Kings fan guest on your Board requests straight-talk on Brayden McNabb

[triplcrown]

Hello Buffalo Sabres board!

Hope you don't mind me, a Kings fan, stopping by during the dog days of summer to respectfully ask
for any honest comments you have on Brayden McNabb, especially in terms of his hockey-sense and overall NHL viability.

Out here, we've hardly ever seen McNabb play, so we mainly are looking at his stats to discern his ability.

But many of the folks on your board have actually seen him play,
and may have more concrete observations/analysis of his play to contribute, if you would be so kind.

The Kings have initial intentions of pairing him with Slava Voynov, a speedy, skilled, puck-mover who has
paired best in the past with more stay-at-home types like Willie Mitchell and Robin Regehr (who you also are quite familiar with).

Bottom line----Do you think he'll be any good?

Does he have issues in terms of skating, hockey sense, vision defensive focus, etc etc?

Any observations, honest comments or criticisms of any kind on McNabb would be welcome,
and I sincerely thank in advance, any responders.

Plus--You don't have to be as wordy as me.



==========================================
NOTE:
In the 70s, I used to live in Rochester. My fave NHL team was the Sabres with Perreault,Martin, Robert, Luce, Ramsay, etc,
and I died right along with them in that 1975 Cup final (right along with the bat).
Also have fond memories of concerts at Kleinhans (Traffic, Mountain).

Click to read more...

 

[kenfury]

I was high on McNabb and hoped he would wear the blue and gold on day. However with the drafting of Risto and Zads pushed him down the depth chart so I am glad he will get a chance somewhere else. I still think he can be an effective player, perhaps even a top 4 on a lesser team (not the kings).

He has a very good shot, a big frame and can hit even if he does not always play a bruising game. On the other hand skating is not what I would call his strong suit and some of of his decisions are not what I would call NHL worthy. He should be fine as a bottom pairing this year and still has room for improvement.

 

[ZeroPT*]

I think he can be good but his hockey sense and skating will hold him back. His shot is amazing,he's big,strong, physical (at times you want more out of him but he'll crush a couple people).

I think he'll end up being a good #4 D-man and I hope he succeeds. I could see him doing well partnered with Doughty, which would let him stick to what he does best and allow to play to his strengths more. I would like to see him have a more active stick though.

 

[TehDoak]

Basically what other people have said...he pretty much has all the physical tools, but the hockey sense/smarts just seem to not be there and really haven't developed. He could put it all together one day...but its looking more and more like he'll be a bottom 3 d-man at best.

 

[Jame]

Skating issues will hold him back. Physical play and big boy slap shot will keep him in the league, but towards the bottom of your depth.

 

[Moskau]

Does he have issues in terms of skating, hockey sense, vision defensive focus, etc etc?

Sadly those are his weaknesses. His skating is below average and his defensive awareness needs work.

He's not a defensive defensemen and I have no idea why Buffalo wanted to peg him as one. He wasn't one in Junior. Buffalo did the same thing with Sekera where they didn't allow him to play to his strengths early on. He's very much an offensive defensemen who can hit and fight but you never want him on the ice in crucial defensive moments. He has a great shot, he can hit like a truck and he will stick up for himself and teammates. The problem is he often shoots and hits at the worst possible times and he doesn't have the footspeed to correct it. But those things can be adjusted and if any organization can make it happen it's LA.

I'd like to see him just develop to his strengths because he would be a very unique player. I'm not even sure I would compare him to if that were allowed to happen.

 

[Paxon]

I describe him as a "big" style of player. He's big, he has a big shot, he throws big hits, he takes big risks, and he makes big mistakes. His problem areas are that his footspeed is not ideal and his mental game (awareness, etc) seems average to below-average in most areas. People might look at him and think he's a stay-at-home guy but if anything he's closer to an offensive defenseman than a big stay-at-home type. He's really good at using his shot effectively and can be a solid passer. He can help an NHL PP right now. He makes some dumb decisions with the puck and has been prone to putting himself out of position defensively chasing hits, so he can be a frustrating player.

I think he's pretty likely to make the NHL as at least a #4-6 guy who brings value to the power play. Top 4 potential is there, it's just far from a given in my opinion. If he tightens up his game a bit by reducing some of the bad aggressive plays while keeping the positive ones, then he has a fair shot at being a top 4 caliber guy. I'd say his realistic ceiling is probably a #3 defenseman, with the realistic floor being career high-end AHL player.

 

[Moskau]

I'm really trying to come up with a comparable but the best I could do is a worse skating version of the younger Bieksa or a worse skating but bigger version of Wisniewski. The problem is both of those guys are/were risk takers and when you have poor footspeed to go with that... lookout.

 

[kenfury]

I'm really trying to come up with a comparable but the best I could do is a worse skating version of the younger Bieksa or a worse skating but bigger version of Wisniewski. The problem is both of those guys are/were risk takers and when you have poor footspeed to go with that... lookout.

A poor man's destitute cousin's version of 2000s era Phaneuf who lacks foot speed. Swing for the fences is exactly right. However if you put him on the bottom pairing and use his shot on the PP he could still be effective for years.

 

[start winnin]

I remember when he first came up and he was AMAZING. He looked like a definite top 4 guy, then after that he just looked terribly inconsistent. He has the potential to be a good second pairing guy if he puts it all together but I don't think he has first pairing potential.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Does he have issues in terms of skating, hockey sense, vision defensive focus, etc etc?

