Prospect Info: 2019-20 Prospects Thread Part II (CHL, NCAA, Junior A, Europe)

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Position	Player	Draft	2019 Rank	2018 Rank	Change
RD	Cale Makar	2017 #4	1 (96.7%)	1	0
LD	Bowen Byram	2019 #4	2 (98.1%)	-	-
C	Alex Newhook	2019 #16	3 (60.0%)	-	-
RD	Conor Timmins	2017 #32	4 (57.8%)	3	-1
RW	Martin Kaut	2018 #16	5 (92.6%)	2	-3
C	Shane Bowers	2017 #28 (TR)	6 (76.6%)	4	-2
C	Vladislav Kamenev	2014 #42 (TR)	7 (52.1%)	6	-1
RD	Nicolas Meloche	2015 #40	8 (46.5%)	5	-3
RD	Drew Helleson	2019 #47	9 (58.1%)	-	-
RW	Nikolai Kovalenko	2018 #171	10 (51.5%)	13	+3
LW	AJ Greer	2015 #39	11 (69.3%)	8	-3
C	Igor Shyvrev	2017 #125	12 (26.8%)	7	-5
G	Adam Werner	2016 #131	13 (29.1%)	25	+12
LW	Sampo Ranta	2018 #78	14 (41.7%)	11	-3
C	Logan O'Connor	Undrafted	15 (32.8%)	HM	+15
G	Justus Annunen	2018 #64	16 (30.3%)	12	-4
RW	Nick Henry	2017 #94	17 (34.3%)	16	-1
LW	Cam Morrison	2016 #40	18 (39.1%)	14	-4
RW	Alex Beaucage	2019 #78	19 (42.6%)	-	-
LW	Ty Lewis	Undrafted	20 (35.7%)	9	-11
LW	Tyler Weiss	2018 #109	21 (46.7%)	10	-11
C	Brandon Saigeon	2018 #140	22 (40.0%)	22	0
C	Matthew Stienburg	2019 #63	23 (31.4%)	-	-
RW	Sasha Mutala	2019 #140	24 (37.5%)	-	-
G	Trent Miner	2019 #202	25 (43.9%)	-	-

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Position	Player	Draft	2019 Rank	2018 Rank	Change
LD	Danila Zhuravlyov	2018 #146	HM	17	-9
LD	Nick Leivermann	2017 #187	HM	18	-9
C	Luka Burzan	2019 #171	HM	-	-
G	Shamil Shmakov	2018 #202	HM	HM	0
RD	Nathan Clurman	2016 #161	HM	HM	0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Click to read more...

 

[Balthazar]

 

[Ararana]

8 points in 3 games. Jeeeeeeeessasss.

 

[McMetal]

Regarding Pronman and skating from the last thread: I think he uses the word "elite" far too loosely there. McDavid is "elite". Makar is "elite". Putting Newhook in that category is just flat-out a gross exaggeration.

I think his skating is fine, and I've said before that it won't be a detriment to him in the NHL, but I also think it won't be a major advantage for him either.

 

[RockyMtnRedhawk]

Looking at that preseason ranking list...little Z is gonna move waaaaaaaaay up.

 

[McMetal]

Looking at that preseason ranking list...little Z is gonna move waaaaaaaaay up.

So is Annunen. In retrospect, 16 was way to long for him to wait, even if that whole tier of players was really close.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

Regarding Pronman and skating from the last thread: I think he uses the word "elite" far too loosely there. McDavid is "elite". Makar is "elite". Putting Newhook in that category is just flat-out a gross exaggeration.

I think his skating is fine, and I've said before that it won't be a detriment to him in the NHL, but I also think it won't be a major advantage for him either.

It’s his biggest advantage though.
You don’t have to think it’s elite, but if it’s not an advantage for him he won’t make it. It’s far and away his best attribute.

 

[McMetal]

It’s his biggest advantage though.
You don’t have to think it’s elite, but if it’s not an advantage for him he won’t make it. It’s far and away his best attribute.

