Jake Gardiner tops first grouping of HF's Top 50 NHL prospects

[ecemleafs]

It's incredibly frustrating how people fail to really understand how this list works. Every. Year.

It's not about who's doing what at the NHL level. It's what they think his top potential is.

The "rankers" believe Gardiner's potential at this point is a tad higher than McDonagh, not because Gardiner is better than McDonagh right now but he probably will be in the (near) future.

You can surely disagree with the ranking if you believe that McDonagh has a better ceiling but seems like the only argument I've seen from the angry Rangers fans is that because McDonagh is at the NHL level, it makes him a better prospect automatically.

mcdonagh has an elite combination of size and skating at the nhl level. combine that with an already good understanding of the defenseman position and hes a great prospect. this is only reinforced by getting top 4 minutes in the NHL and being a +17 or so in like 40 games.

 

[Abyss]

There will be full profiles later on, this is just to get the list out.

The full write-ups will be posted at the Top 50 page as they always are, but not until the full list has been released. A little different this time, but in the end, there will be more information than usual.

cool thanks for the heads up

 

[RogerRoeper*]

It's true...but this one is kind of timely. Gardiner always struck me as basically irrelevant until he got traded to Toronto. Whether I'm right or wrong to think that way...I dunno. But I can't blame anyone for finding it "interesting" that as soon as he gets traded to Toronto he gets into this list. Considering these lists are always criticized for bias and what not....

You should. He went from 13 points to 41 this year. Makes sense he made the list this year and not last year.

And besides, HF has had no problem ranking Leaf prospects very low for years.

 

[UAGoalieGuy]

The list is based off your individual teams top 20 prospects list, right?

So if team A has a player listed as their #3 overall prospect and their #2 overall prospect is already on the list, there is no chance that that #3 overall prospect makes the top 50, right?

 

[Parise09*]

You should be more upset about the player at #48 than Gardiner.

IMO Elliot could be higher, but definitely not lower. IMO he has higher upside than either Gardiner or McDonoukjashdfs (sp?)

 

[Parise09*]

The list is based off your individual teams top 20 prospects list, right?

So if team A has a player listed as their #3 overall prospect and their #2 overall prospect is already on the list, there is no chance that that #3 overall prospect makes the top 50, right?

Yeah, I think that's correct.

 

[Parise09*]

mcdonagh has an elite combination of size and skating at the nhl level. combine that with an already good understanding of the defenseman position and hes a great prospect. this is only reinforced by getting top 4 minutes in the NHL and being a +17 or so in like 40 games.

This word gets thrown around far too often.

 

[eco's bones]

Beyond the Gardiner-McDonagh debate--it is really hard for me to believe that all of the 49 mentioned before McDonagh are going to turn out to be better. Really hard. The guy is performing as a top 4 d-man as 21 year old and he looks like he's been in the league for several years. He's calm, steady, skates great backwards, forwards, laterally, physical, great positionally. Pretty much solid as a rock. He's going to be around for a lot of years but have to think as well that he's going to be even better a few years from now.

 

[Gardner McKay]

It's incredibly frustrating how people fail to really understand how this list works. Every. Year.

It's not about who's doing what at the NHL level. It's what they think his top potential is.

The "rankers" believe Gardiner's potential at this point is a tad higher than McDonagh, not because Gardiner is better than McDonagh right now but he probably will be in the (near) future.

You can surely disagree with the ranking if you believe that McDonagh has a better ceiling but seems like the only argument I've seen from the angry Rangers fans is that because McDonagh is at the NHL level, it makes him a better prospect automatically.

His ceiling is certainly higher than Gardiners. Getting about 19-20 minutes a game as our #3 with a +17 I believe, in 35 games... Yeah the kid has a high ceiling.

 

[vezna*]

His ceiling is certainly higher than Gardiners. Getting about 19-20 minutes a game as our #3 with a +17 I believe, in 35 games... Yeah the kid has a high ceiling.

any rookie dman would look good playing in front of lundqvist

 

[haelwho]

The list is based off your individual teams top 20 prospects list, right?

So if team A has a player listed as their #3 overall prospect and their #2 overall prospect is already on the list, there is no chance that that #3 overall prospect makes the top 50, right?

