Stat watching at the Junior level is one of the biggest mistakes on this site. Especially these days, when it’s the only thing many fans do, when forming their opinions on prospects.
If anyone has any questions regarding Danielson as a legit top NHL prospect, watch a couple of Portland Winterhawks games. Watch 3-4 games in a row. You’ll understand pretty quickly, why he’s a much better NHL prospect, than a couple of his teammates who put up big numbers.
He drives play, he’s the best 200’ player on the ice, “thinks the game” at an elite level, has elite vision, and a wicked shot. He just doesn’t shoot enough.
There’s a reason guys like Danielson, Minten and Poitras looked so good against NHL players, but aren’t dominant scoring forces against kids their own age. First of all, they’re not just goal scorers…. They’re complete players, and most importantly, they “think the game” at that elite level needed, to play in the NHL.
That’s your first ticket into the NHL. Whether your a Bedard or a Poitras. It’s what separates NHL players, from other players in other leagues.
It doesn’t however, always equal massive stats in junior hockey. Frankly, because the players they’re playing with, don’t “process play” as quickly. We seen some of that at World Juniors, where Poitras, Minten, Danielson and even Beck to a lessor extent, would make a play, and their linemate didn’t know it was coming, etc, because they don’t “think the game” at that same elite level.
Like I said, fans have to be real careful about statistic watching in junior hockey, over players with NHL skill sets, who also “think the game” at a higher than Junior level. Sometimes those players are two steps ahead of other kids their own age. You end up watching a lot of dynamic plays that go for not, because teammates aren’t processing the game at the same rate. Like I said, watch Portland. You’ll know pretty quickly how good Danielson is. He’s the best player on the ice, more than he’s not, and Portland is loaded.
Just take a look at that same Portland roster as a further example. Stefan, Klassen and O’Brien aren’t even drafted players, yet 2 put up huge numbers. Look at a kid like Ritchie in the OHL . There’s a reason he was left off Canada’s WJT, especially on Olympic ice. He’d been healthy a month before camp….
Those kids almost solely use their physical maturity to score at lower levels, because they can, but lack other high-end NHL skills, and don’t “process the game” quick enough to play in the league. At least not yet…. That’s why you still draft a Ritchie late in the 1st or 2nd round. You hope they develop that ability to “think the game” at a higher level because they have finishing skills. They just don’t translate to the NHL by themselves, like maybe a Caufield or Benson would. They simply don’t have other elite attributes like those 2 guys do.
If you have high-end skill, like a Poitras or a Danielson, but also think the game, driving play, teams know that skill will continue to develop, and they will take that player every single time, over players who are great finishers in Junior, but don’t have much else yet. Stefan and Klassen weren’t even drafted.
Being more physically mature stops working, once you turn pro. There’s 2 dozen great CHL players every year, who put up huge stats, who never sniff scoring in the NHL, while many players, who are closer to a PPG in those same junior leagues, play and contribute in the NHL much quicker.
