Winnipeg Jets Top 20 Prospects 2017 - #5

[Hank Chinaski]

1. Kyle Connor, LW

94.0% of vote


2. Jack Roslovic, C/RW

93.4% of vote


3. Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW

66.5% of vote


4. Sami Niku, D

32.9% of vote

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[surixon]

Poolman for me. He's the closest and no one else on the list has really dominated their peer group to give themselves a leg up on him even if I feel a number of them have higher ceilings.

 

[Mortimer Snerd]

Poolman again.

 

[DeepFrickinValue]

no harkins love at all. did well with his moose stint last year.

my prediction for most underrated prospect.

 

[truck]

I voted Samberg. He has a lot to prove, but I have liked everything I've seen from him to date. There aren't many sure bets left. I considered Poolman, I like Samberg's upside and I generally have a good feeling about this kid.

 

[truck]

no harkins love at all. did well with his moose stint last year.

my prediction for most underrated prospect.

I'm a big fan of Harkins. I'll be voting for him soon. The thing that dings him for me is I don't think he has scoring line upside. More of a Lowry.

 

[DEANYOUNGBLOOD17]

no harkins love at all. did well with his moose stint last year.

my prediction for most underrated prospect.

I am voting " The Poolman" then Harkins.

 

[garret9]

I voted Samberg. He has a lot to prove, but I have liked everything I've seen from him to date. There aren't many sure bets left. I considered Poolman, I like Samberg's upside and I generally have a good feeling about this kid.

^ This

 

[garret9]

1 Connor 67.4% voted 1st
2 Roslovic 58.0% voted 2nd
3 Vesalainen 55.6% voted 3rd
4 Samberg 8.9%
5 Niku 20.0% voted 4th
6 Poolman 20.0%
7 Spacek 21.0%
8 Kovacevic 20.2%
9 Comrie NA
10 Lemieux 22.3%
11 Foley 18.6%
12 Virtanen 17.7%
13 Gawanke 16.5%
14 DeLeo 21.1%
15 Appleton 14.4%
16 Harkins 12.3%
17 Green 10.3%
18 Stanley 8.3%
19 Berdin NA
20 Nogier 22.1%
21 McKenzie 13.1%
22 Evingson NA
23 Lipon 12.9%
24 Lodge 13.5%
25 Franklin 2.7%
26 Cederholm 7.7%
27 Kraskovsky 7.4%
28 Stallard 10.0%
29 Glover 2.0%

Samberg played in the USHS, which doesn't model well for my system. The USHS is actually multiple different leagues and tiers, but the system treats it all as one, which causes cohorts to be all over the place. He is a player going to the NCAA next year that should post an excellent %s when he does.

He has great tools. He has size, skates well, and puck skills. The biggest thing to me is his hockey mind in being able to anticipate the play. This is what separates him from "size and can skate" like a Cederholm, Nogier, or Stanley. This allows him to retrieve pucks more efficiently, move them out, and join the rush to add offense. He has instincts giving him a far higher upside than any of our defensive prospects.

The one deficiency is that he is hella raw, from playing predominately in the USHS system. I suspect his freshman season should be decent but he'll really explode in his sophomore year.

He also has one hell of a shot. I see Samberg as being the best non-blue chip defender we've ever had at this age. He's no Morrissey or Trouba, but he's the next best thing.

 

[Hank Chinaski]

Gave consideration to Poolman, Spacek and De Leo, the latter being criminally underrated as most older prospects usually are.

Went with Samberg. Love what I've seen from his highlights, shift-by-shifts, and at the prospect camp. Plus I like shiny new things.

 

[buggs]

Haven't seen anything of Samberg (haven't been looking, mea culpa) so went with Poolman. Will consider him next (or Poolman again if Samberg wins out here) as well as Harkins. Spots 5-7 are filled by those three in my mind.

 

[Rheged]

Space Man!

 

[jetsforever]

Still Comrie

 

[Romang67]

Picked Harkins again. Primarily because I picked him earlier and I'm a one-track mind. Was between him and Samberg.

Add Kovacevic.

 

[puck stoppa]

1 Connor 67.4% voted 1st
2 Roslovic 58.0% voted 2nd
3 Vesalainen 55.6% voted 3rd
4 Samberg 8.9%
5 Niku 20.0% voted 4th
6 Poolman 20.0%
7 Spacek 21.0%
8 Kovacevic 20.2%
9 Comrie NA
10 Lemieux 22.3%
11 Foley 18.6%
12 Virtanen 17.7%
13 Gawanke 16.5%
14 DeLeo 21.1%
15 Appleton 14.4%
16 Harkins 12.3%
17 Green 10.3%
18 Stanley 8.3%
19 Berdin NA
20 Nogier 22.1%
21 McKenzie 13.1%
22 Evingson NA
23 Lipon 12.9%
24 Lodge 13.5%
25 Franklin 2.7%
26 Cederholm 7.7%
27 Kraskovsky 7.4%
28 Stallard 10.0%
29 Glover 2.0%

Samberg played in the USHS, which doesn't model well for my system. The USHS is actually multiple different leagues and tiers, but the system treats it all as one, which causes cohorts to be all over the place. He is a player going to the NCAA next year that should post an excellent %s when he does.

