Blue Suede Shoes
hound dog
- May 5, 2012
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I have to agree. I've never said this before, or felt this way before, but I think this is a pretty special time for Canucks prospects. I think we'll look back at this time as a golden age of prospects. I agree about Shinkaruk, I think he's the most skilled player we've drafted since 2000. In terms of pure skills, he is elite. In 2013, other than Drouin and Mackinnon, Shinkaruk was the most purely skilled player in the entire draft. And this was one of the best drafts in a very long time.
I tend to set reasonable expectations for prospects, and half a point-per-game clip is good production for a good rookie prospect in the AHL for our team. (Note that this is based on an analysis that our AHL team is, and has been, a very low-scoring team with a low-scoring system in place). However, I think Shinkaruk will have the best rookie season any of our prospects has had in the AHL in the last decade. AND I realize he is coming off missing a whole season, AND recovering from serious injury, which normally will limit a prospect hugely when transitioning to the next level. But Shinkaruk is just that good.
Touching on what 701 said (and I agree), I think we have 3 prospects with absolutely elite shots in Shinkaruk, Fox and Jensen.
Jensen has already translated his shot to the highest level, and may in fact have the best shot on our NHL team. I don't want to make too grand of proclamations based on such a small sample size, but it's clear to me he has a high-end shot at the NHL level. His historic rookie season in the SHL wasn't random. The kid can put the puck in the net. He definitely has the best shot of any Canuck prospect we've had join the team for quite a while. Also, another thing that impresses me about him is his all-round game. Obviously it will take quite a while to develop, but he is already doing a lot of really good things, like back checking. With his speed and big body, he has a lot of potential.
Shinkaruk also has a terrific shot I think. A year before his draft year he put up 49 goals. And we've already seen his ability carry over in preseason action. He's just incredibly skilled.
And I absolutely agree with 701, Fox clearly has an incredible shot. He continues impressing me more and more with every game he plays. He has the best shot in the OHL, according to the OHL coaches poll, and he plays such a complete game. He could become a cornerstone for our AHL team next season. And with that shot (and grit and hustle) sky is the limit.
And I haven't even mentioned our #1 prospect in Bo. He's just a stud in every way possible.
Gaunce has some high-end skills, but the most impressive thing is his hockey IQ. He could become a work horse for the team. Cassels is impressing as well, and Hutton is setting records for his school. Not to mention Corrado who has a very good skillset.
I think all these guys are a few years off from making the big team, and they'll pretty much all spend a couple seasons in the AHL. But I think this is a very good time in terms of Canucks prospects, and screw what hockey's future says. They've proven time and time again that they have absolutely no credibility. When our prospects were Kesler, Edler, Schneider, Bieksa, Bourdon and Hansen, HFboards told us we had some 3rd liners and bottom pairing dmen, and that our prospects didn't come close to comparing to teams who ended up churning out a pile of busts.
I think this is time to be optimistic.
