Prospect Info: Sharks Prospect Info/Discussion Thread XIV

[The Nemesis]

How is his chances for a couple of games next season? I know that Sharks are loaded in offensive, so dont know how realistic it is to see him, but all of you know way better than me.

I would also like to know what have changed with him compared to the prior two seasons. How come he has exploded in points? Is it because of better linemates or has he simply progressed that much?

I wouldn't expect to see him with the Sharks next season unless there's an emergency need for a forward and he's doing well enough to get a reward short term call up. He'll likely spend the whole season with the Barracuda barring any surprises.

As for why the spike, part of it is that he's always had skill and this is an evolution of it, but part of it is also that he's a 20 year old in the chl where over-age players tend to get a healthy bump in effectiveness. Last year, udfa signing Jayden Halbgewachs put up 70 goals in the whl in roughly 70 games in his age 20 season. This year he has 10 goals in 52 games with the Barracuda. My own whl team's leading scorer isn't one of its drafted prospects or the guy expected to go in the top 5-7 of the next draft, it's an over-age forward with basically zero nhl aspirations.

That's not to downgrade Blichfeld to non-prospect or even fringe prospect status though. He still deserves a spot adjecent to the top end guys like Chmelevski and Chekhovich. It's simply that we do need to recognize part of his success this season for what it is and temper our expectations accordingly

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

I hope most here remember Michael Sgarbossa

 

[The Nemesis]

I hope most here remember Michael Sgarbossa

Sgarbossa is more like Halbgewachs than he is Blichfeld.

 

[The Nemesis]

Sharks in the CHL playoffs:

WHL
(US div #2) Portland (Blichfeld) vs (US div #3) Spokane (McGrew)

OHL
(East div #1) Ottawa (Chmelevski) vs (East div #4) Hamilton
(East div #2) Oshawa vs (East div #3) Peterborough (Merkley)

QMJHL
(West conf #1) Rouyn-Noranda (Emond) vs (West conf #8) Shawinigan
(East conf #2) Baie-Comeau (Chekhovich) vs (East conf #3) Moncton
(East conf #3) Rimouski vs (East conf #6) Chicoutimi (Kotkov)

The WHL uses a version of the NHL style setup (top 3 teams in each division plus 2 wild cards), the QMJHL uses the old NHL setup (conference 1 through 8), and the OHL appears to take 4 teams from each of its 4 divisions, playing within themselves (div 1 vs div 4, div 2 vs div 3) in the opening round.

 

[Lebanezer]

Sharks in the CHL playoffs:

WHL
(US div #2) Portland (Blichfeld) vs (US div #3) Spokane (McGrew)

OHL
(East div #1) Ottawa (Chmelevski) vs (East div #4) Hamilton
(East div #2) Oshawa vs (East div #3) Peterborough (Merkley)

QMJHL
(West conf #1) Rouyn-Noranda (Emond) vs (West conf #8) Shawinigan
(East conf #2) Baie-Comeau (Chekhovich) vs (East conf #3) Moncton

The WHL uses a version of the NHL style setup (top 3 teams in each division plus 2 wild cards), the QMJHL uses the old NHL setup (conference 1 through 8), and the OHL appears to take 4 teams from each of its 4 divisions, playing within themselves (div 1 vs div 4, div 2 vs div 3) in the opening round.

Kotkov is also playing for East Conf #6 Chicoutimi vs. East Conf #3 Rimouski.

 

[The Nemesis]

Kotkov is also playing for East Conf #6 Chicoutimi vs. East Conf #3 Rimouski.

Yep. And that's why I included it in the above post, right along with the others, right at the very beginning when I posted it. Because it's been there the whole time

 

[Lebanezer]

Yep. And that's why I included it in the above post, right along with the others, right at the very beginning when I posted it. Because it's been there the whole time

 

[The Nemesis]

 

[CaptainShark]

CHL-Update (2 in 1 Style)

Chekhovich a -2 in a 4-1 loss. Season stats (GP/G/A/P/+-)

66

43

62

105

+42

[THEAD] [/THEAD]

Merkley with zeroes across the board in a 3-1 loss

63

14

57

71

+4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Gregor 2g, 2nd star in a 3-1 win

