Prospect Info: The 2021 NHL Entry Draft Thread

[Whileee]

True, but he shoots left so they'll probably have him on LW unless forced to play him on the right.

Good point. Maybe Vesalainen or he can play their off-wing. Maurice had KVes on RW a few times this year.

 

[ps241]

He looked pretty good last time I saw him play - he had 7 goals in a 10-9 loss to my kids team in the playoffs when they were 10 lol

lol that is a great story!!!

 

[Buffdog]

lol that is a great story!!!

The funny thing is that I think Skyler Bruce had 8 or 9 for us that game. Up until that age, he was the pick of the litter but he just never grew. Lots of those kids went on to RHA and eventually WHL this year.

It's been tough this year when I think about those boys and how their draft year has been mucked up. Those kids put a tonne of time and effort into their careers (not to mention the financial investments their parents made, many of whom I'm still friends with).

 

[DiggerD]

I like Harrison for that second round pick. 6’2” two-way LWer, with a scoring touch. had a huge rookie year for Oshawa, and Popped a couple goals for Canada at this years U18s. Scouting report raves about his relentless forecheck, and great hands in front of the net.

 

[ps241]

The funny thing is that I think Skyler Bruce had 8 or 9 for us that game. Up until that age, he was the pick of the litter but he just never grew. Lots of those kids went on to RHA and eventually WHL this year.

It's been tough this year when I think about those boys and how their draft year has been mucked up. Those kids put a tonne of time and effort into their careers (not to mention the financial investments their parents made, many of whom I'm still friends with).

A friend of mine had a buddy that golfed with Mark Stone’s father. Apparently the guy asked Mark’s father how much money he invested in his son’s hockey and Mark’s father said I can tell you exactly how much and it was over $700,000.

At first that seems high but it’s not as high as some of the money you hear families spending on their kids in the GTA.

 

[Duke749]

A friend of mine had a buddy that golfed with Mark Stone’s father. Apparently the guy asked Mark’s father how much money he invested in his son’s hockey and Mark’s father said I can tell you exactly how much and it was over $700,000.

At first that seems high but it’s not as high as some of the money you hear families spending on their kids in the GTA.

What in the actual f***?!

 

[KingBogo]

A friend of mine had a buddy that golfed with Mark Stone’s father. Apparently the guy asked Mark’s father how much money he invested in his son’s hockey and Mark’s father said I can tell you exactly how much and it was over $700,000.

At first that seems high but it’s not as high as some of the money you hear families spending on their kids in the GTA.

Man that is a big number. Now I’m glad my kid sees himself as a budding rock star not a hockey star. I listen to heavy metal guitar riffs day and night but all it cost me is sleep

 

[DiggerD]

I had a coworker that had 3 sons playing AAA, and a daughter playing girls A. He said he spent $6000 a year on equipment (1 goalie), roughly $16000 on registration (as long as he got jersey sponsorship), $5000 on hotels, and $3000 on gas. He said he never included meals, because “you have to eat anyways”. He estimated he spent $350000over the years on hockey and summer hockey. His 2nd oldest played University hockey in Eastern Canada, the other 2 boys played Junior B and C. None played any pro

 

[lanky]

I hope the two goalies are picked before 17 OA. That would improve our odds of catching a faller.

 

[surixon]

Those costs are asaine no wonder hockey has dwindling registration.

Hockey Canada really needs to do something about this or it will lapped by other sports that are much more affordable.

 

[ps241]

I had a coworker that had 3 sons playing AAA, and a daughter playing girls A. He said he spent $6000 a year on equipment (1 goalie), roughly $16000 on registration (as long as he got jersey sponsorship), $5000 on hotels, and $3000 on gas. He said he never included meals, because “you have to eat anyways”. He estimated he spent $350000over the years on hockey and summer hockey. His 2nd oldest played University hockey in Eastern Canada, the other 2 boys played Junior B and C. None played any pro

Reading it laid out like this I wonder if Mr Stone senior was referring to both Mark and a Michael? That would put things at $350-$375 per kid.

 

[Whileee]

Those costs are asaine no wonder hockey has dwindling registration.

