Prospect Info: 125th Overall - D Nikolas Koberstein

[HabsDieHard*]

Well just as an example look at McCarron last year, he put up .50 points or so per game in the OHL, find me examples of NHL forwards who had as bad of seasons in the OHL as his last year who went on to have an NHL career.

Koberstein probably will never play a game in the NHL, but I think it's way too soon to declare without a doubt he won't.

Just like it was too early after last season to declare McCarron will never be an impact player in the nHL (though I'm inclined to agree).

 

[Ezpz]

The USHL is to the OHL what the ECHL is to the NHL though.

 

[montreal]

If Thrower has to start his pro career in the ECHL I would imagine Koberstein won't even be offered a contract. Though our depth could be noticebly weaker in the future.

I wouldn't look at Thrower's situation since he had been injured since the end of last season and missed so much time. Not saying Koberstein will or won't be any good as I haven't seen him play.

 

[Whitesnake]

An out-of-left field pick that still is incredibly raw. They will give him all the time in the world to shine. They have till 2019 to make a decision. Don't worry....they will wait till 2019 to do so. He is about to have the kind of development that Didier is having. So not spectacular, but could be incredibly effective defensively. I mean, like I said in this thread before....totally out-of-left field for him. Will see how that plays out....but you'll need a full 5 years to find out. We might have an idea in 2 years though.

Edit: 54 years is way too long of a wait....

 

[gusfring]

The USHL is to the OHL what the ECHL is to the NHL though.

That simply isn't true.

 

[Hoople]

+ 11 to lead his former team

Not every DMan is a PMD and it's good to have DMen who can play D.

 

[Ezpz]

That simply isn't true.

What do you mean? There's legitimately 2 or 3 good prospects per year in the USHL that aren't on the development team or European imports going to the NCAA the following year. It is an extremely weak league.

 

[Seb]

I mean, like I said in this thread before....totally out-of-left field for him. Will see how that plays out....but you'll need a full 54 years to find out. We might have an idea in 2 years though.

Too long for my liking

 

[Richiebottles]

You know guys drafted don't always have to pan out... If they do great but you still have an AHL roster to fill out and later rounds are used for that too...

 

[Ezpz]

You know guys drafted don't always have to pan out... If they do great but you still have an AHL roster to fill out and later rounds are used for that too...

Sure. It would just be nice if we didn't pretend a guy with 1 point in 30 games in a weak league still has NHL potential. Even shutdown guys produce in the USHL.

 

[Whitesnake]

Too long for my liking

Just corrected it. At least, 54 years would make SURE we would have a perfect read on the situation....

 

[gusfring]

What do you mean? There's legitimately 2 or 3 good prospects per year in the USHL that aren't on the development team or European imports going to the NCAA the following year. It is an extremely weak league.

No it isn't. It is not the OHL but the difference is not comparible to the ECHL / NHL difference

 

[Mike8]

Sure. It would just be nice if we didn't pretend a guy with 1 point in 30 games in a weak league still has NHL potential. Even shutdown guys produce in the USHL.

Andrew Alberts - 4 pts, 49 gp at 18 years old
Matt Greene - 1 pt 20 gp at 17 years old (turned 18 during season)
Alex Goligoski - 3 pts in 20 gp over 2 seasons (17-18 yrs old)
Kurt Sauer - 5 pts in 52 gp (17-18)
Mark Stuart - 1 pt in 16 gp (16-18)

I mean, you're generally right, but it's pretty dangerous to speak in such certainties. It's not like there's a ton of defensive defensemen coming out of the USHL to use as a sample size, and virtually every player drafted in later rounds is a project of some kind.

 

[bleuetbio]

Nikolas Koberstein... yeah right, a great guy. I started to like him when he writes about heliocentricity. Not sure about his future, but a great past

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

Not to bust up this great USHL talk, but noticed that there's no mention of him being traded to Bloomington in this thread (source), nor that there's a possibility that he might end up at an Eastern college instead of Alaska so that the Habs can keep a closer eye on him (last tidbit of this source).

Figured some real news/talking points should be shoehorned in here somewhere.

 

[Habs100]

Well just as an example look at McCarron last year, he put up .50 points or so per game in the OHL, find me examples of NHL forwards who had as bad of seasons in the OHL as his last year who went on to have an NHL career.

Koberstein probably will never play a game in the NHL, but I think it's way too soon to declare without a doubt he won't.

