American Prospect Update Thread

[SanDogBrewin]

I think I said 7 first rounders for this draft last month...but my 7 were a bit diff - Beniers, Hughes, Coronato, Lucious, Samoskevich, Morrow and Pastujov I believe....Amazing how higher Boucher went, I didn't think he would go before 25 with his injury filled year...love to see it though. Pastujov to the third round was baffling, great pick by the Ducks there. And damn, did the Canes get 2 young studs at d with Morrow and Aiden Hreschuk.

Also agree on Gallagher, that was shocking of his usage and his drop. Kid will be one of those WTF picks as to how he went as low as he did...

Thoughts on next year??? I was happy with this draft, we need another strong one and starting putting them together in a row....I think next years class can outdo this one, just not seeing 2 in the top 5 though for the US...

Just fine where Gallagher dropped.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Watched the U17 select team playing in the tournament over in Switzerland.

I thought this team looked very good. The results show that they destroyed the competition. I think that if all these guys can't make the NTDP then its a very strong age group for us.

I think the top players are Shaubagay, Whitelaw, Terrance, Nelson, Strathmann, Mania, and McCarthy. I wouldn't complain with including Briere, Yurchuk or Kiesewetter either. I would probably put Shaubagay in his own tier because he's the most talented of these players, but I could see why someone might put Terrance or Mania in the same tier.

Shaubagay looks like a clear first round type of talent. Similar type of player to someone like Samoskevich. I know there was some discussion if he was left off the NTDP or didn't accept the invitation. I have a really hard time believing there are 13 better forwards than this guy. Whitelaw reminded me a little of Caufield. Terrance is a little like Jack Hughes (the 2022 draft eligible one). He was a player that wasn't at the NTDP selection camp. He may have declined an invite because he was a first round OHL pick. I have a hard time believing a first round OHL pick is completely snubbed from the selection camp roster. Nelson reminds me of Chris Kreider.

Didn't have any obvious comparables for the defenseman that I was able to think of. Strathmann is a two way defenseman. Really good skater, pushes the pace. Defends well. Some puck ability, but probably not a PP1 guy. Mania is a two way defenseman. More offensive than defensive. Probably the most potential of the defensemen because he's not bad in any area of the game, and is a pretty skilled player that puts up points. McCarthy has excellent ability to move the puck and good size, but he's error-prone. Early to say, but I think he probably has more upside than his brother.

I don't think either of these guys were among the better players, but I'll mention them because they've been talked about in this thread in recent months. Lucas St. Louis isn't bad. I think he's a slightly better prospect than his brother. St. Louis is a very competitive defenseman. Pretty good defensively and skates well. Not much offense in his game and he's 5'10 without elite skating. Hard to see a guy like that being a high pick, but my initial assessment would be that he's more likely to be picked than Ryan was. I know Tanner Adams has been discussed as one of the better players, but I don't see the hype right now. He was mostly anonymous. I don't see many NHL tools.

 

[JotAlan]

 

[William H Bonney]

Glad to see the top guys split between teams. Good for their collective development.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Anybody have anything to say about 2023 prospect Chris O'Flaherty?, - he is from Chicago Illinois.

6 foot 2 / 190+ pounds, forward. Stats would suggest that he is a sniper.
- 73rd overall pick, a huge steal it seems

He will play for the Windsor Spitfires this season. (their 1st preseason game is 17th this month)

Led the entire AAA in goals (44 in 46) and finished 2nd in ppg (1.52) - last season

 

[ORRFForever]

How Jake Wise been doing? TBH, I always root for a Catholic kid.

 

[William H Bonney]

How Jake Wise been doing? TBH, I always root for a Catholic kid.

Transferred to Ohio State. I highly doubt Chicago is even considering a contract for him.

 

[ORRFForever]

Transferred to Ohio State. I highly doubt Chicago is even considering a contract for him.

That too bad. I was rooting for him.

Thanks.

 

[JotAlan]

Something about LJ Mooney? The boy has a surreal talent. How is he this season? He needs to grow up, but he's only 14 years old.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Something about LJ Mooney? The boy has a surreal talent. How is he this season? He needs to grow up, but he's only 14 years old.

He had a good showing at the USHL Fall Classic and was ranked No. 1 player there in 14U category, leading his team to the championship.


A scouting blog also mentioned that he did double duty and played up with the 15U team.

