Prospect Info: Prospect Ranking #3

[SEALBound]

Hallander
Legare

Then it's a battle for 5a, 5b, 5c with goalies and Broz

 

[TySmith4Norris]

For me:

#1 Poulin - highest upside
#2 POJ - highest floor
#3 Hallander - best combination of both remaining

Probably Legare at #4 and Broz at #5
Then DOC and Zohorna and goalies
Puustinen as a lottery ticket after that

and then a big drop off to the rest

 

[Empoleon8771]

This is obviously going to be Hallander in a landslide, but I'm honestly not sure why so many people have Legare as #4. He's behind Clang, Blomqvist, Lindgren, Zohorna and Broz for me.

He did demolish the playoffs last year in the Q, but he had basically no progression in his offensive numbers while in the QMJHL. He wasn't even able to match what he did in his draft year. I think his bust risk is extremely high due to his skating and I question how much upside is actually there.

I don't see much that differentiates Legare as a better prospect than someone like O'Connor, for example.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Zohorna. Hallander seems like Blueger 2.0. Which is fine and all but the upside is limited. Zohorna may be a nothing. But there's a non-zero chance he's a top-6 PWF.

I don't know enough about the goalie Lindgren but I'd consider him as well.

 

[dogthateats]

This is obviously going to be Hallander in a landslide, but I'm honestly not sure why so many people have Legare as #4. He's behind Clang, Blomqvist, Lindgren, Zohorna and Broz for me.

He did demolish the playoffs last year in the Q, but he had basically no progression in his offensive numbers while in the QMJHL. He wasn't even able to match what he did in his draft year. I think his bust risk is extremely high due to his skating and I question how much upside is actually there.

I don't see much that differentiates Legare as a better prospect than someone like O'Connor, for example.

He scored 2 goals in a game during a rookie camp the only time more than half of posters have seen him play.

 

[Andy99]

I don't see much that differentiates Legare as a better prospect than someone like O'Connor, for example.

Because if Legare makes it, it’s going to be as a top six wing with his scoring potential and if DOC makes it, it’s going to be as ZAR…

 

[ChaosAgent]

This is obviously going to be Hallander in a landslide, but I'm honestly not sure why so many people have Legare as #4. He's behind Clang, Blomqvist, Lindgren, Zohorna and Broz for me.

He did demolish the playoffs last year in the Q, but he had basically no progression in his offensive numbers while in the QMJHL. He wasn't even able to match what he did in his draft year. I think his bust risk is extremely high due to his skating and I question how much upside is actually there.

I don't see much that differentiates Legare as a better prospect than someone like O'Connor, for example.

I want Legare to make it just to have something for us to argue with @Dipsy Doodle about.

But I think Legare will be traded. A hunch.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Because if Legare makes it, it’s going to be as a top six wing with his scoring potential and if DOC makes it, it’s going to be as ZAR…

I don't see how "stagnant or declining production in an offense happy league" is "top-6 scoring potential" personally.

Granted O'Connor is a few years older than Legare, but O'Connor has 19 points in 20 AHL games after doing extremely well for 2 years in the NCAA. He produced at about equal rates in the NCAA that Legare put up in the QMJHL.

 

[Andy99]

I don't see how "stagnant or declining production in an offense happy league" is "top-6 scoring potential" personally.

one only needs to look at his game and how he’s played at the camps…I don’t take much about the last year during a pandemic to be particularly meaningful for all the young players…lots of disruption

 

[dogthateats]

Didn’t Poulin’s numbers decline as well? I think there were some other external factors in play. I don’t really follow the junior leagues.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Didn’t Poulin’s numbers decline as well? I think there were some other external factors in play. I don’t really follow the junior leagues.

Poulin's numbers skyrocketed from his draft year to his draft+1 year, but then declined hard in his draft+2 year. However, his draft+2 year still had a better pace than his draft year.

Legare's numbers have just gone down.

 

[TySmith4Norris]

Zohorna. Hallander seems like Blueger 2.0. Which is fine and all but the upside is limited. Zohorna may be a nothing. But there's a non-zero chance he's a top-6 PWF.

