Theo Von
gang gang buzz buzz
- Nov 15, 2013
- 6,087
- 4,895
Here again is my own personal rankings for our prospects.
Same criteria: How good they are now, how good they can be, and the likelihood they get to that ceiling. All of these, of course, are in my opinion.
Last years list:
This years list:
Graduated: Bjorkstrand, PLD, Milano, Hannikainen
1. Merzlikins
2. Gavrikov
3. Foudy
4. Abramov
5. Texier
6. Davidsson
7. Stenlund
8. Peeke
9. Carlsson
10. Marchenko
11. Tarasov
12. Kukan
13. Vehvilainen
14. Bemstrom
15. Karlberg
16. Vigneault
17. Thurkauf
18. Berni
19. Fortier
20. Kivlenieks
What I find interesting about our pool is how hard to rate the people from 7-20. Usually you can name the top prospects pretty easily, but after our first 5 or so, it gets really compacted and you can make many arguments for different guys.
I picked Merzlikins as our top prospect because I think he can be a very solid NHL starter right now with potential stardom if he came over. However, that will not be the case this season. So we wait.
Gavrikov over Foudy because I think his ceiling is higher and his ability to reach the ceiling is certainly higher. Foudy is very boom or bust, and this next season will be an important indicator of his true offensive talent.
Little to no movement for Texier or Abramov. Texier had a good year against men, but his injuries bother me, and even though he has a high ceiling, he is very unlikely to hit the top end.
Abramov had a very disappointing World Juniors, but had obviously blew up the QMJHL (again). The world junior performance really soured him for me, since he was a 19 year old and should have at least been noticeable. He wasn't. His stats are impressive in the Q, but he really needed better competition. His first AHL year upcoming will help him not only play against men, but projecting his future.
People will ask why Kukan is low since he will likely make the team either as an extra or a 3rd pairing guy. Because I don't see him being more than what he is right now. And that is average. He's one of the cases where his ceiling is low, but very likely to reach it. Always valuable to have in a pool, but unlikely to get alot of love.
Prospects I've given up on: Collins, Siebenaler, Sherwood, and Bittner.
Injuries, repeated poor play, or both have caused these prospects to bust. Probable career journeyman AHLers or European players.
Prospects To Watch: Abramov, Davidsson, Stenlund, Carlsson, and Foudy.
All turning pro, or in Foudy's case about to get a ton of ice time on a top tier junior team. It's most important for our future that these guys pan out.
In Carlsson's case, he was spoonfed minutes he didn't deserve in first coming to NA by playing in the Pittsburgh series, and responded last season with a subpar at best season and injury issues. It's not make or break by any means, he's only like 22 and a defenseman, but we've got to see improvement.
Potential riser: Bemstrom
I dig this post but one quirk... why have you given up on Sherwood already? I get that he was an overager in the O last season but he still had some pretty solid stats (unlike Collins, Blake, and Bittner). 30 goals in 57 games in the reg season for Kitchener.. ppg. His playoff performance is really what made me think higher of him than I had been before.. 14 goals, 26 points in 19 playoff games for the Rangers. Helped them get to the third round. Not too shabby. I wouldn’t be so quick to write him off. This upcoming season for Cleveland will tell a lot. Will his game translate to the professional level? Hope so. But we’ll soon find out.