Prospect Info: Leafs 2018 4th Rd Draft Pick (#118 OA) - Mac Hollowell (5'9", 170, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)

[seabass11]

Seen him play a bunch. He's fun to watch. I'm not a scout by any stretch so don't know how his game will transfer to the AHL.

 

[93LEAFS]

How do you look at his numbers this year and come to the conclusion that he isn't worth a pick out of the 215 or whatever. Who are these scouts so I can avoid them in the future?

Maybe you should look at more than counting stats. He's injury prone and has issues. Teams generally don't rank much past 100 players, so a no-draft is player they don't put in their top 100. This is a quote on Hollowell and Durzi from an NHL scout in the Black Book.

“You can't play at that size…like F*** it’s impossible. I don’t think his hockey sense is good enough either…he's a great skater…I don’t get fooled by the Durzi’s or these guys. They’re good in the OHL because number 1: they can skate their way out of trouble …and two: there’s no hitting. I mean, I like him enough that I’d put him on our AHL team, but at the next level (NHL)I don’t know how he plays.” NHL Scout, May 2018

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I did not have him undrafted. I thought 83 would be the earliest the Leafs should have considered him. There is something there, but not nearly as much as what other guys had.

And that quote above. Would not put it that blunt, but that is how I see both of them. I think great skater is overrating it a little bit. He's a good skater, but for the other stuff he possesses, it's not enough.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

Maybe you should look at more than counting stats. He's injury prone and has issues. Teams generally don't rank much past 100 players, so a no-draft is player they don't put in their top 100. This is a quote on Hollowell and Durzi from an NHL scout in the Black Book.

“You can't play at that size…like F*** it’s impossible. I don’t think his hockey sense is good enough either…he's a great skater…I don’t get fooled by the Durzi’s or these guys. They’re good in the OHL because number 1: they can skate their way out of trouble …and two: there’s no hitting. I mean, I like him enough that I’d put him on our AHL team, but at the next level (NHL)I don’t know how he plays.” NHL Scout, May 2018

how can you take a scout seriously when they say 6' and 200 pounds is impossibly small for the NHL? Even 5'9 defensemen are a thing now, with guys like Krug, Spurgeon, etc. Hell, Hughes went 7th overall and he's about the same size

 

[Isaac Nootin]

And some scouts had him as a no-draft.

Got a source for this claim? I'd love to see the scouts who had him as a no draft.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Maybe you should look at more than counting stats. He's injury prone and has issues. Teams generally don't rank much past 100 players, so a no-draft is player they don't put in their top 100. This is a quote on Hollowell and Durzi from an NHL scout in the Black Book.

“You can't play at that size…like F*** it’s impossible. I don’t think his hockey sense is good enough either…he's a great skater…I don’t get fooled by the Durzi’s or these guys. They’re good in the OHL because number 1: they can skate their way out of trouble …and two: there’s no hitting. I mean, I like him enough that I’d put him on our AHL team, but at the next level (NHL)I don’t know how he plays.” NHL Scout, May 2018

There's dman in the NHL that are smaller than him, and who's to say he isn't done growing yet. When you say it's impossible at his size but then there's players smaller in the NHL already is pretty questionable. Of course there's other issues he'll need to work on - he's a late 2nd round pick after all.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Maybe you should look at more than counting stats. He's injury prone and has issues. Teams generally don't rank much past 100 players, so a no-draft is player they don't put in their top 100. This is a quote on Hollowell and Durzi from an NHL scout in the Black Book.

“You can't play at that size…like F*** it’s impossible. I don’t think his hockey sense is good enough either…he's a great skater…I don’t get fooled by the Durzi’s or these guys. They’re good in the OHL because number 1: they can skate their way out of trouble …and two: there’s no hitting. I mean, I like him enough that I’d put him on our AHL team, but at the next level (NHL)I don’t know how he plays.” NHL Scout, May 2018

6' and 200lbs is small? Impossible? Really?

How big is Mo Riles? Dermott?

 

[93LEAFS]

There's dman in the NHL that are smaller than him, and who's to say he isn't done growing yet. When you say it's impossible at his size but then there's players smaller in the NHL already is pretty questionable. Of course there's other issues he'll need to work on - he's a 3rd round pick after all.

