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Stephane Da Costa

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Minister of Offence said:
He had evident high end puck skills, eyes and hockey sense with the puck as soon as he got into the league out of college. He's gotten better since last year too.

Some players have that ability to make the puck look like it's stuck to their stick, Pat Kane, RNH, Datsyuk and for a prospect example Jon Drouin (he comes off as special in this regard) are all exceptional at this. Da Costa has hands like that too, but man, his skating, explosiveness, body, all appear pitiful...but it's a testament to some of his skills that he can still make plays in the NHL.

Like I said, the upside is real good on this guy, but it's all up to him. How hard does he wanna work...I think it's literally right there for him. And there's lots of kids with upside who's upside is predicated on things that aren't as easily in their control. All he has to do is get inthe gym with the right mindset and allow someone else to show him what to do and his only competition is his mind and things like a barbell. Learning defense is different, you're opponent is always another human who's job is to make you look stupid.

Feel bad for the guy if he lets something like a barbell or his mind defeat him from becoming the player he could be. He skates like a child who isn't that good at skating. But somehow he still dangles dmen one on one and slips by em.
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I have been seeing a pretty quick explosive skater in Stephane Da Costa. Maybe not to extent of the top guys in the league, but his skating is above average NHL level, so it hasn't been holding him back. Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, I haven't observed that. It's just a matter of time before we see the points coming with the hard work he has shown. A lot of us would like to think he's not as good as we're seeing, because he's doing this at 23 vs. 18-19, adding to that he went undrafted vs. being a high pick. High pick or low pick? I always confuse those two. lol His path of how he made it to the NHL maybe somewhat unorthodox, but there is still an elite talent there. Just a matter of time before it comes together on paper!
 
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He was probably the best Sens player in their loss last night. I think he could be a 15+30 player in the league one day. Should be able to hold down the second or third line spot with Ottawa. He looks a lot better this year than he did last year.
 
I've been a huge fan of his since being signed. He almost reminds me of a Giroux-lite if things go well. Really excited to see him get a chance this year.
 
Whew, I had to correct my above post several times. Yikes! Early morning posting is not for this guy! Anyway, I think the difference is, he has more of a handle on the pro level speed and physical aspects of the game. I hear the NCAA is less physical than the CHL leagues are... is this true? Only what I have been told. In the end it doesn't matter. It's more of a mens league in college vs. junior. Still, what I see is a much more confident player from last year, and a guy who's more comfortable out there. Timing and slowing down time itself (if that makes sense) are probable factors as to why he's doing better. He's being more smart with his decision making vs. panicking and just ripping off shots, like he did a few games ago, when their was a mass of bodies in front of the net and he blindly backhanded it vs. dishing the puck to an open Karlsson on the point.
 
PensFan6687 said:
Whew, I had to correct my above post several times. Yikes! Early morning posting is not for this guy! Anyway, I think the difference is, he has more of a handle on the pro level speed and physical aspects of the game. I hear the NCAA is less physical than the CHL leagues are... is this true? Only what I have been told. In the end it doesn't matter. It's more of a mens league in college vs. junior. Still, what I see is a much more confident player from last year, and a guy who's more comfortable out there. Timing and slowing down time itself (if that makes sense) are probable factors as to why he's doing better. He's being more smart with his decision making vs. panicking and just ripping off shots, like he did a few games ago, when their was a mass of bodies in front of the net and he blindly backhanded it vs. dishing the puck to an open Karlsson on the point.
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I know why Sens fans are pumping this kids tires but let me guess...you've got him in a keeper pool?
 
Xelace said:
Or the fact that he watched him play 4 days ago vs his Penguins?
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Maybe...doesn't really explain why he's Stephane Da Costa superfan #1 though.

SDC is a quality prospect but the names you guys throw around when describing him are ridiculous.

I think his ceiling is as high as a 2C but that's not likely to happen with the Sens. If he's going to make his mark in the league my guess is it will be with one of the basement dwellers (which is probably why he decided to sign with Ottawa before they snuck up on everyone and got good).

Most likely, he'll play some spot duty in the NHL as a 2-3 tweener for the next couple of seasons before becoming one of the better players in the AHL or a European league. Just my take on him...I know most Sens fans see a lot more and that's cool too. It's not like you need message board consensus for a prospect to max out or anything.
 
He's got a way of deking out defenders at will Just a great player to watch . The things you see him do only top line star players are able to pull off . I definitely think he's got got top line potential.
 
He desperately need to be tried at wing. Perfect winger for Turris IMO, nice passer for Turris' great shot.
 
IHWR said:
Maybe...doesn't really explain why he's Stephane Da Costa superfan #1 though.

SDC is a quality prospect but the names you guys throw around when describing him are ridiculous.

