Prospect Info: 95th overall (2017): Vancouver selects D Jack Rathbone | Will he sign?

[F A N]

There's an interesting bit in this story from yesterday's Province re Rathbone:

"When he was drafted, Rathbone was 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds. The 19-year-old is now 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds — and will most likely be over 200 pounds by next season."​

https://theprovince.com/sports/hock...cts-tracker-rathbones-stock-continues-to-rise

Good news for those who believe size matters.

If he's a true 5'11" and 190 lbs that's a pretty standard (formerly? below) average size.

Judging from his photos, he wasn't the skinny kid type so I'm not too concerned about his ability to develop some size and strength.

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

Playing right now against Dartmouth. Early so far.

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

Really good shift just now. Had 3 shots and was all over the ice. Excellent skating.

 

[xtra]

He’s tracking well and there’s a long way to go still,

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

He’s tracking well and there’s a long way to go still,

Yeah, his first year at Harvard seems to have been pretty good. This is the first I've been able to watch him and as a freshman seems to get a lot of responsibility. He shoots a ton and it seems like he's got the green light to come down low if it's open. So far I'm impressed with what I've seen.

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

Primary assist with a nice pass. 1-1 halfway through the second.

 

[Josepho]

He’s tracking well and there’s a long way to go still,

He definitely looks like he's going to be a useful player for Utica who is a really fun PP option.

 

[ahmon]

I have him over Juolevi comfortably.

Actually after watching him at our prospect camp in the fall thought hes our best d prospect along with Hughes.

He's playing behind Fox and Walsh on the depth chart. But he has better tools, like skating and shot than those 2.

Just needed some time to get used to the college game If he didn't stay a year to take care of his brother, he could be pretty close to pro ready.

Very underrated prospect.

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

I have him over Juolevi comfortably.

Actually after watching him at our prospect camp in the fall thought hes our best d prospect along with Hughes.

He's playing behind Fox and Walsh on the depth chart. But he has better tools, like skating and shot than those 2.

Just needed some time to get used to the college game If he didn't stay a year to take care of his brother, he could be pretty close to pro ready.

Very underrated prospect.

He's playing on the top pairing with Fox and running the second PP unit in this game. Would love to get Fox. I wonder if he's planning on going back next year and choosing where he wants to go.

 

[Catamarca Livin]

I have him over Juolevi comfortably.

Actually after watching him at our prospect camp in the fall thought hes our best d prospect along with Hughes.

He's playing behind Fox and Walsh on the depth chart. But he has better tools, like skating and shot than those 2.

Just needed some time to get used to the college game If he didn't stay a year to take care of his brother, he could be pretty close to pro ready.

Very underrated prospect.

I guess our d is set going forward with Hughes, Woo and Rathbone above OJ in top 4. I am hoping OJ bounces back from injury as I think he is being written off too soon. He is likely better than Rathbone and Woo. Though I am fan of Woo's progression and still 18.

 

[Dr Good Vibes]

I guess our d is set going forward with Hughes, Woo and Rathbone above OJ in top 4. I am hoping OJ bounces back from injury as I think he is being written off too soon. He is likely better than Rathbone and Woo. Though I am fan of Woo's progression and still 18.

OJ needs to learn how to battle. If he knew how to battle he'd be a solid, if unlucky and injury prone, prospect. People look at the stats and think that's everything. He's a liability if he can't win a puck battle. I've pretty much given up on him but I hope he figures it out.

 

[PM]

I guess our d is set going forward with Hughes, Woo and Rathbone above OJ in top 4. I am hoping OJ bounces back from injury as I think he is being written off too soon. He is likely better than Rathbone and Woo. Though I am fan of Woo's progression and still 18.

By set do you mean four complete question marks? We will be lucky if more than one of them ends up as a full time top-4 defenseman in the NHL. Making the jump from juniors/ncaa to AHL is massive and none of them have done that yet. The jump from AHL to NHL is even bigger.

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

Another assist so far tonight. Now has a 5-game point streak and has 10 points in his last 10 games.

 

[member 290103]

Jack Rathbone cannot be his real name. Sounds like a character from Boogie Nights.

 

[VanJack]

Looks like Brackett has done it again.....US. heartland players in Gaudette, Lockwood, Madden and now Rathbone....Thank God there's somebody in the scouting department who appears to know what they're doing.

 

[Lindgren]

Another assist so far tonight. Now has a 5-game point streak and has 10 points in his last 10 games.

I was going to say my impression was that he was on something of a streak. Thanks for the detail.

 

[Zombotron]

Jack Rathbone cannot be his real name. Sounds like a character from Boogie Nights.

Isn't he the guy who replaced Dirk Diggler after he was fired?

You live. YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

Harvard just won in OT so they are on to the ECAC Finals. Hopefully they win there so we can see more of him. Seemed to have another solid game but I’m not too sure how good Dartmouth is so maybe the quality of opponent wasn’t great. Anyone know?

 

[bandwagonesque]

This is the most complete package of game tape I've seen and it covers every shift from a single game. I can glean from it that:

- Rathbone is really small. You see 6'2" Jack Donato skate by him as the two have a brief conversation around the 1:50 mark and he looks a good 4-5 inches taller.

- He has great speed and joins the backcheck instantly when his team loses the zone, and easily stays in front of his man.

- He's a LHD and almost never leaves that side of the ice or uses the rest of the zone in the cycle.

- The quality of the hockey he's playing is fairly low. The face shields and poor camera angles probably make it look more like junior A than it really is, but there's hardly anyone on the ice at any time who can create much, make quick lateral movement or shoot the puck hard.

 

[M2Beezy]

Jack Rathbone cannot be his real name. Sounds like a character from Boogie Nights.

Yeah i always thought its a strange name too Buck

 

[member 290103]

Yeah i always thought its a strange name too Buck

Touché.

In fact I believe there was a Buck in boogie nights.

 

[Zombotron]

Touché.

In fact I believe there was a Buck in boogie nights.

I thought your username was a reference to Buck Swope

 

[The Vasili Jerry]

"My name's Buck Naked. I'm a porno actor."

First thing that comes to mind.

 

[member 290103]

I thought your username was a reference to Buck Swope

I wish I made it buck swope. I need to get the TK-421 modification first.

 

[M2Beezy]

Touché.

In fact I believe there was a Buck in boogie nights.

Sorry I meant Rathbones name was strange