Prospect Info: Kole Lind, Pt. II | Is not being taken, etcetera

[Bertuzzzi44]

That's a really positive step for Gadjovich and Lind too. Another couple of years of development and working on weaknesses and they both could become pretty decent depth players, even if in the bottom 6.

It's nice that both like to mix it up and can play with some jam. We need more of that.

Agreed.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

 

[M2Beezy]

He wasn't really scoring goals to begin with; he has three goals and one of them was Carter Camper's en goal that Camper gifted to Lind to tap into the empty net. But no, there has not been any real decline in his play from earlier in the season, he seems much more comfortable and confident this year and seems up to speed as an AHL player. He is kind of a pain in the butt to play against always running his mouth and getting face washed and punched in the face in scrums.

Fellow second rounder Jonah Gadjovich has really taken a huge step this year though and looks very much as advertised when drafted now. He has been moving around the ice much better than last year which has enabled him to implement his power forward game at the AHL level; driving to the net and scoring from around the goal crease, dropping bodies with heavy hits and sticking up for his teammates by standing up to the tougher opposition players.

It's been a small sample size because he missed 14 games with an injury but he has been quite a revelation. Gadjovich has now moved ahead of Lind in the prospect pecking order imho but further improvement in his skating will be necessary for him to get to the next level. Comets pbp man Joe Roberts was going crazy singing his praises last game when he exchanged punches with Syracuse/T Bay swing man Luke Witkowski last game which was pretty cool.

Always a pleasure to read your reports Mega Man, keep em coming

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

SSSSCCCCOOOORRRREEEESSSS Kole Lind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!









And he SSSSCCCCOOOOORRRRREEEEESSSSS Again...Kole Lind!

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Why is nobody taking this guy

 

[Lindgren]

Why is nobody taking this guy

Well, he's got some good moves, it's clear, but he gets thrown off his feet too easily.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

Production much better than last season and the same goes with eye test. If fact, he already surpassed his last season pts total in 26 less games.
He just turned 21, if was dumb that some people here wrote him only because he had an underwhelming rookie season as a first year pro

 

[Luck 6]

Production much better than last season and the same goes with eye test. If fact, he already surpassed his last season pts total in 26 less games.
He just turned 21, if was dumb that some people here wrote him only because he had an underwhelming rookie season as a first year pro

it wasn’t really that dumb... It’s usually a dead give away that if a high pick cannot produce at least half decent numbers in the AHL as a rookie they likely have no NHL career. I’m impressed why Lind has done this year, but, unfortunately the former is still likely true. Hopefully he can continue to improve though and carve out a career, I love being wrong in these cases because it would be a true underdog story.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

it wasn’t really that dumb... It’s usually a dead give away that if a high pick cannot produce at least half decent numbers in the AHL as a rookie they likely have no NHL career. I’m impressed why Lind has done this year, but, unfortunately the former is still likely true. Hopefully he can continue to improve though and carve out a career, I love being wrong in these cases because it would be a true underdog story.

High pick? Since when is the 30s range consider a high pick?

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

Production much better than last season and the same goes with eye test. If fact, he already surpassed his last season pts total in 26 less games.
He just turned 21, if was dumb that some people here wrote him only because he had an underwhelming rookie season as a first year pro

I agree that it was too early to write him off, but I recall people citing statistics on his likelihood of making the NHL based on a poor rookie AHL season. It's still unlikely that he becomes an impact NHL player, but here's hoping he can carve out a middle 6 role as a good two-way player.

What was actually dumb was when people on here gloated about how he was on par with Cody Glass based on his great draft + 1 season in the WHL. Those posts are only going to age worse and worse as time goes by.

High pick? Since when is the 30s range consider a high pick?

I think he meant relatively high, which is true. 33rd overall is basically a late 1st, which have decent odds of becoming an NHL player (obviously much higher than 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. round picks).

 

[M2Beezy]

High pick? Since when is the 30s range consider a high pick?

Youve been nit picking a lot lately Billy, yalright pal?

 

[Canucks1096]

I still remember a few years ago I didn't think Lind will make it to full time nhl and if he did, I didn't see him more than bottom 6 F. People were calling me negative and the 5 letter t word. Most debates, I usually have almost everyone against me. Still remember so many thought Lind was so the same level as Glass. Spent so many messaging try to convincing everyone that he is not.

