Who will be best NHLer out of college FAs

Status
Not open for further replies.

Kritty

Registered User
Feb 27, 2002
2,921
3
Visit site
I hear all this talk about how is the top college free agent this year, and everyone seems to say Danis or Lessard. What I don't hear alot of is who will end up being the top NHL player out of this year's group. Does anyone have any opinions on who will end up being the best of the bunch to come out this year? At this point, my money is on Thomas Pock, Yann Danis or Dustin Penner. There are a few others that I like the look of but they will need alot of seasoning (Scott Ford is one). Any other thoughts?
 

Kevin Forbes

Registered User
Jul 29, 2002
9,199
10
Nova Scotia
www.kforbesy.ca
no disrespect for Dustin Penner, but from the scouting reports I've read, fellow Anaheim signee Curtis Glencross seems to have more offensive talent then Penner.
Hopefully, they both pan out and add a lot to the Mighty Ducks
 

calgARI 04

Registered User
Nov 2, 2003
7
0
Visit site
Dana Lattery is currently trying out for the Flames. The guy put up outstanding numbers in four years at Western Michigan. He is under six feet but is very tough and pretty highly skilled. Playing at Western Michigan, he was pretty well under the radar, however. I have seen him play quite a few times and I think he is just as good, if not better than Lessard. I think he has the potential to be another Reinprecht.
Also, not sure where Ryan Vesce is, but watched him for four years at Cornell and he could end up surprising some people. He is very small but excels in almost every area. He battled injuries and had surgery at the end of this season so I am not sure where he is as far as rehab. He'll end up at an NHL camp though.
 

PMP5030

Registered User
Apr 25, 2004
321
0
RIGHT BEHIND YOU
calgARI 04 said:
Dana Lattery is currently trying out for the Flames. The guy put up outstanding numbers in four years at Western Michigan. He is under six feet but is very tough and pretty highly skilled. Playing at Western Michigan, he was pretty well under the radar, however. I have seen him play quite a few times and I think he is just as good, if not better than Lessard. I think he has the potential to be another Reinprecht.

Lattery is a good player, but don't kid yourself. He has nowhere near the offensive skills of Lessard or Reinprecht (I saw all three play in the NCAA). He is tough as nails and hits like a linebacker (and is built like one too). Plus he's not bad defensively. I always thought he could make some team as a 3rd-4th line checker, and he skilled enough to pop in a goal now and then.

I could see him making the Flames, he's perfect for Sutter's system, a punishing physical style. But he'll never be an offensive star.
 

montreal

Go Habs Go
Mar 21, 2002
57,340
39,852
www.youtube.com
forbesy said:
no disrespect for Dustin Penner, but from the scouting reports I've read, fellow Anaheim signee Curtis Glencross seems to have more offensive talent then Penner.
Hopefully, they both pan out and add a lot to the Mighty Ducks


I would have to agree, I've seen Glencross a few times at AAU last year mostly (since Habs had Matt Shasby on the team) and Glencross was solid. Penner I got to see a few times as well, but didn't really notice him. I was kind of surprised he signed.


As for college FA's, Danis, Lessard both are very skilled, tough to say who will have a better career, but I look forward to seeing what both can do next year.
 

Kritty

Registered User
Feb 27, 2002
2,921
3
Visit site
forbesy said:
no disrespect for Dustin Penner, but from the scouting reports I've read, fellow Anaheim signee Curtis Glencross seems to have more offensive talent then Penner.
Hopefully, they both pan out and add a lot to the Mighty Ducks

I completely forget about Glencross. He's a guy I think will surprise alot of people. He is definitely going to have my eye for the next few seasons.

I never knew Lattery was trying out for Calgary. That should be interesting to see. I've always thought he was a pretty solid player.

There are actually quite a few college players that have yet to sign that I figured would have by now. Tony Voce, Ryan Vesce, Luke Fulgham and a few others. Not sure what's up with them.
 

KH1

Registered User
He wasn't an FA, but a familiar face from last year's NCAA season that should be a good NHLer is Ryan Caldwell. He got some serious press as the captain of championship winning Denver, and is currently trying to work something out with the Islanders. He's got the look of a top 4 defenseman, though.
 

AJ1982

Registered User
Feb 27, 2002
1,812
1
New York
Visit site
calgARI 04 said:
Also, not sure where Ryan Vesce is, but watched him for four years at Cornell and he could end up surprising some people. He is very small but excels in almost every area. He battled injuries and had surgery at the end of this season so I am not sure where he is as far as rehab. He'll end up at an NHL camp though.