I disagree. The thing I always came away with most impressed by in his draft year was his IQ and anticipation. He was always .5 seconds ahead of everybody else on the ice, and it was a huge part of what made him so successful, both in the BCHL and now in college, especially shorthanded. Matching that IQ with his natural skill level is what will make him successful in the NHL.

 

[henchman21]

I wouldn't say this is his biggest advantage, but his hands and IQ are what is going to determine Newhook's success in the NHL. The gap he's enjoyed in skating is going to scream to a halt in the NHL. Seriously... nearly every NHL player is a great skater today. If skating is your only great skill, you can have success... it will be very limited though. Even if you assume absolutely elite skating, you're still limited. See Athanasiou/Grabner. His anticipation and hands to create space that will be what he lives or dies by in an impact role.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

nearly every NHL player is a great skater today.

Nearly every top 6 player or player who defends against them. Plenty of slugs left out there... for now hehe

 

[avsfan09]

I disagree. The thing I always came away with most impressed by in his draft year was his IQ and anticipation. He was always .5 seconds ahead of everybody else on the ice, and it was a huge part of what made him so successful, both in the BCHL and now in college, especially shorthanded. Matching that IQ with his natural skill level is what will make him successful in the NHL.

I agree with this but I think he'll be an above average skater in the NHL.

 

[henchman21]

I agree with this but I think he'll be an above average skater in the NHL.

I’d rather not drag this debate into Jost 2.0, but at his size... above average isn’t good enough to be a top 6 center. He needs to be great... elite if he’s to be a 2 way guy.

When it comes to pure skating and taking nothing else into account. Jost is an above average skater. Maybe a touch less. The problem is he is pretty small and not strong on his skates... and with no real ability with the puck to create separation. If Jost was 6’2” and had his exact same skating, people would rave about how good it is and how for his size he’s a good skater. For his size being key in that. When a player is under 6’ or even 6’1” or 6’2” the margins start getting real slim. Can they still make great players? In (rare) instances, yeah. It just isn’t typical.

I’ll never say Newhook’s skating isn’t good enough to make the NHL or even be an impact NHL player. I’ll have concerns with him at center until I see how it translates to the highest level. He could be Point 2.0 with an extra 30lbs and I’ll end up his biggest fan... I just need to see it in the NHL.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

I’d rather not drag this debate into Jost 2.0, but at his size... above average isn’t good enough to be a top 6 center. He needs to be great... elite if he’s to be a 2 way guy.

When it comes to pure skating and taking nothing else into account. Jost is an above average skater. Maybe a touch less. The problem is he is pretty small and not strong on his skates... and with no real ability with the puck to create separation. If Jost was 6’2” and had his exact same skating, people would rave about how good it is and how for his size he’s a good skater. For his size being key in that. When a player is under 6’ or even 6’1” or 6’2” the margins start getting real slim. Can they still make great players? In (rare) instances, yeah. It just isn’t typical.

I’ll never say Newhook’s skating isn’t good enough to make the NHL or even be an impact NHL player. I’ll have concerns with him at center until I see how it translates to the highest level. He could be Point 2.0 with an extra 30lbs and I’ll end up his biggest fan... I just need to see it in the NHL.

It’s going to come down to how well he can think the game at NHL speed. I like his chances, but you can’t truly know until he’s in the league.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

We just have to convince MacK, Sid and Bowers to invite a Newfie to their Cole 'Arbour offseason training club and he'll be set.

 

[avsfan09]

I’d rather not drag this debate into Jost 2.0, but at his size... above average isn’t good enough to be a top 6 center. He needs to be great... elite if he’s to be a 2 way guy.

