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

[Freudian]

Blandisi got a lot of love in that poll too. Shame he got injured half way through last season, which may have affected Avs decision of signing him or not.

 

[tigervixxxen]

And kinda the ironic thing if they had signed Blandisi he'd have about 20 points in Lake Erie right about now.

 

[SuperJoe]

Blandisi got a lot of love in that poll too. Shame he got injured half way through last season, which may have affected Avs decision of signing him or not.

Was about to post that, very much a shame

 

[BomaLightDevils]

Devils fan coming with a question about blandisi. Cant understand why he wasent signed by your team, how can that be?

 

[Gigantor The Goalie]

Devils fan coming with a question about blandisi. Cant understand why he wasent signed by your team, how can that be?

We had another version of him in Michael Sgarbossa. Actually Sgarbossa might have been better then Blandisi.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Bigras may win D of the year since GM's are voting. He seems like a great guy to like plus his two way game is insane. Add in the fact that DeAngelo has a bad rep and it could sway it even more. Whatever happens though, DeAngelo deserves it more. I realize defense is a complete position but DeAngelo was out of this world.

 

[Nzap]

Devils fan coming with a question about blandisi. Cant understand why he wasent signed by your team, how can that be?

Because there were more promising players who needed contracts and there wasn't room for Blandisi.
One of them is Everberg who has been great in the NHL this season.

Quite simple as that.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

Bigras may win D of the year since GM's are voting. He seems like a great guy to like plus his two way game is insane. Add in the fact that DeAngelo has a bad rep and it could sway it even more. Whatever happens though, DeAngelo deserves it more. I realize defense is a complete position but DeAngelo was out of this world.

Out of this world, yet, only 15 more points (I know Bigras played more games, but if your not playing your straight useless to your team). I bet Bigras' superior D and lack of stupid immature penalties easily makes up that 15 point difference. Just because DeAngelo is flashier doesn't mean he was better or that he deserves it more. I'll take efficiency over flash. And DeAngelo really benefited from going to SOO. That team is so ridiculously stacked. His ppg were not that much better than Bigras until the trade, and with the lower number of games he would have less total points. And honestly, DeAngelo isn't even the best Dman on his current team (that's like saying Barrie is better than Johnson).

 

[tigervixxxen]

Devils fan coming with a question about blandisi. Cant understand why he wasent signed by your team, how can that be?

Look at his point totals before this season. Then he was out sick after he was traded last season. I'm not kidding when I say he would have been just another forward with 20 points on our AHL team this year.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Out of this world, yet, only 15 more points (I know Bigras played more games, but if your not playing your straight useless to your team). I bet Bigras' superior D and lack of stupid immature penalties easily makes up that 15 point difference. Just because DeAngelo is flashier doesn't mean he was better or that he deserves it more. I'll take efficiency over flash. And DeAngelo really benefited from going to SOO. That team is so ridiculously stacked. His ppg were not that much better than Bigras until the trade, and with the lower number of games he would have less total points. And honestly, DeAngelo isn't even the best Dman on his current team (that's like saying Barrie is better than Johnson).

I'm not saying DeAngelo is better than Nurse. I'm saying he had a better season. Deangelo played 10 less games than Bigras and but up 16 more points. That is beyond substantial.

As for him benefitting from the SOO, it definitely adds but he was amazing before. I watched a lot of DeAngelo both this season and last for Sarnia and was just absolutely amazing for them too. Sarnia is a much worse team than Owen Sound and DeAngelo had 1.31ppg for them this year. Bigras has 1.14ppg for OS. In fact, DeAngelo has the 3rd most points on Sarnia this year despite playing less than half the games than the 2nd place guy played.

I'd love for Bigras to win it more than anything. His game is probably the most well rounded in junior hockey this past season but it still doesn't compare to what DeAngelo did.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

Look at his point totals before this season. Then he was out sick after he was traded last season. I'm not kidding when I say he would have been just another forward with 20 points on our AHL team this year.

That might be true, but he at least is a very good defender and is bigger than a lot of the other 20 point LE guys, which too me makes him a better prospect. When the choice was made it made sense. But now, in hindsight, after his development this year, we made a bad decision. It's a small decision, so nothing major. But we have to admit that this kid is developing a good overall game (voted in for play maker, shooting, skating and PK; basically top3 in every major category other than smarts, which I'm pretty sure that writer trying to predict these honors a few weeks ago had him top3 in that category) and would be a good prospect to have in the system, especially with our lack of forward prospects. He seems more promising than the majority of our forwards. We could have at the very least given him Condon's AHL contract.

