HFAvs Prospect Ranking Poll #8

[McMetal]

Vlad Kamenev wins out in a divided field to fall one spot in the rankings. Igor Shvyrev and Cam Morrison added.

Position	Player	Draft	2019 Rank	2018 Rank	Change
RD	Cale Makar	2017 #4	1 (96.7%)	1	0
LD	Bowen Byram	2019 #4	2 (98.1%)	-	-
C	Alex Newhook	2019 #16	3 (60.0%)	-	-
RD	Conor Timmins	2017 #32	4 (57.8%)	3	-1
RW	Martin Kaut	2018 #16	5 (92.6%)	2	-3
C	Shane Bowers	2017 #28 (TR)	6 (76.6%)	4	-2
C	Vladislav Kamenev	2014 #42 (TR)	7 (52.1%)	6	-1

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

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[McMetal]

It's getting tough for me, I'm voting for Helleson over Meloche because I see a higher ceiling for him despite him being 2-3 years away.

Add Henry and Annunen I guess, Annunen probably has the highest ceiling of any prospect we have at that position.

 

[Makar to MacK]

I went Kovalenko myself but imo Greer Helleson and Meloche are all really close here. Add Weiss

 

[henchman21]

Helleson by a hair over Meloche.

Add Weiss and Zhuravlyov

 

[Raucherhusten]

AJ. And just because i want him to succeed.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Kovalenko

Add Henry and is O'Connor considered a prospect? If so add him. If not add ahhhhhh Werner I guess?

 

[Perratrooper]

Is Helleson a better prospect than Meloche was at the same age? What are the major differences between the two players?

 

[henchman21]

Is Helleson a better prospect than Meloche was at the same age? What are the major differences between the two players?

Helleson is more sound. He's a better skater, better positional defender, and much, much better passer (he's really underrated there... his passing is top notch). Meloche showed more offense and is a much meaner sort of defensemen. Years ago it was thought that Meloche could develop as a two way threat as his skating improved. With that, he projected higher up the lineup that you'd project now. The skating hasn't quite come around, nor has the offense (though he has proven that he won't be a blackhole... which Helleson hasn't). Long story, short... Meloche looked like a risky, but potential top pairing guy with 2 way upside if things fell into place. He had plenty of warts and those are holding him back now... it is unlikely he gets even close to that now. Helleson does not look like a potential top pairing 2 way guy. He looks like a safer middle pairing defensively slanted guy, who may not be a black hole defensively. I've used this before, but think prime, not injury prone Tanev. Maybe a touch more offense.

 

[McMetal]

Kovalenko

Add Henry and is O'Connor considered a prospect? If so add him. If not add ahhhhhh Werner I guess?

LOC is 22, so yes, he counts. I kind of forgot about him, but he had a really good year with the Eagles.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

LOC is 22, so yes, he counts. I kind of forgot about him, but he had a really good year with the Eagles.

Yeah he really did. Exactly the kind of year you hope to see from a kid like him transitioning to the pros honestly. Got better as the year went on.

I dont think he has a tonne of upside, but I dont think anyone else really has a tonne of upside left in the pool now outside of Kovalenko, Shvyryov, and Henry. And in both Shvy and Henry's cases I dont see them remotely reaching that 2nd line upside I think they have.


But with O'Connor I think he projects as a bottom 6 Center well and I think he has the tools to reach that level very soon. I thought he had a great albeit brief showing in the NHL last year and his AHL game seemed to really take off after that stint so to me that's exactly what you want to see.



EDIT: Just to add to this a little. In O'Connors first 30 games in the AHL he had 9G, 7A for 16 points in 30 games and averaged 2.53 Shots per game. In his 34 games after his NHL stint he had 10G, 16A for 26 points in 34 games as well as averaging 2.88 Shots per game.

So he saw a big change in his production after returning, and an improvement in the shots he was taking as well. That's the exact type of stuff you want to see from a young kid like that after getting a taste in the NHL IMO.


Long story short I like him and like his chances of being a future NHL player for us in a bottom 6 role. Even in an extremely competitive landscape that right now includes the likes of Bowers, Kamenenv, Greer, Kaut, and Dries all trying to earn an NHL roster spot, and on an NHL roster that has a number of established quality veterans like Wilson/Nieto/Calvert/Bellemare already penciled into that lineup.

 

[Makar to MacK]

Yeah he really did. Exactly the kind of year you hope to see from a kid like him transitioning to the pros honestly. Got better as the year went on.

