Hockey's Future Top 50 Prospects: 11-25

[Slats432]

To bring the attention back to Ward, he's probably gotten the biggest shaft of anyone out there.


At least if he's not in the top 10 (which I would be surprised to see him)

And I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be a playoff team that he'd have to be on, it would be a Canadian team he'd have to be on.

Maybe check to see what teams have the most players on the list before you make a comment like the Canadian/US bias.

 

[MrMastodonFarm*]

Yeah but he gets too much hype. A solid tourny isn't a great tourny. Though playing for Canada does mean he's kinda in the spotlight.

Actually, he did have a GREAT tourny. Was named to the all-star team for the tournament.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Gaborik??? How exactly are they even similar that you would make this comparison? I think Cherneski comparison would be more likely.

Then it's apparent you've never seen Cherneski play at all. He's my alltime favorite player and I even own a game worn Cherneski Ranger jersey (from Pre-season).

Cherneski was a powerforward with 2nd line MAX potential in the mold of Ryan Smyth.

If anyone resembles Cherneski it would be Ladd.

 

[Buffaloed]

But there should be no bias involved. Of course, there are questionmarks if he will be able to translate his game over to NA and in the NHL (same as with every other prospect btw.) - but what exactly can he do more in the SEL to show that he has the potential to become a very good NHL-goalie?

But it is possible for him to do more. He's showing that this season. I'm sure he'd be ranked higher if this season's stats were taken into account. Bias (maybe there's a better word for it) is always going to be involved. High scorers from the QMJHL are often looked upon with skepticism, and its goaltenders are viewed favorably based on previous experience.

 

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Yeah but he gets too much hype. A solid tourny isn't a great tourny. Though playing for Canada does mean he's kinda in the spotlight.

He had a great tourney. I remember reading an article after the world juniors where a guy who has been watching the world juniors for over a decade said he put on the most dominant performance by a defensemen at the world juniors that he had seen.

You aren't qualified to call him overhyped if you haven't seen him play much. Sutter has said he would be in the NHL this year save for the lock out and frankly he didn't look out of place in training camp a year ago and likely would have stuck at age 18 on an expansion team or a team with less depth on the blueline than the Flames. The people on this board who call him a stay at home defensemen don't really know what they are talking about.

You apparently think he should be top 10 (based on some of your comments about where he should be) and yet you call him the most overhyped prospect. That doesn't make any sense at all. The most overhyped prospect would be someone in the top 50 that you don't think should be there at all, not someone you would drop a few spots.

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

Guys like that without the offensive skills tend to max out as #3 or #4 defencemen.

So I guess his leadership, shut-down role and all will not make him a #2.

Fact is, he still has time to improve in that area.

 

[markov`]

There are 47 overhyped prospects on the list. Colaiacovo, Steen, and Ovechkin being the exceptions.

Wow. Talk about a homer.

 

[Leaf Army]

Wow. Talk about a homer.

It was a joke.

 

[Ola]

It's more like the SEL not getting respect with respect to goaltenders. When the best NHL goalie its produced is Tommy Salo, there's going to be some bias, and it's probably deserved. Hedberg is the only other Swedish goalie I can think of that's been in the NHL that had some success. It also didn't help that a number of Leaf fans spent the 2001 offseason hyping (and annoying everyone) Mikael Tellqvist as the next franchise goalie. Sweden is going to be viewed as a dubious developer of goalie talent until it places 2-3 quality starters in the NHL.

Thats a fair reason. But its not like he only played well in the SEL. Look at last year World Championships.

Goalies in the tournament:
T. VOKOUN
T. CONKLIN
M. GERBER
A. IRBE
H. LUNDQVIST
O. KOLZIG
R. LUONGO
M. DUNHAM
M. NORONEN
J.S. GIGUERE
R. CECHMANEK

Allstar team: Henrik Lundqvist, Chara-Tärnström, Jagr-Heatly-Peltonen.

You have to admit that he had decent competition to make that allstar team. But he isn´t good enough for the HF Top 50???

 

[Bacchus]

But it is possible for him to do more. He's showing that this season. I'm sure he'd be ranked higher if this season's stats were taken into account. Bias (maybe there's a better word for it) is always going to be involved. High scorers from the QMJHL are often looked upon with skepticism, and its goaltenders are viewed favorably based on previous experience.

Yes, he is improving. Every prospect should improve, though...

I understand where your argument comes from. But I don't like it. IF the next Ovechkin pops out of Belgium or Japan - does that mean he wouldn't be included in the new top 50 list, because Belgium or Japan never had a great hockey star and there would be some bias against them? You get what I mean?

Anyway, I appreciate the efford the HF guys gave into these list.

 

[Mess]

It's more like the SEL not getting respect with respect to goaltenders. When the best NHL goalie its produced is Tommy Salo, there's going to be some bias, and it's probably deserved. Hedberg is the only other Swedish goalie I can think of that's been in the NHL that had some success. It also didn't help that a number of Leaf fans spent the 2001 offseason hyping (and annoying everyone) Mikael Tellqvist as the next franchise goalie. Sweden is going to be viewed as a dubious developer of goalie talent until it places 2-3 quality starters in the NHL.

Pelle Lindbergh (G) ?????

 

[Unknownbutfamous]

http://www.pointstreak.com/framed/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=155744&seasonid=555

Those numbers seem pretty impressive to me.

