GDT: 2019 Prospects Challenge Weekend

[glenwo2]

Well in the case of Wood people know he has the tools but it’s his hockey IQ that (still) drives everyone up the wall. In the case of Coleman, people were skeptical because of his lack of pedigree and a lot of times overage UDFA’s don’t get a second chance.

With McLeod it’s partly people are just exacerbated because of where he was drafted, plus he just hasn’t shown enough scoring touch as a pro to really give any confidence better is coming (8 goals in 82 games between the AHL and the NHL).

People are also EXASPERATED, too.

Did auto-correct strike again, NJDevs26?

 

[BurntToast]

Tell me why people defend Zacha and Not McLeod. McLeod was over a point per game after his slow start in his first AHL season. He has nothing to prove this season. Boqvist might not make the team until next year. Unless Zacha ends his hold out. The team only has 1/2 spots.

I am curious about the defense/goalies. Both groups stood out during development camp.

 

[ThePrideofStockholm]

Who is Ludvig Larsson, someone we drafted?

 

[Ripshot 43]

Who is Ludvig Larsson, someone we drafted?

Adam Larsson wearing a wig, trying to escape the Oilers.

 

[Cheddabombs]

i wanna see a stackeddd lineup tonight, all the big guns. i need this.

 

[AfroThunder396]

The issue with McLeod is that he's not getting better in regards to his offense. Since he was drafted his biggest criticism was his horrendous shot, and he hasn't improved in that area at all in the three years since he was drafted.

In juniors it was fine because he was bigger and faster than all the other kids, but now that he's playing better competition he can't just dominate with his physical attributes any more.When you're playing against 17 year olds you can just blow past them, you can't do that when you're going up against Seth Jones or Victor Hedman.

 

[Blackjack]

Tell me why people defend Zacha and Not McLeod. McLeod was over a point per game after his slow start in his first AHL season. He has nothing to prove this season. Boqvist might not make the team until next year. Unless Zacha ends his hold out. The team only has 1/2 spots.

I am curious about the defense/goalies. Both groups stood out during development camp.

I mean, Zacha does take plenty of criticism on these boards, but I don't think you can argue that he's in the same universe as McLeod. McLeod has played three non-NHL seasons since being drafted 12OA, so I don't see how you can say he has nothing to prove. He might not be able to crack the NHL roster because of how strong it is now, but if he's not close to a PPG in the AHL that's going to be a big disappointment.

 

[Call Me Al]

The issue with McLeod is that he's not getting better in regards to his offense. Since he was drafted his biggest criticism was his horrendous shot, and he hasn't improved in that area at all in the three years since he was drafted.

In juniors it was fine because he was bigger and faster than all the other kids, but now that he's playing better competition he can't just dominate with his physical attributes any more.When you're playing against 17 year olds you can just blow past them, you can't do that when you're going up against Seth Jones or Victor Hedman.

we don't need him to be a first or second or even third line center anymore. the skills that he excelled at in junior would make him an excellent bottom 6 player and pker and many players have carved out successful careers that way. he's good at faceoffs, he's fast, he can forecheck really well and is smart defensively. no reason why he shouldn't have a long term role as long a we give up on the idea that he will be a dominant offensive player

 

[AfroThunder396]

we don't need him to be a first or second or even third line center anymore. the skills that he excelled at in junior would make him an excellent bottom 6 player and pker and many players have carved out successful careers that way. he's good at faceoffs, he's fast, he can forecheck really well and is smart defensively. no reason why he shouldn't have a long term role as long a we give up on the idea that he will be a dominant offensive player

He showed absolutely no ability to do any of these things at the NHL level during his call up.

And these aren't difficult things to find in a player, you should be churning out guys like this in 3rd-5th round draft picks every year and signing them out of the NCAA. We have plenty of guys that can do these better than him.

That doesn't mean he's a bust, I think he'll be an NHL player. But his first cup of coffee in the NHL was pretty terrible and he has a LOT of work to do before we can say things like this with any confidence.

 

[Spoiled Bratt]

The issue with McLeod is that he's not getting better in regards to his offense. Since he was drafted his biggest criticism was his horrendous shot, and he hasn't improved in that area at all in the three years since he was drafted.

In juniors it was fine because he was bigger and faster than all the other kids, but now that he's playing better competition he can't just dominate with his physical attributes any more.When you're playing against 17 year olds you can just blow past them, you can't do that when you're going up against Seth Jones or Victor Hedman.

