Prospect Comparisons...

[Ryker]

Gudbranson is good now.

Yup. Realistically, I don't see Morin ever becoming as good as Gudbranson, unfortunately.

 

[BackWithaVengeance]

Wow we had the same comparisons for Hagg and Stolarz...awesome

LOL and I had the Alt McGillis comparison too but changed it all of a sudden because I felt I am way off.

 

[King Forsberg]

Yup. Realistically, I don't see Morin ever becoming as good as Gudbranson, unfortunately.

Ehh you must think highly of Gudbranson then. Or maybe really low of Morin. Gudbranson still has lots of room to grow but right now he's not all that special. Morin has way better tools in terms of skating, passing, stick work, hockey IQ. Gudbranson may be better when it's all said and done, but. Morin projects to be better than what Gudbranson is RIGHT NOW.

 

[HighOFFHockey]

LOL and I had the Alt McGillis comparison too but changed it all of a sudden because I felt I am way off.

Ha yeah it was a hard one to find. I went McGillis, but I don't think he'll be anywhere as good at either end of the ice and does not have the same physically...maybe a bad comparison lol

The toughest one was Leier because I really do believe he could be a top 6 forward or a bottom 6 forward, it all depends on how he progresses. He has an all around toolset.

 

[Ryker]

Ehh you must think highly of Gudbranson then. Or maybe really low of Morin. Gudbranson still has lots of room to grow but right now he's not all that special. Morin has way better tools in terms of skating, passing, stick work, hockey IQ. Gudbranson may be better when it's all said and done, but. Morin projects to be better than what Gudbranson is RIGHT NOW.

Yeah, based on what I've seen this season, I do think highly of Gudbranson. And I don't think Morin sucks or anything like that, but I just don't think that at the end of the day he'll be a better player. I like him, but whenever I see him play, I'm left with lukewarm feelings. For example, in the WJC I thought he played well other than those couple of brain farts, but he wasn't great. I also don't think he has way better tools in the departments you mentioned. I'm not even sure he has better tools, but I haven't seen enough to really make a good argument either way. But from what I have seen, I didn't see an aspect of his game where he'd clearly stand out over Gudbranson, and I think the latter is significantly better in at least board play and using his size in general. I'll honestly be happy if he turns out to be as good as Gudbranson is now.

 

[Rebels57]

Yup. Realistically, I don't see Morin ever becoming as good as Gudbranson, unfortunately.

That I can't agree with.

Morin has quicker feet and a longer reach (two incredible important components of a defensemens game). He absolutely can be better than Gudbranson once he learns the game more.

 

[HighOFFHockey]

Yup. Realistically, I don't see Morin ever becoming as good as Gudbranson, unfortunately.

First, way way to early to make that statement. Second, our scouts clearly do because they drafted him very high. While you could be right, my instincts tell me to ignore your comment.

 

[Gert B Frobe]

slightly optimistic upside

Ivan Provorov - Slava Fetisov
Travis Sanheim - Scott Niedermeyer
Samuel Morin - Chris Pronger
Shayne Gostisbehere - Paul Coffey
Travis Konecny - Pat Verbeek
Scott Laughton - Doug Gilmour
Danick Martel - Theo Fleury

Now all we need is for somebody to become Wendell Clark and we'll be just fine. Then the rest of the prospects can just be themselves.

I think the most likely of these outlandish comparisons to actually pan out is Gostisbehere - Coffey. Head up, fast as hell, great hands, great shot. Not going to happen.

Imagine what Theo Fleury would do in today's NHL...

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

slightly optimistic upside

Ivan Provorov - Slava Fetisov
Travis Sanheim - Scott Niedermeyer
Samuel Morin - Chris Pronger
Shayne Gostisbehere - Paul Coffey
Travis Konecny - Pat Verbeek
Scott Laughton - Doug Gilmour
Danick Martel - Theo Fleury

Now all we need is for somebody to become Wendell Clark and we'll be just fine. Then the rest of the prospects can just be themselves.

I think the most likely of these outlandish comparisons to actually pan out is Gostisbehere - Coffey. Head up, fast as hell, great hands, great shot. Not going to happen.

Imagine what Theo Fleury would do in today's NHL...

We have Wendel Clark. He goes by Wayne Train now

 

[Ryker]

First, way way to early to make that statement. Second, our scouts clearly do because they drafted him very high. While you could be right, my instincts tell me to ignore your comment.

I just stated my opinion, so if you want to ignore it, ignore it. And, yeah, I might have jumped the gun a bit, but that's how it looks like to me at the moment. I don't care if I'm wrong. Someone can quote this post in years' time and I'll admit my mistake if things turn out that way.

As for the second comment, I'm not sure why you'd think that was true. First of all, Gudbranson went third overall, while Morin went eleventh, and secondly, it's been two years since Morin was drafted, and I haven't seen an updated statement from our scouts giving their current opinion on Morin. But maybe you can explain how our scouts clearly think that way.

 

[Ghosts Beer]

Let's face it, it is difficult to find a good comparable for Morin.

People tend to go way off the charts with Pronger and Chara, who are Hall-of-Fame and near Hall-of-Fame players.

To me, Gudbranson is the closest comp. Both are tall. Both are very mobile for their sizes. Both have good shots, but yet seem to have something lacking offensively, particularly with puckhandling. Both fight and can be mean at times, but sometimes leave you wanting more both physically and offensively. Both are effective, defense-first, large mobile blueliners with an edge who can get 15-20 points, but who you really hoped would have been more dominant.

 

[SchennSational1022*]

Yup. Realistically, I don't see Morin ever becoming as good as Gudbranson, unfortunately.