I don't know enough about the goalie Lindgren but I'd consider him as well.

I think that my main issue with Zohorna is he doesn’t really play like a power forward

Yes he is big, but he did not seem to play a ‘power forward’ game in his limited time last year

And to be clear I do like Zohorna, but I think his upside is more ‘potential 3rd line forward that chips in’ than ‘top six power forward’

 

[Empoleon8771]

I guess the flip side of the Legare discussion is that he played for a horrid junior team in 2019-2020 and the start of the 2020-2021 season. In a small sample size with a good team (and while playing on a line with Poulin as center), he had 24 points in 19 games, followed by having 14 goals and 18 points in 15 playoff games. That's almost identical to what Poulin did with Val d'Or (25 points in 19 games, followed by 11 goals and 19 points in 15 playoff games).

The big difference between the production of Legare and Poulin in the QMJHL is that Poulin had the insane 2019-2020 season, but if you flip the two guys, does Legare have that insane season and do Poulin's numbers regress? Sherbrook went 51-8-4 in 2019-2020, while Baei-Comeau went 24-29-11. Poulin was the 3rd highest scorer on his line and Felix Robert had 15 more points in the same amount of games, while Legare was the highest scorer on his team by 19 points while playing in fewer games.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I think that my main issue with Zohorna is he doesn’t really play like a power forward

Yes he is big, but he did not seem to play a ‘power forward’ game in his limited time last year

And to be clear I do like Zohorna, but I think his upside is more ‘potential 3rd line forward that chips in’ than ‘top six power forward’

If he can develop a hint of snarl it would be great. He is big, he can skate quite well, he can shoot, he has reach. I don't know about his offensive IQ and such because we've only seen him on the bottom six, but it's possible he made a leap there as well.

Will he put it together? Probably not. But it's a more intriguing package than...well, any of our other forward prospects really.

 

[Tacitus Kilgore]

Best comparable at the moment I can think for Zohorna is maybe Viktor Stalberg-lite?

 

[Night Shift]

Best comparable at the moment I can think for Zohorna is maybe Viktor Stalberg-lite?

I'd say good call

 

[Peat]

I guess the flip side of the Legare discussion is that he played for a horrid junior team in 2019-2020 and the start of the 2020-2021 season. In a small sample size with a good team (and while playing on a line with Poulin as center), he had 24 points in 19 games, followed by having 14 goals and 18 points in 15 playoff games. That's almost identical to what Poulin did with Val d'Or (25 points in 19 games, followed by 11 goals and 19 points in 15 playoff games).

The big difference between the production of Legare and Poulin in the QMJHL is that Poulin had the insane 2019-2020 season, but if you flip the two guys, does Legare have that insane season and do Poulin's numbers regress? Sherbrook went 51-8-4 in 2019-2020, while Baei-Comeau went 24-29-11. Poulin was the 3rd highest scorer on his line and Felix Robert had 15 more points in the same amount of games, while Legare was the highest scorer on his team by 19 points while playing in fewer games.

Some but not entirely because Poulin is a linedriver and Legare is an elite complimentary scoring piece, even at that level, or so the reports say and I've seen nothing to suggest otherwise. Legare had the insane season riding gunner, Poulin had it as a focal point (with all due respect to Robert getting more points and being quite a player himself).

Which, I think, probably feeds into optimistic predictions on Legare. People are high on him because he'll score in good situations. Him not scoring as much in bad ones when they've seen what his shot looks like against NHL goalies already isn't that worrying. People believe in Legare's ability to be an elite complimentary scoring piece at the NHL level because he had most of the tools at 18, the question is how much the rest of his game has progressed. I'm not sure I'd agree myself, I'd want to see his shot going in regularly in the AHL in game sits but... I get it.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Some but not entirely because Poulin is a linedriver and Legare is an elite complimentary scoring piece, even at that level, or so the reports say and I've seen nothing to suggest otherwise. Legare had the insane season riding gunner, Poulin had it as a focal point (with all due respect to Robert getting more points and being quite a player himself).