I think his ceiling is as high as a 2C but that's not likely to happen with the Sens. If he's going to make his mark in the league my guess is it will be with one of the basement dwellers (which is probably why he decided to sign with Ottawa before they snuck up on everyone and got good).

Most likely, he'll play some spot duty in the NHL as a 2-3 tweener for the next couple of seasons before becoming one of the better players in the AHL or a European league. Just my take on him...I know most Sens fans see a lot more and that's cool too. It's not like you need message board consensus for a prospect to max out or anything.
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You're entitled to your own opinion, so I'm not going to argue that.

What I will note though is nobody said he was going to be as good as the players hes compared to, but there play style. Giroux-lite and Plekanec-like player doesn't mean we expect him to be as good as them, but just play the game in similar ways.
 
bottomofthefoodchain said:
Not really, he's almost 24 when most "top prospects" have already made their mark several years ago.
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There are plenty of very talented forwards who didn't really start making an impact until they were in their mid-20s, Patrick Sharp being the first that comes to mind.

Age really doesn't matter that much, the important thing is that a player still shows that he is improving.
 
Franck said:
There are plenty of very talented forwards who didn't really start making an impact until they were in their mid-20s, Patrick Sharp being the first that comes to mind.

Age really doesn't matter that much, the important thing is that a player still shows that he is improving.
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Yep...I think a perfect example is a guy like Martin St. Louis, too. He was passed over for the longest time, but he kept developing and playing hard.

Da Costa came from a place where hockey is not the greatest for development (France) so I think he has a few years to catch up. Ultimately I think if he had grown up in Canada his trajectory may have been pretty different. With that said you can see with every shift he is getting better and more acclimated to the NHL. He has already created more scoring opportunities than anyone on the team in the last 3 games. If we had any finish at all he'd have 4 or 5 points more at least IMO.

He's exciting to watch as a prospect and may make moving Turris to the wing a possibility.
 
I think Desharnais is a decent comparison. I don't know if he will ever have the same chance as DD to play on a top line, or if he will ever score 60 points, but they are close imo. Pretty similar career paths, though David has produced more than a ppg in the AHL a couple times, but is two years older than SDC is currently
 
WasTeD said:
He's phenominal offensively. See's the ice as good as anyone and is a lot more aggressive this stint.

His neutral zone and D play are pretty terrible though. He reminds me of a young Spezza with his no look passes.

The Paulrus will teach him to play a complete game soon enough though so I'm not too worried about it.
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He reminds of gomez back in his NJ days when he was a good playmaker. The way he skates up ice stickhandling with his head up looking for sweet passes.
 
IHWR said:
Maybe...doesn't really explain why he's Stephane Da Costa superfan #1 though.

SDC is a quality prospect but the names you guys throw around when describing him are ridiculous.

I think his ceiling is as high as a 2C but that's not likely to happen with the Sens. If he's going to make his mark in the league my guess is it will be with one of the basement dwellers (which is probably why he decided to sign with Ottawa before they snuck up on everyone and got good).

Most likely, he'll play some spot duty in the NHL as a 2-3 tweener for the next couple of seasons before becoming one of the better players in the AHL or a European league. Just my take on him...I know most Sens fans see a lot more and that's cool too. It's not like you need message board consensus for a prospect to max out or anything.
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1. Your assumption is correct, I signed him in a keeper league. 2. I have seen him play a lot, and thus why I signed him. I watch a lot of hockey, and yes I did see him in the Penguins game. I also saw him in other games as well.... my point is, I am a superfan of his due to the result of him playing extremely well. Thus wanting to sign him. He's not exactly lighting up the scoresheet. He's fun to watch, plain and simple. The signing is a result of his play... and the fandom is a result of being blown by him.. I sign players that intrigue me with their skillset. Guys like Da Costa, Gaudreau, and Catenacci. Why wouldn't I sign a guy in a keeper league if I am not a fan? Makes little sense to me.

Anyone who has seen the handful of games I have seen would also be a fan. Plain and simple. btw My favorite active player is Sidney Crosby and just as a heads up, I never had the opportunity to own him in a league. So yeah, where you're going with that is beyond me.
 
PensFan6687 said:
1. Your assumption is correct, I signed him in a keeper league. 2. I have seen him play a lot, and thus why I signed him. I watch a lot of hockey, and yes I did see him in the Penguins game. I also saw him in other games as well.... my point is, I am a superfan of his due to the result of him playing extremely well. Thus wanting to sign him. He's not exactly lighting up the scoresheet. He's fun to watch, plain and simple. The signing is a result of his play... and the fandom is a result of being blown by him.. I sign players that intrigue me with their skillset. Guys like Da Costa, Gaudreau, and Catenacci. Why wouldn't I sign a guy in a keeper league if I am not a fan? Makes little sense to me.

