Colt.45Orr
Registered User
It has been bugging me for years that we have no legit bruising prospects patrolling the blueline and I think that is an area for us to address at this draft. Drafting a few kids that can crush/pressure opposing Dmen with a heavy forecheck would also be great.
It has been made clear –and rightly so—that Neely/Sweeney will be adding some toughness to this team this summer but every hour McQuaid gets closer to signing elsewhere and Lucic is rumoured to be on the block...
This team was already butter soft last year and losing Lucic and McQuaid would make us the softest team in the league by some distance so obviously there are some guys out there already that Sweeney has to have his eyes on.
Lets Look At the Draft First:
Lawson Crouse: Not as nasty as Tom Wilson but same type of hitter. Unlikely to drop to 14 but could play next year if needed.
Meier: Thick kid that can take a hit and work the boards, don’t think he makes to us either but could also play.
Zboril or Bittner: One has snarl, the other has size –both will be there at 14 but neither will be ready for the Bruins next year.
Brandon Carlo: Huge wingspan and upside –would be great value in the 2nd but likely won’t be there and needs years to put on weight. Austin Strand (6’4 shutdown kid from the Rebels) would be great to grab later in the draft if you don’t get Carlo where you want him.
Christian Fischer: Gritty winger who will be a pain to play against when he is done filling out.
----Lets go to the big, tough dudes---
Keegan Kolesar: We are talking about a grown ass manchild here (6’2 -220). Would beat Crouse --if he ever caught him. Skating is a major concern (but that is always the one thing that you CAN work on with any prospect… to varying extents). He plays with his heart on his sleeve and would be a late first rounder if he could skate… worth taking a flyer on IMO. If he plays full time with Barzal next year I would expect him to jump well over a PPG and become a dominant PF in the dub which would obviously be great for his development.
Sam Ruopp: From a size/toughness standpoint, we are looking at a McQuaid/Prout combo here. There are not any skating red flags here and he say a healthy jump in production this year while also having the bonus of being a Right shooting Dman. Maybe toughest kid in the draft; getting him would be similar to getting McIlrath a few years ago–just without using a high 1st rounder on him! *McIlrath was way tougher in his draft year but I see Ruopp putting on some weight and being a late bloomer tough-guy like Ruopp.
Gabriel Slight:
6’2 -220 winger… I don’t know anything about him really (QMJHL). Supposed to be tough –any insights?
Andrew Nielsen:
Majorly biased towards this guy (played for my Hurricanes this year) so I’ll leave my opinion at the door on this one buut 6’3 -210 (and growing) and likes the gym. He is the kind of horse you want to go up against the Habs in a 7 game series and would straight up murder Gallagher.
Imama: QMJHL guy –I’m blind here. Anyone? Anyone??
Thomas Foster: I have 2 buds that watch the Giants all the time (one involved with organization) 1 likes him lots, the other doesn’t see too much there. Only 180 but can hold his own and will likely play around 205. Kind of like a tougher, less agitating Andrew Shaw.
I think we need to grab one (or more) of these big WHL beast Dmen later on and develop them as projects (like McQuaid) with a couple more years in the CHL, a few in the AHL and then bring up as a 6/7 if they pan out. Kolesar is worth a gamble too –plays like Lucic with a more consistent motor (but even heavier boots) so he could pay off big time.
BTW: Anybody that bring us Trotman because of his size is delusional –my opinion only of course-- but he is way too soft and I don’t think he is/will be a full time NHLer.
But these guys are a long ways away (and, obviously, not even in our system) so what are the fixes here to bring in some size, snarl and speed for 2015/16?
It has been made clear –and rightly so—that Neely/Sweeney will be adding some toughness to this team this summer but every hour McQuaid gets closer to signing elsewhere and Lucic is rumoured to be on the block...
This team was already butter soft last year and losing Lucic and McQuaid would make us the softest team in the league by some distance so obviously there are some guys out there already that Sweeney has to have his eyes on.
Lets Look At the Draft First:
Lawson Crouse: Not as nasty as Tom Wilson but same type of hitter. Unlikely to drop to 14 but could play next year if needed.
Meier: Thick kid that can take a hit and work the boards, don’t think he makes to us either but could also play.
Zboril or Bittner: One has snarl, the other has size –both will be there at 14 but neither will be ready for the Bruins next year.
Brandon Carlo: Huge wingspan and upside –would be great value in the 2nd but likely won’t be there and needs years to put on weight. Austin Strand (6’4 shutdown kid from the Rebels) would be great to grab later in the draft if you don’t get Carlo where you want him.
Christian Fischer: Gritty winger who will be a pain to play against when he is done filling out.
----Lets go to the big, tough dudes---
Keegan Kolesar: We are talking about a grown ass manchild here (6’2 -220). Would beat Crouse --if he ever caught him. Skating is a major concern (but that is always the one thing that you CAN work on with any prospect… to varying extents). He plays with his heart on his sleeve and would be a late first rounder if he could skate… worth taking a flyer on IMO. If he plays full time with Barzal next year I would expect him to jump well over a PPG and become a dominant PF in the dub which would obviously be great for his development.
Sam Ruopp: From a size/toughness standpoint, we are looking at a McQuaid/Prout combo here. There are not any skating red flags here and he say a healthy jump in production this year while also having the bonus of being a Right shooting Dman. Maybe toughest kid in the draft; getting him would be similar to getting McIlrath a few years ago–just without using a high 1st rounder on him! *McIlrath was way tougher in his draft year but I see Ruopp putting on some weight and being a late bloomer tough-guy like Ruopp.
Gabriel Slight:
6’2 -220 winger… I don’t know anything about him really (QMJHL). Supposed to be tough –any insights?
Andrew Nielsen:
Majorly biased towards this guy (played for my Hurricanes this year) so I’ll leave my opinion at the door on this one buut 6’3 -210 (and growing) and likes the gym. He is the kind of horse you want to go up against the Habs in a 7 game series and would straight up murder Gallagher.
Imama: QMJHL guy –I’m blind here. Anyone? Anyone??
Thomas Foster: I have 2 buds that watch the Giants all the time (one involved with organization) 1 likes him lots, the other doesn’t see too much there. Only 180 but can hold his own and will likely play around 205. Kind of like a tougher, less agitating Andrew Shaw.
I think we need to grab one (or more) of these big WHL beast Dmen later on and develop them as projects (like McQuaid) with a couple more years in the CHL, a few in the AHL and then bring up as a 6/7 if they pan out. Kolesar is worth a gamble too –plays like Lucic with a more consistent motor (but even heavier boots) so he could pay off big time.
BTW: Anybody that bring us Trotman because of his size is delusional –my opinion only of course-- but he is way too soft and I don’t think he is/will be a full time NHLer.
But these guys are a long ways away (and, obviously, not even in our system) so what are the fixes here to bring in some size, snarl and speed for 2015/16?
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