I don't want to hijack the thread, but I think the question warrants more discussion than anyone has given it. I watched all their WJC games too and I've never seen anything from him I didn't like on the ice. Darcy and co. Certainly know better than I do, but the explanation they gave was the flight risk and no one seems to mind or want to press them further.
Regarding Compher, I've only watched a couple games, but he doesn't seem like a real dynamic offensive player. Are we thinking of him as a good 3rd line, heart and soul kind of guy who can pitch in with some scoring, or am I underselling his offensive upside. Anybody more familiar with him?
"Anything intangible, as far as an attribute, that I’ve mentioned, he’s a 10."
Compher is one of the rare skilled players that exhibits the same effort and enthusiasm without the puck that he does with the puck. He's a tenacious, sometimes nasty, defender that makes life difficult for opponents. His compete level all over the ice is among the best in the draft.
Adding to his positives, Compher showed excellent leadership abilities, being voted as a captain of the NTDP team in international play this year, and really raising his level of play at key times for the US team. Off the ice, Compher is regarded as an excellent student.
Offensively, Compher more than holds his own as well. He finished third on the NTDP-U18 team in scoring this year with 50 points, though because he missed a handful of games due to injury this year, he was tops on the team in point-per-game average. The last impression he left with scouts was a good one, as well, when he put up 7 points in 7 games at the World U18 championships, including a lot of very big, important goals for the US team.
As far as pro potential, Compher projects as a relatively safe bet to fill a second or third line role at the NHL level given his tenacity and attention to detail on the defensive end. Given the right circumstances, he could possibly fill a first line role for a team, provided his offensive play improves.
When you look at the package that J.T. has, it's skill, it's a competitive spirit. The biggest thing is, you watch a player that can skate and make plays, but he does it at high speed and at pace and tempo. He's just a threatening player when he has the puck. And when he doesn’t have the puck, he wants the puck. - Button
"Everything matters to him. He wants to be a catalyst for winning."
If you take a puck from him, you better skate as hard as you’ve ever skated because he’s tracking you down and going to steal it back immediately. And if he can’t get it back, he’s probably going to whack you or run you into the boards.
NHL Player Comparison
Brad Marchand of the Boston Bruins. Like Marchand, Compher doesn't have huge physical size, but he gets under the skin of opposing players, fights for loose pucks and will be a productive offensive player. He will also be very tough to play against. Opposing players will remember Compher for a few nights after they play against him
Top-End Potential
Scouts see Compher as a solid two-way forward. His top-end potential is probably a 30-goal scorer who will see some time on the power play and keep opposing players off their game. He will also be a leader on and off the ice and score big goals in big games. We're talking about a hard-working, skilled and productive two-way forward who will log top-six minutes.
http://www.maxpreps.com/news/P2HmPT...tar-jt-compher-scores-big-in-honor-of-dad.htm"He has an exceptionally high level of drive of competitiveness that separates him from an awful lot of his peers," Granato said. "Having been in the business and the game for a long time, even at the next level, you don't have guys with drive like that. It's rare."
What is the correct pronunciation of Compher? Comm-furr? Comp-hurr?
If it's the former, I'll feel incline to crack a "does JT Compher make opposing defenseman feel uncomphertable?"*joke every time he's on the ice.
The PH is pronounced as an F.
That's right but it's still disappointing. The Jurassic Park these song at the draft makes me want to call him Compy.The PH is pronounced as an F.
I don't want 200 foot guys anymore. I want 210 foot guys, and Compher sounds like a 210.
before the 2012 draft this kid would have been our savour down the middle, we would have dreamed about him becoming a #1 guy, now we hope he becomes a solid player. Oh how times have changed.
FYI, Compher's got a four o'clock interview with WGR.
FYI, Compher's got a four o'clock interview with WGR.
Best on him asking about Sekera? Hopefully he's more prepared than yesterday's interview with Zadorov.
He's basically asking Compher for background details he could have spent 2 minutes researching... was he here at the prospects game... where was he during the draft.
Schopp is just terrible and puts no effort into these interviews.It's not starting off well. Schopp's surprised that a 2nd round pick was actually at the draft when he was picked...OY.
More like only thing, everything else was pretty redundant or rudimentary.Most notable thing that will come out of this interview: He will leave college early if he's ready for the NHL, no matter how early that'd be.
Schopp is just terrible and puts no effort into these interviews.
More like only thing, everything else was pretty redundant or rudimentary.
I don't want 200 foot guys anymore. I want 210 foot guys, and Compher sounds like a 210.