Nerowoy nora tolad
Registered User
This thread is for your first-hand memories of seeing players in major junior, the NCAA, or other developmental leagues.
-I was the guy that saw Drew Doughty up close and didnt see that much in him. Granted, he was taking a regular shift at the blueline from a very young age which isnt obvious without a game program, but if you had told me back in 2008 after seeing him play in the OHL that he was going to be on a pairing with niedermayer winning olympic gold in 2 years time I would have looked at you like you were crazy
-In the category of "mildly surprised he didnt make it", Finn and Pedan come to mind.
Matt Finn was a fairly slow skater for sure, but he had a wide range of abilities while anchoring the blueline for an OHL champ team. Besides which he only had to crack the mid 2010s leafs roster in trying-to-lose-on-purpose mode
Pedan was actually really surprising to me that he didnt stick as at least a bottom pairing NHL defenceman. He was like a demo of how youd reprogram a punishing Pronger-type defenceman to work in the new faster/gentler nhl. Reasonably quick and quite fluid on his skates for a big guy, had a wicked point shot and decent offensive smarts, very physical, but rarely doing anything so stupid as to penalize his team. Had this crazy look in his eye when getting into scrums like he enjoyed it a bit too much.
-Peter Holland/Taylor Beck were an interesting era to watch, esp considering Holland went on to a reasonably long career as an nhl 3d liner, whereas Beck was just a spare part ahl callup. Didnt seem to be that huge of a talent gap in junior, although becks game was always supplemented with hustle whereas Holland seemed permanently stuck at 60% intensity max
-Merkley was a mild disappointment. Some good offensive skills, but often seemed like a one-trick pony who could only do his thing off the rush/working the point and would start to develop tunnel vision not noticing open teammates or other options besides holding onto the puck. Not that surprised by the end he was moved before the memorial cup run
Your thoughts?
-I was the guy that saw Drew Doughty up close and didnt see that much in him. Granted, he was taking a regular shift at the blueline from a very young age which isnt obvious without a game program, but if you had told me back in 2008 after seeing him play in the OHL that he was going to be on a pairing with niedermayer winning olympic gold in 2 years time I would have looked at you like you were crazy
-In the category of "mildly surprised he didnt make it", Finn and Pedan come to mind.
Matt Finn was a fairly slow skater for sure, but he had a wide range of abilities while anchoring the blueline for an OHL champ team. Besides which he only had to crack the mid 2010s leafs roster in trying-to-lose-on-purpose mode
Pedan was actually really surprising to me that he didnt stick as at least a bottom pairing NHL defenceman. He was like a demo of how youd reprogram a punishing Pronger-type defenceman to work in the new faster/gentler nhl. Reasonably quick and quite fluid on his skates for a big guy, had a wicked point shot and decent offensive smarts, very physical, but rarely doing anything so stupid as to penalize his team. Had this crazy look in his eye when getting into scrums like he enjoyed it a bit too much.
-Peter Holland/Taylor Beck were an interesting era to watch, esp considering Holland went on to a reasonably long career as an nhl 3d liner, whereas Beck was just a spare part ahl callup. Didnt seem to be that huge of a talent gap in junior, although becks game was always supplemented with hustle whereas Holland seemed permanently stuck at 60% intensity max
-Merkley was a mild disappointment. Some good offensive skills, but often seemed like a one-trick pony who could only do his thing off the rush/working the point and would start to develop tunnel vision not noticing open teammates or other options besides holding onto the puck. Not that surprised by the end he was moved before the memorial cup run
Your thoughts?