BagHead
Registered User
Enforcers are another thing altogether. Gabriel has I think one point this season for Iowa. His being up was a bit embarassing, as was the ill-advised pick spent on him. A guy whose only skill is smashing face is just a diminishing part of NHL hockey. If size is so important Braydyn Chizen should be coming up any day now?
Sokolov and Greenway could both have success if they continue working on their skating and fitness. Guys that can distribute like Greenway and shoot like Sokolov are ahead of the game but as we've seen time and again - Teemu Pulkkinen comes immediately to mind - it's not everything.
Great news for Sokolov on the camp invite though. I believe he would be the only Wild prospect to make the WJC this season if he gets a spot. (Shaw probably had a chance before his injury; Lodnia is probably as good as some of the bott0m-six guys Team USA always seems to want to waste roster spots on too.)
Ah, I feel like mentioning Chizen is a bit of a straw-man argument. Gabriel got games because he can skate well, hits, and fights, which is what they wanted from a 4th liner. Greenway probably will get time because he's not just big, he's a giant, plus he has great balance, protects the puck very well during board battles, can skate alright, and has soft hands. That's a recipe for a guy who sees NHL time, as he can at least win his board battles (of course, if his skating is too slow, he may not find himself able to get there in time to be in many of them, so I concede that point). Chizen may not get NHL time because all he is is massive. Looking at the silver lining, though, he has been progressing offensively in junior hockey enough to say that he may at least be a capable shutdown type by the time he's halfway through his 20's.
Just realized this is the Sokolov thread, better say something about him. Sokolov is an interesting one. I don't know what to make of him, as he has all of the offensive talent in the world, but needs to round out the rest of his game. I have heard (from articles) that he has been better this year about playing in all 3 zones, but I don't know that that means he's "good" about it, either. I can't imagine having Cory Stillman as his coach can be anything but a good influence, though, because that guy flat out knows how to play hockey, and knows what it takes to be a pro.