Prospect Info: The Prospect Thread (Part XXXIV)

[me2]

K, but it certainly doesn't read that way.

"Kerfoot isn't likely to make the team out of camp. In a year or two he'll have Horvat, Pettersen, Sutter, Gaudette etc. He's probably not good enough to win a centre spot"

These are your words and nowhere does it imply that's his way of thinking.

Sorry it wasn't clear. It was part of a chain of conversation.

Doesn't look like Alex Kerfoot will be signing with Vancouver.

http://dailyhive.com/vancouver/alex-kerfoot-not-signing-with-canucks-2017

[text from article below]

But according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation, Kerfoot won’t be coming home. While playing in his hometown in front of friends and family appeared to be a persuasive bargaining chip in the Canucks favour, Kerfoot recognized that the team currently has a logjam of centres penciled ahead of him that would limit his chance of a prominent role with the team going forward.

The Canucks indulged into the free agent market on July 1st by signing Sam Gagner and Alexander Burmistrov. They were added to a mix of centres that already included Henrik Sedin, Bo Horvat, Brandon Sutter, Brendan Gaunce, and Michael Chaput.

Throw in prospects Elias Pettersson and Adam Gaudette into the fold, and it becomes apparent that there isn’t a ton of room for Kerfoot to blossom based on skillset and size, and the abundance of bottom-six forwards within the organization.

Ahh yes, our well known "logjam" at the centre position. I'd say it's more like a clog at this point. Whatever, we probably don't want a guy who's not willing to compete with Sam Gagner and Brendan Gaunce for a spot.

There is also currently Granlund and future Pettersen (coming soon) and existing filler like Megna and Chaput. Kerfoot isn't likely to make the team out of camp. In a year or two he'll have Horvat, Pettersen, Sutter, Gaudette etc. He's probably not good enough to win a centre spot, though I can't see it being much easier elsewhere.

 

[denkiteki]

Hmm.....Kerfoot is listed at 5'10" and 174, even after four years of NCAA hockey...it's possible he could play centre in the NHL at that size and weight, but has to be considered a long-shot....likely the team that signs him will be looking to convert him to the wing.

Clearly as a prospect, Gaudette is in a different league....he's bigger at 6'1" and close to 190 already, and scorched the NCAA as a true sophomore. And he has the two-way game already to be successful as a true centre in pro hockey.

Possible yes but it does put him at a disadvantage. What's more interesting is when he was drafted, his listed weight was ~150 so he added 20+ pounds in the last 4 years. 174 also might not be accurate since its probably @ the start of the season and given NCAA's schedule (not many games), its possible he added some more weight (tho it also depends on his course workload/time/etc).

There are quite a few NHL players @ 180-190 range (including Stecher last season, who's 5'10 as well) so he isn't very far off that range (and assuming he adds 5 pounds in the off season like his average the last 4 years, he'll be in that range).

Edit: Also like to add that remember its NOT Aug 15 yet so the fact Butcher's agent said he'll be interested if Benning calls or Kerfoot "insiders" saying he isn't likely coming to Vancouver are rather meaningless. It could easily be tactics to try to get a better deal or additional promises (i.e. playing time). Its all about creating leverage. The only real meaningful piece of news is neither are likely to sign before Aug. 15. Once Aug. 15 hits, then the rumors likely will be more interesting.

 

[ChilliBilly]

Possible yes but it does put him at a disadvantage. What's more interesting is when he was drafted, his listed weight was ~150 so he added 20+ pounds in the last 4 years. 174 also might not be accurate since its probably @ the start of the season and given NCAA's schedule (not many games), its possible he added some more weight (tho it also depends on his course workload/time/etc).

There are quite a few NHL players @ 180-190 range (including Stecher last season, who's 5'10 as well) so he isn't very far off that range (and assuming he adds 5 pounds in the off season like his average the last 4 years, he'll be in that range).