Even if his offensive game picked up drastically, he’s still not passing Hischier or Hughes. We need McLeod to be a solid bottom 6 player and he has all the tools to be just that.

With McLeod, there’s absolutely no rush and he has the luxury of having 2 young elite centers that will give him just that, time.

Even NHL’ers can’t beat Jones or Hedman, so that's just normal. He doesn’t need to be Patrice Bergeron and if he turns out to be and effective 4th line center with intangibles, so be it.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

 

[Blackjack]

He showed absolutely no ability to do any of these things at the NHL level during his call up.

And these aren't difficult things to find in a player, you should be churning out guys like this in 3rd-5th round draft picks every year and signing them out of the NCAA. We have plenty of guys that can do these better than him.

That doesn't mean he's a bust, I think he'll be an NHL player. But his first cup of coffee in the NHL was pretty terrible and he has a LOT of work to do before we can say things like this with any confidence.

I agree with one small difference. Finding really good third liners is not that easy. McLeod has not shown anything to suggest that he will be that, but a Blake Coleman or John Madden type 20-20-40 guy that is also big would be a great thing, even if you would normally hope for more out of a 12OA.

 

[My3Sons]

It’s good they are taking the conservative approach with Zetterlund.

 

[Lou is God]

Tell me why people defend Zacha and Not McLeod. McLeod was over a point per game after his slow start in his first AHL season. He has nothing to prove this season. Boqvist might not make the team until next year. Unless Zacha ends his hold out. The team only has 1/2 spots.

I am curious about the defense/goalies. Both groups stood out during development camp.

I defend both but Zacha is showing himself to be a legit NHL forward as we speak, he might not put up the points that some hoped for but he's a big body that is a solid penalty killer, in other words he's proven himself to a point while McLeod is still a work in progress.

And you know how some have blasted the Devils for taking Zacha over Ivan Provorov, I was just looking at the 2016 draft and never knew we took McLeod two spots ahead of Charlie McAvoy.

 

[Darkauron]

Damn that sucks about Okho. But also yeah give the Fab all the time he needs.

 

[Devils731]

 

[Ripshot 43]

I kept thinking this game was at 1 today. And now I wait...

 

[Cheddabombs]

oh baby that first line

 

[Blackjack]

I defend both but Zacha is showing himself to be a legit NHL forward as we speak, he might not put up the points that some hoped for but he's a big body that is a solid penalty killer, in other words he's proven himself to a point while McLeod is still a work in progress.

And you know how some have blasted the Devils for taking Zacha over Ivan Provorov, I was just looking at the 2016 draft and never knew we took McLeod two spots ahead of Charlie McAvoy.

One thing that makes me feel better about McLeod is that none of the forward taken after him seem to be doing that well. Yes, there are defensemen there like McAvoy, but I think it would have hurt more if there were high caliber forwards taken after McLeod, it seems like the whole forward crop outside the very top end and a few outliers like DeBrincat and Bratt were pretty bad. Even Logan Brown, taken before McLeod, hasn't really done anything yet.

 

[Blackjack]

oh baby that first line

Rather Gignac or Anderson there than Bastian but oh well.

 

[Darkauron]

Big boy bastian is good for that line as hughes and BQ are a bit smaller. Also Bastian can f*** anyone up that gets in their faces

 

[Ripshot 43]

Bastian/Boqvist ... keep your sticks on the ice.

 

[HBK27]

Interesting that they're starting Smith off on RD. I know that he played there quite a bit at Spokane, but thought that was due in part to lack of RD options to pair him with.

I like it though - if he's comfortable on the right side, it sets up the option to move Vantanen or Severson up to #1 LD with Subban and have a Greene-Smith pairing on the 3rd D.

 

[Triumph]

Most interesting part of that lineup is Smith on the right side. I guess they are not carrying a ton of RHD - Jacobs has graduated and the other two RHD in Binghamton are veterans - so it may not mean a whole lot.

 

[Blackjack]

Most interesting part of that lineup is Smith on the right side. I guess they are not carrying a ton of RHD - Jacobs has graduated and the other two RHD in Binghamton are veterans - so it may not mean a whole lot.

Yeah, kind of doubt Smith will play the right side in NJ, haha.