 

[tigervixxxen]

It's also his overage year. How many of our guys would have looked amazing in their overage year. Bourke had 85 points in his 4th year, Smith and Sgarbossa each had over 100. Yeah it's too bad something didn't work out and I completely agree at very least a AHL contract would have sufficed. But the best thing to ever happen to him was to go back to junior and have the season he's having.

On the Dman of the year thing, I read in an article they don't give major awards to guys who spent time on two different teams. I have not researched if this is true or not. Maybe they make an exception for DeAngelo but it's not like Bigras is 50 points behind him either.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

That might be true, but he at least is a very good defender and is bigger than a lot of the other 20 point LE guys, which too me makes him a better prospect. When the choice was made it made sense. But now, in hindsight, after his development this year, we made a bad decision. It's a small decision, so nothing major. But we have to admit that this kid is developing a good overall game (voted in for play maker, shooting, skating and PK; basically top3 in every major category other than smarts, which I'm pretty sure that writer trying to predict these honors a few weeks ago had him top3 in that category) and would be a good prospect to have in the system, especially with our lack of forward prospects. He seems more promising than the majority of our forwards. We could have at the very least given him Condon's AHL contract.

He probably didn't want an AHL Contract. He went to Buffalo's camp as well and didn't get a contract with them either. The best thing to happen to him was to go back to Juniors.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

I'm not saying DeAngelo is better than Nurse. I'm saying he had a better season. Deangelo played 10 less games than Bigras and but up 16 more points. That is beyond substantial.

As for him benefitting from the SOO, it definitely adds but he was amazing before. I watched a lot of DeAngelo both this season and last for Sarnia and was just absolutely amazing for them too. Sarnia is a much worse team than Owen Sound and DeAngelo had 1.31ppg for them this year. Bigras has 1.14ppg for OS. In fact, DeAngelo has the 3rd most points on Sarnia this year despite playing less than half the games than the 2nd place guy played.

I'd love for Bigras to win it more than anything. His game is probably the most well rounded in junior hockey this past season but it still doesn't compare to what DeAngelo did.

If someone had the better season then they were the better player. We are not talking about these guys as prospects. We are talking about who should win the award for best defenseman this season. And like I said, giving DeAngelo the award would be like giving Barrie the Norris over Johnson. I don't see how a 2nd pair offensive-minded pp specialist is the best in the league? The dude isn't even on his own first pair. At least Subban was his team's #1 when he won the Norris.

Like I said, the number of games is irrelevant. You can't do a thing for your team if you are not playing. If he played the full season and at the same pace then this would be a different argument. Then he would have like 30 more points than Bigras. But he didn't end up providing 30 more points this season than Bigras did. He only added 15 more points.

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. Bigras's defense and "well rounded" game is worth a lot more than just the 15 point difference between the two. When you look at more than points, which I do, especially for defenseman (it's even got "defense" in the name), Bigras' season easily compares to DeAngelo. I also put a lot of emphasis on the importance factor. Where would OS be without Bigras? Where would SOO be without DeAngelo?

 

[Cousin Eddie]

If someone had the better season then they were the better player. We are not talking about these guys as prospects. We are talking about who should win the award for best defenseman this season. And like I said, giving DeAngelo the award would be like giving Barrie the Norris over Johnson. I don't see how a 2nd pair offensive-minded pp specialist is the best in the league? The dude isn't even on his own first pair. At least Subban was his team's #1 when he won the Norris.

Like I said, the number of games is irrelevant. You can't do a thing for your team if you are not playing. If he played the full season and at the same pace then this would be a different argument. Then he would have like 30 more points than Bigras. But he didn't end up providing 30 more points this season than Bigras did. He only added 15 more points.

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. Bigras's defense and "well rounded" game is worth a lot more than just the 15 point difference between the two. When you look at more than points, which I do, especially for defenseman (it's even got "defense" in the name), Bigras' season easily compares to DeAngelo. I also put a lot of emphasis on the importance factor. Where would OS be without Bigras? Where would SOO be without DeAngelo?

It's not like i'm trying to argue that DeAngelo hasn't played many games but if he did he would be on a pace to beat out Bigras. He played less games and still out produced him by 15 points.

DeAngelo also isn't just a powerplay specialist. He's a fine defensive player at the junior level. And yes, DeAngelo has been a better player than Nurse this year. Nurse is the better prospect but DeAngelo was the better player this season.

Also you're pointing out their importance to their team but I think you are mixing up the Max Kaminsky Trophy with the Hart Trophy in the NHL. This is a different league and a different award. It's awarded to the most outstanding defenseman in the OHL. Ryan Ellis won the award once and it wasn't because of his importance to his team or his stellar D. He was simplily the best defenseman in the league similar to how DeAngelo has been this year.

I can agree to disagree, but not for reasons that have no impact on the award.

