What Team Has the Top Future D Corp

[wetcoast]

1. I memorize the year of birth. A guy born in 2004 is 21 years old in 2025. It doesn't change the debate. Most of the guys listed will reach the age I mentioned in 1 month, and the season is already over.

What difference does it make if the player is 20 years and 11 months old, even though I said 21 ?

2. I already admitted my mistake with Vlasic.

3. Regarding Levshunov and Korchinski, they are certainly young but they are struggling and well below the expected level. Both have major defensive shortcomings. Korchinski is struggling even in the AHL. So I'm talking about an uncertain top 4. I don't see how I can validate them as a definite top 4. Same thing for Levshunov. Impossible to classify him as a top 2. A guy like Reinbacher has shown more defensive certainty (he's impressive with Laval) and I don't have him higher than top 4.

4. I'm doing the analysis as it seems to me today. It's not forbidden to make an update. Some guys have moved up, others have moved down.

Fair enough but age and context of level of play at given age is extremely important.

Take Ethan Del Mastro for example as last season he had a very good first year as a pro all around in the AHL.

this is his second pro season and he has played in NHL games so he has improved and maybe next year we see the same.

Look back at many NHL Dmen outside of top pairing guys and you will see that some very good #2,3,4 types emerge later than 21 or 22.

Some of your focus seems to be lost in that the Black Hawks are probably playing many of their younger guys too early, let's see them sign a couple of FA Dmen and evaluate where they are next year but scouting them.

 

[HockeyWooot]

A short time ago would not have had the Canucks anywhere close to this discussion, as laughably weak side outside of our top pair- this was out dcorp just a couple of seasons ago:

Hughes Bear
OEL Myers
Burroughs Schenn
Stillman Poolman

Now we have a nicer mix of veteran mainstays and youngsters breaking into the league.



Hughes- self explanatory, has raised his game another level this season.

*Willander*- Projects to be a top 4 2way dman with strong smart defensive play, has exceptional skating and reads. Comparables like Brodin or Forsling get thrown out there, if he ends up anything like them will be a huge add. Tracking well.

Hronek- played like a 1D when Hughes went down for stretches of injury this year. Would like to see him eventually run his own pairing, though for now him and Hughes work together too well.

*E Pettersson*- one of the few bright spots for an otherwise disappointing Canuck season. He’s had an impressive trajectory coming from Sweden acclimatising to North America as an all star in his rookie year, to coming up and staying with the big club.

Big frame, skates well with good poise and decision making. He plays physically with a bit of snarl and has brought his style of play effectively to the NHL. He really embraces that style of play and doesn’t back down despite being relatively young at 21. Probably tops out as a 4/5 at best but who knows at this point- maybe somewhere between a Gavrikov and a Zadorov can’t be ruled out.

*Mancini*- few Canuck fans knew about him, judging by NYR fan reactions seems he was not just a throwaway in the Miller deal. He’s looked good so far. Physical, skates well and with his athleticism likes to make plays with the puck on his stick. Likely nothing more than a solid bottom pairing dman but could be one that can be cost controlled and relied upon (eg Hague/Whitecloud).

 

[FiveTacos]

This really isn't that complicated. There's a number of teams with nice prospect pools, but no idea who will hit, yet could conceivably (if several hit) end up as a great D corps.

The tie breaker is which of those teams also:
1) have at least one guy who's already playing at a top pairing level,
2) have guys already in the NHL flashing strong potential for top 4, as opposed to being pure projection
3) have a clear superstar caliber prospect not in the NHL

If the dude is just a "hey he could be a top 4 guy," well there's a ton of those prospects. Most of whom will NOT end up as top 4 guys. And some won't even prove NHL capable, probably more than most care to admit.

 

[saska sault]

This really isn't that complicated. There's a number of teams with nice prospect pools, but no idea who will hit, yet could conceivably (if several hit) end up as a great D corps.

The tie breaker is which of those teams also:
1) have at least one guy who's already playing at a top pairing level,
2) have guys already in the NHL flashing strong potential for top 4, as opposed to being pure projection
3) have a clear superstar caliber prospect not in the NHL

If the dude is just a "hey he could be a top 4 guy," well there's a ton of those prospects. Most of whom will NOT end up as top 4 guys. And some won't even prove NHL capable, probably more than most care to admit.

