theIceWookie said:
I'd like to know about his hockey IQ too. Im wary about him but I'd be more open to the pick if he had high IQ and hockey sense.
I like the focus our scouts are making on this recently. Finn, Percy, rielly, verghaeghe, even the much criticized Gauthier pick. I'd like a little more focus on skill too but at least they are focusing on sense and IQ
Thats one of the reasons I'm a huge fan of barbashev. He's got high hockey sense and IQ and high end skill. Good combination.
I'm off the mind that of you have a player who has a high hockey IQ ypou can teach him defensive skill. Obviously there is high end defensive game that a few players might have but I don't think you can teach true too end offensive skill the way you can teach defensive skill.
as the resident Ice Dogs fan here, i can give you a good analysis of his play.
Obviously, Perlini's two best assets are his skating and shot. He has very good edgework and is shifty through crowds--he can pick his way through tight spots pretty easily, and has good acceleration with a good top end he gets to pretty quick.
His shot is great--he is a real threat anywhere below the hash marks, with a strong wrister he gets off quickly. He's amazing at picking open spots of the net. He doesn't have an overly strong shot, but it is deceptively quick and deadly accurate.
As for his IQ? It really depends where on the ice he is. In this regard he is most similar to JVR--from the circles and inwards, he is usually the smartest, most intuitive player on the ice. Outside of that, he's definitely got a nose for the puck, but he isn't a puck hound and won't start throwing hits to get the puck on his stick. His strength is streaking down the wing and beating the defender to the gap, where he either blows right past or puts the brakes on and passes it off to someone else at speed. In the neutral zone he's really good at picking off the puck and getting in passing lanes. He'll never win a Selke but he has fairly competent puck sense when he's not rushing it up ice.
The reason he's called soft is because he plays a power game without a power body. He isn't afraid to mix it up or get involved in the dirty areas, but he does look timid at times doing so because he knows he isn't a 220lbs monster that will demolish guys along the boards. He doesn't really shy away from contact, but he doesn't seek it out, either. At lower speeds, if he can't weave his way through a hole somewhere, he will likely get pushed off the puck without much of a fight. I believe that's why there's a misconception that he's soft. You can see him wanting to get involved often, but he is hesitant to and that holds him back a lot. It sometimes looks like he can't choose between getting dirty or keeping a cool head.
At best, he can be a 30g, 35a winger with the right C. At worst he'll be Mason Raymond. The bust factor isn't as high as everyone is saying, but he'll never be a 3rd line mucker, either. Ultimately i think he'll find a home on someone's 2nd line as a consistent 50pt guy, which is a reasonable expectation.
), here's a fresh one. 