 

[S E P H]

Been talking with a poster that is close with the Giants organization at the WHL section and he has mentioned that Geertsen hasn't been sign because the Avs front office is 50/50 on Mason. Some love him while others don't, personally I thought it had to due with Geertsen wanting more money on his ELC. But surprised if this is true, that there are people within the Avs organization who do not fancy him.

I think it would be a bad mistake not signing him.

 

[Freudian]

Been talking with a poster that is close with the Giants organization at the WHL section and he has mentioned that Geertsen hasn't been sign because the Avs front office is 50/50 on Mason. Some love him while others don't, personally I thought it had to due with Geertsen wanting more money on his ELC. But surprised if this is true, that there are people within the Avs organization who do not fancy him.

I think it would be a bad mistake not signing him.

Roy has talked about him in the radio interviews as part of the future on defense, so one of the two people who really matter seem to like him.

The most likely reason for not having signed him yet is that they want to do the AHL amateur tryout thing when his season ends and then sign him to an ELC after the season. Just like they did with Bourke.

 

[Cypher]

I'd imagine OHL defenseman of the season is more valuable than WHL defenseman of the season. OHL has a higher quality of competition I think.

Typical east coast bias

Since the current format was adopted, the Memorial Cup has been won by each league:

Western Hockey League (WHL): 16 times
Ontario Hockey League (OHL): 9 times
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL): 7 times

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Been talking with a poster that is close with the Giants organization at the WHL section and he has mentioned that Geertsen hasn't been sign because the Avs front office is 50/50 on Mason. Some love him while others don't, personally I thought it had to due with Geertsen wanting more money on his ELC. But surprised if this is true, that there are people within the Avs organization who do not fancy him.

I think it would be a bad mistake not signing him.

Roy has talked about him in the radio interviews as part of the future on defense, so one of the two people who really matter seem to like him.

The most likely reason for not having signed him yet is that they want to do the AHL amateur tryout thing when his season ends and then sign him to an ELC after the season. Just like they did with Bourke.

I'd be quite irate if they decided against signing Mason. I'd imagine Roy would be more so.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

I have to imagine if Roy is hyping up Geertsen as a future cog on defense, that he will get signed. I can't imagine Roy has enough time to see these guys play a lot, so word must be getting to him that Geertsen is having a strong season. He also stuck around longer in camp last year than anyone could have expected.

 

[StayAtHomeAv]

It's not like i'm trying to argue that DeAngelo hasn't played many games but if he did he would be on a pace to beat out Bigras. He played less games and still out produced him by 15 points.

DeAngelo also isn't just a powerplay specialist. He's a fine defensive player at the junior level. And yes, DeAngelo has been a better player than Nurse this year. Nurse is the better prospect but DeAngelo was the better player this season.

Also you're pointing out their importance to their team but I think you are mixing up the Max Kaminsky Trophy with the Hart Trophy in the NHL. This is a different league and a different award. It's awarded to the most outstanding defenseman in the OHL. Ryan Ellis won the award once and it wasn't because of his importance to his team or his stellar D. He was simplily the best defenseman in the league similar to how DeAngelo has been this year.

I can agree to disagree, but not for reasons that have no impact on the award.

"But if he did". He didn't though. Like I said, if he did play a full season then he would have like 30 more points than Bigras, and 30 points is a lot to make up by defense. You can't play the what if game in this situation. DeAngelo provided 15 more points than Bigras. He would have provided more if he played more, but he didn't play more. Him not playing is the same as him playing and not producing. Yes, he produced a ton when he was on the ice. But if your not on the ice you can't help your team at all. You can only look at what someone actual did on the ice, not what they would have done if playing more.

Yes, I know he isn't just a pp specialist. Hence the reason I said an offensive minded 2nd pair power play specialist. That "2nd pair" part is very important. That means he is more than just a pp specialist. I was including all his roles.

Granted I have not watched much of DeAngelo, but "fine defense" definitely is not a phrase I would use to describe him. His D is quite bad from what I've seen, and the stupid immature out of control penalties only make it worse.

So, I take it you think Barrie has been better than EJ? I don't see how a one-demensional 2nd pair player is better than your #1, unless your #1 is only there for defense, which EJ and Nurse are not. They too are putting up good numbers while playing top mintues, playing in every situation and playing a complete game against the top opponents. how would DeAngelo do if he played against the best players all the time like these top pair guys do? I caught one of their games the other week. Marner shut DeAngelo down when they were matched up together. Made him look very mediocre. Dude couldn't do anything but harmlessly cycle the puck. The rest of the game, when not matched up against Marner and the top line, DeAngelo was all over the place and went off for like 4 or 5 points though.

