sting101
Registered User
- Feb 8, 2012
- 15,987
- 14,922
Kole Lind very much has NHL level skill and hockey sense. His U22 AHL numbers bode well for games as an NHLer.
Agree he's not a unicorn Kucherov M.Stone type of selection but if he gains in the areas of necessity he absolutely still has the potential to be a solid middle six player.
It's good to be realistic. But given his draft position he's doing just fine. The majority of the players that have surpassed him are better physical specimens while Kole has better playmaking hands and IQ. He also has an innate ability to come away with pucks and a good frame. Given his late birthday and skinny unathletic jr frame he is/was a prospect that requires a certain degree of patience.
This year is huge for him. If he becomes a go to guy for Utica he is on his way. He's not the type of player that drives ice with his legs but he very much doesn't need to be great skater to be effective. Think of Toffoli and Boeser...not fast but deadly hands. This is what he needs to become. If he's not a home working on his shot like Kesler and his legs like Horvat then he's wasting a massive opportunity.
Hoping for the best
Agree he's not a unicorn Kucherov M.Stone type of selection but if he gains in the areas of necessity he absolutely still has the potential to be a solid middle six player.
It's good to be realistic. But given his draft position he's doing just fine. The majority of the players that have surpassed him are better physical specimens while Kole has better playmaking hands and IQ. He also has an innate ability to come away with pucks and a good frame. Given his late birthday and skinny unathletic jr frame he is/was a prospect that requires a certain degree of patience.
This year is huge for him. If he becomes a go to guy for Utica he is on his way. He's not the type of player that drives ice with his legs but he very much doesn't need to be great skater to be effective. Think of Toffoli and Boeser...not fast but deadly hands. This is what he needs to become. If he's not a home working on his shot like Kesler and his legs like Horvat then he's wasting a massive opportunity.
Hoping for the best