Edit: Also like to add that remember its NOT Aug 15 yet so the fact Butcher's agent said he'll be interested if Benning calls or Kerfoot "insiders" saying he isn't likely coming to Vancouver are rather meaningless. It could easily be tactics to try to get a better deal or additional promises (i.e. playing time). Its all about creating leverage. The only real meaningful piece of news is neither are likely to sign before Aug. 15. Once Aug. 15 hits, then the rumors likely will be more interesting.

Thank you. Nail on the head. No one knows what the hell is going on. And since the "deal" will be a ELC, not sure what they can do as a better deal. Playing time would be tough to put into writing. As far as Kerfoot goes, money can not have much of an effect. Hope he signs with us.

 

[PhilMick]

the fact Butcher's agent said he'll be interested if Benning calls

Did that happen? I missed it.

 

[denkiteki]

Did that happen? I missed it.

A week ago, his agent said that in an interview but again its rather meaningless. Its all tactics to create leverage, which results in likely promises (like playing X games in the NHL etc). Since both players will likely get max base salary ELCs.



For reference, Bartlett is Butcher's agent.

 

[Southern_Canuck]

Obviously many drafted players will be in "Young Stars"/NHL camps, however:

WHL Pre-season runs from Tuesday, August 29, to Saturday, September 16. Regular Season begins Friday, September 22.

OHL Pre-season runs from Friday September 1, to Sunday, September 17. Regular Season begins Thursday, September 21.

I don't think there are any prospects to follow in the QMJHL this season...

S_C

 

[BobbyJazzLegs]

lol if you're worried about chaput being ahead of you on the depth chart, i dont think you're my type of player

 

[Southern_Canuck]

The SHL Regular Season kicks off on September 16 --- and the Vaxjo Lakers first game is Tuesday, September 19th...

SHL Regular Season Schedule

S_C

 

[FroshaugFan2]

August 24th is opening day for the Champions Hockey League.

Jasek and Bili Tygri Liberec play Pettersson and Vaxjo.

Palmu and TPS play Mountfield.

Gunnarsson and Frolunda against ZSC Lions.

https://www.championshockeyleague.com/en/schedule#select_schedule=0

 

[stampedingviking]

Ex-prospect Yann Sauve signs for Nottingham Panthers in England.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen

 

[ItsAllPartOfThePlan]

Ex-prospect Yann Sauve signs for Nottingham Panthers in England.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen

There's a team in Nottingham England not called the Sheriffs?

There is a marketing miss.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Corey Hirsch's comments on prospects, and in particular forwards, appears bang-on IMO:

What’s your stance on AHL development? Should NHLers be brought up slowly?

Defencemen and goaltenders, yes. Forwards, no. Forwards will show you what they are within the first two years. The game is just different as a forward. It’s scoring. It’s skill. You have those, or you don’t. Defencemen and goalies need time to learn from their mistakes, and their mistakes are critical. At the NHL level, their mistakes are in your net. They need to go to the minors so they make less of them in the NHL. A forward makes a mistake, it’s not in your net all the time. There’s two more layers of protection.

Lends credence to the stance some people take on Jake still being able to be an impact player.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...rebuild-horvat-markstrom-horvat-tanev-sedins/

 

[FOurteenS inCisOr]

Corey Hirsch's comments on prospects, and in particular forwards, appears bang-on IMO:



Lends credence to the stance some people take on Jake still being able to be an impact player.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...rebuild-horvat-markstrom-horvat-tanev-sedins/

Seems to me it does the opposite.

He's saying D and G take time while a forward will separate himself early at the AHL level—Jake hasn't done that, and his clock is running.

 

[VanJack]

Ex-prospect Yann Sauve signs for Nottingham Panthers in England.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen

Ah yes....the immortal Yann Sauve, another second-round whiff by the Canucks in 2008...d-men taken later in the second-round of that draft were Travis Hamonic and Marco Scandella....ironically, Patrick Weircioch was taken one pick after the Canucks nabbed Save at #41....and at #43 was Justin Shultz....Roman Josi was taken three picks earlier by the Preds at #38

And that was the same draft where first-round d-men included Erik Karlsson; Alex Pietrangelo; Drew Doughty; Luke Schenn and yes even Luca Sbisa....good d-men everywhere, but Gills and company still mis-fired.

