Prospect Association Game

[not quite yoda]

Here are (as of April) Mckeen's top 15 prospects for the 2005 draft. Associate each player with an established NHLer' s style based on the merits of the kid's game.

Here's mine:




1 - Sidney Crosby C - Forsberg

2 - Jack Johnson D - Leetch

3 - Gilbert Brule C - T. Ruutu

4 - Tuukka Rask G - Giguere

5 - Bobby Ryan RW - Guerin

6 - Alex Bourret RW - Morrow

7 - Carey Price G - Aubin

8 - Benoit Pouliot C - Nieuwendyk

9 - Jack Skille RW - Klatt

10 - Anze Kopitar RW - Straka

11 - Ryan O'Marra C - Linden

12 - Marek Zagrapan C - Zhamnov

13 - Devin Setoguchi RW - Fisher

14 - Guillaume Latendresse RW - Daze (except he hits)

15 - Nicklas Bergfors RW - Audette

Click to read more...

 

[The Joker*]

very nice post, I say 3/15 turn out to be as good as their associated player

 

[not quite yoda]

very nice post, I say 3/15 turn out to be as good as their associated player

Read the post again. I said " Associate each player with an established NHLer' s style". Not "How good will each player turn out". Of course some will bust. It's about styles of play, not reaching full potential.

 

[The Joker*]

Yes, I know that, and I made a predicition

 

[hockeyfan125]

The Ruutu comparison for Brule is a very good one...I'm suprised I never thought of it. Nice work.

 

[katodelder]

would be cool if you could provide some explanation beside each association, especially for those who haven't yet seen these pospects

 

[Habsfan 32]

Nice list. I agree with the Brule and Ruutu comparision.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

Brule/Ruutu is a cool comparison, but ones bigger and is a winger (and is left handed) the other is smaller and a centre.

Johnson would be compared to Jovanovski in my books.

 

[not quite yoda]

Brule/Ruutu is a cool comparison, but ones bigger and is a winger (and is left handed) the other is smaller and a centre.

Johnson would be compared to Jovanovski in my books.

Yeah but isn't jovo about 6'4''? Johnson is only 6'1''. I haven't seen that much of him but his main attribute seems to be his mobility like Leetch. He is about Leetch's dimensions too. I think Jovo is more of a physical force than JJ although the kid takes care of his own end efficiently.

True that there are differences between Ruutu and Brule. I only said their games are similar, not that they are twins. They both have grit, passion, mobility though not really speedsters. Both rather shoot and both are playing centre these days. But I think Brule will end up as a winger. Of course that will end up being the decision of whichever NHL coach he falls on.

 

[Blue Bullet]

I have to agree with Maguire and that Jack Johnson reminds me more of a Chelios than a Leetch. Johnson has a much more physical game than Leetch and is a similar build to Chelios.

The closest comparison to Benoit Pouliot is Lecavelier. He has that silky smooth skating and moves like Vinny. He's not as good as Vinny was at that age but that's who he reminds me of at times.

I finally got to watch Anze Kopitar play and he doesn't remind me of Straka. I didn't see his offensive game displayed too much, as Slovenia doesn't have much of a team, but I know he is considered more of a shooter and has been compared to Vanek. What, I really liked about Kopitar's game is that he was fairly good on the draw and that he was really hustling out there and backchecking hard. And though he is a knock-kneed skater his skating is not a problem area. He definitely held his own out there against the pros.

 

[soilwork2004]

...

excellent comparisons. i haven't seen much day to day stuff of crosby though. is he actually as physical as foppa?

 

[Blue Bullet]

excellent comparisons. i haven't seen much day to day stuff of crosby though. is he actually as physical as foppa?

No he is not as physical as Forsberg. He reminds me of a less physical Forsberg blended with a smaller, shiftier guy like Kariya.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I would say Skille is more like Guerin than Trent Klatt.

 

[MS]

No he is not as physical as Forsberg. He reminds me of a less physical Forsberg blended with a smaller, shiftier guy like Kariya.

Crosby reminds me a lot of Dale Hawerchuk.

 

[salty justice]

Both rather shoot and both are playing centre these days. But I think Brule will end up as a winger. Of course that will end up being the decision of whichever NHL coach he falls on.

The number of shifts Ruutu played at center in the last 2 calendar years can be counted on one hand.

 

[Slats432]

Weird....I always compare Bourret to Ruutu. Crushing, punishing checks from a guy that you wouldn't expect them from with speed and skill as well.

 

[f1nn]

Here are (as of April) Mckeen's top 15 prospects for the 2005 draft. Associate each player with an established NHLer' s style based on the merits of the kid's game.

Here's mine:




1 - Sidney Crosby C - Forsberg

2 - Jack Johnson D - Leetch

3 - Gilbert Brule C - T. Ruutu

4 - Tuukka Rask G - Giguere

5 - Bobby Ryan RW - Guerin

6 - Alex Bourret RW - Morrow

7 - Carey Price G - Aubin

8 - Benoit Pouliot C - Nieuwendyk

9 - Jack Skille RW - Klatt

10 - Anze Kopitar RW - Straka

11 - Ryan O'Marra C - Linden

12 - Marek Zagrapan C - Zhamnov

13 - Devin Setoguchi RW - Fisher

14 - Guillaume Latendresse RW - Daze (except he hits)

15 - Nicklas Bergfors RW - Audette

no...

 

[hockeyfan125]

Crosby reminds me a lot of Dale Hawerchuk.

whoa...another really good comparison. I watched some old tapes I have, and this is a really good comparison.

 

[David]

Crosby reminds me a lot of Dale Hawerchuk.

Crosby reminds me more of Pat Lafontaine...I don't remember Hawerchuk being so physical in the corners...

 

[VOB]

Crosby reminds me more of Pat Lafontaine...I don't remember Hawerchuk being so physical in the corners...

And Lafontaine was?

 

[rtafts]

9 - Jack Skille RW - Klatt


Klatt?! Ouch.

 

[not quite yoda]

Weird....I always compare Bourret to Ruutu. Crushing, punishing checks from a guy that you wouldn't expect them from with speed and skill as well.

Ruutu has game breaking talent. He will likely score 40 in an goal scoring deprived NHL. And sooner rather than later. Although I love Bourret, I don't think he has that kind of upside. He seems like he'll be more of a supporting cast top liner.

Bourret is the Pippen to a Jordan. Ruutu is the Jordan to almost any Pippen.

 

[not quite yoda]

9 - Jack Skille RW - Klatt


Klatt?! Ouch.

Skille has size and grind and the right kind of attitude. IMO he just doesn't have the finnish to be a top end NHLer. You know not all of these guys will become perenial All-Stars. This isn't even close to the 2003 class.

 

[Legionnaire]

The number of shifts Ruutu played at center in the last 2 calendar years can be counted on one hand.

True. I have a feeling that Brule will be moved to wing though.

 

[not quite yoda]

True. I have a feeling that Brule will be moved to wing though.

dido.