Prospect Info: 2014-15 Colorado Avalanche Junior Prospects Thread (CHL & Europe)

[Frenchy]

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[StayAtHomeAv]

"What did you think of the others that you've seen?"

Bleackley- average build, good hustle, got involved in the play a good amount which I really like to see, good skills with the puck but nothing amazing, smart, solid checker, solid skater, really good looking shot. Overall very well rounded player. Good at most everything with no major wneaknesses, though nothing amazing giving him an elite superstar edge to his game either.

Wood- HUGE. Surprising good skills with the puck. Decent skater in smaller areas, but slow going up and down the ice and could still use some improvement in the short areas as well. Quite physical in the one training camp session I caught, but didn't show that at all in the game I saw (SSS). And don't recall any glaring defensive screw ups, but it's hard to judge defensive consistency from just one game. Definitely someone with the tools to be a good player. Improved skating would probably do him wonders.

Bigras- very smart, great positioning, quick poke checks, great passing and Dzone puck handling, stronger along the boards than expected, tremendous skater- so effortless. Dude played amazing in that SSS. That first game was about as flawlessly a game as anyone could possibly have. Everything he did was positive in that game. And the 2nd game wasn't much worse. Never really fancy, but extremely effective.

Butcher- really good offensive skills. Can't really recall specifics since it was last year when I was able to see him, but remember being impressed with his offensive abilities. Obviously quite short as well, but don't recall thinking he was "too small".

Henley- great size and reach. Smart defender, Hard checker who likes to throw his body around. Fearless shot blocker, really tough along the boards. High effort/compete level. Decent skills, especially for a bottom line player- accurate and smart passer, solid hands, certainly nothing amazing though. Skating leaves something to be desired but I don't think it will hold him back. I would be surprised if he does not make it in the NHL as a 4th line defensive/checking/PK specialist. If his skating improves he could even see that role increase.

Corbett- solid 2 way player. High IQ on both sides the ice. Good positioning defensively and pinched at appropriate times. Really accurate and smart passer with decent handles. Good size and toughness, though nothing to brag about. Average skater (if this improves he could be really good). Accurate shot on net. Smarter, more skilled version of Holden, though not as big and physical. I think he will become a solid NHLer, with skating determining how high he climbs.

Martin- tall and very athletic. Really good with the puck. Needs some fine tuning I would imagine but I really liked the raw talent shown. It's extremely hard to judge a goalie with just a game. Their success hinges on consistency so much.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Great observations, I can't disagree with much there and you put into words really well what I've tried to say.

Someone said that Corbett is more like the Monsters equivalent to Redmond than Holden, would you agree there or think he's closer to Holden?

I'd like to see Wood use his size more, hopefully he grows into that in the next year or so. He's still rather lanky for being a Sasquatch. And yeah Corbett isn't overly physical but not soft and then every once in a while he throws a big hit nobody is expecting. Bigras was holding the offense back in the SSS, wish you got to see that side of him more, he's gotten pretty good at it.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

Redmond is probably a better comparison (passing, shooting, handles, IQ, size), but I probably let skating influence my comparisons more than I should which is why I think of Holden. Redmond is a lot better skater.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

"What did you think of the others that you've seen?"

Bleackley- average build, good hustle, got involved in the play a good amount which I really like to see, good skills with the puck but nothing amazing, smart, solid checker, solid skater, really good looking shot. Overall very well rounded player. Good at most everything with no major wneaknesses, though nothing amazing giving him an elite superstar edge to his game either.

Wood- HUGE. Surprising good skills with the puck. Decent skater in smaller areas, but slow going up and down the ice and could still use some improvement in the short areas as well. Quite physical in the one training camp session I caught, but didn't show that at all in the game I saw (SSS). And don't recall any glaring defensive screw ups, but it's hard to judge defensive consistency from just one game. Definitely someone with the tools to be a good player. Improved skating would probably do him wonders.

Bigras- very smart, great positioning, quick poke checks, great passing and Dzone puck handling, stronger along the boards than expected, tremendous skater- so effortless. Dude played amazing in that SSS. That first game was about as flawlessly a game as anyone could possibly have. Everything he did was positive in that game. And the 2nd game wasn't much worse. Never really fancy, but extremely effective.

Butcher- really good offensive skills. Can't really recall specifics since it was last year when I was able to see him, but remember being impressed with his offensive abilities. Obviously quite short as well, but don't recall thinking he was "too small".

Henley- great size and reach. Smart defender, Hard checker who likes to throw his body around. Fearless shot blocker, really tough along the boards. High effort/compete level. Decent skills, especially for a bottom line player- accurate and smart passer, solid hands, certainly nothing amazing though. Skating leaves something to be desired but I don't think it will hold him back. I would be surprised if he does not make it in the NHL as a 4th line defensive/checking/PK specialist. If his skating improves he could even see that role increase.

