Pre-Season Hockeys Future Team Rankings (Prospects)

[GoPenguins]

Its always tough to rank all of the teams, because not all of us fans know too much about the no.6-16 ranked players on other people's teams. However, most of us fans will have good to extensive knowledge about our own teams, so its tough to not sound too homerish here. For instance, the Pens board are encouraged with the play of players like Matt Moulson, Stephen Dixon, Paul Bissonnette and Tomas Duba but these may not be known at all to non Pens fans.

Bottom line is there is not too big a gulf between the teams, and I dont think there will be an easy way to rank the teams without some team getting tagged with a low ranking.

The general consensus seems to be the Caps, Hawks and Pens near the top. Considering these teams have picked high in recent years (well, in the case of the Caps, they picked not so much high, but did pick often), this tends to make sense that they'd have higher regarded impact players.

The one thing that I think perhaps needs to be finalized or defined is when or how does a prospect "graduate". If we are using my Pens team as an example, there is no way Marc-Andre Fleury should no longer be considered a prospect. Adding him onto our prospect list and we start to look more genuinely like a top 5 prospect team.

 

[Hossa]

All you do is whine about NJ. Be a classy fan like GKJ, LLPH, JFF or DL.

NJ's depth blows philly out of the water and I think we have the better top end prospects. Parise, Vrana, Suglobov, Kadeikin, DeMarchi, Ahonen is better then any line you can dish out by a long long way. Eager is nothing more then a 4th liner. Most philly fans or any other fans will tell you that. He doesn't have the goal scoring sense or hockey sense in gerneral to ever be nything usefull. Allmost every forward on the Devils prospect list have huge potential. Tallackson still probably has the best skill set on Minnesota but just doesn't show up but does show up in the playoffs and wjc where he dominates. Khomutov was considered a first round pick throughout his draft year but sliped due to coaching problems. People in London know what he is capable of but Hunters didn't give him a chance. Vrana was on the CHL allrookie team putting up far more points then Jeff Carter. Parise is better then any prospect you can boast. Suglobov played for russia's worl championships team....an event that boasted Kovalchuk, Frolov, Heatley, Luongo ect and scored 3 goals in 7 games. Pihlman led his SMliga team JYP in points as a 20/21 year old. Zajac was a first round pick this year and dominated junior A...not quite the feat but time will tell if he turns out to be a goo risk. I agree Foster is close to done but in a 16 gam period last year with Suglobov he was over a PPG. Considering the injuries he has had that is good progress. DeMarchi was on the ncaa tourniment allstar team and was part of Minnesota's back to back titles. Kadeikin was the best prospect dmen at the 2002 camp...that is as an 18 year old. He played bad in Sarnia but excellent in the Russia v CHL games. Once again a project.

If nothing else, I'd take Carter over Parise without a doubt. I'd take Richards and Ruzicka over Suglobov and Vrana too, but those are closer.

Carter has a more impressive package than Parise. You use statistics to try to prove he's no offensive stud, but statistics put Brandon Bochenski on par with Zach Parise...nobody's arguing that. Carter's bigger and faster than Parise...he's got just as much offensive talent, he's just a better all-round package.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

All you do is whine about me not whinning. I wasn't whinning. I was disagreeing with a rating and it happened to be NJ's. And I wasn't dissing NJ's rating as much as I was saying someone is seriously undervaluing the Flyers.


Parise, Vrana, Suglobov, Kadeykin, DeMarchi, Ahonen
are not better then
Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Antero Niittymaki, Stefan Ruzicka, Rosario Ruggeri and Eager.


