Prospects Who Have Drastically Improved From Last Season (So Far)

[Aceboogie]

For the Oilers probably Kirill Maksimov. Spent 1.5 years with Saginaw scoring 37 points in 71 games (12 goals). Got moved to Niagra and has scored 18 goals, 29 points in 34 games. Part of that is 7 points (3 goals) in 5 games this year and putting up some amazing shot totals (3rd in the league for shots/game). This is after a good rookie camp as well

Was drafted as a ? in the 5th round last year with scouts not knowing if he was as bad as his Saginaw play, or as good as his brief time in Niagara. Hes also one of the youngest players in the draft so if he continues to have a big year, he could definitely be one of the most improved prospects

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Yeah, weren’t people on the edge of writing him off as an AHL scrub earlier this year?

That was just Avs fans who didn't want him in a Duchene deal.

 

[LeafChief]

Appreciate your concern but it's very undue. Formenton is practicing with and learning from the best in the world - playing 58 OHL games instead of 64 isn't going to hurt him. Nino played a whole season on one of the worst lines ever and he turned out fine, so if a week or two at the NHL level is going to ruin Formenton he probably isn't built for professional hockey.

I think you took my comment as saying he'll never be ready.

As someone who watches a ton of London Knights games, I am simply stating that he is not ready for NHL action at this moment in time.

 

[JoemAvs]

That was just Avs fans who didn't want him in a Duchene deal.

Well I vividly remember Columbus fans wanting to hold on to Anderson, Abramov, Bjorkstrand, Dubois and Carlsson while being perfectly willing to throw in Milano into every deal...

So yeah..

Not really true...

Milano is a good shout. Bratt is probably the obvious answer.

From the Avs it looks like Bigras might be a candidate but still way too soon to tell with him...

 

[Silver Tuna]

Count me as eating crow on milano . never thought he would translate from watching him live in Jr's

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Well I vividly remember Columbus fans wanting to hold on to Anderson, Abramov, Bjorkstrand, Dubois and Carlsson while being perfectly willing to throw in Milano into every deal...

So yeah..

Not really true...

Your statement is also accurate. But so is mine.

 

[Stive Morgan]

Jarret Tyszka if you factor in his disastrous Memorial Cup. Allowed him to slip to Montreal and he seems to have recovered nicely.

 

[MatthewFlames]

Count me as eating crow on milano . never thought he would translate from watching him live in Jr's

I will say, he's really developed his game off the puck. Always had the skillset, the question was whether he had the will to adapt. Caught him in the AHL last season and thought then that he already looked like a different player. Potential for good chemistry with other young players like Bjorkstrand portends well for him.

 

[ViktorBaeArvidsson]

Would Samuel Girard count? I didn't expect him to make the team this year because Nashville usually doesn't rush defenders into the league. Ryan Ellis, a 1st round pick, took like 5 years before he got a full-time roster spot. I'm really hoping Girard can become a stud, and not get traded...

 

[TitansVolsPreds615]

Bratt has been a huge surprise. That Devils team is fun to watch so far.

 

[Stive Morgan]

He's trash but Michael Pezzetta. 7 points in 6 games so far. His career high is 28...... I mean, that's technically an improvement...

 

[Kingsfan1]

Clague with 14 points in 6 games. I hope he gets over a ppg this year. I always viewed him as a steal for us and think he can be a 40-50 point dman in the league someday

 

[Flameshomer]

Martin Frk was waived twice last year. In 2 games he has 2 goals and 3 points for Detroit.

I've been watching Frk clips since he was a junior-- I knew he would pull it together. Almost vomitted each time the flames passed on the opportunity to claim him, would have made a great trigger man next to johnny hockey

 

[Flameshomer]

Matthew Phillips has 18 points in 7 games in the WHL. If he keeps this up and grows a bit he could very well be Calgary's next Gaudreau. Unlike Gaudreau though, Phillips gets engaged more on the boards.

Unlike gaudreau, phillips also lacks that special something at the next level. Looked completely lost in training camp and barely kept up at youngstars tournament even. He has a LONG way to go before even entering the same realm as Gaudreau. Yammamoto clearly outplayed him and also doesn't look great in the NHL so far this year.

There's more of a chance that Kylington becomes Erik Karlsson over night than there is that Phillips becomes Gaudreau. Extremely faint.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Foote is also off to a nice start

 

[Vasilevskiy]

Brayden Point.

 

[HoseEmDown]

Brayden Point.

Foote is also off to a nice start

Those players were already good, they're just playing better and hitting their potential. Sosunov had 0 points in 40 Russian junior games last year and already has 4 goals in the supposed much harder CHL. That's a drastic improvement, especially for a giant defenseman.

 

[VoluntaryDom]

Those players were already good, they're just playing better and hitting their potential. Sosunov had 0 points in 40 Russian junior games last year and already has 4 goals in the supposed much harder CHL. That's a drastic improvement, especially for a giant defenseman.

Yeah read my first post here I mentioned Oleg

 

[DatDude44]

Vince Dunn hasn't looked out of place in the NHL for the blues, great skating and puck handling ability, he's starting to polish up his game more and more. Tage Thompson has looked a little out of place at times but the you can see the potential he has at times.

Also, clayton keller playing 20 mins a night and putting up points for the 'yotes

 

[Mallard]

Maxime Comtois having a nice start after a disapointing draft year and camp this year. 9 goals/11 points +10 in 7 games

 

[Jared Dunn]

Victor Mete.

Surprised it took this long to see Mete's name come up.

Can I pick any of like, 5 options on the Devils? Where the hell are they finding these guys?

 

[Jared Dunn]

Yeah, weren’t people on the edge of writing him off as an AHL scrub earlier this year?

Yup. I remember I proposed Murray + Milano + 1st in a Duchene thread a month or two ago and was pretty unanimously laughed off by Avs fans saying they have zero interested in Milano

 

[ViktorBaeArvidsson]

Victor Mete.

I knew this guy was gonna be good back in 2016, and I was so confused that he dropped to the 4th Round (And if it was for his size that's ridiculous) . Mete is going to be an absolute beast in the future.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

I knew this guy was gonna be good back in 2016, and I was so confused that he dropped to the 4th Round (And if it was for his size that's ridiculous) . Mete is going to be an absolute beast in the future.

I hope so, because with the bad shape of our defence, we really need him to be a beast !

 

[Dominance]

Yup. I remember I proposed Murray + Milano + 1st in a Duchene thread a month or two ago and was pretty unanimously laughed off by Avs fans saying they have zero interested in Milano

Man, if the Avs got offered this deal today, they’d be overjoyed...although Sakic would probably decline it and continue “considering his options” as he waits for somebody to offer him a young franchise blueliner.