PlayersLtd
Registered User
- Mar 6, 2019
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We can all take solace in the fact that everyone underestimated Greig's ceiling and didn't account for his evolution the same way you are several players right now. Same goes for Sando, no one projected him as a Norris calibre defensemen, not many had Stu as a 90 pt player, we wrote off Kelly and he's a perfect 4th line player. The list is endless of players who evolved and exceeded their floor. Projections are tough but you're not giving any credit here beyond the bare minimum.Almost every player on this list likely would not be able to challenge anyone in Ottawa for a top six role or top 4 D role, they are all bottom six forwards or bottom pairing defencemen. Kleven LD is the top prospect & most place him behind Sanderson, Chychrun, Chabot & some behind Brannstrom although my guess is that Kleven replaces Brannstrom for next season.
- Jarventie LW - IMO is too soft for the NHL, otherwise he has a good skillset, but not sure he can take the NHL pysicality. Same for Thompson/Hamara
- Kleven LD - has all the makings of a 3rd pairing LD, size, toughness, mobile, decent passer & shot blocker
- Ostapchuk C/LW - has all the makings of a 4th line LW in the NHL size, toughness, decent wheels, hits, block shots, faceoffs & good fighter
- Crookshank LW - as I've said many times is a career AHL player
- Boucher RW - has the size, skillset & toughness for a bottom six role in the NHL & bloodlines
- Halliday C - has the size & skill, but I'm not sure he has the drive/determination or speed. He has more offence than Kastelic, but Kastelic is tougher.
- Sogaard G - has many tall goalie weaknesses & doesn't tract well, Merilainen reacts much faster & is much quicker lateral movement
- Petersson RW - could be a cup of coffee player, Boucher is his competition & is much tougher
- Guennette RD - is ahead of Donovan LD because he is a right shot D, also not sure he is tough enough for the NHL, but Donovan is
- Toure RD - is big & tough, but I'm not sure he is good enough all around for a 3rd pairing role, likely another cup of coffee player at best
- not sure anyone else is worth mentioning, whoever they draft in the 1st rd this yr will likely be on top of this list soon.
Ostapchuk is more than a 4th liner, he is a Nick Paul type Swiss Army knife with 3rd line anchor and PK stalwart written all over him. Kleven might be blocked in Ottawa but that doesn't mean he is a bottom pair calibre Dman, he is tracking very well and is looking more like a second pair with intangibles than he is bottom pair player. Crookshank at the very least is looking like he has the same upside as Parker Kelly is providing this year, 4th line buzzsaw with offensive flashes, useful player. I am not high on Jarventie for the same reasons as you but nonetheless he is one small step away from being a third line depth scorer and that's coming from someone who wrote him off last year, he is still moving forward and there is renewed optimism.
Our prospect pool is incredibly thin but to suggest that we don't have a single serviceable future NHLer is wrong. There are good depth pieces there and you need to give some credit to those who are bound to continue their development and carve out a useful role, of which there will be a few.