Prospect Info: Top Prospects Poll 2019

[DaveG]

I mean it's not unheard of even for guys that finish low in the voting for us to end up NHLers anyway, it's about projecting who's most likely to be an impact player, not who's most likely to make it to the NHL AT ALL. That would be a completely different valuation.

I mean just referencing last years list: Wallmark - 13, Nedeljkovic - 15, Geekie - 17, Luostarinen - 19
Two years ago: Foegele - 13, Nedeljkovic - 18; and that's on a much more shallow list than what we have right now.

Nothing precludes someone from making the show on this list or going from fringe to looking like a solid bet.

 

[My Special Purpose]

I’m not sure I agree completely Kev. He may be thinking one thing right now, but if he has a big year, he’s going to have an agent in his ear telling him things which might be totally different. The agent might say that team “x” has less guys in competition, or are in a spot to give him a chance, or are in a better market, etc. none of us know what he’s thinking right now, or who his agent will be, and what the agent will say.

That said, I’m not overly concerned either way, if he signs here, great, if not, so be it.

I have no doubt Cotton is going to be a very tough sign for us if he has a monster season. He's probably going to be a tough sign either way, considering he hasn't signed yet. I don't even think he needs an agent to tell him his odds of moving up are better just about anywhere else.

But it's not like the Fox situation where he can go back to school. He can either work *with* us and get all the clocks ticking in terms of development, service time, etc., or he can wait until August and lose all those things. And if he wants to give us a handful of teams instead of just one (thanks again, Adam Fox), we still have some leverage.

 

[Helsinki Hurricanes]

I noticed i had two whole pages of unread prospect poll discussion. Naturally I was expecting insightfull analysis on Canes prospect or at least Bojangles jokes and/or dissing Adam Fox. What I got was drunk godfather of David Cotton. What a day to be alive...

 

[My Special Purpose]

I noticed i had two whole pages of unread prospect poll discussion. Naturally I was expecting insightfull analysis on Canes prospect or at least Bojangles jokes and/or dissing Adam Fox. What I got was drunk godfather of David Cotton. What a day to be alive...

Zach Boychuk somehow came in at No. 2.

 

[NotOpie]

I'm ready to put down money that Zac Dalpe will be Seattle's AHL affiliate's first captain.

 

[DaveG]

And the list is finalized, the order of the top 5 likely coming as no surprise:

1 - C/RW Martin Necas - 2017 1st round, 12 OA
2 - LHD Jake Bean - 2016 1st round, 12 OA
3 - C Ryan Suzuki - 2019 1st round, 28 OA
4 - G Alex Nedeljkovic - 2014 2nd round, 37 OA
5 - RW/C Morgan Geekie - 2017 3rd round, 67 OA
6 - RW Julien Gauthier - 2016 1st round, 21 OA
7 - LW/C Janne Kuokkanen - 2016 2nd round, 43 OA
8 - G Pyotr Kochetkov - 2019 2nd round, 36 OA
9 - C Stelio Mattheos - 2017 3rd round, 73 OA
10 - LHD Jesper Sellgren - 2018 6th round, 166 OA
10 - C Jamieson Rees - 2019 2nd round, 44 OA
12 - C Eetu Luostarinein - 2017 2nd round, 42 OA
13 - RHD Roland McKeown - trade 2015 (drafted LAK 2nd 2014, 50 OA)
14 - C Jack Drury - 2018 2nd round, 42 OA
15 - RW Patrik Puistola - 2019 3rd round, 73 OA
16 - RHD Luke Martin - 2017 2nd round, 52 OA
17 - C David Cotton - 2015 6th round, 169 OA
18 - RHD Anttoni Honka - 2019 3rd round, 83 OA
19 - C Clark Bishop - 2014 5th round, 127 OA
20 - G Jeremy Helvig - 2016 5th round, 134 OA
20 - RHD Alex Lintuniemi - 2019 UFA signing (drafted LAK 2nd 2014, 60 OA)
HMs:
RW Spencer Smallman - 2015 5th round, 138 OA
LW/RW Matt Filipe - 2016 3rd round, 67 OA
RW Tuukka Tieksola - 2019 4th round, 121 OA
LHD Domenick Fensore - 2019 3rd round, 90 OA
G Callum Booth - 2015 4th round, 93 OA
LHD Cade Webber - 2019 4th round, 99 OA

Thanks to all who participated, and special thanks to those that did so from other boards.

 

[DaveG]

So FWIW on Killinen since he's lighting it up at the U20 Summer Showcase, he didn't receive any top 15 votes but he was on numerous lists for those who went beyond 15. He's one that I had fairly close to making my list simply because I tend to think guys that play his style are underrated a bit (same goes for Filipe as my writeup would indicate), so he's definitely one to keep an eye on this season. If he turns the offense up a notch I think he could be the next Sellgren type that goes from unranked to top 10 type range.