He also stood out and drew rave reviews at the CCM 68 event in August.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Does LJ stand for little John in this instance?

 

[Al48]

He had a good showing at the USHL Fall Classic and was ranked No. 1 player there in 14U category, leading his team to the championship.


A scouting blog also mentioned that he did double duty and played up with the 15U team.

He also stood out and drew rave reviews at the CCM 68 event in August.

Just curious how he's playing up into a 15Only? Is there some sort of exemption?

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Does LJ stand for little John in this instance?

I'm not sure, to be honest.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Just curious how he's playing up into a 15Only? Is there some sort of exemption?

He is born in 2007, so his 14U team is his age group. Playing up one age group is not uncommon, but I don't what process he or his team had to go through to get permission to play up an age group at this tournament. Sorry.
Here's a snapshot from someone who watched him play there.

 

[JiggsNY]

Something to read on two of the top 06s this year, James Hagens with Mount and Christian Humphrey's with BK Selects.


https://www.hockeyprospectreporting...-humphreys-leading-the-way-for-06-birth-class

 

[JiggsNY]

06 is looking like a good class a year out from the NTDP. Eiserman and Park at Shattuck. Hagens, Humphreys and Zocco looking like top guys from the East.

Eiserman, and Celibrini (Canadian) for that matter, are looking special leading the Prep team as 15 year olds playing against 18 year olds. And outscoring Whitelaw who is a highly regarded 05.

Also at the 16U level I did not expect Park to be outproducing Berkley Catton at the rate he is.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It’s only October and we have five injuries already. Three of the six best players aren’t available. This is happening every season. Why is that? It doesn’t seem like a normal amount of injuries to be having every season.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Does LJ stand for little John in this instance?

This doesn't explicitly say that it stands for Little John, but his dad is John Sr., so I'd say it's a pretty good guess. Write-up on him here has some interesting details, including that he is Logan Cooley's cousin.
https://www.hockeyprospectreporting...-john-lj-mooney-pittsburgh-penguins-elite-u14

 

[William H Bonney]

This doesn't explicitly say that it stands for Little John, but his dad is John Sr., so I'd say it's a pretty good guess. Write-up on him here has some interesting details, including that he is Logan Cooley's cousin.
https://www.hockeyprospectreporting...-john-lj-mooney-pittsburgh-penguins-elite-u14

He looks very dynamic in highlights. Will be interesting to see his progression over the next 2 years.

 

[razor ray]

For the college hockey fans….ASU’s new $110 mill ice arena is on track to open in 2022:

 

[Luc Poitras]

It’s only October and we have five injuries already. Three of the six best players aren’t available. This is happening every season. Why is that? It doesn’t seem like a normal amount of injuries to be having every season.

Injuries happen to every team... Especially playing college games - these kids are 17.
It's a deep group. They will be just fine. Like they took care of Chicago Saturday.
D corps is really strong. Not like Chesley has been lighting up since the season started.
Great to see some of the forwards taking charge - not the usual suspects (who also have not been taking over like they should)
Missing some valuable tools to put the puck in the net upfront.
They will figure it out.

Stramel - been out since before the season started - coming back January
Lucious - broken wrist - return TBD
Mcgroarty - hand injury - will be back soon
Berard - will be available this week (out only a few games)
Chesley - suspended one game for a hit to head - back this week

 

[JiggsNY]

Obviously it's way too soon to say and we'll see how recovery goes/ Vegas handles, this but it's nice to hear it is a goal of his and may be possible.

 

[zaluty]

The Kingston Frontenacs are weak defensively have just traded one of their veteran dmen for just a draft pick which weakens them further. Now over on the Fronts board they are hoping it might mean Lane Huston might be signing. There is no concrete proof of that just speculation. The other option is that maybe they have a trade in works for another dman. Does anyone here think Huston may be in play or is the trade option probably correct.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The Kingston Frontenacs are weak defensively have just traded one of their veteran dmen for just a draft pick which weakens them further. Now over on the Fronts board they are hoping it might mean Lane Huston might be signing. There is no concrete proof of that just speculation. The other option is that maybe they have a trade in works for another dman. Does anyone here think Huston may be in play or is the trade option probably correct.

It would make no sense for him to do so now. He’s playing top pairing minutes. Maybe next season if he had some specific reason to forgo college hockey. That still seems unlikely.

 

[William H Bonney]

U17 Will Smith decommited from Northeastern last week. Committed to Boston College today.