Anyway Lind is still a long shot to make it to the nhl full time. But he definitely has a chance but not very high

 

[Yultron]

I think if Lind keeps improving and improving he can 100% be a top 9 forward in the NHL and like the other poster mentioned he literally just turned 21. He needs this entire season in the AHL no doubt , if he can continue to produce at this level and continues to show his offensive flare we are finally seeing him break through

Keep him in the AHL this season and let him continue to develop and continue to show his offensive flare and next season he can contribute in the NHL at some point.

 

[Tryamkin]

If he played another year in the WHL and put up say realistically 100 pts (a few more than he had a year before), then came in and scored 20 pts in 25 games as someone who just turned 21, there would be a way different attitude surrounding him.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

Whatever his high end might be, it’s nice to see him enjoying a bounce back season. Ditto for Gadjovich.

 

[4Twenty]

Whatever his high end might be, it’s nice to see him enjoying a bounce back season. Ditto for Gadjovich.

Yes, the bouce back is nice for them. I thought it would be prudent to include this post from the Utica thread as it is actually insight from someone who watches the majority if not all the games, and not just the box scores.

I keep reading posts about the high expectations some have of Kole Lind becoming a regular NHL player with the Canucks. They are really glad he is developing so well after a poor rookie season, which many consider to have been an injury riddled season.
- The kid did play 58 games and recorded 5G-12A-17Pts. Most in the 2nd half of the season.
- Currently he has 5G-12A-17Pts in 24GP.

Kole Lind is playing better than last season, but is still way behind the development of 2 other past Comets. Most Vancouver faithful consider one a bust and the other an offensive black hole that didn't deserve to stay with Vancouver after having played 118 games for the Canucks over a 4-yr span.

Kole began his pro career at 19 when the season opened on 10/5/18, but was only 19 for 11 days. Then like every other highly rated AHL rookie he played his first year of pro hockey in the AHL at 20 yrs of age. Many players with later birth dates played at age 19 for up to the better part of 3 months.

Hunter Shinkaruk who started his career with the Comets also at 19 turned 20 4 days after the season started, but the 2014-15 season opened on Oct 9th. Hunter was 3 days older than Kole when they began their pro careers.

Hunter played his rookie season having been in rehab from hip surgery the previous summer. Thus, he did not have a summer of off season workouts and lots of skating. He was actually doing his summer training and rehabbing his injury while playing in the AHL. That's a lot more injury riddled than Kole was. His first 3 months were not good, just like Kole. Most of Hunter's points came in the last half of the season, 16G-15A-31Pts in 74GP. A pretty gutsy effort that eventually paid off.

In yr 2 he was on fire scoring 21G-18A-39 Pts in 43GP. Named to the AHL All-Star team and was among the league leaders in scoring. He led the Comets in goals and points and was traded. At the end of the season he still led the team in goals and finished 3rd in scoring.

Brendan Gaunce was the other Comet and he also began his pro career at 20. His rookie season he recorded 11G-18A-29Pts in 74 GP.

In his second season he was Shink's center and recorded 17-21-38Pts in 48 GP. He only played 48 games because he was in Vancouver the rest of the season.

Kole has 19 games to get 16 goals to match Hunter's 43 game output or any combination of 22 points to match Hunter's output.

He'll need 21 points in the next 24 to match Gaunce's point total. This is more reasonable than 16 goals over the next 19 games.

What if he were to match these very respectable numbers for a half year's work in yr 2 of his career? He would match the numbers of a bust and a 4th line defensive specialist who is no longer an NHL player having spent almost every game over the last 2 seasons back in the AHL. In order to become a serious threat to make the NHL he is going to have to pick up his game even more than these 2 guys did.

If you were to put all of them on the ice at the same time in their careers, Lind is not close to playing at the level those 2 guys did.

Zack MacEwen had a respectable 1st season with 10G-23A-33Pts in 66GP. However, in year 2 he was the team's 3rd leading scorer with 22G-30A-52Pts in 69GP. Kole isn't on pace to match these numbers either. Many see Zack as a cheaper version of a 4th line checker that can score a few goals. Kole Lind cannot and will not make the NHL as a 4th line grinder. He won't be a defensive specialist as he is not all that good defensively. His ticket is to be a scoring winger and to do that his AHL numbers are going to have to be better than Hunter's were and a stop or 2 at the AHL All-Star Classic wouldn't hurt his cause.