These numers are even more impressive

Player Team Lg. GP W L T Mins SO GA SV SA Sv% GAA
Henrik Lundqvist Frolunda SEL 17 13 4 0 1020 2 29 443 472 0.939 1.71

Age-22

 

[mooseOAK*]

So I guess his leadership, shut-down role and all will not make him a #2.

The way it works is that your top two defenceman are out with the top forward line most of the time and play a bulk of the PP minutes, because of that they should above average offensive skills.

Fact is, he still has time to improve in that area.

Don't expect a lot, you either have it or you don't at this stage.

 

[Flames Draft Watcher]

The way it works is that your top two defenceman are out with the top forward line most of the time and play a bulk of the PP minutes, because of that they should above average offensive skills.

Depends how you classify things really. You can have a defense pairing that logs the most even strength ice time and yet one or both of the defenders doesn't play the powerplay much. Not sure why you chose not to acknowledge that possibility.

 

[Senor Rational]

The NHL teams saw it differently, it isn't that hard to believe that Montoya is higher ranked than Schwarz, and considering his less than spectacular showing at the WJC and Montoya's Gold Medal.

As a Blues fan, I know you would have liked to have seen Schwarz higher, but overall, the committee saw the facts differently than the "more reputable services" you speak of. Considering he was the THIRD goalie taken in the draft, I think that his inclusion at the expense of Devan Dubnyk should be taken as vindication as opposed to your disallusionment.

Im Happy where Shwarz is, the last prospect we had in the 40 range won the calder trophy...

He's a got a few years to prove his critics wrong and to adapt to the NA lifestyle. Next year hopefully he'll move up.

 

[mooseOAK*]

Depends how you classify things really. You can have a defense pairing that logs the most even strength ice time and yet one or both of the defenders doesn't play the powerplay much. Not sure why you chose not to acknowledge that possibility.

That will happen in some cases but in general your top two guys are going to be out there during key situations and aren't going to be specialists in one form or another.

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

The way it works is that your top two defenceman are out with the top forward line most of the time and play a bulk of the PP minutes, because of that they should above average offensive skills.



Don't expect a lot, you either have it or you don't at this stage.

Fact is, Stuart will be one hell of a player and I am glad that Boston selected him in the 2003 draft.

 

[NYR469]

Edit: There are two prospects that have missed alot of hockey because of major injuries but will bounce back without missing a beat...Blackburn and Michalek. What would be a travesty is if the Rangers trade Blackburn in favor of Montoya

it seems like that is going to happen if he fully recovers...

2 big edges that montoya holds is that 1)he is a great pr story--1st cuban-born player, team usa goalie, idolized mike richter--and the rangers are pr whores, 2)he provides a 'do over' for the rangers since they screwed up big time by rushing blackburn...

i get the feeling that blackburn will be dealt unless he is significantly better then montoya, if it is close they will lean toward montoya (just the impression i've gotten)...of course lundqvist might be the best of the bunch

but i also wouldn't hold my breath waiting for blackburn to be placed on waivers, if he is exposed on waivers it will be because he is damaged goods and isn't recovering from his injury...if he recovers they will move him for the best return they can get.

 

[leafaholix*]

Stuart is nothing? Sure he won't have the offence but he has the potential to be a premier shut-down defender.

How many true top 2 "shut-down" defensemen are there in the NHL with very limited offensive upside? He's certainly not a Scott Stevens or Adam Foote in the making.

Stuart may be a great defensive defenseman, but I think the most you can expect from him is a #3, whereas guys like Grebeshkov, Colaiacovo, Eminger, and Whitney all have #1 potential... that's why they're higher on these lists... and I think HF.com putting Stuart at #15 last year was mostly due to the hype surrounding him our of college. He was projected as a top 10 pick in 2002 but opted to stay in school.

 

[Chimaera]

Maybe check to see what teams have the most players on the list before you make a comment like the Canadian/US bias.

How about I just check what prospects are the most hyped and talked about and even heatedly debated in this...


I'm not saying it's a US-Canadian thing, just that since there are a lot of Canadians involved in this site, and a lot of fans for the Canadian teams, while not so many for Carolina, it definitely would have helped his stock to have some fans pulling for/publicizing him.

 

[Slats432]

How about I just check what prospects are the most hyped and talked about and even heatedly debated in this...


I'm not saying it's a US-Canadian thing, just that since there are a lot of Canadians involved in this site, and a lot of fans for the Canadian teams, while not so many for Carolina, it definitely would have helped his stock to have some fans pulling for/publicizing him.

That isn't what you said in your post. As for this post...the writers don't approach things as fans. Personally, the longer I do this, the less I cheer, and the more I observe. Other writers for the most part feel the same.

 

[Aaron Vickers]

That isn't what you said in your post. As for this post...the writers don't approach things as fans. Personally, the longer I do this, the less I cheer, and the more I observe. Other writers for the most part feel the same.

George is quite accurate with that statement. I don't think I have a favourite NHL team anymore.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

George is quite accurate with that statement. I don't think I have a favourite NHL team anymore.

I can recommend the Kings, Aaron.

 

[Legionnaire]

I can recommend the Kings, Aaron.

We do have damn good prospects..... And not a Flem in the bunch!

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

George is quite accurate with that statement. I don't think I have a favourite NHL team anymore.

Et tu Aaron?