So does Norris look like a top-6 guy? You can almost always tell, even from a scrimmage like this. Meier had the look to him. Hertl, watching him in his draft+1 year in the Czech men’s league, I could just tell that he was an absolute lock to be a second liner at worst.
He either has the stuff or he doesn’t.
Yes. Norris looked like he can be a top 6 guy, but not a world beater like Meier. Norris isn't flashy, very controlled. He physically looked like an NHLer and he made plays at a level above most of the other prospects. If I had to guess I'd put him as most likely a 2nd liner, with an outside chance at 1st or 3rd. He made everyone around him better, you can see the skill is there, just not elite.
Now if you want someone who you can tell looked to have elite potential, then that would be Merkley. Warts and all. Kid has the spark and next level skills, just needs to work his game to the next level and bulk up.
Other players who I thought showed NHL potential.
Ferraro- 3/4 Paul Martin type 2way, steady
Karlsson- Middle 6, steady, controlled, with flashes of skill
Checkovich- creative 2nd line winger
Gambrell- One of the more NHL ready players, could have around Tierney level upside, outside chance of 2nd liner, more likely 3rd
Balcers- Has top 6 skill, needs more polish
Halbgewachs- Boom or bust top 6, a lot of heart and skill, more Yanni Gourde or Johnny Gaudreau than other smaller players like Tyler Ennis. Showed a willingness to get hit to make a play, dig into the corners, weave in through defenders, etc. He will need to get built like Martin St. Louis and up his speed if he's going to succeed with his type of game at the NHL level.
Overall you could tell the word at camp was to play controlled and defensively responsible. Literally every player other than Merkley and Balcers was playing a contained game, not overextending themselves. Especially the Cuda players, almost impossible to tell which one of the AHL dmen will be first call up as they all played that subdued, "responsible" game. The kind more likely to produce DeMelos than Heeds. I'm a little worried that Sommer might stiffle Chmelevski, he looked more contained and less dynamic than last year. But it's just one scrimmage, so who knows.