Carter and Richards you know. And I'll take Carter over Parise and Richards over Suglobov. You want Parise? Fine. Don't act like he's a better Prospect. The NHL GM's didn't seem to agree and don't act like Parise's risen and Carter's dropped since then. They both have risen and both were 1st team at the WJC.
Niittymaki > Ahonen. Niittymaki looked great last year with the Flyers and did a lot better in the AHL last year then Ahonen did. A lot better.
Ruzicka is at worst a wash with Vrana. Which btw, you're flat out wrong with your statement that Vrana put up a lot more points then Jeff Carter. 2 years ago Vrana had more points and Carter more points per game. Total it was 11 points difference. And last year Carter put up a lot more points. 66 to 38. And it was still more points per game. Ruzicka last year put up more points by a large margin then Vrana did and more points per game.
And Ruggeri > DeMarchi

Ruzicka's stock has risen a ton and he's been awesome in international compeition.
Ruggeri's got the better numbers of that last pairing.

Now we'd have to compare Eager to a D in your "top" list so I'll just deal with Eager 1st.
Eager just a 4th liner?
He put up a better numbers last year then Vrana did and brings a lot more to the table outside of scoring. And you're going to pump up Vrana and dis Eager? That speaks volumes about what you're trying to say.
He's a good prospect that was a recent 1st Rnd pick that the Yotes couldn't get signed. He looked very good in the recent prospects camp. Flyers are happy with him. Otherwise, they just would have taken the comp pick for him and not signed him.

I'll take Korovkin for the Flyers over Kadeikin anyways. Hell, at least Korovkin can add some offense.

So just where are you better at the top? Which one's you want to argue and we'll break out the stats and what not.


I'm not dissing the Devil's prospects. I'm saying if you're going to say the Flyers are 27th and the Devil's 4th based on these lists you are nuts. Clarke has drafted well and guess what, people like Ruzicka and Ruggeri would also be drafted a lot higher now then they were.

As far as depth, hell, at 15 and 16 for the Flyers on the HF rankings are players that already have gotten time in the NHL. Randy Jones at 15 on D has put up better numbers in the AHL then some of the D you're touting up top in Canadian Juniors.

So seriously, I'm not whinning. The Flyers have decent depth. If you want to really argue that the Devil's are slightly better, that's your right. But 4 vs 27 is freaking nuts.

I didn't say Philly was 27th...I was one of the ones who thought they were closer to 18 or so but to compare Philly's to Devils is way off.

Parise > Carter
Vrana < Richards
Suglobov > Ruzicka
DeMarchi = Ruggeri
Kadeikin > Korovkin
Ahonen > Niittymaki

That a little more like it. You can argue with stats all you want yet you say Carter is better then Parise who clerly rips the living hell out of Carter in that department. Vrana was injured all year and played on a horrible team. His linemates for the first half were Davis and Jones. Davis is a career goon in the ECHL where Jones will never be drafted. Eager (one year older) played for a middle of the pack team then did nothing at all in 5 AHL games. After that the devils depth blows Philly out of the water. You should stick to your silly little brodeur bashings you know **** all about prospect and use stats in your arguments. Try watching some of the players. I have probably seen more of your philly propsects outside pro hockey then you have.

Kadeikin was never touted as an offensive defensmen. He is suppost to be in the mold of a player like Volchenkov. Thats like comparing Foote's offensive numbers to McCabe. Foote's job is to play defense. NJ doesn't have any offensive dmen in the system, why would they need them with Martin Niedermayer and Rafalski going to be in NJ for a long time.

Here is a lesson......STOP JUDGING PROSPECTS BY STATS. If that were the case Gunette (Van) would be a better player then Carter and Richards going into the draft. We all know that isn't the case so stop trying to reform an argument that you have basis on.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

If nothing else, I'd take Carter over Parise without a doubt. I'd take Richards and Ruzicka over Suglobov and Vrana too, but those are closer.

Carter has a more impressive package than Parise. You use statistics to try to prove he's no offensive stud, but statistics put Brandon Bochenski on par with Zach Parise...nobody's arguing that. Carter's bigger and faster than Parise...he's got just as much offensive talent, he's just a better all-round package.