I dont think he has a tonne of upside, but I dont think anyone else really has a tonne of upside left in the pool now outside of Kovalenko, Shvyryov, and Henry. And in both Shvy and Henry's cases I dont see them remotely reaching that 2nd line upside I think they have.


But with O'Connor I think he projects as a bottom 6 Center well and I think he has the tools to reach that level very soon. I thought he had a great albeit brief showing in the NHL last year and his AHL game seemed to really take off after that stint so to me that's exactly what you want to see.

You don't think Helleson has upside? Just curious why?

 

[Patagonia]

Meloche.

Completely underrated. Excellent training camp last year, bumped up and down from the AHL/ECHL due to the shared ownership and when settled played solid D. I believe he might get a chance this season with the injuries/Barrie traded. Helleson has the greater upside, but he is the latest shiny toy that is years away that might be better than Meloche today.

 

[AllAboutAvs]

Meloche over Helleson by a hair. I need to see a bit more from Helly.

Add Shvy and Werner.

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

You don't think Helleson has upside? Just curious why?

I admittedly know very little on him, not enough to be comfortable evaluating him. But from the little bit I do know, I dont think he has the same kind of upside as I do Kovalenko/Shvy/Henry. I see all of those guys as potential 50+ point forwards in the NHL(Though it is far more likely for Shvy and Henry that they never play an NHL game).

Basically in a vacuum I value 50+ point players over #4D. I'd actually rank Helleson higher than Henry and Shvy in this poll though because again I think they are both major longshots for the NHL at this point.


If that makes any sense?

 

[Tweaky]

Melo, add Shvy and Justus

 

[ASmileyFace]

I like Meloche here, I have a feeling Helleson might jump him by the end of the season, but I like what Meloche theoretically brings to the NHL if he makes it.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Unless I’m missing something didn’t Helleson’s production go down this season? I think he has a lot of questions about his offense to answer before pegging his upside.

So my vote is Meloche, he rounds out the tier for me. I’ve always believed in his talent so my vote is for that.

If we are adding a goalie I’d choose Werner, he’s the one with a NHL contract. It’s a big year for Annunen, he could jump ahead next year but he’s got some things to realize.

If we are adding a forward I’d choose either Nick Henry or Ty Lewis, just depends if you like benefit of the doubt vs. experience.

 

[Congo Jack]

Greer. Add Shyv and Henry

 

[cgf]

Add Weiss and a goalie. This is about where we run out of NHL prospects.

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Add Werner

 

[Patagonia]

Saigeon needs to be added.

Brandon Saigeon Inks AHL Deal with Eagles

The forward was drafted by the Avalanche in 2018

Brandon Saigeon Inks AHL Deal with Eagles

 

[flyfysher]

Yeah he really did. Exactly the kind of year you hope to see from a kid like him transitioning to the pros honestly. Got better as the year went on.

I dont think he has a tonne of upside, but I dont think anyone else really has a tonne of upside left in the pool now outside of Kovalenko, Shvyryov, and Henry. And in both Shvy and Henry's cases I dont see them remotely reaching that 2nd line upside I think they have.


But with O'Connor I think he projects as a bottom 6 Center well and I think he has the tools to reach that level very soon. I thought he had a great albeit brief showing in the NHL last year and his AHL game seemed to really take off after that stint so to me that's exactly what you want to see.



EDIT: Just to add to this a little. In O'Connors first 30 games in the AHL he had 9G, 7A for 16 points in 30 games and averaged 2.53 Shots per game. In his 34 games after his NHL stint he had 10G, 16A for 26 points in 34 games as well as averaging 2.88 Shots per game.

So he saw a big change in his production after returning, and an improvement in the shots he was taking as well. That's the exact type of stuff you want to see from a young kid like that after getting a taste in the NHL IMO.


Long story short I like him and like his chances of being a future NHL player for us in a bottom 6 role. Even in an extremely competitive landscape that right now includes the likes of Bowers, Kamenenv, Greer, Kaut, and Dries all trying to earn an NHL roster spot, and on an NHL roster that has a number of established quality veterans like Wilson/Nieto/Calvert/Bellemare already penciled into that lineup.

I went to a couple of Eagles PO games. I know the names but hadn't really followed their players. The one Eagles player that stood out to me was LOC.

 

[UncleRisto]

This is one of those votes where I'm taking Helleson because he hasn't had the chance to not make progress yet.

Add Werner and Fatso.

 

[AnimalMother73]

Add LOC and Annunen

 

[Congo Jack]

Add Werner and Fatso.

I have a name, ya know.