Horseradish
Registered User
I was thinking earlier this morning just how much Nugent-Hopkins reminds me of a young Ron Francis, and then I read Lowetide's latest post comparing Eberle to Joey Mullen.
So, in terms of recent NHL history (sorry, but obviously most of us aren't old enough to remember guys like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Johnny Bucyk, etc. in their prime), who do the kids/young guys most remind you of (and I leave that a purposefully vague description-- however you think they fit)?
For me:
RNH - Ron Francis (I see a bit of Modano and Oates too-- but I don't think he has the same top speed and dynamism of Modano, and I think he's a much better skater and goal-scorer than Oates) -- his vision, underrated skating ability, compete level and difficulty to remove from the puck, and how he was constantly overshadowed in his career by teammates with more "wow factor".
Eberle - Joe Mullen (I'd never thought of it, but I think that's a fantastic comparison now that I think back on Mullen)-- just a quietly dangerous player every time he's on the ice. He's never gonna blow through a team with his speed, he's never going to be able to out-muscle guys regularly, and he's never going to have the traits of a superstar, but he somehow manages to always be in the right position to score or set up a scoring chance, and he's as consistent as they come.
Hall - Trottier (I see a lot of Iginla in him too, but he doesn't have that size to overpower players like Iginla can) -- that heightened will to compete, his powerful skating, his lead-by-example attitude (remember Trottier was a player/assistant coach of the Pens in his last couple of seasons in the league), and how he just seemingly wills the puck to go in the right direction while he's out there.
Yakupov - Mike Gartner? (this is a really tough one because I haven't seen him THAT much and he always seems to play a different game) -- Obviously he has a deadly shot, and is lightning on his skates, and always seems to try to involve himself in the play, whether it's back-checking, bumping and crashing, doing a bit of gritty agitation...but I think it's far too early for me to say this with conviction or accuracy.
MPS - Radek Dvorak -- Great wheels, great mind for the defensive side of things (hindering his offensive abilities), sometimes lacking motivation, and useful in driving the play from one end of the ice to the other through his speed and size (ie, difficult to contain)
Gagner - Saku Koivu (some Danny Briere there too) -- a fantastic secondary scoring option with the skill and ability to rise up to first line scoring option when needed. Small but feisty, good leadership qualities, and a strong second effort.
Hartikainen - Viktor Stalberg (see a bit of Andrei Kovalenko in him as well, for his ability to really control the pace and puck around the net) -- Always hear the Holmstrom comparisons, but to my eye, Holmstrom prefers to create room in the low slot and around the net and draw players to him there so that more creative guys have space on the perimeter to make plays. Harti seems to be more comfortable behind the net, in the corners, and on the PP, yes, in front of the net. And I think his point totals will be entirely dependent on who he plays with. Not necessarily because he needs good players to put up points, but he is going to open up space for guys, and if he's playing with plugs, they won't take advantage of that space, while if he's playing with skilled guys, he could put up a lot of points. I would imagine that over the next few years we'll see pretty varied point totals from him.
Smid - Ken Daneyko -- Strikingly similar games. Just simple, calm, and smart. Both solid skaters, both with a physical and mean streak, but didn't need to always use it to be effective. Good first pass, but by no means offensive.
Petry - Adrian Aucoin -- Good skater, good puck carrier, sometimes tries to do too much, but can play effectively in any situation, can eat minutes, and plays a solid physical game.
J. Schultz - Zubov -- Fantastic skater, fantastic presence on the PP always making a good play, not quite as good defensively, but if in position defensively, almost always makes a solid play. Nothing flashy on offense or defense, but very useful offensively, and still top-pairing capable defensively. Players calm down when he's on the ice.
Fistric - Matt Greene -- Very similar games, though Fistric is more disciplined. Physical, tough to get by, rarely loses his man, but is limited to 3rd line by his capabilities with the puck. A steadying presence.
Dubnyk - JS Giguere -- When on his game, he's very tough to beat. Problem is the regular weak goal against, and psychological make-up. Giguere had the fundamentals and natural physical ability and reflexes to be an all-time great, but his mental make-up held him back. Still, a reliable starter in the league for a long time, and I think Dubnyk will be too. Some years he'll be stellar, others he'll be average, and others yet, he'll be below average.