I have been a player, collector, fantasy and hockey pool guy, and am a NHL season ticket holder. Or we can just say I am a fan of the game, and as players go, this kid is exciting. I always rooted for the underdog. Anyone who knows me, knows this. Thus why my favorite all-time defenseman is Vladimir Konstantinov. My favorite goalie is Eddie Lack. I also had him in a keeper league, but why that means anything is beyond me.. I had Moose season tickets before, and watched and saw how good Lack was in person. The Canucks forum knows how much I followed him. I gave them the scouting progress during his days here... I just find it absolutely snobbish that somebody would suggest having a guy in a keeper league is a bad thing? People who do fantasy keepers are usual the die-hard hockey variety. So how is that a negative?

Anyone who has seen the handful of games I have seen would also be a fan. Plain and simple. btw My favorite active player is Sidney Crosby and just as a heads up, I never had the opportunity to own him in a league. So yeah, where you're going with that is beyond me.
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Relax. You're reading way too much in to it.

I've just noticed a trend when it comes to talking prospects around here. Typically, fans of the team that the prospect plays for will tell everyone how awesome he is along with non-fans who have him in a keeper league.

And I'm not even saying he's a bad player to have in a keeper league. I was just trying to figure out why a Pens fan would continue to gush over a Sens prospect and my assumption was that it was fantasy related...glad to know my deductive skills are still firing on all cylinders.

Back on topic, not the best game for SDC today against th Devils, didn't notice him all that much. That happens with every player though.
 
Damn you copy and pasted a post which I edited half of it out... Anyway, I have shown love to players I don't own. I get it though, but your post did come off negative.. like it mattered if I owned him in a keeper league or not. I doubt as a Sens fan, you only watch Senators games. I watch pretty much any game as long as I am available and I have the time. But yeah, kind of hard not to notice Da Costa in that Penguins game. You would have to be blind.
 
ReginKarlssonLehner said:
Lmao, spoken like a true person who doesn't watch him play but tries to say something conservative like he knows what he's saying.

He is a remarkable skater who has phenomenal hockey sense. Those two attributes are arguably his best. I don't know what you're talking about.

I made a post a couple years ago where I showed his production in NCAA matching those of Toews, James Van Riemsdyk, Oshie etc... at the same age. Of course I ain't comparing them but the skill is there for sure.

He has 2nd line potential easily.
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Don't see it. I've watched a lot of Da Costa over time, and I'm being completely honest. I think your perhaps trying to glorify him just because you are a sens fan and hope for the best.

IN MY OPINION, which I am entitled to, the skill isn't more than a 3rd line forward. If his hockey sense was his best trait, then he would have more goals, everyone would. I don't think you understand the trait as a whole. I'm not trying to start a fight here, but you cannot assume automatically that I don't see a lot of Da costa just because I live in STL. I watch glimpses if not periods of all the NHL games on every night, and I have seen my fair share of costa as an outsider.
 
reavesthemaniac said:
Don't see it. I've watched a lot of Da Costa over time, and I'm being completely honest. I think your perhaps trying to glorify him just because you are a sens fan and hope for the best.

IN MY OPINION, which I am entitled to, the skill isn't more than a 3rd line forward. If his hockey sense was his best trait, then he would have more goals, everyone would. I don't think you understand the trait as a whole. I'm not trying to start a fight here, but you cannot assume automatically that I don't see a lot of Da costa just because I live in STL. I watch glimpses if not periods of all the NHL games on every night, and I have seen my fair share of costa as an outsider.
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He can't control that Alfredsson has hit 3 posts on perfect feeds in the last 3 games alone. Or that perfect passes have been shot completely wide. Hockey sense can only take you so far when the team you are playing on is offensively inept with next to no finish.
 
reavesthemaniac said:
Don't see it. I've watched a lot of Da Costa over time, and I'm being completely honest. I think your perhaps trying to glorify him just because you are a sens fan and hope for the best.

IN MY OPINION, which I am entitled to, the skill isn't more than a 3rd line forward. If his hockey sense was his best trait, then he would have more goals, everyone would. I don't think you understand the trait as a whole. I'm not trying to start a fight here, but you cannot assume automatically that I don't see a lot of Da costa just because I live in STL. I watch glimpses if not periods of all the NHL games on every night, and I have seen my fair share of costa as an outsider.
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Fair enough, but he makes moves that only the truly skilled players can make in this league - and he makes them fairly regularly. What I think is missed production wise is:

- his timing is still in AHL mode - so is Silfverberg's. A lot of their shots are being blocked or deflected. I'm not sure when the time will be when he reaches NHL speed, but I think that's where the production will increase

- his speed is an issue still. When he's skating, he's fine, but I haven't found his acceleration that great at all.

The timing thing will come, the speed thing may not, but he's definitely got more raw skill than the average 3rd liner.
 
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