 

[tarheelhockey]

My list vs. the consensus

1. C/RW Martin Necas -
2. LHD Jake Bean -
3. C Ryan Suzuki -
4. G Alex Nedeljkovic -
5. RHD Roland McKeown +8
6. RW/C Morgan Geekie -
7. G Pyotr Kochetkov +1
8. RW Julien Gauthier -2
9. C Jamieson Rees +1
10. C Eetu Luostarinein -2
11. RHD Luke Martin +5
12. RHD Antoni Honka +6
13. LW/C Janne Kuokkanen -6
14. LHD Jesper Sellgren -4
15. LHD Cade Webber +11

The most significant difference is that I guess I still have a lot of faith in Roland McKeown. IMO he's been lost in a numbers game here, whereas almost anywhere else he'd be on the NHL roster racking up experience by now. To be as young and ready as he is, and still stuck in the AHL, I feel like there's a solid chance he breaks in with a "late bloomer" narrative once he gets his chance.

I still have faith in Luke Martin, which may be misplaced given the environment at Michigan. We shall see. I basically gave him a benefit of the doubt that I didn't give to Kuokkanen, who I had ranked highly in the past for reasons similar to Martin. I just didn't love the season he had this year, and I'm at a point where I question whether he has a AAAA ceiling.

Honka may have been a mistake. He's just so skilled, and RHD are in such short supply. But I do have some red flags around him, so in retrospect may have overrated him here. On the other hand I apparently underrated Sellgren... but TBH it surprised me to see him top-10 in the consensus list. He has come up awfully fast.

Cade Webber was my long shot. IMO he's got the raw material to be an impact defender in the NHL. I expect a long term development track but he's an interesting prospect.

I guess I still see us as being pretty D-heavy in terms of the future NHL talent in our pipeline. Seems the group leans more toward the forwards.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

I guess I'll post my list here.

1) David Cotton
2) Martin Necas
3) Jake Bean
4) Ryan Suzuki
5) Pyotr Kochetkov
6) David Cotton
7) Alex Nedeljkovic
8) Morgan Geekie
9) Janne Kuokkanen
10) Austin Levi

 

[Helsinki Hurricanes]

I guess I'll post my list here.

1) David Cotton
2) Martin Necas
3) Jake Bean
4) Ryan Suzuki
5) Pyotr Kochetkov
6) David Cotton
7) Alex Nedeljkovic
8) Morgan Geekie
9) Janne Kuokkanen
10) Austin Levi

Are you sure Cotton is high enough? I heard he has allstar potential froma reliable source.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Are you sure Cotton is high enough? I heard he has allstar potential froma reliable source.

Yeah but he's in a numbers game with Austin Levi. I worry what happens when they're on the ice at the same time... there's only one puck, know what I mean?

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

I guess I'll post my list here.

1) David Cotton
2) Martin Necas
3) Jake Bean
4) Ryan Suzuki
5) Pyotr Kochetkov
6) David Cotton
7) Alex Nedeljkovic
8) Morgan Geekie
9) Janne Kuokkanen
10) Austin Levi

Not enough Ryan Dzingel and Mike Hoffman.

 

[NotOpie]

I guess I'll post my list here.

1) David Cotton
2) Martin Necas
3) Jake Bean
4) Ryan Suzuki
5) Pyotr Kochetkov
6) David Cotton
7) Alex Nedeljkovic
8) Morgan Geekie
9) Janne Kuokkanen
10) Austin Levi

Bold move Cotton....

 

[emptyNedder]

I am looking forward to the Checkers season. There should be some stiff competition among Kuokkanen, Geekie, Gauthier, and Luostarinen for scoring honors. Mattheos and Pritchard will be fighting to move up as well.

According to EliteProspects, the Checkers have the youngest average age in the AHL by almost 3 years.
EDIT: Just noticed that EP compared the 19-20 Checkers with the 18-19 AHL. This season the Checkers average age is almost 1 year younger than the next youngest team.

 

[NotOpie]

The Checkers lines are an interesting exercise atm:

Kuokkanen/Geekie/Gauthier
Shinkaruk/Luostarinen/Smallman
Pritchard/Gibbons/Markison
Lorentz/Bishop/McCormick

The team probably has a number of other signings and who knows about Maenalanen. However, that's an interesting group with youth in the top 6 and some good speed and skill in the bottom 6.

We only have 4 defensemen under actual contract (Carrick and McKeown still are needing deals). Bean very well could make it 5. Without the aforementioned duo, we would start with 5 left shot defensemen. Lintuniemi is a left shot, RHD, however. Still it is an interesting phenomenon.

 

[GoldiFox]

The Checkers lines are an interesting exercise atm:

Kuokkanen/Geekie/Gauthier
Shinkaruk/Luostarinen/Smallman
Pritchard/Gibbons/Markison
Lorentz/Bishop/McCormick

The team probably has a number of other signings and who knows about Maenalanen. However, that's an interesting group with youth in the top 6 and some good speed and skill in the bottom 6.

We only have 4 defensemen under actual contract (Carrick and McKeown still are needing deals). Bean very well could make it 5. Without the aforementioned duo, we would start with 5 left shot defensemen. Lintuniemi is a left shot, RHD, however. Still it is an interesting phenomenon.