63

43

45

88

+49

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Chmelevski a Hattrick, +2, 1st star in an 8-3 win

56

35

40

75

+30

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Blichfeld with 1a, -2 in a 5-2 loss and 1a, -1, named 1st star (more for his season than the game I suppose) in a 6-5 loss

68

53

61

114

+16

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[Crewouse]

CHL-Update (2 in 1 Style)

Chekhovich a -2 in a 4-1 loss. Season stats (GP/G/A/P/+-)

66

43

62

105

+42

[THEAD] [/THEAD]

Merkley with zeroes across the board in a 3-1 loss

63

14

57

71

+4

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Gregor 2g, 2nd star in a 3-1 win

63

43

45

88

+49

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Chmelevski a Hattrick, +2, 1st star in an 8-3 win

56

35

40

75

+30

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

Blichfeld with 1a, -2 in a 5-2 loss and 1a, -1, named 1st star (more for his season than the game I suppose) in a 6-5 loss

68

53

61

114

+16

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

How is Blichfelds play off the puck and in his own zone? +16 seems low for how much he is producing. I know it's +/-, but I don't have anything but stats to judge him by.

 

[Petes]

Being completely realistic I don’t like the Petes odds of beating Oshawa in round 1 so I imagine Merkley will be made available to sign an ATO with the Barracuda.

 

[The Nemesis]

 

[Gecklund]

Being completely realistic I don’t like the Petes odds of beating Oshawa in round 1 so I imagine Merkley will be made available to sign an ATO with the Barracuda.

Merkley will take over the game and become Erik Karlsson 2nd coming.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Being completely realistic I don’t like the Petes odds of beating Oshawa in round 1 so I imagine Merkley will be made available to sign an ATO with the Barracuda.

Being selfish about Merkley's future and not concerned about the Pete's, I am perfectly fine with him on the Cuda for their playoff run.

 

[Petes]

Being selfish about Merkley's future and not concerned about the Pete's, I am perfectly fine with him on the Cuda for their playoff run.

Would be good for his long term development, no doubt. Still don’t think he’s ready for ‘the show’ next year

 

[Lebanezer]

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Would be good for his long term development, no doubt. Still don’t think he’s ready for ‘the show’ next year

I don't expect him to make it to the Sharks either. But I am just not sure if the juniors is going to help him any more in his development. He would be better served playing in the AHL or even going to Europe.

 

[The Nemesis]

I don't expect him to make it to the Sharks either. But I am just not sure if the juniors is going to help him any more in his development. He would be better served playing in the AHL or even going to Europe.

His development seems to be on the mental side of things, not the skill side, so at least there's something that you can work on in the CHL without concerns that he's outgrown the league.

besides that, I don't think that assigning him to Europe would happen without a gigantic fight between the NHL/PA and the CHL. It's not the same as Auston Matthews leaving for NLA instead of playing in a North American development track at all, or as an Import Draft guy like Goldobin being loaned back to a European league.

 

[hohosaregood]

Was reading a story on Emond's team and apparently he was undefeated in regulation this year. Lost one game in the shootout

 

[TheWayToRefJose]

The athletic just did a draft article and said


“San Jose’s 2003 draft (1,718 points) might be the most impressive of the last 16 years. It sits third in total points by a team draft class and it didn’t have to rely on a superstar-level talent to get there.”

 

[LadyStanley]

And 750 of those points are from a 7th rounder.

 

[LadyStanley]

Wooohoooo

 

[Limekiller]

From Friedman's 31 thoughts, about our scouting/drafting:

20. San Jose takes pride in its scouting, which finds players even though they don’t draft high. Portland’s Joachim Blichfeld led the WHL in scoring. Baie-Comeau’s Ivan Chekhovich was second in the QMJHL. Split between Guelph and Peterborough, Ryan Merkley was second among OHL defencemen.

 

[The Nemesis]

No surprise, but awesome. (And I'm not just talking about Byram )

 

[PacificOceanPotion]

Even though he was an over ager this season the thing I like about Blichfeld are his offensive abilities. He's got a wicked shot and smooth mits. Just needs to get physically stronger and faster which can both be trained for. The mental aspect, his confidence and knowing what he's capable of, that mindstate is what I'm excited about too. I hope that translates to his pro game.