Hockey Canada really needs to do something about this or it will lapped by other sports that are much more affordable.

For 99.9%+ of young players, the NHL is completely out of the question. However, a high percentage of parents think that their son might defy the odds. There's an entire system / industry that builds on this.

 

[JetsWillFly4Ever]

Reading it laid out like this I wonder if Mr Stone senior was referring to both Mark and a Michael? That would put things at $350-$375 per kid.

I was going to mention the fact that Mike played in the NHL as well lol.

That is crazy though. Hockey is so prohibitively expensive. I don't remember the Stone's being particularly wealthy growing up either (not that they were poor or anything, just not rich).

 

[Daximus]

For 99.9%+ of young players, the NHL is completely out of the question. However, a high percentage of parents think that their son might defy the odds. There's an entire system / industry that builds on this.

You can likely still have a shot at doing something if you are really dedicated to it and don't mind moving. I had a few buddies that only got as high as Junior A and a few that played Junior B and a couple of them left for Europe and played over there. The money wasnt horrible and two of the guys I know actually ended up meeting their wives there and live there now. But that's doesnt really make up for what their parents dished out for them to play.

 

[DiggerD]

Reading it laid out like this I wonder if Mr Stone senior was referring to both Mark and a Michael? That would put things at $350-$375 per kid.

A lot of the expense, depending on area, is travel and tournaments. I remember talking to a parent from Colorado, at a tournament in Niagara Falls, who said they had recently been in Buffalo, Boston and Detroit for tournaments. Their transportation costs were astronomical. AAA in southwestern Ontario is 1-3 hour drives for games and practices, not flights. The big tournaments in Toronto, Niagara, Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago are still driving distances.
One local kid was fortunate to be picked up by a Toronto-based team for invitational tournaments in Russia and Sweden, so his expenses were an additional $15000 that year. I would imagine the Stones, being that elite level, did spend half a million plus on hockey

 

[ps241]

Those costs are asaine no wonder hockey has dwindling registration.

Hockey Canada really needs to do something about this or it will lapped by other sports that are much more affordable.

My buddies Daughter plays fastball at a high level and since she was 13 the cost is about $8,000-$10,000 per season. If you have a kid that is really good at any sport it’s expensive now. There is a professionalization of most kids sports.

It’s the year round component I have the most trouble with. When I was a kid it was seasonal and kids all played multiple sports which is much healthier.

now if you are an athlete you have to pick a sport

 

[DiggerD]

You can likely still have a shot at doing something if you are really dedicated to it and don't mind moving. I had a few buddies that only got as high as Junior A and a few that played Junior B and a couple of them left for Europe and played over there. The money wasnt horrible and two of the guys I know actually ended up meeting their wives there and live there now. But that's doesnt really make up for what their parents dished out for them to play.

My oldest brother played some A and B, and was offered a spot in Germany, but 7 knee surgeries made him decide to make hockey a recreational sport. A knee on knee hit at 16, cut my dreams really short, having total reconstruction surgery and missing almost 6 months. I had a buddy play semi-pro in the States. For my cousin, money wasn't an option, so his kids all played elite level hockey. They played AAA in the States and Canada, and it translated to a full College Scholarship for the oldest son and a daughter. The oldest son has played in the ECHL, AHL and Europe. The younger son made the NHL. For most, a lot more goes out, than ever comes in.

 

[jorbjorb]

Boss's kid went to Okanagan hockey school and Rink hockey academy here in Winnipeg. I think it's like 50k a year. I think the player is undrafted and playing in the MJHL now? Better than me lol.

This is probably the best route to trying to playing pro even though the chances are slim.

If you look at most pro's elite prospects page a lot of them have gone to one of these "hockey schools".

I think I'll just get my kid to play baseball or something lol.

 

[surixon]

My buddies Daughter plays fastball at a high level and since she was 13 the cost is about $8,000-$10,000 per season. If you have a kid that is really good at any sport it’s expensive now. There is a professionalization of most kids sports.

It’s the year round component I have the most trouble with. When I was a kid it was seasonal and kids all played multiple sports which is much healthier.

now if you are an athlete you have to pick a sport

Yeah I also played everything. Only a few times did I play hockey year round growing up.