He is just as likely to join Grenier, Friesen, and many others in Europe after the AHL becomes unsavory when no NHL team will sign him to an elevated AHL salary on a 2-way contract to produce on the farm.

We here in Utica wish every Comet would become an NHL player, but we know more than NHL fans just exactly how it's likely almost none of them will. If a guy is in Utica for more than 2 seasons you can pretty much write him off as regular in the NHL. He might get games and be up and down a couple seasons, but he will be replaced by a younger guy they hope has more promise.

Reid Boucher is a sparkling example. The guy has had time up as well as down (133 NHL GP). He is a prolific goal scorer in the AHL with an NHL shot, but just can't play the NHL game. Can you compare Lind to Reid? There is no comparison. Reid plays every part of the game way above the level of Kole. He's way above the level of any Comet if you watch them all play. Baertschi (291 NHL GP) and Goldobin (125 NHL GP) have certain skills that Reid doesn't have, but overall, at both ends of the ice, he has become a more complete player than both of them. Yet, I would bet his chances of even getting another look at the NHL are slim, not unthinkable, but slim nevertheless. Not sure how many more games we will see the other 2 get in the NHL as well.

Kole Lind when compared to these 3 when you watch a Comets game? There is no comparison. If he is going to be an NHL player, that comparison has to be seen and not very long from now.

 

[Melvin]

If he played another year in the WHL and put up say realistically 100 pts (a few more than he had a year before), then came in and scored 20 pts in 25 games as someone who just turned 21, there would be a way different attitude surrounding him.

Doubtful

 

[krutovsdonut]

i am glad the dude is bouncing back and i am enjoying watching the size of the bounce.

anyone in danger of getting too excited about ahl scoring would be wise though to recall the ballad of hunter shinkaruk and the canticle of nikolai goldobin.

 

[Tryamkin]

Doubtful

How exactly? Lind is 4 months older than Heponiemi who went to Finland and nearly went PPG in the Liiga. His stock shot up crazily as Lind struggled in the AHL with 17 points. Fact is Lind has tripled the production of Heponiemi in the AHL this year and the expectation that growth is an exponential line that goes up at the same rate is false. Had Lind dominated the WHL one more year and not shown us that year he did last year, we would 100% be looking at him differently.

 

[4Twenty]

How exactly? Lind is 4 months older than Heponiemi who went to Finland and nearly went PPG in the Liiga. His stock shot up crazily as Lind struggled in the AHL with 17 points. Fact is Lind has tripled the production of Heponiemi in the AHL this year and the expectation that growth is an exponential line that goes up at the same rate is false. Had Lind dominated the WHL one more year and not shown us that year he did last year, we would 100% be looking at him differently.

How many junior players that play their overage season in junior come into the AHL with any fan fare?

Did you read my post where I quoted Bad Goalie's post from the Utica thread? You should.

The box score scouting on Lind and ever Rafferty is going to lead to some serious disappointment. Nothing about the actual game play sounds like it translates to the NHL. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Why are you comparing Lind to a 150lbs skill player. If Lind is going to make it, it won't be in a Nikolay Goldobin role.

 

[Tryamkin]

How many junior players that play their overage season in junior come into the AHL with any fan fare?

Did you read my post where I quoted Bad Goalie's post from the Utica thread? You should.

The box score scouting on Lind and ever Rafferty is going to lead to some serious disappointment. Nothing about the actual game play sounds like it translates to the NHL. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Why are you comparing Lind to a 150lbs skill player. If Lind is going to make it, it won't be in a Nikolay Goldobin role.

That’s pretty close minded. Who says he won’t explode and become a top 6 player? Odds are against it but not impossible. And I have AHL Live and watch games from time to time.

 

[4Twenty]

That’s pretty close minded. Who says he won’t explode and become a top 6 player? Odds are against it but not impossible. And I have AHL Live and watch games from time to time.

It's pretty realistic.

Logic says he won't explode and become a top 6 player. Sure it's not impossible, I didn't say it was.

Do you disagree with Bad Goalie's assessment?

He appears to be picking up his points in similar fashion to how Jonathan Dahlen was last year.

