RW Rocco Grimaldi (2011, 33rd overall, Florida)
- Thread starter William H Bonney
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avalanche45
Registered User
- Jul 11, 2006
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From the little I've seen I love his game. His size, of course, may be an issue but he is in arguably the best junior program in the world so he will have a legitimate shot to make it at the next level.
RangerRed
Registered User
Made the trek up to Timmins to see him (and many others) back in January. Anyone whose ever driven that in January knows that I was cursing Hockey Canada all the way. This tournament was so much more fun to watch when it was in London.
But hey, you're only young, crazy and able to persuade your friends to take stupid car trips in the dead of winter once, right?
All that has led to me agreeing with the emerging consensus. Incredibly skilled, plays with some grit, but his Hobbit-like stature could definitely limit his effectiveness as a pro.
But hey, you're only young, crazy and able to persuade your friends to take stupid car trips in the dead of winter once, right?
All that has led to me agreeing with the emerging consensus. Incredibly skilled, plays with some grit, but his Hobbit-like stature could definitely limit his effectiveness as a pro.
Rally Donkey
Registered User
If any undersized forward could become the next exception to the rule, it's Grimaldi. I think he'll be a standout in the NCAA, but only if he leads all forwards in scoring and plays defense effectively against much bigger competition will he have a shot at the next level. Having said that, it's entirely possible he could accomplish that in a year or two from now. Only time will tell. Definitely not a Major Junior- sized player at this point, although he might be even better than the similarly sized Daniel Erlich (London Knights, undrafted '91 in his second year of eligibility).
Erlich put up 59 points in 68 games for London last year & plus/minus +1. Grimaldi had 20 points in 32 games but was a -19 for the NTDP U17's in the USHL. Having watched them both, I think Grimaldi in two years (if he played in the OHL) could have similar numbers or slightly better than Erlich. Similarities: They both have an uncanny nose for the net. If he's not opening a can up on everyone in the NCAA, however, it's gonna be a tough road to go furhter. But if a full ride to a Division I school is all you get out of hockey, it's a lot more than most.
Grimaldi: 5'6", 160, '93
Erlich: 5'6", 165, '91
Erlich put up 59 points in 68 games for London last year & plus/minus +1. Grimaldi had 20 points in 32 games but was a -19 for the NTDP U17's in the USHL. Having watched them both, I think Grimaldi in two years (if he played in the OHL) could have similar numbers or slightly better than Erlich. Similarities: They both have an uncanny nose for the net. If he's not opening a can up on everyone in the NCAA, however, it's gonna be a tough road to go furhter. But if a full ride to a Division I school is all you get out of hockey, it's a lot more than most.
Grimaldi: 5'6", 160, '93
Erlich: 5'6", 165, '91
Last edited:
Ward Cornell
Registered User
- Dec 22, 2007
- 6,419
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When given a chance smaller players can succeed in higher levels of hockey.
Give a me talented small player with the right team than a large "project" with limited skills.
Prime example:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=3442
Give a me talented small player with the right team than a large "project" with limited skills.
Prime example:
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=3442
If any undersized forward could become the next exception to the rule, it's Grimaldi. I think he'll be a standout in the NCAA, but only if he leads all forwards in scoring and plays defense effectively against much bigger competition will he have a shot at the next level. Having said that, it's entirely possible he could accomplish that in a year or two from now. Only time will tell. Definitely not a Major Junior- sized player at this point, although he might be even better than the similarly sized Daniel Erlich (London Knights, undrafted '91 in his second year of eligibility).
Erlich put up 59 points in 68 games for London last year & plus/minus +1. Grimaldi had 20 points in 32 games but was a -19 for the NTDP U17's in the USHL. Having watched them both, I think Grimaldi in two years (if he played in the OHL) could have similar numbers or slightly better than Erlich. Similarities: They both have an uncanny nose for the net. If he's not opening a can up on everyone in the NCAA, however, it's gonna be a tough road to go furhter. But if a full ride to a Division I school is all you get out of hockey, it's a lot more than most.
Grimaldi: 5'6", 160, '93
Erlich: 5'6", 165, '91
Grimaldi is a much better player then Erlich right now, its not even close.
Rocco would have put up McColgan-like numbers if he played on Vancouver last year in the dub.
Rally Donkey
Registered User
Totally agree with you. The key being "when given a chance." Numbers show that smaller guys are often passed over as they rise through the ranks. By the time they make it to NCAA or Major Junior, no matter how good they are, size is always a consideration. It would be a mistake to say, "not many small guys are drafted, so they must not be good enough." More likely there are a lot of small guys who are very good, but aren't given a chance unless they can really set themselves apart from even the bigger guy. I've said there are execptions and Grimaldi could be the next one, but just look at the numbers:
Out of 1076 players drafted from 2005-2009:
- 5'6": 1 - Nathan Gerbe (2005)
- 5'7": 1 - Justin Azevedo (2007)
- 5'8": 5 - Jordan Kozun & Brandon Schroeder (2009), David Warsofsky, Jared Spurgeon, & Garret Roe (2008),
Odds go up if you can make it to 5'9" (20 players in five years). Grimaldi's young enough. Hopefully, he can put on another 3 inches in the next 24 months, otherwise he'd be only the second player in six years to be drafted (which could happen given his abilities). The trend isn't looking good, though, with kids getting bigger: it's been 5 years since a 5'6" player was drafted. Doesn't look likely this year, either. Every kid should keep his hopes up, but every kid should also consider the chances. Since 2005 less than 2.6% of all drafted players were under 5'9" tall (27/1076).
azsioux
Registered User
brad schlossman who is the beat writer for north dakota and very connected with sioux recruiting tweated this may 4th
NTDP prospect Rocco Grimaldi has narrowed his college choices to UND, Denver and Notre Dame. He says he won't decide before July.