Vesce is a poor man's St. Louis. He will get a shot at the aHL level at least.
 

RE-HABS

Registered User
Feb 27, 2002
14,885
1
CANADA
Pock has looked pretty decent so far in his Rangers debut at the end of the season, time will only tell if he can develop in that losing and rebuilding atomsphere.

Danis and Lessard both look to be solid NHLers too.
 

Schlep Rock

Registered User
Feb 28, 2002
2,732
0
USA
Kritty said:
I completely forget about Glencross. He's a guy I think will surprise alot of people. He is definitely going to have my eye for the next few seasons.

I never knew Lattery was trying out for Calgary. That should be interesting to see. I've always thought he was a pretty solid player.

There are actually quite a few college players that have yet to sign that I figured would have by now. Tony Voce, Ryan Vesce, Luke Fulgham and a few others. Not sure what's up with them.

Add Lukas Dora to that list. He will be in LA's prospect camp in July looking to earn a contract.
 

Oilers Chick

Registered User
Jun 7, 2002
5,974
1
Philly in April 2014
Visit site
My money right now is on Yann Danis. Apparently he hasn't missed a beat since making the jump to the pros. I realize that it's still early, but I do think he's going to make believers out of lots of people who may have doubts about him, right Montreal? ;)
 

montreal

Go Habs Go
Mar 21, 2002
57,340
39,852
www.youtube.com
Oilers Chick said:
My money right now is on Yann Danis. Apparently he hasn't missed a beat since making the jump to the pros. I realize that it's still early, but I do think he's going to make believers out of lots of people who may have doubts about him, right Montreal? ;)


I'm a believer. :D :banana: :jump: In his 3 appearances in Hamilton, only one of those games did in allow any goals. Hopefully next year he's the starter in Hamilton, I look forward to catching a few games for sure.
 

ttnorm

Registered User
Feb 21, 2003
508
0
Connecticut
Visit site
Having seen him for 4 years there is alot to like about Danis. But I expect next year will be an adjustment year for him as it is for any goalie going from NCAA to the AHL. Always hard to project this position but I look for good things in 2 years and out for Yann.
 

montreal

Go Habs Go
Mar 21, 2002
57,340
39,852
www.youtube.com
ttnorm said:
Having seen him for 4 years there is alot to like about Danis. But I expect next year will be an adjustment year for him as it is for any goalie going from NCAA to the AHL. Always hard to project this position but I look for good things in 2 years and out for Yann.


Having only seen him once, could you give some opinions on his game. I've already gotten Oilers Chick's opinion, but anything you could add would be great. pm me if you want. thanks.
 

ttnorm

Registered User
Feb 21, 2003
508
0
Connecticut
Visit site
montreal said:
Having only seen him once, could you give some opinions on his game. I've already gotten Oilers Chick's opinion, but anything you could add would be great. pm me if you want. thanks.
He was a good goalie as a freshman and sophomore at Brown but I thought he was beatable by the quick wrister as his lateral movement wasn't the best. For the NCAA level he basically corrected that by through experience and with better economy and purpose in his movement. At the AHL level that may still be a part he can improve on. Slap shots at any level are a waste of time against him because when he squares up, you have nothing to shoot at. Controls his rebounds well. Not prone to play the puck too much. Most ECAC teams book on him was to shoot high in his last two seasons but I don't think he looked especially weak there, although a sniper like Higgins did lite him up for a HT with quick pinpoint wristers up high 2 seasons back. BTW, Brown came back to knock Yale out of the post season that year where Danis got the better of Higgins.

I agree he is a great pickup by the Habs. Seems like a super kid as well. I'm cheering for him. :handclap:
 

montreal

Go Habs Go
Mar 21, 2002
57,340
39,852
www.youtube.com
ttnorm said:
He was a good goalie as a freshman and sophomore at Brown but I thought he was beatable by the quick wrister as his lateral movement wasn't the best. For the NCAA level he basically corrected that by through experience and with better economy and purpose in his movement. At the AHL level that may still be a part he can improve on. Slap shots at any level are a waste of time against him because when he squares up, you have nothing to shoot at. Controls his rebounds well. Not prone to play the puck too much. Most ECAC teams book on him was to shoot high in his last two seasons but I don't think he looked especially weak there, although a sniper like Higgins did lite him up for a HT with quick pinpoint wristers up high 2 seasons back. BTW, Brown came back to knock Yale out of the post season that year where Danis got the better of Higgins.

I agree he is a great pickup by the Habs. Seems like a super kid as well. I'm cheering for him. :handclap:


Thanks. I look forward to seeing him play next year.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->