Prospect Info: Cale Makar - D [4th Overall] Part III: Not A Prospect Edition

[The Abusement Park]

Missed the Merkley part earlier.

You see Merkley getting to Makar/Hughes level?

From a raw talent stand point I don’t think any dman really compares. It’s just attitude and off ice stuff that is holding him back really.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

From a raw talent stand point I don’t think any dman really compares. It’s just attitude and off ice stuff that is holding him back really.

The talent is immense. Great dangles, vision, and patience to read the play.

I’m always a little gun-shy on players before they play at a level outside of junior hockey.

I wonder why he’s not more highly ranked among prospects outside the NHL.

 

[henchman21]

Missed the Merkley part earlier.

You see Merkley getting to Makar/Hughes level?

I just need to see it at the next level whether that’s at the AHL, or NHL. He was obviously shredding the OHL, but that was his fourth season of junior hockey.

I will say though, his creativity and vision is pretty wild. It will be interesting to see who he plays with on the Sharks defence.

Merkley most certainly has the talent to do that. I think in pure, raw scoring talent... he's going to be the most talented defensemen in the world. The noise will be a big factor if he can live up to that talent.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

Merkley most certainly has the talent to do that. I think in pure, raw scoring talent... he's going to be the most talented defensemen in the world. The noise will be a big factor if he can live up to that talent.

I’m probably not that bullish on him, but I can see the talent.

Guys like Dahlin, Makar, and Hughes proved more in their D+2 season.

I think those that believe Zegras will be a superstar talent will see similar qualities in Merkley. There both have a ton of skill.

 

[tigervixxxen]

I’m just gonna leave this here

Cale Makar deserves the Calder trophy

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

I’m just gonna leave this here

Cale Makar deserves the Calder trophy

Only being on the ice for 46 goals against is pretty damn good for a guy who’s still learning the defensive game at the pro level.

 

[Avs_19]

Here’s what I decided to do. I reached out to a source on 11 Western Conference teams not named Colorado or Vancouver last week and asked a simple question: Makar or Hughes for the Calder?

While most of the respondents qualified their answer by saying how difficult the choice was, I hope Canucks fans avert their eyes to what comes next.

Out of the 11 responses from 11 different Western Conference team sources, 10 voted for Makar and one abstained, saying it was a 50-50 coin toss for him.

“Makar,” said one Western Conference team executive. “A bit more rounded game, stronger defensively. Offensive game for both the same.”

“Both really good but I just think Makar is really special,” said another Western Conference team executive. “When he really figures out the league he’s going to dominate. A physical presence to him.”

They know.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

They know.

This matters more to me than whoever the media votes in for the Calder.

It’s definitely encouraging to see NHL people so high on Makar as a player and his upside for the future.

 

[AvsCOL]

Lmao he already dominates. Was on pace for 17 goals, and 72 points in his rookie season! (Through 82 games obv)

 

[The Kingslayer]

Lmao he already dominates. Was on pace for 17 goals, and 72 points in his rookie season! (Through 82 games obv)

Its kinda scary to think how hes going to look when his slender body matures

 

[Foppa2118]

“Makar,” said one Western Conference team executive. “A bit more rounded game, stronger defensively."

 

[Avsboy]

One of the respondents was this guy:

Jim Benning in a moustache

 

[AvsCOL]

One of the respondents was this guy:

View attachment 350215
Jim Benning in a moustache

Unbiased hockey analyst Tim Jenning.

 

[ljb4]

Canadian bias is tough in this case. Do you vote for the American born player that plays in Vancouver or the Canadian born player that plays in Colorado?

 

[MaKarter]

Canadian bias is tough in this case. Do you vote for the American born player that plays in Vancouver or the Canadian born player that plays in Colorado?

Should I take that and run with it?
I think Quinn should win because I am American. Plus Quinn is undersized, creative, and have we mentioned his confidence?

Honestly though I have hit the point where I am ready for it to be over. I'm sure we can all agree the Calder vote will finish the discussion once and for all

 

[MaKarter]

Canadian bias is tough in this case. Do you vote for the American born player that plays in Vancouver or the Canadian born player that plays in Colorado?

Should I take that and run with it?
I think Quinn should win because I am American. Plus Quinn is undersized, creative, and have we mentioned his confidence?

Honestly though I have hit the point where I am ready for it to be over. I'm sure we can all agree the Calder vote will finish the discussion once and for all

 

[Muffin]

Already making excuses over at the Vancouver board . I've never heard of that being a thing, they'll make up anything to justify Hughes losing.

"Some observers speculating that Hughes will lose out to Makar in the Calder voting because of the "Elias Pettersson' effect. Voters around the league could be reluctant to award the Calder to a player on the same team, for the second consecutive year."

I think the Calder means more to Canucks fans to us, I didn't realize before Pettersson they haven't had anyone win the Calder since Bure in 92. We've been spoiled with Landeskog and MacKinnon in recent years that it almost seems like the Calder is not a big a deal.

 

[AvsCOL]

The Calder means more to Canucks fans than the Stanley Cup. I’ve never seen anything like it.

 

[Avsboy]

The Calder means more to Canucks fans than the Stanley Cup. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Makar is like Lucic in 2011, without the future nightclub violence

 

[Ararana]

I think the Calder means more to Canucks fans to us, I didn't realize before Pettersson they haven't had anyone win the Calder since Bure in 92. We've been spoiled with Landeskog and MacKinnon in recent years that it almost seems like the Calder is not a big a deal.

It's the only hardware they have a realistic shot at winning.

 

[Patagonia]

The Calder means more to Canucks fans than the Stanley Cup. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Some of their fans are using “generational” to describe Hughes. Pressure will be immense to continue improving.

 

[AvsCOL]

Some of their fans are using “generational” to describe Hughes. Pressure will be immense to continue improving.

We need to rid the world of that term. Clearly we're incapable of using it properly.

 

[Pokecheque]

We need to rid the world of that term. Clearly we're incapable of using it properly.

Agreed. It gets bandied about way too often.

 

[AvsCOL]

Agreed. It gets bandied about way too often.

It's a tough one to really nail down too. How many fit that generational term at the moment?

Crosby? Ovechkin as a goal scorer? McDavid?

That might be it...

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

Agreed. It gets bandied about way too often.

Generational is a fine term. But, I agree it’s way overused.

Crosby was generational, then McDavid was generational.

There has to be a significant age difference before you can dub the next generational talent.

So maybe when McDavid is 28/29 you can start looking at who is the generations next best player.

I do think there should be a generational defenceman category because blue-liners are largely viewed as worse than forwards for some reason.