Durzi and Hollowell both went way too early for my liking. Durzi was a 2nd, and Hollowell a 4th.

Either way, I think we drafted pretty badly today and didn't hit when there was better value on the board.

 

[Kiwi]

Got a source for this claim? I'd love to see the scouts who had him as a no draft.

Hollowell and Durzi were both ND in the black book

 

[93LEAFS]

6' and 200lbs is small? Impossible? Really?

How big is Mo Riles? Dermott?

That quote is directly about Hollowell, but it was to show there were people with very low-opinions of Durzi and likely have him as a no-draft.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Maybe you should look at more than counting stats. He's injury prone and has issues. Teams generally don't rank much past 100 players, so a no-draft is player they don't put in their top 100.

Ya, that's not how it works, lol

 

[93LEAFS]

Ya, that's not how it works, lol

You honestly think teams rank 217 players. You have no idea what you are talking about. They don't rank much past 100.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

Durzi and Hollowell both went way too early for my liking. Durzi was a 2nd, and Hollowell a 4th.

Either way, I think we drafted pretty badly today and didn't hit when there was better value on the board.

I mean that's fine, everyone has their favourites and opinions on players. It seems like you kind of had your mind made up anyhow before the draft given who's running and who's not.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

You honestly think teams rank 217 players. You have no idea what you are talking about. They don't rank much past 100.

At this point I'm honestly not sure if you're being serious.

 

[SprDaVE]

One thing is for sure, I much prefer a producing overager like Hollowell over a fridge that can't pass like Middleton.

We'll see how he progresses next season, which could very well be on the Marlies.

I would have taken Kral here instead, but still got Kral in the 5th round.

 

[93LEAFS]

At this point I'm honestly not sure if you're being serious.

I'm a 100% serious, and I can back it up with quotes.

How do you think an NHL draft board works?

 

[Menzinger]

how can you take a scout seriously when they say 6' and 200 pounds is impossibly small for the NHL? Even 5'9 defensemen are a thing now, with guys like Krug, Spurgeon, etc. Hell, Hughes went 7th overall and he's about the same size

That quote really doesn’t come off well, especially since there are literally NHlers of around that size and they’re becoming more common....

Again, that’s not to imply this kid is going to be an NHLer, but let’s find something else to focus on l

 

[Kiwi]

One thing is for sure, I much prefer a producing overager like Hollowell over a fridge that can't pass like Middleton.

We'll see how he progresses next season, which could very well be on the Marlies.

Both Hollowell and Durzi are AHL eligible aren't they?

 

[Byron Bitz]

Check his skill level. Good player.

Actually they usually do stop growing by age 20

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I guess I just don't get why the opinion of the independent scout that has him ND is valid, while the opinions of scouts that had him high are not. The black book guys are really good, but their views aren't definitive in my eyes. Durzi I don't mind too much, Hollowell I don't really like that high based on what I've seen.

 

[Joey Hoser]

I'm a 100% serious, and I can back it up with quotes.

How do you think an NHL draft board works?

Proof?

I find that absurd. They spend millions of dollars on preparing for the draft, and half way through they just say "f*** it, whatever"? Get out of here.

 

[SprDaVE]

Both Hollowell and Durzi are AHL eligible aren't they?

Yep!

 

[Isaac Nootin]

I'm a 100% serious, and I can back it up with quotes.

How do you think an NHL draft board works?

Go ahead.

 

[Future]

Wanted to log in so I could give my two cents on this one and those saying they picked him because he played for the Soo. First of all, the Soo had a historically good season this year so it makes sense they're going to have a lot of good players drafted. Second, Mac Hollowell was rated extremely high within OHL circles. One of the best defensemen in the entire OHL this year and his underlying analytics are terrific.

This is the fourth round. You're lucky if a player drafted here even plays an NHL game. You're not going to find a player that has no flaws or question marks at this stage. Mac's question mark in translating to the NHL is purely his size. So with that being said, if he pans out he pans out, if he doesn't he doesn't. He is a really good player though.

 

[Kiwi]

Yep!

Sweet

Get them in house and start developing them