Detroit fits that bill but so do a few teams. Mo, Edvinsson and ASP plus a very steady Johansson as depth. 4 of their future 6 defensive spots should be accounted for without factoring in their other prospects.

 

[Raistlin]

A short time ago would not have had the Canucks anywhere close to this discussion, as laughably weak side outside of our top pair- this was out dcorp just a couple of seasons ago:

Hughes Bear
OEL Myers
Burroughs Schenn
Stillman Poolman

Now we have a nicer mix of veteran mainstays and youngsters breaking into the league.



Hughes- self explanatory, has raised his game another level this season.

*Willander*- Projects to be a top 4 2way dman with strong smart defensive play, has exceptional skating and reads. Comparables like Brodin or Forsling get thrown out there, if he ends up anything like them will be a huge add. Tracking well.

Hronek- played like a 1D when Hughes went down for stretches of injury this year. Would like to see him eventually run his own pairing, though for now him and Hughes work together too well.

*E Pettersson*- one of the few bright spots for an otherwise disappointing Canuck season. He’s had an impressive trajectory coming from Sweden acclimatising to North America as an all star in his rookie year, to coming up and staying with the big club.

Big frame, skates well with good poise and decision making. He plays physically with a bit of snarl and has brought his style of play effectively to the NHL. He really embraces that style of play and doesn’t back down despite being relatively young at 21. Probably tops out as a 4/5 at best but who knows at this point- maybe somewhere between a Gavrikov and a Zadorov can’t be ruled out.

*Mancini*- few Canuck fans knew about him, judging by NYR fan reactions seems he was not just a throwaway in the Miller deal. He’s looked good so far. Physical, skates well and with his athleticism likes to make plays with the puck on his stick. Likely nothing more than a solid bottom pairing dman but could be one that can be cost controlled and relied upon (eg Hague/Whitecloud).

Canucks are a bit different than the afformentioned hawks and habs trajectory, less depth but a good blend of veteran and rookies starting next year. Their core will be effective much sooner as the young pieces are all complimentary to a perennial Norris candidate in Hughes.

Marcus Pettersson as the veteran presence at 28 for 6 more years.
Mynio/Kudryavtsev showing promise.
I feel one of the young pieces will be trade bait this summer for forward help.

 

[dj Mahoney]

You trade a solid top 4 for Vlasic and I'll change nothing. Del Mastro as a 6/7 is very generous considering he's not even a top 6 player on a regular basis on the worst team in the league.

Otherwise, I don't see any top 2 defensemen on an NHL team that's making the playoffs.

Levshunov and Korchinski's level is really not reassuring for a top 2 in the future.

Let's just say there's a lot, a lot of progress to be made.

But I'm arguing. It's too easy to send toxic messages with a clown, a laugh, and a burst of laughter.

For a Team full of AHL and ECHL defenceman I cant believe the Might Montreal Juggernaut should be steaming rolling them !! Looks like your incredibly inciteful analysis is quite moronic. Should be Interesting watching the 140lb smurf on Hab's blueline in the playoffs get manhandled

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

For a Team full of AHL and ECHL defenceman I cant believe the Might Montreal Juggernaut should be steaming rolling them !! Looks like your incredibly inciteful analysis is quite moronic. Should be Interesting watching the 140lb smurf on Hab's blueline in the playoffs get manhandled

The only guy I listed in the AHL is Kaiser.

There's an R-word to describe what Demidov does for Chicago's defense.

 

[dj Mahoney]

The only guy I listed in the AHL is Kaiser.

There's an R-word to describe what Demidov does for Chicago's defense.

Is the R word the one your Dogfaced defenceman pulled in Sweden ? Good thing Montreal had the ref's giving them mickey mouse calls to keep game close . I worry about Montreal so many AHLers pretending to be NHLers

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Is the R word the one your Dogfaced defenceman pulled in Sweden ? Good thing Montreal had the ref's giving them mickey mouse calls to keep game close . I worry about Montreal so many AHLers pretending to be NHLers

The Mailloux case has nothing to do with the R. And then a Chicago fan is in a bad position with the Kyle Beach case.

Of all the defensemen who played, I ranked three in the top four. Kaiser was invisible.