You would also be very biased towards OHL players over a College player, QMJHL player, and a RSL player. Carter is not better then Parise. You neglected to mention that Parise is a better PP specialist, is a better playmaker, a better leader, equal or better defensivly and better hockey sense. Parise did outplay Carter at the WJC with Werner (3rd round in weak draft) and Murray (5th round) as his teamates compared to Getzlaf (19th overall) and Burns (22nd overall). The linemates tend to favor Carter. Carter does have nicer size and skill but so did Malholtra, Kilger and Pyatt.

 

[Hossa]

You are also very biased owards OHL players over a College player, QMJHL player, and a RSL player. Carter is not better then Parise. You neglected to mention that Parise is a better PP specialist, is a better playmaker, a better leader, equal or better defensivly and better hockey sense. Parise did outplay Carter at the WJC with Werner (3rd round in weak draft) and Murray (5th round) as his teamates compared to Getzlaf (19th overall) and Burns (22nd overall). The linemates tend to favor Carter.

Why am I biased towards OHL players? Because I spend the hockey season in Nova Scotia probably a short distance from where you are?

While Parise put up more points than Carter, I thought Carter was more dominant at times than Parise. Parise is a more developed player, because as we all know bigger players take longer to develop. That being said, from what I've seen of Carter, he takes over games. Parise may as well, but I don't think his upside is nearly as high. I see Parise as a second line player who gives an all-round effort, whereas Carter is a future first liner. Parise is a safer prospect though.

Also, I'd hardly consider linemates at one WJC tournament compared with points at that single tournament to be the most important criteria as well. Nigel Dawes was Canada's best player and only he and Anthony Stewart were competing with Parise for top forward honours. If you want to talk about linemates, we can talk about how Parise played with guys like Brandon Bochenski and Brady Murray in college and Carter has yet to play with anybody particularily good or talented (believe me, Scott Dobben is NOT a good or talented prospect the way Bochenski or Murray are)...in junior.

Also, at school, I'm an hour out of Halifax. I believe I'm if anything biased towards Nova Scotia QMJHL prospects. Vrana in no way, shape or form is better than Mike Richards. If you want to point to stats, Richards takes it. If you want to point to the WJC, Richards takes it. If you want to point to all-round play, Richards takes it (although Vrana is quite solid in this regard as well).

 

[Liquidrage*]

You stop judging prospects by them being on the Devils. I'd rather base prosepcts judgements off of stats and what we do get to see them as opposed to what you are doing which is going NJ Prospect > Flyers Prospect. Especially when you're hypocritical about it. You tried using just stats to justify your arguements earlier now stats are bad? Which is? I don't care, nevermind. You're just biased.

Look at your Ahonen > Niittymaki crap.
Let's see. Niittymaki had much better numbers, many more wins, much much better Save %, and stood on his heads on times to keep the team in games, overall just looked a lot better then Ahonen both playing the same league. And Niittymaki did play in the NHL last year and looked freaking great.
And you're biased rear is going to put Ahonen > Niittymaki? That's a joke.

And Vrana > Richards? Yeah OK.

I love this homeristic line of yours

Parise who clerly rips the living hell out of Carter

Yeah, that a vile of crack will get you places in life.

 

[db23]

Higgins their best Offensive Center...5'11" 188, Plekanec 5'10" 198, Chipchura, who'll be a 3rd line grinder is 6'2", Perezhogin 5'11" 185,

There skilled players are SMALL for the future.

If Chipchura, who was rated the top N.A. prospect right up to the time that he tore his groin in January, is "a 3rd line grinder", what does that make the pizza faced Polak in your avatar? Chipchura was rated ahead of Wolski by Central Scouting all year long, and drafted ahead of him as well.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Why am I biased towards OHL players? Because I spend the hockey season in Nova Scotia probably a short distance from where you are?

While Parise put up more points than Carter, I thought Carter was more dominant at times than Parise. Parise is a more developed player, because as we all know bigger players take longer to develop. That being said, from what I've seen of Carter, he takes over games. Parise may as well, but I don't think his upside is nearly as high. I see Parise as a second line player who gives an all-round effort, whereas Carter is a future first liner. Parise is a safer prospect though.