(I suppose you could include Peckham, but I don't think he's actually an NHL quality d-man)
So who are your comparisons?
So, in terms of recent NHL history (sorry, but obviously most of us aren't old enough to remember guys like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Johnny Bucyk, etc. in their prime), who do the kids/young guys most remind you of (and I leave that a purposefully vague description-- however you think they fit)?
For me:
RNH - Ron Francis (I see a bit of Modano and Oates too-- but I don't think he has the same top speed and dynamism of Modano, and I think he's a much better skater and goal-scorer than Oates) -- his vision, underrated skating ability, compete level and difficulty to remove from the puck, and how he was constantly overshadowed in his career by teammates with more "wow factor".
Eberle - Joe Mullen (I'd never thought of it, but I think that's a fantastic comparison now that I think back on Mullen)-- just a quietly dangerous player every time he's on the ice. He's never gonna blow through a team with his speed, he's never going to be able to out-muscle guys regularly, and he's never going to have the traits of a superstar, but he somehow manages to always be in the right position to score or set up a scoring chance, and he's as consistent as they come.
Hall - Trottier (I see a lot of Iginla in him too, but he doesn't have that size to overpower players like Iginla can) -- that heightened will to compete, his powerful skating, his lead-by-example attitude (remember Trottier was a player/assistant coach of the Pens in his last couple of seasons in the league), and how he just seemingly wills the puck to go in the right direction while he's out there.
Yakupov - Mike Gartner? (this is a really tough one because I haven't seen him THAT much and he always seems to play a different game) -- Obviously he has a deadly shot, and is lightning on his skates, and always seems to try to involve himself in the play, whether it's back-checking, bumping and crashing, doing a bit of gritty agitation...but I think it's far too early for me to say this with conviction or accuracy.
MPS - Radek Dvorak -- Great wheels, great mind for the defensive side of things (hindering his offensive abilities), sometimes lacking motivation, and useful in driving the play from one end of the ice to the other through his speed and size (ie, difficult to contain)
Gagner - Saku Koivu (some Danny Briere there too) -- a fantastic secondary scoring option with the skill and ability to rise up to first line scoring option when needed. Small but feisty, good leadership qualities, and a strong second effort.
Hartikainen - Viktor Stalberg (see a bit of Andrei Kovalenko in him as well, for his ability to really control the pace and puck around the net) -- Always hear the Holmstrom comparisons, but to my eye, Holmstrom prefers to create room in the low slot and around the net and draw players to him there so that more creative guys have space on the perimeter to make plays. Harti seems to be more comfortable behind the net, in the corners, and on the PP, yes, in front of the net. And I think his point totals will be entirely dependent on who he plays with. Not necessarily because he needs good players to put up points, but he is going to open up space for guys, and if he's playing with plugs, they won't take advantage of that space, while if he's playing with skilled guys, he could put up a lot of points. I would imagine that over the next few years we'll see pretty varied point totals from him.
Smid - Ken Daneyko -- Strikingly similar games. Just simple, calm, and smart. Both solid skaters, both with a physical and mean streak, but didn't need to always use it to be effective. Good first pass, but by no means offensive.
Petry - Adrian Aucoin -- Good skater, good puck carrier, sometimes tries to do too much, but can play effectively in any situation, can eat minutes, and plays a solid physical game.
J. Schultz - Zubov -- Fantastic skater, fantastic presence on the PP always making a good play, not quite as good defensively, but if in position defensively, almost always makes a solid play. Nothing flashy on offense or defense, but very useful offensively, and still top-pairing capable defensively. Players calm down when he's on the ice.
Fistric - Matt Greene -- Very similar games, though Fistric is more disciplined. Physical, tough to get by, rarely loses his man, but is limited to 3rd line by his capabilities with the puck. A steadying presence.
Dubnyk - JS Giguere -- When on his game, he's very tough to beat. Problem is the regular weak goal against, and psychological make-up. Giguere had the fundamentals and natural physical ability and reflexes to be an all-time great, but his mental make-up held him back. Still, a reliable starter in the league for a long time, and I think Dubnyk will be too. Some years he'll be stellar, others he'll be average, and others yet, he'll be below average.
(I suppose you could include Peckham, but I don't think he's actually an NHL quality d-man)
So who are your comparisons?
