American Prospect Update Thread

[William H Bonney]

Pretty brutal that we still can have years with only two first round draft picks. Lets hope that we can have better draft next year in every way.

There's 2 big development steps USAH needs to take:

• Produce 7+ first rounders each draft
• Lose 3+ players from the WJC each tournament and still compete for gold

 

[Luc Poitras]

Interesting trend this year with size - especially defense. Trending bigger. Or were there not many smaller Hughes types available?

 

[SK94]

Sean Farrell and Ryder Rolston was drafted today. Danny Weight and Cameron Rowe are now only players from 2001 NTDP class who are not drafted. Last year only those four guys was not drafted from NTDP but this year there is still nine guys available when last round is still running.

Edit: Actually Ryder Rolston was not eligible last year.

 

[SK94]

Small comparison from 2019 and 2020 between US and Canada

2019
1RD:
Canada 13
USA 9

Overall
Canada 69
USA 57

2020
1RD
Canada 19
USA 2

Overall
Canada 72
USA 52

 

[canucklax]

Quite a few prep players taken even though from what I heard it was a down year for that crop outside of Moore and Biondi. Anyone have theories why, or notes on some of the under the radar guys?

 

[Jaykay]

Quite a few prep players taken even though from what I heard it was a down year for that crop outside of Moore and Biondi. Anyone have theories why, or notes on some of the under the radar guys?

The surprises for MN HS guys were Hallum and Boltmann going in the 3rd. I was expecting both to go 6-7th round or go undrafted. Boltmann is just a really good athlete who projects as a shut down guy I guess, and Hallum is a fantastic skater but I don't like much else about his game.

Wyatt Kaiser was my favorite MN HS guy in this class, and I thought some team might take him in the 2nd. He just processes everything very quickly and IMO has the best potential. Biondi was looking like he'd go earlier but I think 4th round is actually about right for him. I've thought he's a tad overrated for the past few years.

 

[BeersHockey]

How good is the U-17 team? How good is the top end talent, and who is that? I've heard of Nazar and Lucious and McGroaty - how do they stack up? The wild card - Cole Spicer? His numbers a year ago are sick, what's his projection - his ceiling? Is there anyone not mentioned who's going to be best of the lot? Thanks in advance for any info, love hearing about the future of USA hockey!

 

[Garyboy]

How good is the U-17 team? How good is the top end talent, and who is that? I've heard of Nazar and Lucious and McGroaty - how do they stack up? The wild card - Cole Spicer? His numbers a year ago are sick, what's his projection - his ceiling? Is there anyone not mentioned who's going to be best of the lot? Thanks in advance for any info, love hearing about the future of USA hockey!

Nazar is dynamite. Has a great engine, thinks the game at an extremely high level, and has great hands, along with a knack for scoring big goals. Also has no issue laying guys out with a well-timed hit. Excited to see how he does this upcoming season.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It’s too early to know with those players. Give it to the end of the season or at least a few months against junior players before we have a better idea.

 

[Dux917]

Some news from the USA World Junior team try-out camp currently going on -

 

[Artorius Horus T]

USNTDP U17 beats SOO Eagles 12-2

Cutter Gauthier 2+3
Rutger McGroarty 0+5
Maddox Fleming 1+3
Isaac Howard 2+1
Ryan Chesley 1+2
Brady Berard 2+0
Seamus Casey 1+1
Cruz Lucius 0+2
Marek Hejduk 0+2
Seamus Powell
Tyler Duke


Another game has played, but no info of that game yet

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Okay...the other game ended 10-0, for the USNTDP U17
2 goals for McGroarty
1 goal for :
Howard
Hejduk
Nazar
Lucius
Spicer
Snuggerud
Cooley
Kaplan

 

[Artorius Horus T]

U18 beats beats Austin Bruins 5-0
Wilmer
Pastujov
Boucher
Devine
Schmidt

 

[Luc Poitras]

Okay...the other game ended 10-0, for the USNTDP U17
2 goals for McGroarty
1 goal for :
Howard
Hejduk
Nazar
Lucius
Spicer
Snuggerud
Cooley
Kaplan

The U17s did quite well. However let's not forget that SOO is not that strong, has only had 2 practices, and only been together for less than a week before they played. Will be more excited if they can perform like this against real competition. However, I don't think that will happen unless they play with a bit more discipline than what was on display. Just a really good team beating up on a much weaker team. But love that they are playing games and figuring out chemistry.

 

[NTDP]

The U17s did quite well. However let's not forget that SOO is not that strong, has only had 2 practices, and only been together for less than a week before they played. Will be more excited if they can perform like this against real competition. However, I don't think that will happen unless they play with a bit more discipline than what was on display. Just a really good team beating up on a much weaker team. But love that they are playing games and figuring out chemistry.

Looking forward to how they do against Green Bay in the USHL next weekend. Green Bay has some good players on that roster.

 

[William H Bonney]

Looking forward to how they do against Green Bay in the USHL next weekend. Green Bay has some good players on that roster.

USHL will be quite the measuring stick this year with the number of players sticking around / returning from the NCAA due to COVID.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

U18 beats Muskegon 5-3

Pastujov
Murchison
Devine
Wilmer
JHughes

 

[SK94]

Interesting to see how high draft picks guys like McGroarty and Fleming are going to be.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Something to watch for.

The new U18 coach was using all the grinders on the PP yesterday, and left some of his better offensive players off of it. The PP was predictably not very good.

I'm also pretty sure he was playing the grinders the most minutes. I think we're good this year in this age group, but not so good that we can overcome a bad coach. I'm not saying thats the case yet, but we can't be prioritizing showcasing RSL, Brown, Devine, Savage, Gasseau to be picked in the mid-late rounds at the expense of our best prospects this year.

 

[SK94]

Does anyone know something about Lucas St. Louis? More or less talented than Ryan?

Also was there someone leaving NTDP because Andre Gasseau was added for this season?

 

[William H Bonney]

Does anyone know something about Lucas St. Louis? More or less talented than Ryan?

Also was there someone leaving NTDP because Andre Gasseau was added for this season?

Colby Saganiuk left the NTDP for Erie, so Gasseau was added.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Does anyone know something about Lucas St. Louis? More or less talented than Ryan?

I've not seen Lucas play, but Ryan isn't that good. Late pick/no pick type.

 

[SK94]

I've not seen Lucas play, but Ryan isn't that good. Late pick/no pick type.

Yeah but i was just wondering that is he on NTDP radar like Ryan was.

 

[57special]

Was surprised at Boltmann being taken so early, too. Apparently a freak athlete though, just like his brother.

 

[Oak]

Yeah but i was just wondering that is he on NTDP radar like Ryan was.

Very slim chance the 05 makes the ntdp, but with Marty as your dad anything is possible.