I don't think you're able to understand a sport as complicated as hockey if you can't grasp these simple things.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Getting cringey in here boys. Take the night off. Start with your weird takes after a good sleep.

 

[dj Mahoney]

The Mailloux case has nothing to do with the R. And then a Chicago fan is in a bad position with the Kyle Beach case.

Of all the defensemen who played, I ranked three in the top four. Kaiser was invisible.

I don't think you're able to understand a sport as complicated as hockey if you can't grasp these simple things.

RINZEL , LEVSHUNOV , VLASIC KAISER look far better than the garbage on Montreal ,,,Hutson is a tiny joke . He wont survive If he ever sees a playoff game .

 

[WarriorofTime]

Hutson is great

 

[HawksDub89]

Hutsons very good, but holy shit did Nazar make him his bitch a few times tonight.

I’m very interested to see how Hutson handles playoff hockey. He’s a stud offensively, no doubt.

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

RINZEL , LEVSHUNOV , VLASIC KAISER look far better than the garbage on Montreal ,,,Hutson is a tiny joke . He wont survive If he ever sees a playoff game .

If they're better than the future Calder Trophy winner and likely in a few Norris votes, why is the team so far behind 30th ?

You don't understand anything about hockey. Rinzel was way above in the game and Kaiser way below. You would have cited Nazar rather than these guys in this game. And the other best player was Foligno. Hutson had a very good endgame.

A guy with even a little knowledge knows that in one game, any NHL team can dominate. It's consistency over 100 games that counts, and that's very tough.

 

[dj Mahoney]

Hutson handles the puck incredibly , the problem is you cant play the guy in an NHL Playoff game If you intend on winning . If Hutson got hit like Moore he would be a fulltime board advertisement .

 

[Mrfenn92]

If they're better than the future Calder Trophy winner and likely in a few Norris votes, why is the team so far behind 30th ?
You don't understand anything about hockey. You would have cited Nazar rather than these guys in this game. And the other best player was Foligno. Hutson had a very good endgame.

Rinzel, Vlasic, and Leshunov weren’t good tonight?

 

[Dirtyf1ghter]

Rinzel, Vlasic, and Leshunov weren’t good tonight?

Vlasic was normal - very solid. As usual.

Rinzel was very good.

Levshunov was good at starting offensive plays but not finishing them. Defensively, there's work to be done.

I listed these guys in the Top 4, so I'm not surprised.

Chicago missing a fourth with a more elite standard to compete for the title in the future.

 

[Mrfenn92]

Vlasic was normal - very solid. As usual.

Rinzel was very good.

Levshunov was good at starting offensive plays but not finishing them. Defensively, there's work to be done.

I listed these guys in the Top 4, so I'm not surprised.

Chicago missing a fourth with a more elite standard to compete for the title in the future.

Whatever cheers

 

[FiveTacos]

Hutson handles the puck incredibly , the problem is you cant play the guy in an NHL Playoff game If you intend on winning .

I used to hear that about Brian Leetch until he won the Conn Smythe. Let's at least see the kid in the playoffs a few times before writing him off, eh?

 

[SimpleJack]

Here’s a CRAZY thought…but maybe just MAYBE it’s possible that Hutson, Rinzel, Lev, and Vlasic are all great young players worth being excited about…and this whole “yeah but our guy is better!” stuff is just silly.

 

[wetcoast]

Getting cringey in here boys. Take the night off. Start with your weird takes after a good sleep.

Or better yet maybe stick to the thread topic for a change?

 

[Nazzz]

Hutson is great

I had a better opinion of Hutson until I saw what Nazar did to him last night. Holy shit

 

[HawksDub89]

I had a better opinion of Hutson until I saw what Nazar did to him last night. Holy shit

He’ll get better defensively, he’s still pretty young. Some of his issues are solvable with better positioning. But to your point Nazar absolutely dusted him several times.

And to be fair Nazars speed will do that to many.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’ll get better defensively, he’s still pretty young. Some of his issues are solvable with better positioning. But to your point Nazar absolutely dusted him several times.

And to be fair Nazars speed will do that to many.

It’s also one game. Hutson is gonna win the Calder. I think that speaks for itself.

 

[M2Beezy]

I used to hear that about Brian Leetch until he won the Conn Smythe. Let's at least see the kid in the playoffs a few times before writing him off, eh?

No. Write him off NOW