Just like it was too early after last season to declare McCarron will never be an impact player in the nHL (though I'm inclined to agree).

Dustin Byfuglien's stats early in his career (he was born in 1985 and drafted in 2003).

2001-02 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 3 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 8 1 1 2 4 1 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 Prince George Cougars WHL 48 9 28 37 74 10 5 1 3 4 12
2003-04 Prince George Cougars WHL 66 16 29 45 137 -1 -- -- -- -- --
2004-05 Prince George Cougars WHL 64 22 36 58 184 -5 -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 53 8 15 23 75 -1 4 1 2 3 4
2005-06 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 25 3 2 5 24 -6 -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Norfolk Admirals AHL 63 16 28 44 146 12 6 0 2 2 18
2006-07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 9 1 2 3 10 -2 -- -- -- -- --

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Not to bust up this great USHL talk, but noticed that there's no mention of him being traded to Bloomington in this thread (source), nor that there's a possibility that he might end up at an Eastern college instead of Alaska so that the Habs can keep a closer eye on him (last tidbit of this source).

Figured some real news/talking points should be shoehorned in here somewhere.

You've clearly missed the whole point of the HF boards

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

The USHL is to the OHL what the ECHL is to the NHL though.

Not even close..........maybe ECHL to AHL but you are grossly exaggerating.

 

[MD thaivuN]

You know who had a bad USHL season in his junior career? Jiri MotherEffing Sekac. Didn't stop him to make our team and show some really good upside

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

you give me 30 games in the USHL i'll put up at least 1 point lol, still it's too early to rule him out.

hopefully he goes to an NCAA college somewhere in the east next year so I can see more of him

 

[montreal]

hopefully he goes to an NCAA college somewhere in the east next year so I can see more of him

he's already committed to University of Alaska Fairbanks

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

he's already committed to University of Alaska Fairbanks

And he's already rumoured to be thinking about changing his mind on that, possibly with a voice in his ear from someone in the Habs organization. Alaska supposedly wasn't the only school willing to bring him on, so I don't think U.A-F. is necessarily set in stone despite the commitment. Even if there's a letter of intent signed (which is voluntary, I believe), I think it only commits them to one year with the institution anyway. I'm no guru on recruitment in the NCAA, though, so I could be off.

 

[montreal]

And he's already rumoured to be thinking about changing his mind on that, possibly with a voice in his ear from someone in the Habs organization. Alaska supposedly wasn't the only school willing to bring him on, so I don't think U.A-F. is necessarily set in stone despite the commitment. Even if there's a letter of intent signed (which is voluntary, I believe), I think it only commits them to one year with the institution anyway. I'm no guru on recruitment in the NCAA, though, so I could be off.

At this stage he would have to de-commit first before he could attend another school. I would be all for him going somewhere else as the WCHA is now a weak conference (better then the Atlantic but likely behind the ECAC). So while he can easily play for another school, for now it's set that he's play for Alaska until he de-commits.

 

[JAVO16]

Dustin Byfuglien's stats early in his career (he was born in 1985 and drafted in 2003).

2001-02 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 3 0 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 8 1 1 2 4 1 -- -- -- -- --
2002-03 Prince George Cougars WHL 48 9 28 37 74 10 5 1 3 4 12
2003-04 Prince George Cougars WHL 66 16 29 45 137 -1 -- -- -- -- --
2004-05 Prince George Cougars WHL 64 22 36 58 184 -5 -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Norfolk Admirals AHL 53 8 15 23 75 -1 4 1 2 3 4
2005-06 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 25 3 2 5 24 -6 -- -- -- -- --
2006-07 Norfolk Admirals AHL 63 16 28 44 146 12 6 0 2 2 18
2006-07 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 9 1 2 3 10 -2 -- -- -- -- --

Byfuglien was a defenseman in the WHL and the AHL. He only got changed into a forward somewhere in his first few NHL seasons.

you give me 30 games in the USHL i'll put up at least 1 point lol, still it's too early to rule him out.

hopefully he goes to an NCAA college somewhere in the east next year so I can see more of him

You must be a pretty good hockey player then.

 

[montreal]

I noticed today that Koberstein has 6 pts in his last 14 games after getting 1 pt in his previous 34 games. Haven't seen him play yet but that's good to see him putting up some points of late. He's been racking up the pims this year as well with 99 on the year.