite 3C. They all averaged about a 40 point pace in the playoffs or better in their prime (mostly 5v5), tilted the ice in their teams' favor and provided a significant matchup advantage vs their opponents. Those are play drivers in my book.

I also think Beck's IQ and defensive game is over rated. He's closer to average on both accounts. He's great on faceoffs, physical (sometimes recklessly so), has a touch of offense, though inconsistent, and he won't hurt you. He's a good player, happy we have him, but he's yet another in a long line of prospects who've gotten over rated when the Habs-colored glasses get put on.

Several of the examples you listed were no further along in their pro impact than Beck is at the same age.

Not sure what you consider "overrated", but at this stage he's well on track of the career progression your examples of "elite 3Cs" followed.

 

[Playmaker09]

Several of the examples you listed were no further along in their pro impact than Beck is at the same age.

Not sure what you consider "overrated", but at this stage he's well on track of the career progression your examples of "elite 3Cs" followed.

Hudon, Roy, Mailloux, and Maxwell had even better debuts in the AHL at the same age, it means nothing.

I don't see any traits in Beck that indicate a path to being an NHLer who drives significant advantages when he's on the ice with a little more development. He's just a body.

 

[le_sean]

I don't see Beck as any more that a young Evans. Honestly.. nice to have, but he's not ever going to be anything higher than an every day 4C. He's totally trade fodder atp.

I think you’re selling both him and Kapanen short. Using a mid-1st for a guy you described as a high floor 3C is crazy when you can just trade a mid-1st for an established 3C.

 

[Zilo44]

Hudon, Roy, Mailloux, and Maxwell had even better debuts in the AHL at the same age, it means nothing.

I don't see any traits in Beck that indicate a path to being an NHLer who drives significant advantages when he's on the ice with a little more development. He's just a body.

Snake Boisvert took massive backlash for calling him a 4C at best last year. He might be right

 

[Miller Time]

Hudon, Roy, Mailloux, and Maxwell had even better debuts in the AHL at the same age, it means nothing.

It means about as much as looking back in hindsight at a bunch of players that didn't hit their NHL stride until their mid to late 20's & comparing their finished product performance level to Beck's comparatively successful 21 year old pro debut.

I don't see any traits in Beck that indicate a path to being an NHLer who drives significant advantages when he's on the ice with a little more development. He's just a body.

I bet you wouldn't have seen it in most of the players you listed when they were 21, either... That's my point.

21 & positive rookie pro season is about all we know about Beck right now. Your pessimism about how he won't improve -as every one of the examples you cited did from 21 to when they became "elite 3Cs", is a weird hill to plant a flag on.

We can revisit when he's 25. My bet, barring major injury he'll be far closer to "elite 3C" than "just a body"

 

[Rapala]

Hudon, Roy, Mailloux, and Maxwell had even better debuts in the AHL at the same age, it means nothing.

I don't see any traits in Beck that indicate a path to being an NHLer who drives significant advantages when he's on the ice with a little more development. He's just a body.

I saw him create three or four very solid opportunities in the toughest post season game to date.
He was also one of the few players taking the man as the game progressed.

 

[Miller Time]

I saw him create three or four very solid opportunities in the toughest post season game to date.
He was also one of the few players taking the man as the game progressed.

He's got a great compete level and a strong work ethic. That, combined with good skating and a solid game sense (or hockey IQ) and it's a recipe for very solid progression as he matures.

One of the better C prospects we've had, which doesn't say much, but also shouldn't draw silly comparisons to the various failed prospects we've seen over the years

 

[themilosh]

Although a little older, so did Evans. And so did Roy last year (32 in 41).

I don't think it means that much and there's little in Beck's game when watching him that jumps out as a potential trait of a play driver in the NHL, which is what an elite 3C is. He's pretty mid across the board.

Is there one highlight reel of any shift Beck has played in the NHL? Anything that shows me he is at best a 3C? Cause everytime ive watched him i just see nothing of creativity.. it's like he is an Ai hockey kid.. knows all the right things to do, plays the percentages and sticks within those odds.. but just like Poker, you gotta show something at the table to throw off competition. Mix it up..

1st line: F1
2nd: CART INDY
3rd: NASCAR
4: RALLY

AHL: CASCAR

ECHL: Jean Talon super Karts


What is Beck?

 

[tazsub3]

Is there one highlight reel of any shift Beck has played in the NHL? Anything that shows me he is at best a 3C? Cause everytime ive watched him i just see nothing of creativity.. it's like he is an Ai hockey kid.. knows all the right things to do, plays the percentages and sticks within those odds.. but just like Poker, you gotta show something at the table to throw off competition. Mix it up..

1st line: F1
2nd: CART INDY
3rd: NASCAR
4: RALLY

AHL: CASCAR

ECHL: Jean Talon super Karts


What is Beck?

Funny similar comments were said about a certain dmen traded to the rangers