 

[Just A Bit Outside]

Seems to me it does the opposite.

He's saying D and G take time while a forward will separate himself early at the AHL level—Jake hasn't done that, and his clock is running.

Exactly. Means Jake hasn't done **** and likely won't do ****.

 

[Shareefruck]

I think Virtanen is a special case in the sense that it's very unlikely the he has enough skill that he can get by on that, and his fundamentals are next to non-existent. Best case scenario if he makes the team right away now (which he may be able to if he can get back to par physically) is that you may be able to squeeze a LITTLE bit out of him while dooming him to become a mediocre one-dimensional player that you wouldn't ever want on a competing team. But I think he needs to stay down long enough to at least figure out the basics of how to be a professional, and then maybe he'll be ready to become something that's worth using on a competitive team long term.

 

[VanJack]

Early returns on Virtanen, a Jack Skille 2.0.....probably skates well enough to carve out a career as a bottom six forward, if he learns to check a little better and win some board battles.....but when you're drafting a player sixth overall, you simply have to do better if you're the Canucks.

 

[M2Beezy]

Exactly. Means Jake hasn't done **** and likely won't do ****.

yeah Virtanen is junk and is done. Should of traded him when we had the chance for a 2nd or 3rd. Now wed be lucky to get a 4th or 5th. Sigh

 

[FroshaugFan2]

Eliteprospects has a useful depth chart now. It lists all the players, signed or not, affiliated with NHL teams.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/depthchart.php?team=77

However they seem to be missing Abols. The Canucks should hold his rights for another year, unless they didn't send him a bona fide offer.

 

[denkiteki]

Eliteprospects has a useful depth chart now. It lists all the players, signed or not, affiliated with NHL teams.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/depthchart.php?team=77

However they seem to be missing Abols. The Canucks should hold his rights for another year, unless they didn't send him a bona fide offer.

I didn't know we even needed to offer a prospect a bona fide offer to keep their rights. Thought that was only required to keep RFA status after their ELC.

Of course since he's headed to the SHL anyways (and drafted out of the WHL), it doesn't look like he's in our plans. Actually thought he had 3rd/4th line upside when we drafted him but he didn't progress much statistically last season (no idea if he improved in other areas).

 

[tyhee]

Eliteprospects has a useful depth chart now. It lists all the players, signed or not, affiliated with NHL teams.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/depthchart.php?team=77

However they seem to be missing Abols. The Canucks should hold his rights for another year, unless they didn't send him a bona fide offer.

Is there any reason to think the Canucks made him an NHL offer, or that it would have made any sense to do so?

 

[FroshaugFan2]

Is there any reason to think the Canucks made him an NHL offer, or that it would have made any sense to do so?

If the Canucks want to hold Abols rights for another year, they would have needed to offer him a contract.

A Bona Fide Offer is just a minimum salary two-way ELS SPC - with a minimum minor league salary of $35K or the AHL minimum. It is the lowest possible contract that any NHL player can sign. Even if a player does sign the offer he can still be stuck in the AHL or ECHL.

If a team does not tender a Bona Fide Offer, they do not retain the player's draft rights for the second year and the player goes back in the next Entry Draft (if still draft eligible) or becomes a UFA.

http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1748335

Teams rarely make bona fide offers public, so it is usually assumed they are offered to anyone who requires one.

 

[Verviticus]

I don't see how you can so easily come to this conclusion. The kid is a 22-yr old, 4 year college player out of Harvard, Hobey Baker finalist as best college player in the country, NCAA all-American.

How is Gaudette automatically considered better?

gaudette is 20, lmao

 

[Maccas]

There's a team in Nottingham England not called the Sheriffs?

There is a marketing miss.

There is....... They are a Beer league team though. Also a team called "Nottingham Outlaws"

 

[FOurteenS inCisOr]

gaudette is 20, lmao

Not that I think Gaudette won't be better, but that doesn't refute BGs statement.

It might make it more likely that Gaudette becomes the better player, but for all intents and purposes BG is correct—they're both unproven prospects who've had promising college careers to date and proven nothing.

Certainly doesn't warrant a "lmao."