I'm not mixing up anything. I just think these awards all mean the same and it's just a semantics argument instead. "MVP", "Best....", "Most outstanding....". It's just semantics. they all represent the #1 player. And like I said, "I put a lot of emphasis....". I have no clue what factors these coaches or whoever use (with how many voters there are, I'm positive some look at the importance fact though), but in my opinion importance to your team is a big factor. thats just my opinion, not speaking for anyone else or using it to predict anything.

DeAngelo has simply been the most productive Dman. That doesn't neccessarily mean best Dman.

 

[AvsFan2123]

Been talking with a poster that is close with the Giants organization at the WHL section and he has mentioned that Geertsen hasn't been sign because the Avs front office is 50/50 on Mason. Some love him while others don't, personally I thought it had to due with Geertsen wanting more money on his ELC. But surprised if this is true, that there are people within the Avs organization who do not fancy him.

I think it would be a bad mistake not signing him.

Really hope that's not true. His development has shot him up in our defensive prospect depth chart and is rapidly approaching the #2 spot IMHO as our second best Dman. I do find it a little hard to believe though as much as we hear Roy talk about him and Bigras. If they don't sign him, this could be their worst mistake with a prospect.

 

[tigervixxxen]

I can believe opinion is all over the place with him but that doesn't mean they won't sign him. I know the WHL scout loves him, I heard him on the radio a bit ago talking about how they never expected any offense from him and it's just gravy on top. The Avs are just slow signing everyone. I can imagine they'd like to see him get a test run in the AHL before making the final decision. Roy even said "I know we need to sign him". I think that goes past just liking him.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

"But if he did". He didn't though. Like I said, if he did play a full season then he would have like 30 more points than Bigras, and 30 points is a lot to make up by defense. You can't play the what if game in this situation. DeAngelo provided 15 more points than Bigras. He would have provided more if he played more, but he didn't play more. Him not playing is the same as him playing and not producing. Yes, he produced a ton when he was on the ice. But if your not on the ice you can't help your team at all. You can only look at what someone actual did on the ice, not what they would have done if playing more.

Yes, I know he isn't just a pp specialist. Hence the reason I said an offensive minded 2nd pair power play specialist. That "2nd pair" part is very important. That means he is more than just a pp specialist. I was including all his roles.

Granted I have not watched much of DeAngelo, but "fine defense" definitely is not a phrase I would use to describe him. His D is quite bad from what I've seen, and the stupid immature out of control penalties only make it worse.

So, I take it you think Barrie has been better than EJ? I don't see how a one-demensional 2nd pair player is better than your #1, unless your #1 is only there for defense, which EJ and Nurse are not. They too are putting up good numbers while playing top mintues, playing in every situation and playing a complete game against the top opponents. how would DeAngelo do if he played against the best players all the time like these top pair guys do? I caught one of their games the other week. Marner shut DeAngelo down when they were matched up together. Made him look very mediocre. Dude couldn't do anything but harmlessly cycle the puck. The rest of the game, when not matched up against Marner and the top line, DeAngelo was all over the place and went off for like 4 or 5 points though.

I'm not mixing up anything. I just think these awards all mean the same and it's just a semantics argument instead. "MVP", "Best....", "Most outstanding....". It's just semantics. they all represent the #1 player. And like I said, "I put a lot of emphasis....". I have no clue what factors these coaches or whoever use (with how many voters there are, I'm positive some look at the importance fact though), but in my opinion importance to your team is a big factor. thats just my opinion, not speaking for anyone else or using it to predict anything.

DeAngelo has simply been the most productive Dman. That doesn't neccessarily mean best Dman.

Again, i'm not using the games played argument since DeAngelo greatly outscored Bigras (and the rest of the CHL) even with less games played. There's no need to argue a "on pace for" argument since DeAngelo doesn't even need it.

I did not say Barrie was better than EJ nor do i think that. I never brought them up at all, you did. DeAngelo is much better among his peers than what Barrie is. DeAngelo was the best D in junior hockey this year. DeAngelo/Nurse is more comparable to Pietro/Shattenkirk this season. Pietrangelo is the safer guy and plays on the top pairing, but Shattenkirk has been the better defenseman. Doesn't mean it's always been that way or it will be that way forever but that's how it's been this year.

 

[R S]

Been talking with a poster that is close with the Giants organization at the WHL section and he has mentioned that Geertsen hasn't been sign because the Avs front office is 50/50 on Mason. Some love him while others don't, personally I thought it had to due with Geertsen wanting more money on his ELC. But surprised if this is true, that there are people within the Avs organization who do not fancy him.

I think it would be a bad mistake not signing him.

I don't believe that for a second.

I know stories like this pop up all the time around this time of year and sure, not every scout loves every player. But the kid has progressed so much and anyone with a brain and/or eyes can see it.

0% chance they let him slip back into the draft.