Prospect Info: #208OA - Hurricanes select LHD Ronan Seeley

[tarheelhockey]

At age 28, this would have been Edmundson's 7th full NHL season with a career average of 18:31. In his season with the Canes, he outscored Justin Faulk, PK Subban, TJ Brodie. He's one of the most physical defenders in the league nowadays.

He might not be everyone's cup of tea, but Edmundson is a pretty good player at the NHL level and will likely have a 1000-game career if injuries don't prevent it. It really really isn't a slight to say Nikishin's ceiling is in that range.

 

[CandyCanes]

Personally I think Boom’s ceiling is about one of Casey Borer, Bryan Rodney, or Bobby Sanguinetti.

 

[A Star is Burns]

Personally I think Boom’s ceiling is about one of Casey Borer, Bryan Rodney, or Bobby Sanguinetti.

Really more of a Knyazev or Tselios, IMO.

 

[bleedgreen]

Edmundson was never more than a 3rd pair guy and was never even close to being a shutdown defenseman. Nikishin has elite shutdown potential and while he’ll never be a Makar or Fox offensively he has Sergachev upside there. I’m not saying Boom will definitely meet his potential. He may never even come to the US. But saying his ceiling is a 3rd pair guy who does nothing spectacular is ridiculous and definitely a slight. He is way more athletic and his skating and instincts are already better than Edmundson’s.



Fair to question how his game may translate to NA as there are many factors there and it’s not as simple as how skilled a player is or how they adapt on the ice. Adapting to living in another country and speaking another language is a huge factor and a big reason why a lot of skilled Russians don’t do well here and this is very overlooked. So of course there are no guarantees. But yes I have watched him quite a bit. Been specifically seeking out Spartak and Torpedo games during the day to throw on in the background at work to watch Nikishin and Kochetkov when he plays. I’ve watched a lot of him and of course I’m no expert scout or anything but my reading of his play is that his skill set will transfer and he has a ton of upside. Fair to be hesitant. Just my opinion, and it’s more than just looking at stats and highlights.

Fair enough. It’s just the nature of that league to this. The spacing is so different, gap control which is arguably the biggest thing right now in the NHL which is so difficult to judge when watching there. Where, when and how you apply it can be drastically different. He’s going to be so busy trying to be in position he won’t have time for all the hits, or he can end up like Zadorov still trying to be that guy but taking himself out of plays going for it. Today’s forwards come in waves and know that they just need to poke the puck past him before the hit and even if he lands it there goes a two on one if he didn’t have enough support.

He’s got all the raw goods for sure, but the first question is the skating at the NHL level. To me the Zadarov comparison continues. Also a very good skater for being huge and physical. We’ll see and this guy absolutely needs to be given a shot. Hopefully he’s ok with some AHL time. Rod will love what he can bring, we’re a good team for him that way. We always have a spot for a guy like Cole, Edmunson...etc.

 

[CandyCanes]

Really more of a Knyazev or Tselios, IMO.

Actually reviewing Boom's tapes, he looks like an exact clone of Josef Melichar & Jamie McBain mixed together.

 

[Surrounded By Ahos]

Actually reviewing Boom's tapes, he looks like an exact clone of Josef Melichar & Jamie McBain mixed together.

 

[NotOpie]

Morrow was highlighted as "freshman to watch" in, I believe, the SB News. I believe he's got 9 points in 10 games for UMass. I also think you guys are selling Anttoni Honka short. He's improved his defensive game every year by all accounts. He's played either top pairing or 2nd pairing in Liiga and has put up 13 points in 20 games. I also think that Ronan Seeley is the real deal and has future NHLer written all over him.

We also have 3 forwards who are playing lights out in their respective leagues. That same SB Nation article highlighted Massimo Rizzo for Univ. of Denver (6-6-12 in 10 games). Kevin Wall continues to impress at Penn St. Wall is more of a sniper while Rizzo has reworked his game and is more of a gritty player than he was in the BCHL. Finally, while it is the USHL, Jackson Blake is killing it and is getting a lot of favorable press (he plays for the Chicago Steel, one of the better clubs in that league).

As of right now, I'd say there are a fair amount of prospects from our "boom or bust" era that are trending in the right direction. Sure, we won't truly know if and until they get to the NHL, but the train is heading in the right direction.

Edit: not Hockey News but SB Nation

 

[Svechhammer]

Dear lord, this kid has some speed

 

[A Star is Burns]

Connor McSeeley

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Dear lord, this kid has some speed

Jarvis would have stopped that

 

[tarheelhockey]

Dear lord, this kid has some speed

That’s a beauty, but also a good illustration of a play that works in the CHL but not the NHL. He stops moving his feet at the red line and just shifts past the D. Higher level defenders will blow that up.

 

[WreckingCrew]

That’s a beauty, but also a good illustration of a play that works in the CHL but not the NHL. He stops moving his feet at the red line and just shifts past the D. Higher level defenders will blow that up.