When it comes to pure skating and taking nothing else into account. Jost is an above average skater. Maybe a touch less. The problem is he is pretty small and not strong on his skates... and with no real ability with the puck to create separation. If Jost was 6’2” and had his exact same skating, people would rave about how good it is and how for his size he’s a good skater. For his size being key in that. When a player is under 6’ or even 6’1” or 6’2” the margins start getting real slim. Can they still make great players? In (rare) instances, yeah. It just isn’t typical.

I’ll never say Newhook’s skating isn’t good enough to make the NHL or even be an impact NHL player. I’ll have concerns with him at center until I see how it translates to the highest level. He could be Point 2.0 with an extra 30lbs and I’ll end up his biggest fan... I just need to see it in the NHL.

His agility and edges are arguably great. Can he develop that area to compensate for being good/satisfactory in other areas like ov speed?

 

[Richard88]

Position	Player	Draft	2019 Rank	2018 Rank	Change
RD	Cale Makar	2017 #4	1 (96.7%)	1	0
LD	Bowen Byram	2019 #4	2 (98.1%)	-	-
C	Alex Newhook	2019 #16	3 (60.0%)	-	-
RD	Conor Timmins	2017 #32	4 (57.8%)	3	-1
RW	Martin Kaut	2018 #16	5 (92.6%)	2	-3
C	Shane Bowers	2017 #28 (TR)	6 (76.6%)	4	-2
C	Vladislav Kamenev	2014 #42 (TR)	7 (52.1%)	6	-1
RD	Nicolas Meloche	2015 #40	8 (46.5%)	5	-3
RD	Drew Helleson	2019 #47	9 (58.1%)	-	-
RW	Nikolai Kovalenko	2018 #171	10 (51.5%)	13	+3
LW	AJ Greer	2015 #39	11 (69.3%)	8	-3
C	Igor Shyvrev	2017 #125	12 (26.8%)	7	-5
G	Adam Werner	2016 #131	13 (29.1%)	25	+12
LW	Sampo Ranta	2018 #78	14 (41.7%)	11	-3
C	Logan O'Connor	Undrafted	15 (32.8%)	HM	+15
G	Justus Annunen	2018 #64	16 (30.3%)	12	-4
RW	Nick Henry	2017 #94	17 (34.3%)	16	-1
LW	Cam Morrison	2016 #40	18 (39.1%)	14	-4
RW	Alex Beaucage	2019 #78	19 (42.6%)	-	-
LW	Ty Lewis	Undrafted	20 (35.7%)	9	-11
LW	Tyler Weiss	2018 #109	21 (46.7%)	10	-11
C	Brandon Saigeon	2018 #140	22 (40.0%)	22	0
C	Matthew Stienburg	2019 #63	23 (31.4%)	-	-
RW	Sasha Mutala	2019 #140	24 (37.5%)	-	-
G	Trent Miner	2019 #202	25 (43.9%)	-	-

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Position	Player	Draft	2019 Rank	2018 Rank	Change
LD	Danila Zhuravlyov	2018 #146	HM	17	-9
LD	Nick Leivermann	2017 #187	HM	18	-9
C	Luka Burzan	2019 #171	HM	-	-
G	Shamil Shmakov	2018 #202	HM	HM	0
RD	Nathan Clurman	2016 #161	HM	HM	0

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Top 5 is still very much the same, but there's a strong case for Zhuravlylov, Beaucage, Annunen, and Mutala to move into (or at least closer to) the Top 10 as well.

 

[McMetal]

Top 5 is still very much the same, but there's a strong case for Zhuravlylov, Beaucage, Annunen, and Mutala to move into (or at least closer to) the Top 10 as well.

Well, Makar and Kamenev will likely graduate from the pool (Makar needs 5 more games, Kam needs 10), and Meloche is no longer with the org, so that's three top 10 spots opening up, with the possibility that another prospect in there goes at the deadline. I expect little movement at the very top, but there will be a lot of shuffling in the 5-12 range for sure.

 

[RockyMtnRedhawk]

I posted my mid-season top 10 in this thread...

Your Team's Top 10 Prospects

I'll play along...