 

[sting101]

How exactly? Lind is 4 months older than Heponiemi who went to Finland and nearly went PPG in the Liiga. His stock shot up crazily as Lind struggled in the AHL with 17 points. Fact is Lind has tripled the production of Heponiemi in the AHL this year and the expectation that growth is an exponential line that goes up at the same rate is false. Had Lind dominated the WHL one more year and not shown us that year he did last year, we would 100% be looking at him differently.

The natsayers will never agree with your take. He was doomed the minute he went 33rd and his expectation became a marginal NHLer. Statistically that is the expectation and last year dropped that even

Some day down the road he will play NHL games and when he struggles to be a every day top6 in the Josh Leivo mould the naysayers to tell you that they were right all along that we should have taken X who has since or has already become a better player. That Benning messed up because someones youtube hunch or algorithym or draft model suggested they should have been smarter and taken X. Or they should have let Brackett make the selection. Unless of course he defies the odds and statistical likelihoods which is a slim possibility that the smart hedge against and use to toss wet blankets

It's the trap, unless you gauge your expectation with reality.

I agree with your take and said as much last year. Linds physical maturity was such that he's been an easy mark in a game that requires superior strength and speed to showcase talent. His skating and adjustment last year put him into a role where he wasn't gonna get many opportunities for offense. Injuries furthered the issues.

His productivity and play have him back on track to be what his most likely outcome is. Now its up to Kole to take his athletecism to levels where he gets to showcase his skills and mind for the game in NHL offensive situations. It's gonna be a tough couple steps

I liked the gamble on skill IQ and talent. They could have prioritized a more physically mature player with a more likely btm 6 upside and they didn't. The things that always stuck out for me with Lind watching him in Junior live many many times is he likes to mix it up, get under opponents skin. Watched him go toe to toe with Glass in Kelowna in a fight and he/they won the match up and game as well. When he got cut at junior camp he went on a tear. The kid has fire and thats what could get him to where he wants to be. He moves the puck around like an NHL top6 when he can find a little time and space.

Its extremely encouraging to see him producing like he is. Hope he keeps moving forward

 

[4Twenty]

The natsayers will never agree with your take. He was doomed the minute he went 33rd and his expectation became a marginal NHLer. Statistically that is the expectation and last year dropped that even

Some day down the road he will play NHL games and when he struggles to be a every day top6 in the Josh Leivo mould the naysayers to tell you that they were right all along that we should have taken X who has since or has already become a better player. That Benning messed up because someones youtube hunch or algorithym or draft model suggested they should have been smarter and taken X. Or they should have let Brackett make the selection. Unless of course he defies the odds and statistical likelihoods which is a slim possibility that the smart hedge against and use to toss wet blankets

It's the trap, unless you gauge your expectation with reality.

I agree with your take and said as much last year. Linds physical maturity was such that he's been an easy mark in a game that requires superior strength and speed to showcase talent. His skating and adjustment last year put him into a role where he wasn't gonna get many opportunities for offense. Injuries furthered the issues.

His productivity and play have him back on track to be what his most likely outcome is. Now its up to Kole to take his athletecism to levels where he gets to showcase his skills and mind for the game in NHL offensive situations. It's gonna be a tough couple steps

I liked the gamble on skill IQ and talent. They could have prioritized a more physically mature player with a more likely btm 6 upside and they didn't. The things that always stuck out for me with Lind watching him in Junior live many many times is he likes to mix it up, get under opponents skin. Watched him go toe to toe with Glass in Kelowna in a fight and he/they won the match up and game as well. When he got cut at junior camp he went on a tear. The kid has fire and thats what could get him to where he wants to be. He moves the puck around like an NHL top6 when he can find a little time and space.

Its extremely encouraging to see him producing like he is. Hope he keeps moving forward

Waaaaah.

"the naysayers" what a laughable start to a post.

Nobody thought they were doomed when he was drafted.

What if he never plays an NHL game? Do you just crawl back into your hole and murmur about the "naysayers".

These longwinded retorts while jumping into other peoples reasonable discussions are pathetic attempts to deflect from the topic.

Lind was one of the oldest players drafted in 2018.....more physically mature? Did you read Bad Goalies assessment I quoted in here?

It's funny people won't address that, because Bad Goalie has no reason to be a "naysayer", he's just calling it like it is and you don't get to draw your line in the sand where realism and genuine critique is nay sayin or hatin'.