Leon Lucius Black
Registered User
- Nov 5, 2007
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He wasn't A level prospect.
he was our best prospect period.
If Urho Vaakanainen has top pairing potential as several experts believe, then Donato was a distant 2nd best prospect. That is, of course, if you value a middle 6 winger over a middle 6 center like Studnicka. I personally value the C prospect over the winger, so for me, it was Vaakanainen, Studnicka and Donato.
He showed he has plenty of flaws this season as well.he was our best prospect period.
He showed he has plenty of flaws this season as well.
Well if that’s the criteria then there was no way the bruins could have given up a top prospect even if they wanted too
Haha just realized he got traded for Peter ChiarelliI honestly think we have another "Debrusk" in Studnicka
fast, skilled, hard nosed player. Debrusk may have the better release while Studnicka has softer hands
I'd consider Vaaks that, and Vaaks/Studnicka the top tier.
I don’t think either profile as top line forward or top line D which is what an A prospect is to me
I don’t think either profile as top line forward or top line D which is what an A prospect is to me
I think you're right about Studnicka and dead wrong on Vaak. I think he'll be on the top pairing with McAvoy as soon as Chara retires, or at least soon thereafter.
I like Vaak but until he shows offense I’m not sure what he is. Studnicka is tearing up the O in his what 4th OHL season? I don’t pay attention to stats in d+2 seasons. Donato was our best goal scoring prospect, and in reality our only one.
I don’t think either profile as top line forward or top line D which is what an A prospect is to me
I don't think anyone believes Studnicka developing into 1st line center material (although no one thought Bergeron would be a 1st line C either). However Vaakanainen is going to prove doubters wrong! I think he has top-pairing upside for sure...and there is plenty of evidence to suggest he has some untapped offensive potential as well.
Here is a quote from Eric Perrin, who has played about 1000 games in Finland's Liga as well as nearly 245 games in the NHL. Perrin's team faced Vaakanainen's in the playoffs last year.
“He was their best defenseman by far,” Perrin said. “I just remember [him] always being on the ice, doing really good things and that stands out to me. … These little things that we know, usually you say to your guys ‘get on their D, they’re having a hard time.’ But he wasn’t one of those guys that we were talking about. It was other guys. So we knew we had to kind of more keep an eye on him, because he joined the rush, things like that, that we had to stay aware about him at all times.
“He was reliable both sides of the ice. It wasn’t just offensively, he did a pretty good job as a young guy. Maybe physically not all the way developed yet, but he had a really good effort on defense as well,” added Perrin. “He has all the tools, that’s for sure,”
So, think about it. Vaakanainen emerged as a top pairing defenseman for SaiPa Lappeenranta at age 18. He was playing an average of 23 minutes a night. He was also a top-pairing defenseman for Finland at the World Juniors. Maybe he won't be Erik Karlsson or Brent Burns...but I see shades of Teppo Numminen.
Numminen is probably the most underrated defenseman in NHL history!
Put Vaakanainen next to McAvoy on the top-pairing and let them go. It would be the perfect pairing - like wine and cheese!
I don't consider Vaaks a franchise prospect but a potential top pair D-man, neither do I consider Stud a franchise prospect, more like maybe Krejci replacement in time.
Donato isn't a top prospect in this league.
Lots of B's fans hating on Donato now that he's gone eh?
Dude was a top prospect, played great at the olympics, came in hot that season and hit a bit of a bump this year
He'll be great for the Wild and is an excellent prospect
Coyle has fit like a glove perfectly leading the third line down the middle.
This could really be a great win-win for both teams as both players needed new roles within a NHL franchise.
I haven't watched the games. How has johansen been for the bruins?