Yes. All of those. McNabb's calling cards are hitting people and offense. He takes himself out of position defensively pretty often to do both of those things. He's really not a stay-at-home defenseman and never will be.

 

[Yatzhee]

Skating needs work, particularly his speed.

Shot is medium at best, needs to get more power behind his shots.

Stay at home defense man with some offensive upside given his current skating and shooting abilities.

He could be a good 4/5 defense man unless he improves those 2 above.

 

[Yatzhee]

Yes. All of those. McNabb's calling cards are hitting people and offense. He takes himself out of position defensively pretty often to do both of those things. He's really not a stay-at-home defenseman and never will be.

lol, read your post after posting mine tsuji, I actually see him as converting to a stay at home type because of his speed. But, your assessment is better

 

[triplcrown]

Thanks for all the responses, Sabre fans!

 

[dire wolf]

Skating needs work, particularly his speed.

Shot is medium at best, needs to get more power behind his shots.

Stay at home defense man with some offensive upside given his current skating and shooting abilities.

He could be a good 4/5 defense man unless he improves those 2 above.

I think you're just making stuff up. 101.8 mph and winner of the hardest shot competition. (http://theahl.com/2013-skills-competition-p181525) Seems powerful enough to me.

I don't agree with your "stay at home" characterization either.

McNabb is a very interesting prospect. With the right coaching and proper use, he could be a very, very effective #3 and PP guy. If anyone can get the most out of this guy, it's probably the Kings. He's definitely in the right place. I think he'll be good for LA.

 

[ZeroPT*]

Skating needs work, particularly his speed.

Shot is medium at best, needs to get more power behind his shots.

Stay at home defense man with some offensive upside given his current skating and shooting abilities.

He could be a good 4/5 defense man unless he improves those 2 above.

wut...

 

[cybresabre]

He has a heavy shot, but he needs to be more authoritative with it. I'm not one to yell "shoot!" on a power play, but he tried to get a little too cute at times when it would have suited him to just step into it with traffic in front.

 

[sabresEH]

I'm really trying to come up with a comparable but the best I could do is a worse skating version of the younger Bieksa or a worse skating but bigger version of Wisniewski. The problem is both of those guys are/were risk takers and when you have poor footspeed to go with that... lookout.

Franson

 

[TossinSauce]

He's slow, but he has a cannon. Would say that he could be an effective 5/6 D man.

 

[Reddawg]

I remember when he first came up and he was AMAZING. He looked like a definite top 4 guy, then after that he just looked terribly inconsistent.

Lindy really messed McNabb up...tried to coach the physicality out of him which was the best part of this game.

 

[Jacob582]

Lindy really messed McNabb up...tried to coach the physicality out of him which was the best part of this game.

You'll confuse the OP with your sarcasm. He's looking for serious feedback only.

No. Lindy did not ruin McNabb during the 25 games he coached him.

Wait until you see the new regime coach Zadorov and insist that he doesn't put himself out of position all the time by chasing the big hit.

 

[jvirk]

I really liked McNabb, but then came the 2013 draft of Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov. I think because of adding these 2 guys it kind of made me forget about McNabb a little bit. I liked McNabb, but loved Risto and Zads.

McNabb will probably be a #4 D-man or very good 3rd pairing defenseman. I think his skating is a weakness, and he definitely needs to improve that especially on a team like the Kings that will probably sniff the post season every year, and the skating is usually faster then. He's a big guy, great shot, very physical. Some big guys don't exactly use their size, but this guy definitely does. He'll crush players and also isn't afraid to drop the gloves - he won't win every fight but it's never going to be a case of him being afraid to drop the gloves to stick up for a teammate or try to get his team going.

He'll be a solid defenseman in the league, I wish him well especially because before the drafting of Risto and Zadorov I saw him definitely in our future lineup.

 

[Jim Bob]

I think McNabb has a really good chance of developing into a decent NHL defenseman. He was a lot better defensively in Rochester and Manchester last season.

If he keeps on that tract, I think he will be a pleasant surprise to Kings fans.

 

[Jame]

Skating needs work, particularly his speed.

Shot is medium at best, needs to get more power behind his shots.

Stay at home defense man with some offensive upside given his current skating and shooting abilities.

He could be a good 4/5 defense man unless he improves those 2 above.

who are you talking about?

 

[Chainshot]

I'm really trying to come up with a comparable but the best I could do is a worse skating version of the younger Bieksa or a worse skating but bigger version of Wisniewski. The problem is both of those guys are/were risk takers and when you have poor footspeed to go with that... lookout.

A poor-man's Dion? Big kid, big shot, big hitter... not the best feet nor best reads.

Everyone has pretty much covered the points in previous posts. I've always like McNabb's ability to generate along the blueline even without his shot. He had a great ability in junior and at times as a pro to lay the puck into areas around the net where his teammates can redirect or shovel in the garbage. He didn't always rely on the shot to get it done. I like his ability to distribute.

But to Moskau's point, the Sabres seemed to case him as a take-out rather than as a break-out defenseman. Seeing how he's best with the puck on his stick or in standing up at the blueline, he's probably best paired with a mobile defensive defenseman (like Pysyk) who can back him up when he goes for the big hit.

For a third pairing guy right now, he could be a real interesting specialist with his ability to run the PP and the hitting chops. If his d-zone play continues to improve... well... he moves up the pairings and handles more responsibliities.