Also, I'd hardly consider linemates at one WJC tournament compared with points at that single tournament to be the most important criteria as well. Nigel Dawes was Canada's best player and only he and Anthony Stewart were competing with Parise for top forward honours. If you want to talk about linemates, we can talk about how Parise played with guys like Brandon Bochenski and Brady Murray in college and Carter has yet to play with anybody particularily good or talented (believe me, Scott Dobben is NOT a good or talented prospect the way Bochenski or Murray are)...in junior.

Also, at school, I'm an hour out of Halifax. I believe I'm if anything biased towards Nova Scotia QMJHL prospects. Vrana in no way, shape or form is better than Mike Richards. If you want to point to stats, Richards takes it. If you want to point to the WJC, Richards takes it. If you want to point to all-round play, Richards takes it (although Vrana is quite solid in this regard as well).

You seen Parise in two games just like the rest of us. Nobody got to see him play at his best. There is a reason he was tourney MVP and Dawes wasn't. Because the guys who judge for MVP saw Parise play more then twice. Carter was dominant but so was Parise. Even moreso since he had horrible linemates that probably will never sniff the NHL. I guess all these guys who follow college hockey are hyping the wrong guy. They should follow Carter in the CHL instead of Parise who is the best 3 zone player in college hockey and the most feared by opposing teams on the score sheet. Carter may have the bigger frame and better wheels but Parise more then makes up for that with hard work and better hockey sense.

I didn't mean to have that arrow pointing towards Vrana. Richards is a good level ahead of Vrana but not as much as stats would prove.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

You stop judging prospects by them being on the Devils. I'd rather base prosepcts judgements off of stats and what we do get to see them as opposed to what you are doing which is going NJ Prospect > Flyers Prospect. Especially when you're hypocritical about it. You tried using just stats to justify your arguements earlier now stats are bad? Which is? I don't care, nevermind. You're just biased.

Look at your Ahonen > Niittymaki crap.
Let's see. Niittymaki had much better numbers, many more wins, much much better Save %, and stood on his heads on times to keep the team in games, overall just looked a lot better then Ahonen both playing the same league. And Niittymaki did play in the NHL last year and looked freaking great.
And you're biased rear is going to put Ahonen > Niittymaki? That's a joke.

And Vrana > Richards? Yeah OK.

I love this homeristic line of yours

Yeah, that a vile of crack will get you places in life.

I may be biased but atleast I am not a biased troll like you are. I praise Philly prospects almost every chance I get, Defend your players on devils boards. I clearly don't carry grudges vs teams like you do.

I didn't mean to have Vrana ahead of Richards.

Parise did blow away Richard. Parise had 11 points while Carter had 7. That is a huge difference in the tourney.

 

[EquabaleAce]

If Chipchura, who was rated the top N.A. prospect right up to the time that he tore his groin in January, is "a 3rd line grinder", what does that make the pizza faced Polak in your avatar? Chipchura was rated ahead of Wolski by Central Scouting all year long, and drafted ahead of him as well.

db23 you obviously win the best quote award there, and to all those who think Chipchura is going to be a 3rd line grinder, mabye he will, but he will when all Montreal's top en prospects force him down to that position. There is a reason that we were ranked #1 at Janurary, and only with the subtraction of Balej, plus the addition of the best goalie in the NCAA last year Danis, and another potential captain in Chipchura, I don't see why we could slip any further than to 3rd spot.

Washington just added alot of prospects, but having Ovechkin puts then in the top 5, and mabye Pittsburgh are ahead of the habs.

 

[Liquidrage*]

I may be biased but atleast I am not a biased troll like you are. I praise Philly prospects almost every chance I get, Defend your players on devils boards. I clearly don't carry grudges vs teams like you do.

I didn't mean to have Vrana ahead of Richards.

Parise did blow away Richard. Parise had 11 points while Carter had 7. That is a huge difference in the tourney.

No, I'm sorry but you are off base.

In my initial post not only did I make a good case for my opinion I said this.

I'm sorry, but NJ's lits isn't *that* much better if at all.

