Players that really developed their skating after being drafted

[HansonBro]

After reading further into recent 1st round pick, Marco Rossi's path, the knock on him seems to be his skating.

I remember watching Tavares from the stands at the annual prospect game and thought, man he is slow and won't be a star. But I guess I was wrong there

This got me wondering, most notably, who really improved their skating the most after being drafted?

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[Cheeks Clapinski]

Bo Horvat

 

[JT Kreider]

Brian Boyle. Man you should have seen this guy when he first got traded to the Rangers from LA. He looked like a total goof on the ice, this 6'6' bender who could barely stand on his own two feet.

Coming to the Rangers and having Barb Underhill saved his career.

 

[Llamamoto]

Leon Draisaitl and Ethan Bear.

Draisaitl was considered a poor skater in his draft year, now he's one of the fastest players in the league and is extremely strong on his skates.

Bear's skating kept him from the NHL, until last offseason when he worked extremely hard all summer. The results were huge and now he's a top-4 D for us.

Hopefully that trend continues with Evan Bouchard.

 

[HansonBro]

Brian Boyle. Man you should have seen this guy when he first got traded to the Rangers from LA. He looked like a total goof on the ice, this 6'6' bender who could barely stand on his own two feet.

Coming to the Rangers and having Barb Underhill saved his career.

I kinda figured it would be the taller/larger players. Bo Horvat was a surprise to see mentioned, although I dont see him much or know his past well. I figure Chara must be up here too

 

[Jannik Hansen]

Anton Lundell

 

[Yog S'loth]

Luc Robitaille is the crown prince of this category.

Put up huge numbers in juniors but almost didn't get drafted at all because his skating was so bad. Two years later, he'd improved enough that although nobody was ever going to confuse him for Pavel Bure, he was able to erase the practical deficiencies holding him back, and went on to a HOF career.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Mark Stone and Getzlaf

 

[Byron Bitz]

Joe nieuwendyke

 

[Sweetpotato]

Draisaitl and Horvat come to mind from recent memory.

Bouchards skating has improved it'll be interesting to see how that looks in NHL games.

 

[HansonBro]

Joe nieuwendyke

A friend of mine, his dad used to be friends with Joe or work with him, I forget. But the story told, was that Joe came into work one day and asked for some time off. Boss says ok. Some time later Joe returns and the boss says "what did you need the time off for anyways"?

Joe says " I needed to tryout for a hockey team"

Boss asks "oh what team"?

Joe...."The Calgary Flames"

 

[Weast]

I think Tavares is the biggest improvement. His predraft skating scouting report was a huge question mark. The Islanders did a fantastic job working with him to improve his skating.

 

[Baruch]

I believe Brayden Point is a perfect example as well.
I think I remember multiple quotes by broadcasts saying how the Lightning (and Yzerman) saw that player and went out of their way to develop his skating in particular with skating coaches...

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Brayden Point has to be the best example. Went from being considered not a good enough skater to play in the NHL to one of the NHL’s best skaters in 5 years

edit: i was beaten to it.

 

[rubikscube]

Scheifele.

His nickname was Bambi in his early days.

 

[P10p]

Granlund developed his skating big time in his time with the Wild.

Also lost it again though it seems

 

[boompuffboom]

this thread screams KK

 

[FreeMcdavid]

Bo Horvat

In his draft year he was barely in the top 15 and it was a mini surprise the Canucks took him at 9th.

If he skated then how he skates now he would have been in the top 5.

He changed a lot about his skating mechanics and credits his skatig coach who used to be an amateur Figure Skater.



He went from having slow, choppy strides...to this.....




#4 and 5

 

[Sky04]

Brayden Point was passed so far down because he had poor skating for a small player, now he's one of the league's best.

 

[StreetHawk]

Brayden Point was passed so far down because he had poor skating for a small player, now he's one of the league's best.

You just never know which guys can improve that area or not.

If you gave each player a rating out of say 10, you hope someone goes from a 5 to a 7 or 6 to 8. Hope that they put in the work.

Brock Boeser is a guy who needs to improve that area. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders and desire to get better. See if he does get better. He’s had a couple of injury recovery off seasons so hasn’t had the opportunity to improve it. With Covid he does.

 

[Super Hans]

Not that he's a world-class skater now, but Ryan O'Reilly was a really bad skater coming out of the OHL.

 

[snipes]

This thread screams Draisaitl. Skating is a strength for him now.

Horvat is another one that comes to mind.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Aho.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Once you reach the NHL level, it's pretty much minor adjustments and refinements. Maybe you add some strength/balance, make someone's stride a tad more efficient etc. But nobody is going from average/below average to above-average/elite skater at this level. So I can't really think of any guys really 'developed' their skating at this level.

 

[Kaner9]

I was thinking BPoint and Stone. Hertl is a lot better now compared to where he was in skating.