Normally things go that way, and we did try to adhere to that loosely, but there are a few exceptions.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

any rookie dman would look good playing in front of lundqvist

 

[NorthlandPro]

You are acting like Mcdonagh was a beast in the NCAA.

Gardiner's in the NCAA was a more dominant player than Ryan. There is a reason why the Habs traded him, he made progress, but at times his head coach in the NCAA was saying he was playing quite bad for a 2nd year player and 3rd yar player.

McDonagh is playing a safe game but Gardiner's upside is way better than McDo.

And we all know I don't like the Leafs, but Gardiner's skills are on another level dude. Stop being a homer.

LMAO! I guess Canadian fans will forever diminish McDonagh's ability. He could be rated 1,000 and it still doesn't change the fact that this guy is a player, a very good player. If Montreal seriously thought this guy wasn't progressing then there are serious issues with their personnel staff. The fact that he is rated #50 tells more about the analysis that was done and how creditable it was. Way off. We will gladly keep the 50th ranked former prospect who is now a top 4 NHL Defenseman!

 

[NorthlandPro]

any rookie dman would look good playing in front of lundqvist

What an asute comment! Hey Gomer, Hey Goober.

 

[habsjunkie2*]

LMAO! I guess Canadian fans will forever diminish McDonagh's ability. He could be rated 1,000 and it still doesn't change the fact that this guy is a player, a very good player. If Montreal seriously thought this guy wasn't progressing then there are serious issues with their personnel staff. The fact that he is rated #50 tells more about the analysis that was done and how creditable it was. Way off. We will gladly keep the 50th ranked former prospect who is now a top 4 NHL Defenseman!

It's a way for my fellow habs fans to accept the horrible Gomez trade. They forget that McDonagh was neck and neck with PK Subban as our number 1 prospect. Many people had McDonagh ahead of PK, but to make themselves feel better and possibly explain the trade they hang onto the belief that McDonagh must of fallen out of grace with the Habs organization or Gainey would of never made the deal. I just think BG screwed the pooch on this deal, plain and simple.

The deal has more a reflection of a GM in panic mode then it was of Ryan McDonagh's lack of progression. The Rangers have a keeper imo.

 

[TimeZone]

You're kidding, right? Points mean nothing, really, as they are different d-men.

McDonagh was a rock defensively and an anchor with whoever he played with. And he's already doing the same in the NHL.

Gardiner, while a nice prospect, has never been very good defensively and needs quite a bit of work. McDonagh is a better prospect now and has always been the better prospect.

Oh...well nevermind guys the debate is over now.

 

[Selanne138]

What does that have to do with anything though? It doesn't take away the fact he had his best season yet and went from 13 points to 41 in the same amount of games.

no arguments, but id still bet he wouldnt be there if he was a Ducks prospect.

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Gardiner has the ceiling of Tom Gilbert.

Joke list

 

[Pick Six]

no arguments, but id still bet he wouldnt be there if he was a Ducks prospect.

And this thread doesn't get to 4 pages if he was there as a Ducks prospect. Just the way it works.

 

[The Management]

Gardiner has the ceiling of Tom Gilbert.

Joke list

Good thing we have your astute analysis proving you know better.

There are more tears being shed in this thread than in a kindergarten classroom.

Better prepare for the selections to come.

 

[Dylbot]

Normally things go that way, and we did try to adhere to that loosely, but there are a few exceptions.

Why do it that way? I thought this was supposed to be a list of the 50 best prospects, regardless of what team they belong to.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Good thing we have your astute analysis proving you know better.

There are more tears being shed in this thread than in a kindergarten classroom.

Better prepare for the selections to come.

This forum will explode when Colborne and Kadri are named. Gonna be great.

 

[67Cup]

How will the McDonagh fans react if Aulie and Reimer are not high on the list? With similar outrage, I hope, since the argument in favour of them would be the same. Except it would be much stronger in the case of Reimer.

 

[Hawks10]

The list is based off your individual teams top 20 prospects list, right?

So if team A has a player listed as their #3 overall prospect and their #2 overall prospect is already on the list, there is no chance that that #3 overall prospect makes the top 50, right?

Yeah but those top 20 lists are getting re-done as well...

 

[Zap Brannigan]

Good thing we have your astute analysis proving you know better.

There are more tears being shed in this thread than in a kindergarten classroom.

Better prepare for the selections to come.

Well I am smarter then anyone from Ontario. Not that its hard to be though