I don't seem to have a problem with NJ's prospects. I had a problem where the Flyers were ranked and with what people said earlier about the Flyers system being empty. It's anything but.

I stand by what I said.
I didn't troll. And I didn't start a flame fest.
YOU DID.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Something is seriously wrong with the rankings. Compare Philly's (27) and NJ's (4) prospects. (I'm throwing Umberger in at the 10 slot since he wasn't on the list there and taking out Drozdetsky as I don't think he'll play)

Philly has:
Jeff Carter
Mike Richards
Antero Niittymaki
Stefan Ruzicka
Patrick Sharp
Rosario Ruggeri
Ben Eager
Nikita Korovkin
RJ Umberger
Nikita Korovkin

NJ has:
Zach Parise
Ari Ahonen
Aleksander Suglobov
Tuomas Pihlman
Travis Zajac
Adrian Foster
Anton Kadeykin
Petr Vrana
Ivan Khomutov
Barry Tallackson

I'm sorry, but NJ's lits isn't *that* much better if at all.

The Flyers are projecting a lot of those players to the NHL. Eager should be higher and was very impressive in prospect camp recently. Randy Jones sat at 15 for the Flyers and wasn't in my list yet he's already had a cup of coffee in the NHL and the Flyers like him. Ryan Potulny wasn't on the list yet was among the best players at the Flyers recent prospect camp that included Carter, Richards, Eager, Umberger etc..

The Flyers have a decent amount of prospect talent. And while not the best, they are too low, and certainly seeing them at 27 and NJ at 4 is just a WTF? They Flyers are better at the top and just as deep. Sure, there list is a little old, but even when it wa written it did things like list Kadeykin as a Top prospect for NJ but not Ruggeri for Philly. Sorry, but there is no way in hell I'd want NJ's Top 10 over Philly's Top 10. And yes, I realize I'm just focusing on the Top 10. But what comes after that isn't going to be the difference betweeen 4 and 27 anyways.

Does that ring a bell......Philly's top ten doesn't come close to NJ's (well my top 10).

I would take Parise, Ahonen, Suglobov, Vrana, Zajac, Pihlman, Khomutov, Foster, Kadeikin, Tallackson over any top 10 prospects Philly can round up. If we went by top end potential these prospect would lay an even bigger stopming ground on Philly's prospects considering Khomutov, Zajac, and Tallackson have huge ceilings but low expectancy.

 

[Moskau]

I remember when players were doomed if they were small.

Now if they are small, and have some decent talent they are already bonafide NHL stars.

 

[Liquidrage*]

As I said, you're trolling and homeristic. Welcome to several posts ago. Why don't you tell me how Parise is heads and shoulders above Carter again and how Ahonen is better then Niittymaki again? Those were really great points of yours.

I at least admit the two sides are close. I at least admit people could see Parise above Carter though I'd prefer Carter. Really, all you've done is shown your bias and that you're going to argue about prospects you know nothing about like Ruzicka and Ruggeri. And you have no excuse for picking Ahonen over Niittymaki. It seems like all you did is look at who was the higher pick back in the late 90's. There's just no excuse for that one.

 

[Moskau]

As I said, you're trolling and homeristic. Welcome to several posts ago. Why don't you tell me how Parise is heads and shoulders above Carter again and how Ahonen is better then Niittymaki again? Those were really great points of yours. .

You fool, don't you know who drafted Parise? He HAS TO BE GREAT!


New Jersey can't fail. I'm suprised Ovechkin didn't fall to them so everyone can sing their praises again.

While they do have excellent scouts, they've had their fair share of gimmes.

 

[db23]

It is a bit pointless to include more that 3 or 4 prospects for any team at a given time. No team brings more than that many rookie players into the lineup in a short period of time. If you look at a team's prospect list from three or four years back, you would hardly recognize the names in most cases.

 

[Juicer]

Parise did blow away Richard. Parise had 11 points while Carter had 7. That is a huge difference in the tourney.