Yea I was about to say he was flying past them after taking baby steps and basically coasting in most of the way...but still some good speed there!

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

That’s a beauty, but also a good illustration of a play that works in the CHL but not the NHL. He stops moving his feet at the red line and just shifts past the D. Higher level defenders will blow that up.

Alternately he might simply be the best skater in the world.

 

[Svechhammer]

That’s a beauty, but also a good illustration of a play that works in the CHL but not the NHL. He stops moving his feet at the red line and just shifts past the D. Higher level defenders will blow that up.

lol he coasted from the red line and still blew past everyone. Imagine how quick and shifty he'll be when he actually motors the whole way down the ice.

 

[emptyNedder]

Morrow was highlighted as "freshman to watch" in, I believe, the SB News. I believe he's got 9 points in 10 games for UMass. I also think you guys are selling Anttoni Honka short.

I definitely sold all the prospects short.

Morrow's ceiling comp should be Erik Karlsson not Klingberg.

Dear lord, this kid has some speed

With 5 points in the last 3 games, Seeley's ceiling comp should be Josi.

Nikishin's comp is rightfully Pronger.

And Honka is the best of the bunch.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Good Lord that was a beaut. His skating looks damn good in that highlight.

I definitely sold all the prospects short.

With 5 points in the last 3 games, Seeley's ceiling comp should be Josi.

Still selling Seeley short. Seeley's comp is Bobby ****ing Orr. Not sure which Bobby Orr tho.

 

[emptyNedder]

Really becoming more of an offensive threat--surprising even me. Seeley has scored in 7 of his past 8 games: 4g/8a/28 shots.

Seeley and Michal Gut (still don't understand how he wasn't drafted) are leading Everett--16 wins an 1 shootout loss this season.

 

[Vagrant]

stopped in to talk about that goal he scored that looked like the mcdavid goal. for folks picking on him for not busting the whole way down the ice, he was already moving so much faster than he needed that he could dial back at the center line and use his hands the rest of the way. the route he took made it where he took the momentum in his pivot over his left shoulder and had to turn blind to the play and really dig those first few strides. going that fast, he just kind of sat down on a wide base to give him some deception laterally and turned the D at the line who thought he was skating for the open ice towards the right dot, but he turned inside snd went straight for the net. erik cole used to try that all the time. giving body position like he was going for the the far boards and then jump back inside and beat that defenseman on his inside shoulder and use his free hand to defend against the stick or push off and full motor. they'd either reach out and grab him, trip him with their knee, or give up the breakaway. drew penalties with that move a hundred times because it made the defender panic. seeley's goal was bad help from the D who should be supporting his partner to the inside there instead of literally standing stationary. at least push seeley back towards his right side to limit the chance quality. he was moving so quickly that he was able to put that puck forehand against his momentum towards the post the goalie was pushing away from and just flip it in. that's .... rare ability. scouts went nuts for this guy for his 20-21 partial season and we signed him right away. you don't see that with 7th round picks. you don't see them on team canada that much, either. no telling where he would go in a redraft held today. fun player to watch.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

stopped in to talk about that goal he scored that looked like the mcdavid goal. for folks picking on him for not busting the whole way down the ice, he was already moving so much faster than he needed that he could dial back at the center line and use his hands the rest of the way. the route he took made it where he took the momentum in his pivot over his left shoulder and had to turn blind to the play and really dig those first few strides. going that fast, he just kind of sat down on a wide base to give him some deception laterally and turned the D at the line who thought he was skating for the open ice towards the right dot, but he turned inside snd went straight for the net. erik cole used to try that all the time. giving body position like he was going for the the far boards and then jump back inside and beat that defenseman on his inside shoulder and use his free hand to defend against the stick or push off and full motor. they'd either reach out and grab him, trip him with their knee, or give up the breakaway. drew penalties with that move a hundred times because it made the defender panic. seeley's goal was bad help from the D who should be supporting his partner to the inside there instead of literally standing stationary. at least push seeley back towards his right side to limit the chance quality. he was moving so quickly that he was able to put that puck forehand against his momentum towards the post the goalie was pushing away from and just flip it in. that's .... rare ability. scouts went nuts for this guy for his 20-21 partial season and we signed him right away. you don't see that with 7th round picks. you don't see them on team canada that much, either. no telling where he would go in a redraft held today. fun player to watch.

Great read. Which Bobby Orr do you think is Seeley's upside?

 

[Nikishin Go Boom]

Seeley is having a pretty good February, 2 Gs, 8 As in 7 games.

WHL Network

highlight video of his 1 G 2 As game on the 12th. The first assist was a point shot that was deflected by the net front into the goal.

 

[Discipline Daddy]

Man it would do wonders for our team if one of Seeley/Nikishin/Honka pan out. I think Scott Morrow is the most likely of the bunch. If we can get 2 NHLers out of this recent crop on ELCs soon it gives us the flexibility to keep some of our crew together at forward. We only have 3 D signed for next year. But that said I doubt any of these young players will be ready until 24-25 or 23-24 at the earliest.