Roberto Luongo said:
Hello everyone. In my mind A.J. Telen can be the next Rob Blake or Jeff Jillson. So I wondering for ppl who have watch him play, does he have a hard shot like Rob Blake or even Al MacinnIs?
But from what I read on Thelen and Jillson, they seem to be each others clone. They are both american, they got almost the same size, good skating ability, good passing game, a hard shot, offensive d-men with some issue in their own end and they are both developed in CCHA!
So guys, any comment?
Yes, one comment. I have been on HF since 1998.
You know what some clowns were telling me back then (and up to 2000) when they were talking about small offensive forwards?
I like him, but I'm afraid he's going to be the next Daniel Briere-bust and never make it in the NHL
This is amusingly simlar to what you are doing here.
If you want to suggest the possible path that Thelen's development could take, logic would suggest you use two defensemen who have completed their development, and not suggest that Thelen will either become a 35 years old superstar stud or a 23 years old raw baby.
We could have a discussion on Jillson and whether he will make it or not, which is entirely acceptable. But that was a totally inappropriate comparison to put him at the other end of a veteran who has already played most of his prime hockey.
PS: Briere was about 23 years old when he finally *broke into the league*. Jillson is about that age and has already over 100 games under his belt. He is considered by anyone knowledgeable as a long term project. He's dumb, but the physical tools are impressive and so is the shot. Most defensemen take their time today and Jillson will more than others. The end result is still in the air and we could write a complete thread on that. I personally believe he is risky but DOES have impressive upside still.