Just a note, Carter did not get any PP time due to Crosby taking his spot as a PP center on one unit and Richards playing with center with his successful regular line on the other unit. Even without those PP points, Carter was named to the WJC all-star team.

 

[meehan]

You fool, don't you know who drafted Parise? He HAS TO BE GREAT!


New Jersey can't fail. I'm suprised Ovechkin didn't fall to them so everyone can sing their praises again.

While they do have excellent scouts, they've had their fair share of gimmes.

Well considering that they have been a stanley cup contender for the last decade and have still managed to draft good players with very low draft picks, I think it's understandable that they are given the benefit of the doubt when it comes to prospects.

 

[BlueAndWhite]

and then people have Toronto ahead of the Rangers? Toronto only has one good prospect and thats Cola.

Poor Alex Steen will be crushed by that comment..

The Rangers have a better prospect than the Leafs by a good margin, but you don't seem to know the Leaf system very well...

 

[ChrisKreider20]

Rangers system in top 8

The Rangers have a very impressive farm system. HF ranked them fairly low for even the system they had at that time.
Tyutin
Jessiman
Murray
Lundqvist
Moore
Lampman
Baranka
Dawes

All these guys could be top players in their roles
Ex: Murray could be one of the best 2nd line/ 3rd Line checkers

Jessiman may be a top PF one day

The NYR Farm system even before the firesale was above average and HF didn't recognize that.

Now with the firesale..Balej.....Helminen......Giroux....Immonen....Kondratiev


as well as picks.... often 2nd Round picks make it as NHLers
well The Rangers had 4!!!! and 2 1st Rounders!!!!

Montoya...Korpikoski.....Graham....Olver.....Byers....Dubinsky

Even the late rounders seem to have some potential....
Jordan Foote... This guy looks amazing check out his profile...
Jakob Patruzalek.... This guy looks underrated because of his size... he could become a late round steal, kinda like Nigel Dawes...with a more european style...Kinda like Pavol Demitra

Then Theres the Youth playing already
Lundmark....Blackburn

Potential 2nd line forward and top 10 goalie.

The Rangers have awesome farm.

It should be rated 5-6th overall.

Even the defense, having Liffiton and Taylor fill in all stay-at-home defenseman.

and there is still Jeff Heereema who could just be a VERY late bloomer and become an NHL caliber player.

Other Notables are
Prucha: Improved so much...maybe 2nd coming of Zetterberg
Jonasen: Time will tell... at 6"5 this guy could be a top powerforward
LaBarbera: Has ALOT to prove but could still become an NHL caliber goalie. He is a bit shaky at NHL level but had unreal numbers in the AHL. Remember J.S Giguere. It took until 26 yrs old for him. Labarbera could be similar.


The point is The Rangers farm system is soo deep.


And w/ Tom Renney and Christer Rockstrom (drafted Lidstrom and and Holmstrom) the system may overtake #1 in the next few years. Especially if they can get Sydney Crosby!

 

[Chief_10]

I saw Jordan Foote play at the royal bank cup and he didnt look too impressive to me.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

As I said, you're trolling and homeristic. Welcome to several posts ago. Why don't you tell me how Parise is heads and shoulders above Carter again and how Ahonen is better then Niittymaki again? Those were really great points of yours.

I at least admit the two sides are close. I at least admit people could see Parise above Carter though I'd prefer Carter. Really, all you've done is shown your bias and that you're going to argue about prospects you know nothing about like Ruzicka and Ruggeri. And you have no excuse for picking Ahonen over Niittymaki. It seems like all you did is look at who was the higher pick back in the late 90's. There's just no excuse for that one.

You seen Kadeikin and Vrana then? You are doing the same thing "you claim" I am doing, talking out of your ass. How do you know your players are better if you don't even see these two play. You rely on stats, if the stats don't favor your player as in the case between Carter and Parise you just start flaping your gums saying I am biased. Parise has accomplished more then Carter has over the past two years. Parise was a Hobey Baker finalist two years in a row as an 18 and 19 year old. He was World Junior Championships MVP, top forward, and on the allstar team.

