ALLCAPSALLTHETIME
Great Dane! Love that Eller feller.
36 points in 24 games for Protas and a +23.
He had 40 points in 61 games last year and was +24.
He had 40 points in 61 games last year and was +24.
I don't watch prospects because I don't have time for it, but what are we looking at as a realistic NHL outcome for McMichael given his D+1 season to date? Top 6? Future #1 C? And who are some of his comparables?
Look at the way he barely celebrates the hat trick, exactly like McDavid.
Look at the way he barely celebrates the hat trick, exactly like McDavid.
Pronman has Protas as the highest early riser of the 2019 class in his latest Athletic article.
Marginally I would say yes. He's torching it right now obviously and has been impressive overall. In terms of significantly improving his NHL stock, not sure the skating has improved enough.
And Feverbaby and the Real McJesus and baby Viper and AA.
Fehervary I get and McMichael I know. Who is Viper?
So, he is not a quick strike like Viper. I see....He could be....
Don't see the Vrana comparison, but the other names all make sense to me. It's obviously still optimistic, but hard to ask much more from a D+1 season than McMichael is doing right now.Maybe something like a mix between Couture, Guentzel & William Karlsson if he continues to maximize his skill set. A safer projection might be something like a more complete Vrana or a player like McCann. It's just junior and all that but he does seem to have the ability to carry his team on a fairly consistent basis. It's been a really big jump from his draft year but the trajectory looks pretty special.
More the hands/finishing aspect of Vrana than his speed. That said, there's very little likelihood CMM is done maturing physically. He's maybe not a burner like Foudy right now but, y'know, hockey sense. He's going to need to continue to dominate to belong up in a Marner type category as a prospect. I'm not sure he's there really...but he is a hell of a finisher at that level and I believe in his IQ. Both CMM & Protas displayed an impressive level of craftiness and IQ in their first pre-season stints...something we haven't seen in a while in a forward. Their physical maturity will only improve, it's just a matter of how much but even at 18 they showed a lot of promise re: their sense.Don't see the Vrana comparison, but the other names all make sense to me. It's obviously still optimistic, but hard to ask much more from a D+1 season than McMichael is doing right now.
His skating looked very solid to me during the preseason. Kinda reminds me of when the predraft scuttlebutt around Varna knocked his skating (Button gave Vrana a 3/5 during his draft on that front). Was obviously nonsense in Vrana’s case, and while it’s not quite that egregious, I think the McMichael criticism is invalid as well.
For what it’s worth, after the draft McMichael mentioned he saw himself as a two way center and patterned his game off of Horvat and Monahan.
Pronman has Protas as the highest early riser of the 2019 class in his latest Athletic article.
Aliaksei Protas, C, Washington
Drafted: No. 91 overall
Protas is the top early riser from the 2019 draft. He’s been a leading scorer in the WHL, second in the league as of this writing. It’s not just his points that intrigue, though. It’s the vision, shot and size I saw last season; coupled with more confidence with the puck, a more well-rounded game where he attacks the middle and plays tough minutes, and a much-improved skating stride. I thought his skating was fringe pro quality last season; Prince Albert’s coach Marc Habscheid called it almost NHL quality when I talked to him a few weeks ago. I know some scouts who disagree with that, but it’s clear he’s made strides in that area, which has led to his significant improvement as a prospect.
Pronman: Biggest risers from the 2019 NHL Draft
Aliaksei Protas, C, Washington
Drafted: No. 91 overall
Protas is the top early riser from the 2019 draft. He’s been a leading scorer in the WHL, second in the league as of this writing. It’s not just his points that intrigue, though. It’s the vision, shot and size I saw last season; coupled with more confidence with the puck, a more well-rounded game where he attacks the middle and plays tough minutes, and a much-improved skating stride. I thought his skating was fringe pro quality last season; Prince Albert’s coach Marc Habscheid called it almost NHL quality when I talked to him a few weeks ago. I know some scouts who disagree with that, but it’s clear he’s made strides in that area, which has led to his significant improvement as a prospect.
Hey, I hope you're right. If that's his floor though, I'll be pretty darn happy honestly. Monahan had strong possession numbers, a 51.1% face-off %, 34 goals, and 82 points in 78 games at the age of 24 last season. He had two prior 31 goal seasons. Bozak is quite a nice two-way center in his own right. It gives us a sense of how Connor views his own playing style more than anything though.low bar....