Prospect Info: Caps Top Prospects General Discussion Thread Vol. 2 - 2021-22

[Langway]

Weird merge.

Canada's summer showcase completed yesterday. There were a total of four games played mixed in with practices, with the last two games featuring the U20 and U18 groups joined together so the U20 players played three total. Bjorklund looks to have had the best statistical performance of any of the goaltenders. Iorio had a seeing-eye PPG in the wild 9-8OT finale game while Lapierre seems to have gone scoreless. This year's WJC will be Iorio's last shot as a late birthday and Button at least has a couple of right side D openings in his projected roster. After Clarke, Ceulemans very likely takes one and then it's up to Iorio to grab the other. Lapierre should make it but he'll have to prove he's trustworthy enough all-around I suppose to warrant more of a depth spot if he's not a 2/3C.

 

[tenken00]

2021 Caps Top Prospects Rankings

#1 Connor McMichael Hershey Bears / AHL

C | 6' 0" | 183 lb | Age: 19
Draft: 2019 WSH, 1st rd, 25th pk (25th overall)
38 Votes - 88.4%
2020 Ranking - #1

 

[tenken00]

The 2021 Caps Top Prospects Rankings #2 poll is up now and live!

And if a mod could change poll title to #2 please!

 

[Hivemind]

Fehervary at #2 for me, with Alexeyev at #3. AA did a lot to encourage me in his strong KHL & AHL showings last year to close that gap, but the polish on Fehervary's game keeps him ahead.

 

[Corby78]

I voted Hendrix, again I go off potential not who is ready next

 

[Hivemind]

I voted Hendrix, again I go off potential not who is ready next

Will be interesting to see how much he's able to produce on Arcadie-Bathurst. He put up relatively big numbers in a very-shortened 2021 season (with quarantines shortening it even further), but he also has Dawson Mercer as a linemate in Chicoutimi. He's not going to have a 1st round pick winger like that on the Titans. Ideally I'd like to see how he can perform outside of the Q, but it remains to be seen what types of international opportunities will exist this year.

 

[JohnCarlsaurus]

I voted Hendrix, again I go off potential not who is ready next

Same

 

[TheLegendOfPatPeake]

Ok…who voted for Oskar Magnusson?

 

[Hivemind]

Ok…who voted for Oskar Magnusson?

Votes are public.

 

[twabby]

Neither very likely to become a star player according to this model, but the model likes Alexeyev as more of a sure thing NHLer.

Going with Alexeyev for that reason.

 

[Kalopsia]

View attachment 459398

View attachment 459399

Neither very likely to become a star player according to this model, but the model likes Alexeyev as more of a sure thing NHLer.

Going with Alexeyev for that reason.

I've gotta question how accurate that model is for defense-first defensemen. He must be going solely off of boxcar stats, right? That's the only info that's uniformly available across the minor leagues.

 

[Holtbyisms]

I think Alexeyev has a higher ceiling than Fever but his injury history concerns me. I went with him based on potential alone but do completely agree Fever may be more NHL ready at this point. Who knows though, I have a feeling there's going to be a heck of a battle between the two for that open roster spot in training camp. Splitting the season with 30-40 games each isn't out of the questions if Alexeyev shows up strong in camp.

 

[twabby]

I've gotta question how accurate that model is for defense-first defensemen. He must be going solely off of boxcar stats, right? That's the only info that's uniformly available across the minor leagues.

Yeah I don’t know the guts of the model but I imagine it just uses simple boxcar stats like points and TOI. Probably more effective predicting forwards than defensemen.

 

[Random schmoe]

AA has jumped Fever for me as of this year. I see their floors as being similar (decent bottom pairing), but I think Alexeyev has a higher ceiling with his offensive capabilities. He played quite well in the KHL last year as a 20 yr old against men.

Now if Fehervary's higher point totals in Hershey last year were of a real indicator of improved offensive ability that he sustains into the NHL, I'll pretend I never voted this way.

(I do appreciate kicksavedave's votes for Bear Hughes.)

 

[Dr John Carlson]

Went with Lapierre for position and upside but it's close between him and the defensemen. Both Alexeyev and Fehervary had seasons that went a long way towards answering their biggest questions marks - health and offensive upside respectively. But if I have to pick between a good D prospect and a good C prospect, I'll take the C.

