Speed of the top skaters in the 2011 draft
- Thread starter NyIsles19
- Start date
Skating styles
Ryan Nugent Hopkins- Evaner Kane
Sean Couturier- Todd Marchant and Mike Grier
Gabriel Landeskog- Erik Cole
Ryan Strome- Mikhail Grabovski
Jonathan Huberdeau- Joe Hulbig
Defense-
Adam Larsson- Magnus Arvedsson
Dougie Hamilton- Eric Brewer
Ryan Murphy- Timofei Shiskanov
Ryan Nugent Hopkins- Evaner Kane
Sean Couturier- Todd Marchant and Mike Grier
Gabriel Landeskog- Erik Cole
Ryan Strome- Mikhail Grabovski
Jonathan Huberdeau- Joe Hulbig
Defense-
Adam Larsson- Magnus Arvedsson
Dougie Hamilton- Eric Brewer
Ryan Murphy- Timofei Shiskanov
Bryanbryoil
Pray For Ukraine
- Sep 13, 2004
- 86,154
- 34,459
McDNicks17
Moderator
If you wanted a vague and ridiculous reply that doesn't answer your question...
...here it is.
Seriously, was this one a joke? Marchant was easily one of the fastest skaters in the league, Grier actually had OK speed too but only in a straight line, I don't see how either compare to Couturier who is fairly slow but with good edge control. Cole is a speed demon too, he made his career on beating guys wide, I don't think Landeskog has that kind of speed. Also I see RNH as skating a lot more like Duchene in terms of being an elite skater who is super shifty and balanced all the time.
Guys like Hulbig, Arvedson and Shishkanov are some pretty obscure comparisons, most people are going to barely remember these guys in general, never mind how they skate.
gifted88
Dante the poet
Couturier is an average skater with a decent first stride, just because he doesn't have the top speed like RNH people say he's slow which is not true at all.
From what I've seen his speed is well below average for a top prospect. Not the end of the world, plenty of guys go high in the draft without amazing skating and end up doing just fine (Spezza, Thornton, Tavares, the Sedins, etc.), they either don't need as much speed in their game, or improve their skating (generally both, for example Spezza and the Sedins especially have improved their skating by leaps and bounds IMO). Maybe "slow" was a bit harsh, but compared to other top prospects Couturier's speed is not great. Definitely weird to compare his skating to Todd Marchant, who was easily one of the fastest skaters in the league.
My assessment of his skating would actually be that his top speed is fine, but he doesn't have super quick feet, which is generally more important than top speed anyways. I think of Jordan Staal when I watch him skate.
BennyBST
Registered User
So you're saying Huberdeau will be a bust then, because if Hulbig was a decent skater he wouldve hung around in the NHL??
mindmasher
Registered User
NyIsles19
Registered User
So since rollingstones post did nothing to help with what i asked can someone post who their SPEED compares to
R S
Registered User
- Sep 18, 2006
- 25,468
- 10
He really does actually. Oil prospect Curtis Hamilton also skates like that. Andrew Brunette is another player who skates hunched over.
As for speed, RNH isn't as fast as everyone has said he is in other threads. He's a very good skater and is mobile and works hard to get back on the back check, but his top gear isn't actually as high as players like Hall or Duchene.
SPEED
If Marian Gaborik is a Lamborghini and Kovalchuk is a Ferrari, then...
RNH - Audi R8
Sean Couturier - Cadillac CTS
Gabriel Landeskog - Dodge Ram RT/10
Ryan Strome - Acura RSX
Jonathan Huberbeau - Honda Civic Si
Adam Larsson - Porsche Cayenne
Dougie Hamilton - Land Rover Range Rover
Ryan Murphy - Mazda Miata
Hope that helps.
NyIsles19
Registered User
Speed of skaters is overrated.
Zdeno Chara is slow. So is Todd Bertuzzi and Dustin Byfuglien. Doesn't really help hockey players immensely. It doesn't hurt to have it, but it does not matter that much.
Skating styles matter however. It effect lateral movement, which then effects their ability to cover and play positionally. Speed, not so much.
If speed was important, the Kirril Whathisface from Pittsburg would have been the next Bure. Rico Fata would have destroyed the NHL. Unfortunately, none of that mattered.
Zdeno Chara is slow. So is Todd Bertuzzi and Dustin Byfuglien. Doesn't really help hockey players immensely. It doesn't hurt to have it, but it does not matter that much.
Skating styles matter however. It effect lateral movement, which then effects their ability to cover and play positionally. Speed, not so much.
If speed was important, the Kirril Whathisface from Pittsburg would have been the next Bure. Rico Fata would have destroyed the NHL. Unfortunately, none of that mattered.
Eytinge
Registered User
- Jul 25, 2009
- 10,939
- 1
For a comedy act. Ryan Murphy is one of the OHL's fastest skaters yet he is only as fast as a Miata...? Couturier has the acceleration or top end of a Dodge Caravan. Hopkins is an R8 yet Huberdeau and Strome are 4 cylinder economical imports. Why do I bother. If it were about value or prestige or just straight up comparing these players to cars it might be arguable but sheer speed is ridiculous.
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