Prospect Info: Riley Kidney, LHC, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL ), 63rd overall

[KevSkillz4]

It's funny the players you compare Kidney. We have comparing Suzuki to... Krejci and Ribeiro. Kidney say he watch Suzuki and Marner.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Based on one minute of highlights, he's my favorite pick this draft.

Could very well be the steal of the draft.

No doubt. He is certainly potential to become a top 9 C in NHL with his hockey IQ, maybe more if he work on his skating. My favorite pick too.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

He actually reminds me of Ribeiro.. just hopefully without the other antics that plagued his career.

That's what I thought too. Ribeiro without all the issues.

 

[Harry Kakalovich]

Hope this guy can keep scoring

 

[Sam of Montreal]

I see the Suzuki comparison. I really like his poise and smart play.

I hear his skating needs work. I do however have the impression he has pretty good agility and edgeworks.

 

[Vachon23]

Personally he reminds me a bit of David Krecji... Interesting pick.

Same for me !

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I see the Suzuki comparison. I really like his poise and smart play.

I hear his skating needs work. I do however have the impression he has pretty good agility and edgeworks.

same and that's a good base to work from. i guess anyways. not like i f***ing know lol.

 

[Sam of Montreal]

same and that's a good base to work from. i guess anyways. not like i f***ing know lol.

haha. Yeah I am not willing to be very decisive in my evaluations, because it's not like i really know the technical aspects of skating.

 

[danyhabsfan]

he moves like Rantanen

 

[Archijerej]

Elite prospects (Mitch Brown, David St-Louis) are not very high on him. They've actually left him off their draft board entirely.

Some of the main points of criticism:

- doesn't use his feet when challenging defenders. Goes in straight lines or glides and does all the work with his hands. Won't translate to higher levels.

- IQ projects as average at best. If he can't slow the game down, he rushes plays and constantly makes questionable decisions with the puck.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Riley Kidney's teammate (and at times linemate) Bennet MacArthur has been invited to the Habs' rookie camp (or development camp, I don't know which).

Edit: Titan tweeted yesterday that he was invited to Arizona's rookie camp. But Stéphane Leroux tweeted this morning that he was invited at Habs' camp. So I imagine it's a Leroux mistake.

Credit to @habsprospects for pointing it out in the Prospects Thread.

 

[Jabba11]

Elite prospects (Mitch Brown, David St-Louis) are not very high on him. They've actually left him off their draft board entirely.

Some of the main points of criticism:

- doesn't use his feet when challenging defenders. Goes in straight lines or glides and does all the work with his hands. Won't translate to higher levels.

- IQ projects as average at best. If he can't slow the game down, he rushes plays and constantly makes questionable decisions with the puck.

That's why he's not a finished product and a professional organization like the Montreal Canadiens will try to develop him!

 

[Gravity]

He said he models his game after Suzuki and Marner so no surprise with the Suzuki/Krejci comparison (Edit: beat to it by KevSkillz4).

Not using his feet when challenging defenders is always something that worries me because it's so Galchenyuk reminiscent. I really like him though and hope we got a player on our hands.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Elite prospects (Mitch Brown, David St-Louis) are not very high on him. They've actually left him off their draft board entirely.

Some of the main points of criticism:

- doesn't use his feet when challenging defenders. Goes in straight lines or glides and does all the work with his hands. Won't translate to higher levels.

- IQ projects as average at best. If he can't slow the game down, he rushes plays and constantly makes questionable decisions with the puck.

I could be wrong but didn't one of them say something very similar about Suzuki?

 

[Archijerej]

I could be wrong but didn't one of them say something very similar about Suzuki?

In his draft year? I don't know.

I'm sure at least one of them was high on Suzuki after he was drafted. I remember reading some very positive scouting reports.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

I don't know.

I'm sure at least one of them was high on Suzuki after he was drafted. I remember reading some very positive scouting reports.

I swear Brown or DSL were very skeptical about Suzuki's skill/stickhandling translating. It may have been for similar reasons. I could be wrong though.

 

[c3z4r]

I just realized that Acadie-Bathurst doesn't have that many of its players drafted to the NHL.

The only ones that I can name off the top of my head are Dobson and Morand.

 

[buddahsmoka1]

For the older ones on here, he plays a lot like Oates did. Slows down the play, draws defenders towards him, and then dishes it to the open player you didn't even know was there.

 

[jaffy27]

I see the Suzuki comparison. I really like his poise and smart play.

I hear his skating needs work. I do however have the impression he has pretty good agility and edgeworks.

It’s probably why he wasn’t picked as high because the kid just seems sharp…..skating you can work on, hockey IQ not as much

my second favourite prospect after Mailloux

 

[wildD]

It’s probably why he wasn’t picked as high because the kid just seems sharp…..skating you can work on, hockey IQ not as much

my second favourite prospect after Mailloux

Yes some are able to get faster, but some are just not able to. Just look at Perry and Toffoli they are slow and always will be

 

[jaffy27]

Yes some are able to get faster, but some are just not able to. Just look at Perry and Toffoli they are slow and always will be

Well here’s hoping he’s the kind that can improve their speed

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[montreal]

I just realized that Acadie-Bathurst doesn't have that many of its players drafted to the NHL.

The only ones that I can name off the top of my head are Dobson and Morand.

since 1990 we have only drafted 2 players from the Titan, Ferland and Carle.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

since 1990 we have only drafted 2 players from the Titan, Ferland and Carle.

Both were in the system for a good long while , might be a good omen !

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...that was awesome...sounds like his brother (or whoever that was) is a Habs fan...