 

[Capagonia]

Scott Wheeler’s recaps in the Athletic for Caps prospects at Canada WJC camp:


G Garin Bjorklund: I thought Bjorklund played well. He really battles to stay in plays and gets to a lot of second pucks.
RHD Vincent Iorio: Iorio was more aggressive and confident on the attack than I expected while playing his usual polished game defensively. I don’t think he’ll make the team but they paired him with some good players (including Cormier, who is a lock) and he played well.
C Hendrix Lapierre: I didn’t think Lapierre was quite as dominant as I hoped he’d be but his hands are just so quick and allowed him to dance players one-on-one and beat the first defender (or the goalie) all week. He also looks stronger in battles than a year ago and did a good job. His playmaking was strong as usual too and he consistently hit the second or third option in coverage with a leading pass.

 

[tenken00]

2021 Caps Top Prospects Rankings

#1 Connor McMichael Hershey Bears / AHL

C | 6' 0" | 183 lb | Age: 19
Draft: 2019 WSH, 1st rd, 25th pk (25th overall)
38 Votes - 88.4%
2020 Ranking - #1

#2 Martin Fehervary Hershey Bears / AHL

LD | 6' 2" | 202 lb | Age: 21
Draft: 2018 WSH, 2nd rd, 15th pk (46th overall)
21 Votes - 44.7%
2020 Ranking - #3




If our favorite mod could please move to the next poll and remove Feverybaby that would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Calicaps]

2021 Caps Top Prospects Rankings

#1 Connor McMichael Hershey Bears / AHL

C | 6' 0" | 183 lb | Age: 19
Draft: 2019 WSH, 1st rd, 25th pk (25th overall)
38 Votes - 88.4%
2020 Ranking - #1

#2 Martin Fehervary Hershey Bears / AHL

LD | 6' 2" | 202 lb | Age: 21
Draft: 2018 WSH, 2nd rd, 15th pk (46th overall)
21 Votes - 44.7%
2020 Ranking - #3




If our favorite mod could please move to the next poll and remove Feverybaby that would be greatly appreciated!

Done. But please tag me next time. Otherwise you're just waiting for me to notice this post. And yes, I know I'm your favorite.

 

[tenken00]

2021 Caps Top Prospects Rankings

#1 Connor McMichael Hershey Bears / AHL

C | 6' 0" | 183 lb | Age: 19
Draft: 2019 WSH, 1st rd, 25th pk (25th overall)
38 Votes - 88.4%
2020 Ranking - #1

#2 Martin Fehervary Hershey Bears / AHL

LD | 6' 2" | 202 lb | Age: 21
Draft: 2018 WSH, 2nd rd, 15th pk (46th overall)
21 Votes - 44.7%
2020 Ranking - #3

#3 Alexander Alexeyev Hershey Bears / AHL

LD | 6' 4" | 210 lb | Age: 21
Draft: 2018 WSH, 1st rd, 31st pk (31st overall)
15 Votes - 60.0%
2020 Ranking - #4

Thanks @Calicaps! Next poll please!

 

[Marshall]

Jimi.

 

[Random schmoe]

Voting LaPierre, on the basis on his upside and being a center (and expected to stay a center.) A full year removed from any injury issues is a good omen.

But Protas is a lot closer to the top 4 for me than he was a year ago. He had a relatively outstanding year in the KHL considering his age, first experience in a 'mens' league, relative lack of recent experience on the international sheet. His PPG numbers were commensurate with a who's who of recent Russian forwards first round picks: Amirov, Podkolzin, Chinakhov

I'm just not sure he plays Center in the NHL, and question a bit how much of his success is due to his size which will be less of an advantage in the NHL. But right now I easily see a top 9 winger on a good NHL squad, and quite possibly top 6.

 

[Calicaps]

Jimi.

may he be so gifted...

 

[usiel]

Protas for me.

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

Bear Hughes has already won. He is on the All time All Name Team.

 

[Kalopsia]

Jimi.

I'll be bummed if he doesn't stick at center, but if not at least he'll still be our Little Wing.