Ahonen is better then Nittymaki....lets offer Ahonen to Philly for Nittymaki an I bet my balls that Clarke would accept the trade in a second. Ahonen faced over 35 shots a game on the worst team in the league. Nittymaki played on a top AHL team.

 

[Liquidrage*]

lets offer Ahonen to Philly for Nittymaki an I bet my balls that Clarke would accept the trade in a second.

What a meaningless offer. As if you got a pair left. Seriously, you're just talking smack at this point.

Ahonen faced over 35 shots a game on the worst team in the league. Nittymaki played on a top AHL team.

Facing a lot of shots is not an excuse for a poor save %. Nittymaki had him in wins and Save% by a wide margin. And Nittymaki seriously turned heads when he started three games in a row for the Flyers and looked incredible. You're being hypcritical here too. I'm the one that says Save% is Save% whether you see a lot of shots or few shots. You on the other hand apparently have an excuse for a low Save% if the goalie saw 23 shots a game or 35. Sorry, doesn't work that way.
Nittymaki >> Ahonen

As for Carter and Parise guess what? Those are two people all of us have seen play a lot now because they are high profile and have played in international competition. And we get to see a lot of the AHL players here, you know like Nittymaki and Ahonen.
Some of the more obscure prospects we probably all mostly just go with stats AND scouting reports unless you happen to get to see there game. That's just reality. I'm sure because of where you are you get to see some prospects. If you'd like to relay your personal experience with these prospects go right ahead.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

What a meaningless offer. As if you got a pair left. Seriously, you're just talking smack at this point.



Facing a lot of shots is not an excuse for a poor save %. Nittymaki had him in wins and Save% by a wide margin. And Nittymaki seriously turned heads when he started three games in a row for the Flyers and looked incredible. You're being hypcritical here too. I'm the one that says Save% is Save% whether you see a lot of shots or few shots. You on the other hand apparently have an excuse for a low Save% if the goalie saw 23 shots a game or 35. Sorry, doesn't work that way.
Nittymaki >> Ahonen

As for Carter and Parise guess what? Those are two people all of us have seen play a lot now because they are high profile and have played in international competition. And we get to see a lot of the AHL players here, you know like Nittymaki and Ahonen.
Some of the more obscure prospects we probably all mostly just go with stats AND scouting reports unless you happen to get to see there game. That's just reality. I'm sure because of where you are you get to see some prospects. If you'd like to relay your personal experience with these prospects go right ahead.

It may be meaningless but the fact remains Clarke would take Ahonen. Ahonen has won at all levels except AHL. He won the under 18 (stold the gol medal), won a silver at the WJC (stold a silver for the Fins). In Albany he had no help. His SV% isn't top notch because he isn't just getting loads of shots, Albany gives up loads of scoring chances point blank. I actually wish the AHL would keep track so you coul seehow horrible of a team Albany had. Its also alot tougher when you never get goal support.

This year Albany should have a better defense, offense and a much better coach. If he sucks out I will personally PM you and tell you I was wrong but won't be the case.

 

[paxtang]

It may be meaningless but the fact remains Clarke would take Ahonen. Ahonen has won at all levels except AHL. He won the under 18 (stold the gol medal), won a silver at the WJC (stold a silver for the Fins). In Albany he had no help. His SV% isn't top notch because he isn't just getting loads of shots, Albany gives up loads of scoring chances point blank. I actually wish the AHL would keep track so you coul seehow horrible of a team Albany had. Its also alot tougher when you never get goal support.

This year Albany should have a better defense, offense and a much better coach. If he sucks out I will personally PM you and tell you I was wrong but won't be the case.

But you can't deny that Nittymaki perfromed much better than Ahonen the last two years, so how can you assume that Clarke would make that trade? Ahonen has no shown to have succesuflly transfered hsi European success to N. American success. Maybe he never will. Until he proves he can win and play well over here, Nitty is a better prospect.