Cole Cassels (MOD Warning Post #417)

[Rex Banner]

Quite the Rollercoaster for Cole.

 

[Zombotron]

The colercoaster

 

[tc 23]

Cole was always going to be a project. This year was certainly disappointing though, even with that in mind. Hope he works hard over the summer and makes serious strides in his development next season.

 

[Pip]

I think he'll figure it out but then again I'm probably his biggest fan on this board dating back to his draft +1 year so I might be biased.

 

[Huggy]

How bad was his injury, I recall he played through it and it made it worse.

 

[DCantheDDad]

I am still optimistic that he will have a better year next season. It sucks that he struggled so much in the AHL thus far, but there is still hope.

 

[DL44]

Skating.
#1 death knell of any skilled prospect unable to make it.

It's the only reason I'm hesitant with my excitement with Boeser... but remain optimistic.

It's unfortunate because Cassels appeared to have every other tool in the box in Jr.

 

[Passchendaele]

I guess he's not making the NHL after all.

Sure, numbers don't tell the whole story, but 18 points in two full seasons is brutal.

 

[huntison]

San Jose needs him asap! Mcdavid is out of control!

 

[denkiteki]

I guess he's not making the NHL after all.

Sure, numbers don't tell the whole story, but 18 points in two full seasons is brutal.

If he can ever develop any offensive game or start playing physical without altering his defensive game, he probably would be in the NHL. Of course either thing happening isnt too likely. Maybe a different coach will help him but he is probably a long shot prospect at this point.

Malhotra being a developmental coach could help Cassels more than any prospects so it will be interesting to see if there are changes to his game next season or if he stays in the bottom 6 in Utica.

 

[y2kcanucks]

Let this thread be a lesson to those who are overhyping our recent draft picks.

 

[timw33]

Let this thread be a lesson to those who are overhyping our recent draft picks.

100%

Let's not call Benning a "Draft Genius" quite yet.

 

[oceanchild]

100%

Let's not call Benning a "Draft Genius" quite yet.

I think an average drafter is currently debatable. He may have messed up our 2 highest picks in a generation. (Since 1999)

 

[Pavel96]

I think an average drafter is currently debatable. He may have messed up our 2 highest picks in a generation. (Since 1999)

Just think, in a few months he can go for the Triple Crown!

 

[dwarf]

Just think, in a few months he can go for the Triple Crown!

Its hard to bet against him at this point.

 

[ProstheticConscience]

Some real beauty posts in the first few pages of this. Wow.

Yeah so...Cassels might not have worked out the way we'd hoped.

 

[Cancuks]

I remember posts like this from a couple of years back...

Baertschi Horvat Virtanen
Shinkaruk McCann Vrbata
Kenins Cassels Hansen
Gaunce Bonino Dorsett

w00t w00t... Cup!!!!

 

[F A N]

I'll give Cassels another year. His first AHL season was essentially lost to injury and he did make significant jumps in his OHL career. The road to the NHL was always going to be a hard one for Cassels. Even his father projected him to be nothing more than a 3rd line C in the NHL (which you would assume is the optimistic projection). I honestly thought Cassels would at least be a productive AHL player. There's just too much there. It makes no sense that a player who had 49 and 51 assists his last two seasons in the OHL would average 5 assists in his first two AHL seasons.

 

[UticaHockey]

San Jose needs him asap! Mcdavid is out of control!

Best quote of the thread.

 

[Pip]

I really liked Cassels in Junior but yeah he's almost a non prospect at this point. Very unfortunate how he lost 2 consecutive off seasons to injury and illness before turning pro.

 

[VanJack]

100%

Let's not call Benning a "Draft Genius" quite yet.

Actually, Cassels was a Gillis pick....but just goes to show that you can't really rely on what happens in the Memorial Cup very often.

That Oshawa team, which beat McDavid's Erie Otters and Draisaitl's Kelowna Rockets in winning the Memorial Cup, had guys like Cassels, Michael Dal Colle, Tobias Lindberg, Anthony Cirelli and Hunter Smith...and so far none of them have done much as pros, despite being high picks in a few cases.

 

[TheWolf*]

I think an average drafter is currently debatable. He may have messed up our 2 highest picks in a generation. (Since 1999)

He messed up on JV, the jury is out on the other player. Can we at least wait and see what kind of a pro Juolevi turns out to be, before we crown that rat in Calgary?

 

[n00bxQb]

I remember posts like this from a couple of years back...

Baertschi Horvat Virtanen
Shinkaruk McCann Vrbata
Kenins Cassels Hansen
Gaunce Bonino Dorsett

w00t w00t... Cup!!!!

People still do it and will continue to do it.

I remember having arguments with some friends who were penciling Cassels in on the 3rd line straight out of junior. Some people don't understand how difficult it is for most players to make the jump from juniors into the NHL.

 

[RandV]

Actually, Cassels was a Gillis pick....but just goes to show that you can't really rely on what happens in the Memorial Cup very often.

The point being made there is that kids can look exceptional while still playing in the lower levels, but hit a huge stumbling block when they turn pro. As Benning has only been on board for 3 drafts, most of his draft picks are still in the 'Cassels-hype' range. Gaudette, Lockwood, Brisebois, etc.

 

[timw33]

Actually, Cassels was a Gillis pick....but just goes to show that you can't really rely on what happens in the Memorial Cup very often.

That Oshawa team, which beat McDavid's Erie Otters and Draisaitl's Kelowna Rockets in winning the Memorial Cup, had guys like Cassels, Michael Dal Colle, Tobias Lindberg, Anthony Cirelli and Hunter Smith...and so far none of them have done much as pros, despite being high picks in a few cases.

Yep, and that wasn't the point I was going for.

It's that everyone is insanely overly optimistic about all of the recent picks and find every opportunity to hype up anyone playing decently before they even make the pro level. We were calling Cassels and Subban massive steals for 2-3 years after they were drafted, and in all reality they are just normal mid round picks that probably wont make it.