Which, I think, probably feeds into optimistic predictions on Legare. People are high on him because he'll score in good situations. Him not scoring as much in bad ones when they've seen what his shot looks like against NHL goalies already. People believe in Legare's ability to be an elite complimentary scoring piece at the NHL level because he had most of the tools at 18, the question is how much the rest of his game has progressed. I'm not sure I'd agree myself, I'd want to see his shot going in regularly in the AHL in game sits but... I get it.

I feel like I'm too burnt out from Sprong and hating Kessel's last 13 months here to ever trust a righty specialist winger again. And even the fact that a Laine is floundering in the NHL right now speaks to a problem with this type of player within the modern game.

I could see myself embracing a Righty McHardshot again but I don't think Legare's going to be that guy.

 

[Peat]

I feel like I'm too burnt out from Sprong and hating Kessel's last 13 months here to ever trust a righty specialist winger again. And even the fact that a Laine is floundering in the NHL right now speaks to a problem with this type of player within the modern game.

I could see myself embracing a Righty McHardshot again but I don't think Legare's going to be that guy.

The thing I like about Legare is he's more than Righty McHardshot, he gets a bunch of goals in the blue paint and from deflections and following up rebounds and all that good shit. He just seems to love every form of goal scoring possible. Watching his highlights kinda reminds me of Kyle Palmieri, in that he's clearly a good shooter and rips a few beauties, but so many of the goals are dirty goals. Legare, and I know damn well I am overselling him here, is kinda like diet Hornqvist meets diet Neal at this point. If he can develop that into an NHL skillset and not fall behind in other aspects of the game, kid's gon' score.

 

[ChaosAgent]

The thing I like about Legare is he's more than Righty McHardshot, he gets a bunch of goals in the blue paint and from deflections and following up rebounds and all that good shit. He just seems to love every form of goal scoring possible. Watching his highlights kinda reminds me of Kyle Palmieri, in that he's clearly a good shooter and rips a few beauties, but so many of the goals are dirty goals. Legare, and I know damn well I am overselling him here, is kinda like diet Hornqvist meets diet Neal at this point. If he can develop that into an NHL skillset and not fall behind in other aspects of the game, kid's gon' score.

I don't know a ton about junior hockey compared to others on this board but from what I do know, if you're 20 you're ancient.

If you ain't running roughshod at 20 you probably aren't that good. That's where I'm at with Legare.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Hey take it easy, guys. I'm related to Righty McHardshot.

Hell I WAS Righty McHardshot years ago, come to think of it.

 

[ChaosAgent]

Hey take it easy, guys. I'm related to Righty McHardshot.

Hell I WAS Righty McHardshot years ago, come to think of it.

@Dipsy Doodle is on his way to your house immediately, holding a bottle of Chardonnay and an Earth, Wind and Fire vinyl album.

He wants to use his Palmeiris on you

 

[Gurglesons]

I think that my main issue with Zohorna is he doesn’t really play like a power forward

Yes he is big, but he did not seem to play a ‘power forward’ game in his limited time last year

And to be clear I do like Zohorna, but I think his upside is more ‘potential 3rd line forward that chips in’ than ‘top six power forward’

Yeah, agreed.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

@Dipsy Doodle is on his way to your house immediately, holding a bottle of Chardonnay and an Earth, Wind and Fire vinyl album.

He wants to use his Palmeiris on you

I mean at least he's bringing gifts. Though he can leave the chardonnay in the trash where it belongs. Though my draft eligibility days are far behind me or uh... to be accurate never actually existed.

But hell... if Riikola can keep getting NHL contracts while not actually playing any hockey then anything is possible!

 

[ChaosAgent]

I mean at least he's bringing gifts. Though he can leave the chardonnay in the trash where it belongs. Though my draft eligibility days are far behind me or uh... to be accurate never actually existed.

But hell... if Riikola can keep getting NHL contracts while not actually playing any hockey then anything is possible!

Okay, a brambleberry hopjarz pine tree stout-lager then.