He has great tools. He has size, skates well, and puck skills. The biggest thing to me is his hockey mind in being able to anticipate the play. This is what separates him from "size and can skate" like a Cederholm, Nogier, or Stanley. This allows him to retrieve pucks more efficiently, move them out, and join the rush to add offense. He has instincts giving him a far higher upside than any of our defensive prospects.

The one deficiency is that he is hella raw, from playing predominately in the USHS system. I suspect his freshman season should be decent but he'll really explode in his sophomore year.

He also has one hell of a shot. I see Samberg as being the best non-blue chip defender we've ever had at this age. He's no Morrissey or Trouba, but he's the next best thing.

Your second paragraph sounds like youre talking about Poolman. He's a sure thing to make NHL IMO, Samberg has a ways to go, I like him but not top 5 on this ranking, voted Poolman, Comrie next.

 

[garret9]

Your second paragraph sounds like youre talking about Poolman. He's a sure thing to make NHL IMO, Samberg has a ways to go, I like him but not top 5 on this ranking, voted Poolman, Comrie next.

I view Samberg as being much more athletic and higher upside than Poolman. Kovacevic I view more akin to Poolman.

 

[Arthur Fonzarelli]

Went with Poolman. Nominating Nogier.

 

[truck]

My rankings and notes as of today, subject to change tomorrow.
1 Connor - Elite talent.
2 Roslovic - High level talent.
.
Significant drop-off (High upside or very close to NHL ready.)
.
3 Vesalainen - So much speed, size, skill. Can he put it together.
4 Niku - Likely NHLer. How high is his ceiling?
5 Samberg - Loads of skill, but lots to prove.
6 Poolman - Near NHL ready, low ceiling.
7 Harkins - Near NHL ready, low ceiling.
8 Kovacevic - Strong college performance is eye catching, play lacks pop.
9 Spacek - Smaller skilled guy. Has some NHL caliber skill, but not sure he finds a role here.
10 Lemieux - 4th liner. Meh.
11 Virtanen - I am really intrigued by this kid. Does the little things well, reminds me of Copp.
12 Comrie - Still a talented goalie prospect, but I want to see him stop more pucks.
13 Gawanke - Strong numbers. Smart player. Reminds me of Morrissey in how he reads play. Can he fix his skating? He needs to.
.
Drop-off (Long shot upside or near ready marginal NHL talents.)
.
14 DeLeo - I think he can play NHL hockey, but I doubt he'll play here.
15 Foley - Real potential as a depth forward. Lots to like. Maybe too low.
16 Appleton - Doesn't move very well, but produces very well. Some real potential here.
17 Green - Flashy skating provides hope, but he is still looks like a long shot.
18 Stanley - skating. Looks like a longshot, but his shot rates make me hopeful.
19 Berdin - Stops pucks better than most. Upside! All goalies are long shots.
20 Nogier - Probable depth player, can he become more than a 7, 8, 9?
21 McKenzie - Really fun to watch, but he has a long road ahead of him.
22 Evingson - Looked good in the NAHL. Projection = ??? Ask me next year.
.
Drop-off (Really really long shots or near done.)
.
23 Lipon - I've always enjoyed Lippy, but he doesn't have an NHL role beyond 4th liner who can fight.
24 Lodge - He's got some skill, but it looks like AHL skill at this point.
25 Franklin - Poor man's Foley.
26 Cederholm - Nothing to get excited about yet.
27 Kraskovsky - Not sure he'll ever come to NA.
28 Stallard - Unlikely to be in the system much longer.
29 Glover - Unlikely to be in the system much longer.

 

[Whileee]

Went with Samberg again. Poolman is next for me. Add Nogier, who is becoming a stealth prospect.

 

[RustyCat]

Went with Stanley. Add Berdin. His SV% was second in the league while on a losing team. Intriguing prospect.

 

[csk]

I wanted to vote Kovacevic at #4, and he's still not on the list. Please add him

 

[ps241]

I literally flipped a coin between Samberg and Poolman and feel bad for going Poolman since I have been pumping Samberg's tires since before the draft.

 

[Inflict]

Voted for Spacek due to his upside. Like everyone else, I think Samberg has great potential, but it's too early to know what we have in him until he plays against better competition. Therefore, I am going with the "safe pick" in Spacek.

 

[garret9]

I will admit, I can 100% see the case for guys like Spacek, Poolman, and Harkins over Samberg, but I like Samberg's upside.

 

[Whileee]

I will admit, I can 100% see the case for guys like Spacek, Poolman, and Harkins over Samberg, but I like Samberg's upside.

Me too.