Schlossmans Twitter
azsioux
Registered User
Brad Schlossman has reported Gramaldi to North Dakota for 2011
Sioux Hockey Blog
UND has landed one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
Californian Rocco Grimaldi sent me a text message this morning simply stating: "I am a North Dakota Fighting Sioux."
Grimaldi was the leading scorer of the U.S. Under-17 team last season. He's only about 5-foot-6 or so, reportedly, but has loads of skill.
Grimaldi's finalists were UND, Denver and Notre Dame.
Sioux Hockey Blog
UND has landed one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
Californian Rocco Grimaldi sent me a text message this morning simply stating: "I am a North Dakota Fighting Sioux."
Grimaldi was the leading scorer of the U.S. Under-17 team last season. He's only about 5-foot-6 or so, reportedly, but has loads of skill.
Grimaldi's finalists were UND, Denver and Notre Dame.
Heat McManus
Registered User
Kay so I guess being a superstar at age 6 means you will autimatically be in the NHL cause 6 year olds don't regress, or improve or grow for that matter at their age.
Heat McManus
Registered User
he used to be a big inline hockey player. He was sick when i saw him a few years ago at TORHS nats.
Aaron Vickers
FCHockey
The Rocco Grimaldi Thread
Could be the most interesting guy in the draft.
Stands just five-foot-six, but has all the offensive tools in the world.
We currently have him ranked 14th overall (rankings HERE) but given his size he could take a tumble. Then again, if a team really believes in his offensive skill he could even move up.
Should be one of the more interesting players to keep an eye on for all you draft watchers out there.
Dan Stewart, our chief scout, also penned a profile on him which can be read HERE.
So what's your take on possibly the most interesting player in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft?
Could be the most interesting guy in the draft.
Stands just five-foot-six, but has all the offensive tools in the world.
We currently have him ranked 14th overall (rankings HERE) but given his size he could take a tumble. Then again, if a team really believes in his offensive skill he could even move up.
Should be one of the more interesting players to keep an eye on for all you draft watchers out there.
Dan Stewart, our chief scout, also penned a profile on him which can be read HERE.
So what's your take on possibly the most interesting player in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft?
Aaron Vickers
FCHockey
FytinSioux
Blackhawksssssss
Seabass
Onward and Upward
Seconded. Everyone talks about the offensive talent, but the kid's one of the biggest puckhounds I've seen. Great forechecker.
Then you're absolutely nuts. People say size doesn't matter in the NHL as much ; it does when you are 5 ft 6.
Not for St Louis or Gionta, or even Nate Gerbe, and certainly not for Grimaldi. It literally has no effect on his game, and if you cant see that, then you probably havent seen him play. You basically have to take Couturier, RNH, Landeskog and Larsson ahead of him at this point. If Grimaldi was 5-10 hed be a consensus top 5, but giving him an extra 4 inches wouldnt make his game any better or any worse, it would just "project" his draft spot higher.
Theres a very good chance Grimaldi will have the same productivity as St Louis. I think his lowest projection would be Gionta, and hes a much better player at this point. Would you have taken St Louis in the top 10 in '93? I would have.
A very good chance Grimaldi will have the same productivity as St Louis? Im sorry but this is pure hyperbole and bias to its very extreme. St Louis has 6 70 pt + seasons so far, including several top 10 finishes. If not for a late start to his NHL career, he'd be a hall of farmer for certain.
And you think a 5ft 6 17 yr old has a very good chance to have that career? His lowest projection is Giona ; His absolute lowest.
It's not even certain if this draft 20 years from now will even produce one player who will match St Louis's post-lockout form. Im sorry, but this is absolute madness. Yes i'd take St Loius in the Top 10 any draft and i can certainly say that the probability of Grimaldi being close to the level of St Loius is alot lower than "Theres a very good chance".
His size has literally no affect on his game? Brilliant. Now start understanding projections. It's how his 5 ft 6 frame projects against NHL players that matters.
Oh and you mentioned three players. One all-star, one solid player with one elite season and one 23 yr old prospect who has yet to translate his offensive game to the NHL. Not only did you provide the absolute exceptions to the rule of size ; you posted a legitimate two.
rt
Clean Hits on Substack
My issue is that the height and weight of prospects are usually exaggerated. If it's claimed that he's 5'6'', how tall is he really? Are we talking about a seventeen year old that only stands 5'4''? That would be a huge issue. You simply cannot be an NHL player at that height.