1. Bowen Byram
2. Alex Newhook
3. Conor Timmins
4. Shane Bowers
5. Martin Kaut
6. Justus Annunen
7. Drew Helleson
8: Alex Beaucage
9. Nikolai Kovalenko
10: Sampo Ranta

Just missed the cut: Danila Zhuravlyov, Adam Werner, and Sasha Mutala


2 and 3 are very close for a lot of Avs fans, and I think 7-10 are pretty interchangeable.

 

[henchman21]

His agility and edges are arguably great. Can he develop that area to compensate for being good/satisfactory in other areas like ov speed?

I've spoken at length on my thoughts on skating development. Newhook's technical skating is about as good as it gets. I really only see a slight heel kick as my only gripe in that area. Along with that, he's as big as he should ever get (though he will bulk up like all young NHL players). I personally don't see his skating having much headroom. Maybe some, but the day he breaks into the NHL I think he will be at 98% of what he can be as a NHL skater. If he bulks up, his ability might actually take a hit in the first couple years until he sees the light like MacKinnon did.

 

[henchman21]

I posted my mid-season top 10 in this thread...

Your Team's Top 10 Prospects

Needs more LOC

 

[RockyMtnRedhawk]

Needs more LOC

Yeah, I realized I left him out. He's kinda the forgotten prospect because he doesn't have the draft pedigree. That said. I still think he's just outside the top 10. He's been good, but he hasn't improved on last season enough in my opinion to move him way up. I've only seen a few Eagles games in person this year though.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

My Top 10 would probably be...

Byram
Timmins
Newhook
Bowers
Annunen
Kaut
Kovalenko
LOC
Zhuravlyov
Beaucage


With Mutala, Helleson, and Ranta all just outside

 

[CobraAcesS]

I've spoken at length on my thoughts on skating development. Newhook's technical skating is about as good as it gets. I really only see a slight heel kick as my only gripe in that area. Along with that, he's as big as he should ever get (though he will bulk up like all young NHL players). I personally don't see his skating having much headroom. Maybe some, but the day he breaks into the NHL I think he will be at 98% of what he can be as a NHL skater. If he bulks up, his ability might actually take a hit in the first couple years until he sees the light like MacKinnon did.

Didn't Duchene have something of a off season change and focus on his core and legs? It wasn't so much bulking up, but it helped him in the corners while getting checked quite a bit.

I find it interesting players focus so much on bulking up still, and then eventually start to target certain areas later.

Is it just access to higher quality trainers?

Then you have the Avs literally telling guys like Jost and Girard to bulk up.

 

[henchman21]

Didn't Duchene have something of a off season change and focus on his core and legs? It wasn't so much bulking up, but it helped him in the corners while getting checked quite a bit.

I find it interesting players focus so much on bulking up still, and then eventually start to target certain areas later.

Is it just access to higher quality trainers?

Then you have the Avs literally telling guys like Jost and Girard to bulk up.

I'm pretty sure 28 teams tell their players to bulk up, Avs included. Just an old school hockey thought that weight = strong. I use him as the example all the time, but I'd take Point at his 5'10" (lol) 165lbs over all but about 5-7 centers in the league. Tampa knows his frame can't support weight and that skating is the key to his game... so he shouldn't artificially bulk up to 185 and take away his key advantage to be 'stronger.'

 

[CobraAcesS]

I'm pretty sure 28 teams tell their players to bulk up, Avs included. Just an old school hockey thought that weight = strong. I use him as the example all the time, but I'd take Point at his 5'10" (lol) 165lbs over all but about 5-7 centers in the league. Tampa knows his frame can't support weight and that skating is the key to his game... so he shouldn't artificially bulk up to 185 and take away his key advantage to be 'stronger.'

More muscle requires more oxygen as well. I've seen soldiers bulk up fast, and their ability to keep up disappears just as fast lol.

It's a little funny, especially seeing as pro sports are supposed to be cutting edge in fitness.