Stelio Mattheos will slot as a top-9 skill RW.

 

[CandyCanes]

The Checkers lines are an interesting exercise atm:

Kuokkanen/Geekie/Gauthier
Shinkaruk/Luostarinen/Smallman
Pritchard/Gibbons/Markison
Lorentz/Bishop/McCormick

The team probably has a number of other signings and who knows about Maenalanen. However, that's an interesting group with youth in the top 6 and some good speed and skill in the bottom 6.

We only have 4 defensemen under actual contract (Carrick and McKeown still are needing deals). Bean very well could make it 5. Without the aforementioned duo, we would start with 5 left shot defensemen. Lintuniemi is a left shot, RHD, however. Still it is an interesting phenomenon.

I really wonder about why Gibbons signed with the Hurricanes and why the Hurricanes signed him? He's played 25+ NHL games in each of the last 4 seasons, including 64 games last year. He also put up 14 points in the final 20 games of the season when he got moved to Ottawa. Hard to imagine being in the NHL last year, having a decent season, finishing the year really strongly, and then only being a 3rd line center in the AHL. Are the Hurricanes going to call on him as a recall over some of our prospects? Really wonder how management this guy.

 

[Sens]

Cotton in no rush to join Hurricanes, continues development at own pace

"David's skating, strength and consistency have all improved over the course of his three years at B.C.," Boston College assistant Marty McInnis said. "His ability to hold defenders off and control the puck in the offensive zone has made him a difficult matchup for defenders. He's also turned into a player that's not afraid of the dirty areas in front of the other team's net, where he has great stick and is a terrific finisher."

"He reminds me a lot of (Philadelphia Flyers center) Kevin Hayes, who played four years at B.C.," said McInnis, who played three seasons there before a 12-season NHL career with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Boston Bruins. "David is tall and skilled with a high IQ, which should make his transition easier."

Hayes exploded in his 4th year
Kevin Hayes Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

 

[NotOpie]

Stelio Mattheos will slot as a top-9 skill RW.

Yeah meant to bump Markison....maybe move Smallman to 3rd line and have Mattheos as 2RW.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Cotton in no rush to join Hurricanes, continues development at own pace

"David's skating, strength and consistency have all improved over the course of his three years at B.C.," Boston College assistant Marty McInnis said. "His ability to hold defenders off and control the puck in the offensive zone has made him a difficult matchup for defenders. He's also turned into a player that's not afraid of the dirty areas in front of the other team's net, where he has great stick and is a terrific finisher."

"He reminds me a lot of (Philadelphia Flyers center) Kevin Hayes, who played four years at B.C.," said McInnis, who played three seasons there before a 12-season NHL career with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Boston Bruins. "David is tall and skilled with a high IQ, which should make his transition easier."

Hayes exploded in his 4th year
Kevin Hayes Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Yes, we all saw this a week before you showed up here to educate us.

Nice to see you are catching up to what we already knew.

 

[emptyNedder]

Yeah meant to bump Markison....maybe move Smallman to 3rd line and have Mattheos as 2RW.

Agree with having Mattheos with one of the top centers. I think the second line might be Pritchard/Luostarinen/Mattheos. I admit I have no idea where Gibbons slots—he had a decent finish to his NHL season so I would think he produces in the AHL.

 

[Navin R Slavin]

Cotton in no rush to join Hurricanes, continues development at own pace

"David's skating, strength and consistency have all improved over the course of his three years at B.C.," Boston College assistant Marty McInnis said. "His ability to hold defenders off and control the puck in the offensive zone has made him a difficult matchup for defenders. He's also turned into a player that's not afraid of the dirty areas in front of the other team's net, where he has great stick and is a terrific finisher."

"He reminds me a lot of (Philadelphia Flyers center) Kevin Hayes, who played four years at B.C.," said McInnis, who played three seasons there before a 12-season NHL career with the New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Boston Bruins. "David is tall and skilled with a high IQ, which should make his transition easier."

Hayes exploded in his 4th year
Kevin Hayes Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com

Yes, Mister Cotton, I understand that your son is gonna be a great hockey player... but this is an Arby's.

 

[Mildan]

Out of curiosity, where would you guys have slotted Saarela on your lists? I personally was not happy to see him traded.

 

[NotOpie]

Out of curiosity, where would you guys have slotted Saarela on your lists? I personally was not happy to see him traded.

Some of us liked Saarela more than others. Apparently, Rod Brind'Amour was not in the "like" category. Kid has great offensive skills, in particular an NHL-level shot. As the season wore on, he slowly became more responsible in his own end. However, that was never going to be his game. Personally, I think he could have slotted into the lower end of the Top 10 despite his lack of multi-dimensions.

 

[My Special Purpose]

Out of curiosity, where would you guys have slotted Saarela on your lists? I personally was not happy to see him traded.

Low teens. Our consensus list kinda stinks, IMO. Using that, I'd probably put him at No. 13 and remove McKeown entirely. Then I'd have to move Puistola (and maybe Honka) ahead of him, so about 14-15.