Corbett- solid 2 way player. High IQ on both sides the ice. Good positioning defensively and pinched at appropriate times. Really accurate and smart passer with decent handles. Good size and toughness, though nothing to brag about. Average skater (if this improves he could be really good). Accurate shot on net. Smarter, more skilled version of Holden, though not as big and physical. I think he will become a solid NHLer, with skating determining how high he climbs.

Martin- tall and very athletic. Really good with the puck. Needs some fine tuning I would imagine but I really liked the raw talent shown. It's extremely hard to judge a goalie with just a game. Their success hinges on consistency so much.

I bolded what you said about Wood. If that's true we may have found a gem. To be that big but be a good skater in small areas is very impressive. The easiest thing for somebody that size to improve on is his long game. If that's his weakness we're in for good news.

 

[OHLFan90]

Colorado Prospects Report

http://overtimesportsnation.com/colorado-avalanche-prospect-report/

 

[tigervixxxen]

Fair to say Bigras is fired up, just got 1G 2A in the last 5 minutes. Was all on the PP but nice for the stats

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Finished the game with 2G 3A......


If this 1st game is any indication, the beast has been unleashed in Bigras.

 

[PensFan101]

Plymouth may be a poor team with a depleted roster but Bigras was fantastic and kept Mistele out of the game almost all night. His two goals were both great, the second one he was right down at the net and banged one home.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Wow haha.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Oh yeah they were on the PP all night but that's how other big names rack up their points sometimes. I love it though, what a statement for a guy who wasn't seen as offensively good enough to put up 5 points in his first game back. I'm happy for him, should give him some nice confidence going forward.

 

[Freudian]

Two points were on 5 on 3s, but one of the assists was a nice pass through the box. The goals was him moving up to the backdoor and picking up loose pucks.

 

[bidzey*]

Owen Sound coach is heartless... once he was convinced they had the win... he sat Bigras for the last 5 minutes of game so he could play the newbies def. Taking away all chances for the hat trick.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Bleackley had himself a nice two goal game too. Got the first one after being down 3-0 on a very nice play then tied it 3-3 on a wicked shot.

http://www.reddeerrebels.com/video/46848

 

[Avs71]

Siemens fought Rich Clune. Handled himself very nicely. That was Siemens 30th fight between the WHL and AHL. Clune has had more than that in one season between the NHL and AHL. Clune is quite a bit shorter however.



More of this on the Avs please.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Siemens is my favorite prospect for sure!

 

[landy92mack29]

I know bleackley fights the odd time but has bigras had a fight yet?

 

[Avs71]

Bigras fought once in 2011-2012.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Yeah just thinking of our prospects Bigras hasn't had one, he does play physical on guys so it's a little surprising. His team doesn't fight much in general though. Bleackley certainly will, he fought 3x in two weeks just a bit ago. Geertsen certainly does but many won't fight him. Don't think any of the others involved in scraps I can think of.

Siemens will definitely take that role to protect his teammates when he has to. Maggio is about even money to fight in any game he's dressed for but amazingly Heard hasn't even fought this year. They are out of the goon division so that might have something to do with it. I know Henley gets involved too, like we saw in preseason most of his fights he takes instigator penalties because he's usually sticking up for a teammate. He hasn't had one with the Monsters yet though.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Bleackley had himself a nice two goal game too. Got the first one after being down 3-0 on a very nice play then tied it 3-3 on a wicked shot.

http://www.reddeerrebels.com/video/46848

My god, he has an absolutely wicked shot. We could desperately use it in our lineup right now. Hopefully he can push for a spot next year.

 

[Freudian]

Bigras isn't naturally aggressive, but he's not soft. He doesn't drop the gloves but isn't intimidated by physical play.

While there is always a way-to-go sentiment when guys that aren't fighters drop the gloves, more often than not it looks a bit awkward. You can be tough without it.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

My god, he has an absolutely wicked shot. We could desperately use it in our lineup right now. Hopefully he can push for a spot next year.

Personally I hope they give him plenty of time to develop. While he is already a good two-way player, I hope they don't put him in the lineup too early and get him stuck in a bottom-6 role. I definitely see potential for a top-6 player there, and hope they give him time to develop that side of his game.

 

[tigervixxxen]

I can't see next year, captain of a memorial cup team is going to be a big experience for him. And that's ok, then we can see what the next year brings.

 

[UncleRisto]

Really excited over several of our prospects right now. Bleackley, Bigras, Siemens and Geertsen all seem like great players to have on a team.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Those four top the list for me, I'd throw in Pickard somewhere in there to round out the top 5.