??? Seriously? Morin is a much better skater than Guddy ever was/will be, smarter, and has a biggert shot and better transition skills. Gudbranson is a decent 2nd pairing defensemen, if it wasnt for where hes drafted nobody would talk about him at all, one of most underwhelming picks in awhile.

Seems you put a lot of your Morin stock into his performance at the WJC, so not really surprised you have this opinion. Again if Morin turns out to be Gudbranson its a failed pick IMO.

 

[Tripod]

??? Seriously? Morin is a much better skater than Guddy ever was/will be, smarter, and has a biggert shot and better transition skills. Gudbranson is a decent 2nd pairing defensemen, if it wasnt for where hes drafted nobody would talk about him at all, one of most underwhelming picks in awhile.

Seems you put a lot of your Morin stock into his performance at the WJC, so not really surprised you have this opinion. Again if Morin turns out to be Gudbranson its a failed pick IMO.

So here is the thing. You say Guds is a decent 2nd pairing dman. But what is Morin's realistic outcome? A good 2nd pairing dman? Likely.

With Provorov now, being a 1st pairing LHD is likely not going to happen with Morin. So 2nd pairing is likely landing spot. How good he will be, tbd.

I do still think that him and Ghost can make a very good pairing in the future though. I expect Provorov with Sanheim as our future top pair.

 

[kelmitchell]

Provorov - ryan suter
Sanheim - ryan mcdunagh (misspelled but whatever)
Morin - more offensive derrian hatcher
Gostisbehere - Sergi gonchar
Laughton - mike Richards
Kocheny - Simon Gagne
Stolarz - esche

 

[Curufinwe]

Gudbranson has scored goals at a lower rate than Luke Schenn. He must be firing most of his big shots into shinpads and the end boards.

 

[JayRosehillMVP]

I think Morin can put up some points in the NHL. He moves the puck and shoots it well, has the speed to occasionally join the rush, and he'll be paired with Ghost/Sanheim/Provorov who are all capable of 40+ points. I see 30-35 points for Morin on a yearly basis, 5-7 being goals.

 

[FLYguy3911]

He'll need a fair amount of PP time to hit 30-35 points every year.

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

Sanheim = Sbisa

 

[Rebels57]

Let's face it, it is difficult to find a good comparable for Morin.

People tend to go way off the charts with Pronger and Chara, who are Hall-of-Fame and near Hall-of-Fame players.

To me, Gudbranson is the closest comp. Both are tall. Both are very mobile for their sizes. Both have good shots, but yet seem to have something lacking offensively, particularly with puckhandling. Both fight and can be mean at times, but sometimes leave you wanting more both physically and offensively. Both are effective, defense-first, large mobile blueliners with an edge who can get 15-20 points, but who you really hoped would have been more dominant.

Morin hasn't even played an NHL game. Isn't it a BIT premature to say what he IS already?

 

[Ghosts Beer]

Morin hasn't even played an NHL game. Isn't it a BIT premature to say what he IS already?

Then I guess you dispute the entire premise of the thread? I'm not saying Morin can't improve. In fact, he has a lot of room for improvement.

 

[Stizzle]

Sanheim = Sbisa

No offensive creativity. Panics with the puck. Virtanan 4 lyfe!

 

[OrangeAndBlackMetal]

Provorov - Doughty
Sanheim - McDonagh
Morin - Seabrook
Gostisbehere - Shattenkirk
Konecny - Parise
Laughton - Ladd
Hagg - Franson
Aube-Kubel - Grabner

 

[Rebels57]

Then I guess you dispute the entire premise of the thread? I'm not saying Morin can't improve. In fact, he has a lot of room for improvement.

I don't think that makes sense.

Are you saying Morin is 15-20 point player based off what he is now or what he will be? I was assuming you meant "what he will be" at the NHL level.

Morin had 32 points in 38 games last season so he's clearly not a 15-20 point player NOW.

Do you really hope he would "be more dominant" at his level? He's already pretty dominant at his level.

Everything in the way you presented your statement on Morin appeared as though that's the player you expect him to become..which is why I replied with, "isn't it a bit early.." and so on.

 

[HighOFFHockey]

So here is the thing. You say Guds is a decent 2nd pairing dman. But what is Morin's realistic outcome? A good 2nd pairing dman? Likely.

With Provorov now, being a 1st pairing LHD is likely not going to happen with Morin. So 2nd pairing is likely landing spot. How good he will be, tbd.

I do still think that him and Ghost can make a very good pairing in the future though. I expect Provorov with Sanheim as our future top pair.

On Morin,
I hear what you're saying, but I still believe it's too early for that projection. Sure he could be a 2nd pairing d-man. However, the reason he was taken so high is because they believe he could be a top-pairing D specialist. Maybe he won't put up monster points 20-40, but his defensive play could be elite. He doesn't have to dangle to be a top pairing Dman, just needs to be shutdown guy, which he is still projected to be. Hell if he actually improves offensively he could be a legit #1. We shouldn't speak in such definitives so early.

He has always been a High Risk/High Reward prospect. He could be a #6 or a #1 and anywhere in between. Realistic projections are his call, not ours.

I also agree on the pairings, but I did see Ghost and Provorov team up at the dev camp and they worked so well together. They seemed to have very good chemistry right off the bat. A testament to Provorov's maturity and skillset as well.

 

[HighOFFHockey]

Provorov - Doughty
Sanheim - McDonagh
Morin - Seabrook
Gostisbehere - Shattenkirk
Konecny - Parise
Laughton - Ladd
Hagg - Franson
Aube-Kubel - Grabner

These are a no-win situation, but
Hagg is a 2-way Dman. Much more focused on D than Franson. Very different types of players.

Aube-Kubel is fast like Grabner, but is far more physical and aggressive. Grabner is a soft perimeter speedster. I think AK is more of B.Marchand type.

others aren't bad.