D Jordan Schmaltz (2012, 25th, STL)
- Thread starter Marshal Rochambeau
- Start date
Jamie Benn
NHL Draft Enthusiast
It's not his speed, so much as his overall skating. It's pretty clunky. In terms of speed, he's got enough to keep up with most players. Once he gains some strength in his chicken legs, he will be a much better skater I'd think,
He is likely to be drafted first round I would think.
The biggest issue is well beyond his control, namely the number of first round potential D men available. Its a huge number, and many teams shy away from drafting D men early because it takes too long to develop. I think Swartz is in a group of about 15 D men with first round potential, and he probably falls into the 70% percentile I would think. That said, there is not exactly a lot separating the D men in the area at this moment. So realistically it depends upon if a team likes him, or another guy. Its a year for D where you could be a teams second choice at 13, yet fall to 30th.
But all in all its still very early, and the D men really have to do it for themselves. They have to show something that differentiates themselves from the pack, but alas that has been hard to do and most of them have been playing really well. I'd say Dumba and Ceci have moved up substantially, while Reinhart and Ebert have dropped. But that is just 4 of the 15. Its not like the rest have been treading water, just that they have not shown anything other than expected progression.
Good luck to him though, all in all he will get a fair chance at an NHL career, which is all these kids can ask for.
Does he not squat and train like most elite level hockey players do? Odd to hear of a potential first rounder with chicken legs. Most of these guys are all legs.
He has a laser beam shot that he appears to be able to place at will and he has an uncanny ability, "innate ability" I've heard another observer use, to get the puck through traffic to the net..
He plays the breakout like no other in the USHL. He can pass and follow, carry, stretch...he is just tops at reading seams and lanes and getting the puck out of his own end.
He is physically weak in front of his net but he is also smart enough to out position forwards.
He outright disappears in physical games.
He really does remind me a lot of Brian Leetch. On a good offensive team, he'll play an integral role and his +/- is going to be sky high. On a mediocre to bad team, his offensive skills will make only a marginal difference and his +/- is going to be subterranean.
Not sure, to be honest. I'm not like a lot of guys where I dive into these kids personal lives. I can just tell you that he had BY FAR the smallest legs of any Sioux City defenseman when I saw him last month. It also comes across very clear in his skating as theres no sort of explosion and drop dead honesty, he came across minutely as a "bender". I don't know if he was hurt, but there was not even mid-round calibre skating ability.
I agree that he lacks explosive speed but on a 10 scale I'll give his overall skating a 6.5 - neither bender nor blazer.
I agree. I personally work on a 1-5 scale and would give em about a 3.5
. There's no doubt he seriously needs work.I agree. I personally work on a 1-5 scale and would give em about a 3.5
It is not of NHL caliber.
LOL. Glad it's not just me. I read things in publications about players, like "Smooth skating" for Schmaltz and other things for other USHL players and I often wonder if I'm a complete amateur to the scouting game and have no idea what I'm talking about or what.
I nailed Seth Ambroz to a T with his drop last year though lol. So I have to know a thing or two.
bluesfan94
Registered User
Jordan Schmaltz
I know he's supposed to be an offensive defenseman, but how has he looked this year? Who's a good NHL comparison?
I know he's supposed to be an offensive defenseman, but how has he looked this year? Who's a good NHL comparison?
Marshal Rochambeau
Send it
I'm not allowed too but if you go to my previous threads you will find one on Jordan Schmaltz with a lot of good info.
i was surprised at how he underperformed during their brief Clark Cup appearance. A player like that has to show up when the "money" is on the line. Your comparison is apt though.
Yeti
HFBoards Partner
I've seen this kid in person a number of times, and I just don't get all the attention scouts give him. He's a turnover machine.
I've seen him a number of tims as well and I see a point scoring machine, with great power play skills and a wonderful defensive stick...
Skating stinks on ice, but the first part is why scouts give him attention.
Yeti
HFBoards Partner
Reminds me a bit of Colby Cohen, who used to play for the Stars and is now playing for the Providence Bruins (AHL), I think.
Tons of skill on the offensive end. Huge shot. Skating stinks, and is below average in his own end. Turnover machines. Physically, both have good size...but both shy away from contact. Never understood the hype with Cohen, either.
Tons of skill on the offensive end. Huge shot. Skating stinks, and is below average in his own end. Turnover machines. Physically, both have good size...but both shy away from contact. Never understood the hype with Cohen, either.
Except he's not below average in his own end. If you want a guy who throws huge checks, you will be disappointed. If you want a guy who has a stick that can sweep and poke the puck away without even a thought, you have Schmaltz. I was sort of a doubter about him last seaosn, but this year, I've taken a greater look and the only real glaring weakness is his skating. Of the defenseman I've seen this year, Schmaltz has made the most good decisions, in my opinion.
In his own end, his smarts are his best asset. Every point you make flows from that premise. Now that I've given it some thought my comparison would be a poor man's Nick Leddy. Not as smooth of a skater but very similar in style.
Cohen did a year @ Lincoln? He was a very good D1 player for BU - he did score their biggest goal in the 2009 season. In fact, he probably had the biggest goal for the entire 2009 season!
The interest in Cohen was at the time was somewhat transitional and I would agree that it was a stretch to take him in the second round. As it is, he's probably too slow and too much of a defensive liabilty to play beyond the AHL.
I am sorry but I don't get the Schmaltz comparison. Cohen has size that he is not afraid to use. That may have been a problem at Lincoln but it was not one at NTDP and it was not one at BU.
I asked you some questions about your game versus the 'Loo Friday. Is your silence your assent? Big weekend coming up for your Lincoln Stars. They up for it?
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Yeti
HFBoards Partner
Yup. Left the NTDP and came to Lincoln for the 2006-07 season. Played 53 games. We nicknamed him "Superstar" because he acted like he was the show. I'm sure he improved defensively at BU.
http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/playerpage.html?playerid=1010067&seasonid=1336
No idea what you are talking about. Send me a PM. I don't want to go off topic with this Schmaltz thread.
110 PIM's doesn't seem like a soft player to me. It is funny seeing his picture. He looked 10 years older the last time I saw him and it was only 2 years later. I see that Ricky Carden was on that Lincoln team with Cohen. I thought that he had played for Des Moines in the USHL. Good kid. Solid player. He's had kind of a rough go of it at the D1 level with St. Lawrence.
The other is not a big deal and I was just pulling your leg a little. Your boys had a good weekend. I'm not going to rain on your parade.
JawandaPuck
Lost Art of Dynasty
AmericanDream
Thank you Elon!
AHAHAHAHAHA......
love that crow on a dish!!!
hey Dynamo.....pony up that vcash hoss......apparently Jordan Schmaltz was a first round pick....hmmmm maybe now you have learned your lesson
seriously, your soul....I mean vcash is mine!!
love that crow on a dish!!!
hey Dynamo.....pony up that vcash hoss......apparently Jordan Schmaltz was a first round pick....hmmmm maybe now you have learned your lesson
seriously, your soul....I mean vcash is mine!!
