23rd Overall - Conner Bleackley

[The Pwnerer]

Another pick, who is a fan of the Avs. Hometown discount in the future .

 

[landy92mack29]

could he pull a ROR and make the team as a 3rd liner next year?

also don't think that many drafted this year will be in the nhl next year. ekblad is the only for sure with reinhart/draisaitl/Bennett/dal colle with good chances as well. don't think any others have a good chance though

 

[Hans Landaskog]

So NHL year after next?

 

[R S]

could he pull a ROR and make the team as a 3rd liner next year?

also don't think that many drafted this year will be in the nhl next year. ekblad is the only for sure with reinhart/draisaitl/Bennett/dal colle with good chances as well. don't think any others have a good chance though

No, I don't see it. Skating needs at least one more year. But that's what people said about ROR, too.

 

[R S]

So NHL year after next?

Not going to say it will happen, but it's definitely not out of this world to say it could. He's extremely well rounded and physically mature.

 

[landy92mack29]

No, I don't see it. Skating needs at least one more year. But that's what people said about ROR, too.

ya I don't see it either but there's a chance. plus ROR made a much weaker team in 09

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

All you had to do was read his scouting report to know that he was the type of player that Pracey would love.

I saw he wasn't invited to Canada's WJC camp. Bummer.

 

[S E P H]

All you had to do was read his scouting report to know that he was the type of player that Pracey would love.

I saw he wasn't invited to Canada's WJC camp. Bummer.

There is a reason why they haven't won Gold in the last 4-5 years.

Yeah no chance he plays in the NHL next season, BUT will definitely get a long look at camp. Needs to improve skating, but also needs to polish his offensive game as well. Remember guys, he was one of the top 5 players in terms of point increase-ment since last year. He needs to score at a consistent effort before looking of NHL. With all that said, improving this and skating I wouldn't be surpsied if he jumped straight into the NHL without needing any AHL action. Though with Avs core already there, I think Avs could take their time with him.

Speed wise he needs to improve, but you guys all saw his agility and turning (is great for me) in that highlight youtube.

 

[tigervixxxen]

First of many vids I'm sure

[nhl]626896[/nhl]

 

[tigervixxxen]

"One thing that attracted us to Conner is his hockey sense and strength on the puck," said Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Rick Pracey. "We like his versatility, as we have seen him play all three forward positions. Being a right-handed shot, he potentially addresses a need on the right side on our organizational depth chart. We think he is a responsible two-way player, and his leadership qualities were a positive factor. It is very rare to see a 17-year-old captain of a major junior team. Other key quality traits we liked were his competitiveness and instincts."

And I'll present this one without comment. I'm sure you can guess where it is from.

The knock on Bleackley is his skating and defense.

 

[Hans Landaskog]

Well he's got the right attitude heading into training camp.

 

[Bender]

I very much hope that I am wrong on Conner Bleackley.

 

[bohlmeister]

I very much hope that I am wrong on Conner Bleackley.

Out of curiosity do you remember where you had ROR his draft year?

 

[Foppa2118]

And I'll present this one without comment. I'm sure you can guess where it is from.

Dater thinks the knock on him is defense? That's what you get when you sit on your couch and put 0 effort into finding out what the Avs are doing, or what the prospects are like.

My god, does he have no shame? Seriously, his complete lack of coverage on the Avalanche during these last few days is an all time low for him. He just doesn't care, otherwise he might have broke one of the dozen reports to come out about the Avs, instead of just stealing them from other reporters for his articles. He reported literally nothing this whole draft.

 

[Balthazar]

Well the kid is happy.

 

[Bender]

Out of curiosity do you remember where you had ROR his draft year?

1st round - 24th if I remember correctly - I was a fan right away

 

[CobraAcesS]

Nice, thx

Is it to soon to start the nick names? Bleaker? Bleaky? Beeker?

The second (mid-late) first rounder I've called... (The first one being Siemens) Glad to be right on this one.

I put my money on this kid to be our pick, hopefully it works as well as I hope.

 

[mattcookefan]

looking at his highlights, he seems to have the potential to play wing. What do you guys think the odds are that he can be a top 6 winger?

 

[bohlmeister]

1st round - 24th if I remember correctly - I was a fan right away

Interesting. You had Conner at 34. So that is only 10 spots back of ROR.

 

[the_fan]

Do Avs scouts know that there are other positions in hockey besides center?

 

[tigervixxxen]

Do Avs scouts know that there are other positions in hockey besides center?

Because centers never play on the wing, right?

 

[Avs_19]

Do Avs scouts know that there are other positions in hockey besides center?

"One thing that attracted us to Conner is his hockey sense and strength on the puck," said Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting Rick Pracey. "We like his versatility, as we have seen him play all three forward positions. Being a right-handed shot, he potentially addresses a need on the right side on our organizational depth chart. We think he is a responsible two-way player, and his leadership qualities were a positive factor. It is very rare to see a 17-year-old captain of a major junior team. Other key quality traits we liked were his competitiveness and instincts."

Sounds like they're planning on him being at RW.

 

[the_fan]

Because centers never play on the wing, right?

Why not just draft a natural winger when that's the team's weakness, or D?

 

[Hans Landaskog]

Why not just draft a natural winger when that's the team's weakness, or D?

O'Reilly can't be a good LWer, we should have drafted Kyle Clifford instead.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Why not just draft a natural winger when that's the team's weakness, or D?

How many right shot RWs were in this draft in the first round? And we already have 4 good prospects on D mostly from last year. Its not like the guy picked is going to play tomorrow.

Anyway, one more article.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2014/06/2...t-high-rivers-conner-bleackley-in-first-round