2017-2018 CHL/NCAA/Euro Prospects Thread

[Adam Michaels]

Yeah I saw him at the development camp. He looked good, but not ready. Scherbak looked better, but also not ready. I probably wrote something up about it with my old name... maybe not.. I only went for one day...

I agree he isn't ready for the NHL. But he sure is ready for the next step, the AHL.

 

[WinterLion]

I agree he isn't ready for the NHL. But he sure is ready for the next step, the AHL.

Yes definitely... and you never know. I'm sure he will know what he needs to work on over the summer. He brings a lot of desirable things... he is a right handed C with some skill... right now Logan Shaw is playing minutes in that role.

 

[yianik]

Walford not expected to play in the 2nd round series vs Tri-City.

Whats his injury and how has he played this year ?

 

[Beer and Chips]

Verbeek was named 1st star of the game.

He now has 6 points (3G, 3A) in 6 playoff games.

Coincidentally, his production began the moment he signed his ELC with Habs.

Good for him. Whatever his pro ceiling is, it's nice to see the way he has responded to the signing.

 

[habsprospects]

Whats his injury

No idea, it's the playoffs, they won't say it.

 

[Tim Wallach]

Meanwhile, in Pezzetta land.... another 5 and a game for charging.

 

[Petr Cejka]

Joni Ikonen shines in friendlies..

 

[yianik]

Joni Ikonen shines in friendlies..

Can you expand on that please ?

 

[montreal]

Can you expand on that please ?

he had 2 goals.

 

[yianik]

he had 2 goals.

Sounds like he had a better last third of the year than the 1st 2 thirds.

 

[montreal]

Sounds like he had a better last third of the year than the 1st 2 thirds.

I didn't see him in the playoffs or at the 4 Nations tournament but in his first 26 games he had 2 pts, he had 12 pts in the next 26 games. I only saw a little of him this year, both early and around mid-season, I saw flashes of skill, good play but someone that looked undersized and lacking in strength. Hopefully next year he can take a big step forward.

 

[yianik]

I didn't see him in the playoffs or at the 4 Nations tournament but in his first 26 games he had 2 pts, he had 12 pts in the next 26 games. I only saw a little of him this year, both early and around mid-season, I saw flashes of skill, good play but someone that looked undersized and lacking in strength. Hopefully next year he can take a big step forward.

Numbers don't always tell the story but that is a significant change in production. I will take it.

 

[Petr Cejka]

Can you expand on that please ?

Ikonen participated in a friendly tournament and produces ponts in every game.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Numbers don't always tell the story but that is a significant change in production. I will take it.

He had a tough season, but he battled through it and showed progress. He simply needs to get faster.

 

[yianik]

He had a tough season, but he battled through it and showed progress. He simply needs to get faster.

That he battled through it is great. Increasing speed is tough to do though.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Ikonen improved a ton, I can certify that. He's still a long way from where he needs to be though, I want to see him carry that into next season. The good news in his case is that a lot of what he needs to do is training and conditioning oriented . I can see him having a very good 18-19 if he puts in the work this summer in the gym.

 

[Schwang]

If Evans earn his spot at camp, you keep him in the nhl.

Given his age and experience, I’d agree.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[De Montreal]

So he's not a confirmed bust like some claimed 2 months after he was drafted? Hard to keep track of prospects. It's almost like the play of some of these 18-20 years old tend to evolve.

 

[Treb]

So he's not a confirmed bust like some claimed 2 months after he was drafted? Hard to keep track of prospects. It's almost like the play of some of these 18-20 years old tend to evolve.

He was very disappointing in the first half of the year. He came back to normal progression in the second half. We'll see next year. Still has a long way to go.

I'd rank the last year prospects:

Poehling
Brook
Primeau
Fleury
Ikonen
Tyszka
Walford


He was outproduced clearly by Texier (Texier was drafted 13 rank earlier in the 2nd). He was also outproduced by D+2 players Markus Nurmi, Eetu Tuulola (6th round), Otto Kovula (4th round) and Jerry Turkulainen (undrafted). An older center comparable would be Aleksi Saarela (2015 89th, same height) who got 33pts in 51 games post-draft and 28 points in 49 games D+2 (also got 10 points in 9 AHL games).

He needs to at least double his production next year. Actually, 2.5x would be where I set my bar (35 points) for being very good.

At this point, it might be good for him to spend a year in the OHL so he can have prime time opportunities (albeit against easier opposition).

Next year is gonna huge for Ikonen.

 

[Adam Michaels]

With the Evans signing today, all the prospects whose rights expired this year are under contract. Another one who can be signed and would be eligible to play in Laval next year is Fleury. And of course, the college and Euro players would be eligible, too. But most of them have already decided what they're doing next year (Ikonen and Vejdemo signed for another year and Poehling confirmed he's returning to SCSU).

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

So he's not a confirmed bust like some claimed 2 months after he was drafted? Hard to keep track of prospects. It's almost like the play of some of these 18-20 years old tend to evolve.

I was just shocked at how slow he looked at the WJCs while being as small as he is. Speed and strength just looked like virtually insurmountable obstacles. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[schnapshot]

I was just shocked at how slow he looked at the WJCs while being as small as he is. Speed and strength just looked like virtually insurmountable obstacles. I hope I'm wrong.

If that becomes his undoing, I’m wondering why in 2018 we would still pick a guy that is slow in the 2nd round...

 

[Adam Michaels]

I don't think anyone noticed.

 

[L4br3cqu3]

Meanwhile, in Pezzetta land.... another 5 and a game for charging.

I just get an 'Andrew Conboy/Greg Stewart' vibe from him, but heck, he's just a 5th rounder...