Paul Albers...

[firstroundbust]

anyone got some nuggets of info on him?

Click to read more...

 

[Sabes]

http://www.vancouvergiants.com/home.htm


Albers finished off his WHL career in dramatic style with the Giants last year. In his overage season in Vancouver, the native of Melville, Saskatchewan had 17 goals and 45 assists in 70 games. He led all WHL defencemen in goals, power play goals (13) and points. He also led the entire WHL in plus-minus with a +38! With numbers like those, it was no surprise he was named the Western Conference nominee for the WHL's Top Defenceman as well as to the Western Conference First All-Star Team. In the playoffs, Albers posted 3 goals and 16 assists and was a key contributor to the Giants capturing their first WHL title. He was also named to the Memorial Cup First All-Star Team as the Giants finished third in the CHL Championships.

 

[Vman]

Too bad the Canucks didn't sign him
But great signing for Minny! Future NHL defenseman, just as good as Nashville's Cody Franson.

 

[Big Daddy]

Great stats, breakout season as a 20 year old, a majority of his points on the 1st unit PP, but that said I was not that impressed with him. I watched a lot of Giants games and his decision making at times is poor (in both ends). His skating is ok but he got beat wide quite a bit. A decent shot but not great. Meh, the stats don't lie but again I was not that impressed.

 

[Big Daddy]

Too bad the Canucks didn't sign him
But great signing for Minny! Future NHL defenseman, just as good as Nashville's Cody Franson.

Do not agree at all, Franson is a much more complete player.

 

[nomorekids]

Do not agree at all, Franson is a much more complete player.

And most of all, you can't teach size

 

[Vote for Rory]

Too bad the Canucks didn't sign him
But great signing for Minny! Future NHL defenseman, just as good as Nashville's Cody Franson.

I don't agree with that at all, but I do think that Albers can be an effective NHL defensmen in the near future. He looked very good last year, and IMO would of been drafted if he wasn't 20 and old enough to sign with anyone.

 

[Big Daddy]

And most of all, you can't teach size

And that too!

 

[Greg7]

Albers is a nice player that has a future in pro hockey somewhere. He is a decent skater but needs to improve his backward acceleration and lateral mobility, has very good vision and instincts in the offensive zone, poised and patient at the point, decent shot but very clever with it, and highly capable when joining the rush or carrying the puck. Defensively, he was I thought he was good at a WHL level last year, and did a pretty good job of keeping guys wide and taking away passing lanes. He isn't a physical presence though, and he can get caught at times running around a bit in his own zone. Once he has the puck though, he is outstanding at moving it and his team out of the zone quickly and effectively. However, this is all at the WHL level, and I think when he takes the next step he is going to struggle with some things. Bigger, stronger, faster forwards are going to give him a lot of trouble, off the rush and especially down low. He is going to need to add a lot of strength and improve his quickness in order to be able to contain professsional level players. Offensively, I hope his game translates quickly, but I have my doubts. A lot of his effectiveness stemmed from confidence, and I think when he first plays in the AHL, he might find it difficult to continue to do some of the things offensively that made him a great WHL player. He will find the game is significantly faster, and every decision has to be made more quickly, and he might not be comfortable enough to be the dynamic offensive threat he was in the WHL. Ultimately I don't see a lot of future NHL upside in him, but he is a hardworking kid who by all accounts has great character, so I'm not prepared to write him off. It will be interesting to see how he does in his first year of professional hockey, and whether he will be able to play in the AHL this year or if he needs some time to adjust in the ECHL. He's not an easy one to predict though; I can envision him in a couple of years having developed wonderfully and competing to get a chance as a callup type of guy for the Wild, or struggling to make the adjustment of a stronger faster game and playing for a few years in the ECHL. I suppose if I had to guess, I would probably guess that if he chooses to stick with pro hockey, he will likely end up as a decent top 4 AHL defenseman that isn't quite strong enough, isn't quite fast enough, doesn't quite think quickly enough on the ice, and isn't quite skilled enough, to take the next step to the NHL. In any case, he's a great guy to take a chance on and try to develop for the Wild.

 

[Fedz]

Albers is a nice player that has a future in pro hockey somewhere. He is a decent skater but needs to improve his backward acceleration and lateral mobility, has very good vision and instincts in the offensive zone, poised and patient at the point, decent shot but very clever with it, and highly capable when joining the rush or carrying the puck. Defensively, he was I thought he was good at a WHL level last year, and did a pretty good job of keeping guys wide and taking away passing lanes. He isn't a physical presence though, and he can get caught at times running around a bit in his own zone. Once he has the puck though, he is outstanding at moving it and his team out of the zone quickly and effectively. However, this is all at the WHL level, and I think when he takes the next step he is going to struggle with some things. Bigger, stronger, faster forwards are going to give him a lot of trouble, off the rush and especially down low. He is going to need to add a lot of strength and improve his quickness in order to be able to contain professsional level players. Offensively, I hope his game translates quickly, but I have my doubts. A lot of his effectiveness stemmed from confidence, and I think when he first plays in the AHL, he might find it difficult to continue to do some of the things offensively that made him a great WHL player. He will find the game is significantly faster, and every decision has to be made more quickly, and he might not be comfortable enough to be the dynamic offensive threat he was in the WHL. Ultimately I don't see a lot of future NHL upside in him, but he is a hardworking kid who by all accounts has great character, so I'm not prepared to write him off. It will be interesting to see how he does in his first year of professional hockey, and whether he will be able to play in the AHL this year or if he needs some time to adjust in the ECHL. He's not an easy one to predict though; I can envision him in a couple of years having developed wonderfully and competing to get a chance as a callup type of guy for the Wild, or struggling to make the adjustment of a stronger faster game and playing for a few years in the ECHL. I suppose if I had to guess, I would probably guess that if he chooses to stick with pro hockey, he will likely end up as a decent top 4 AHL defenseman that isn't quite strong enough, isn't quite fast enough, doesn't quite think quickly enough on the ice, and isn't quite skilled enough, to take the next step to the NHL. In any case, he's a great guy to take a chance on and try to develop for the Wild.

Your posts are so damn informative, but why won't you use paragraph form? I mean, come on!

Regardless, I agree with most of what everyone said, great project. Late bloomer, but was a great player for the Giants.