Yeah I guess if there is money to be made on your kid chasing the dream they will find a qaybto make it.

 

[Calcutta]

Nothing really to add to this, just have to comment and say the numbers here are crazy. I'm in England, the national game is football, I suppose a parent will have to spend a bit to raise their kid in the game. 50-100 on boots every so often, a few quid on fuel to get to matches. But if a kid is good, good enough to be a professional then by the age of 11 he'll have been scouted by a club and they'll pay for a lot of stuff.
Sure it's going to cost parents money, but if it was anywhere near 700 grand then 90% of English players would never have even started playing.

 

[Daximus]

Nothing really to add to this, just have to comment and say the numbers here are crazy. I'm in England, the national game is football, I suppose a parent will have to spend a bit to raise their kid in the game. 50-100 on boots every so often, a few quid on fuel to get to matches. But if a kid is good, good enough to be a professional then by the age of 11 he'll have been scouted by a club and they'll pay for a lot of stuff.
Sure it's going to cost parents money, but if it was anywhere near 700 grand then 90% of English players would never have even started playing.

Europe is like that with hockey too from what I can gather. You can get into club play pretty early and then from there on out they help pay for quite a bit of developement. I wish Canada would have adopted this form of sport developement but a lot of parents would hate not having complete control over every aspect of their child sports developement.

 

[None]

For 99.9%+ of young players, the NHL is completely out of the question. However, a high percentage of parents think that their son might defy the odds. There's an entire system / industry that builds on this.

The profit that an unsanctioned spring hockey tournament brings in would surprise a lot of people. Something like 75% of the teams that end up going to The Brick tournament in Edmonton charge registration fees upwards of $10000 for 4 tournaments with guarantees of 4 games per tournament
And that doesn't include travel or lodging, and you have to stay at their sanctioned hotel.

 

[Daximus]

Boss's kid went to Okanagan hockey school and Rink hockey academy here in Winnipeg. I think it's like 50k a year. I think the player is undrafted and playing in the MJHL now? Better than me lol.

This is probably the best route to trying to playing pro even though the chances are slim.

If you look at most pro's elite prospects page a lot of them have gone to one of these "hockey schools".

I think I'll just get my kid to play baseball or something lol.

Yeah hockey schools are pretty much killing AAA provincial programs. It's gotten to the point here that Sask Hockey has told anyone that wants to get involved with these schools and the CSSHL that if you get involved there than you are barred from ever being involved in any level of coaching or running anything under Sask Hockey. Of course they haven't barred the players.

 

[DiggerD]

My kid played hockey and soccer. At 14, he was asked to play on a top end U16 soccer team. Registration was $1500, plus a $500 tournament fee. It started out being a 1 1/2 hour drive, 3x a week, for practices and home games, as well as a 2- 3 hour road game a week, from May-October. The next year they started talking about college scouts, and wanted him to make the trip twice a week, all winter, to their indoor soccer facilities. Another $750! We would drive 90 minutes every Sunday morning for a 2 hour practice, grab a bite to eat, he would sleep on the 90 minute drive home, and we would grab his equipment for a Sunday afternoon hockey game
At 16, he got an invite to the White Caps Academy, and was told they wanted him there for 3 practices a week. He had also been invited to a Junior B prospect camp. He could no longer balance both. I looked at the chances of a soccer scholarship, and pushed him that direction. I pointed out how much my wife's cousin loved playing soccer at an American college. He chose the hockey camp. In the end, sports never led to wealth or prosperity, but he made a lot of great friends, and we had a ton of fond memories

 

[Joe Hallenback]

Boss's kid went to Okanagan hockey school and Rink hockey academy here in Winnipeg. I think it's like 50k a year. I think the player is undrafted and playing in the MJHL now? Better than me lol.

This is probably the best route to trying to playing pro even though the chances are slim.

If you look at most pro's elite prospects page a lot of them have gone to one of these "hockey schools".

I think I'll just get my kid to play baseball or something lol.

If you are paying for one your kids to go to these schools you are likely the fodder around the kids they recruited who play for free