Travis Sanheim - D - 6'3" - 181 - Calgary WHL - 2014 pick (1-17) - [signed ELC, 9/25]

[Curufinwe]

Kapanen still on the board ....

He might be there for a while.

 

[kimmofan44]

Wanna take a Flyer on DeAngelo

all the suspension stuff aside, he would have been a steal. I don't have a problem with our pick, but deangelo's numbers were comparable to d taken in the top 10.

 

[Garbage Goal]

Really like the pick. Also zero unbiased reason to complain about it honestly. Disagree, sure, but you really can't say it's a bad pick.

You generally don't draft based on need because prospects take time to develop and a lot changes to the roster in that time. D is also a far bigger need then forward. People say we don't have forward prospects, which is largely true, but Laughton is as sure of third liner or better as anyone and Leier/Cousins are good depth prospects. The NHL roster of forwards are mostly young and signed to reasonable deals. It's not going to need any big promotions for a while, most likely. For the depth roles there's still how many picks left in the draft?

Sanheim is also the type of D I like to see drafted for us. Smart and instinctive with his play and described as poised with a good two-way, passing game and excellent potential. Sounds fine to me for picking 17th in a supposedly "weak" draft.

 

[1865]

Well, he's rocketed up every ranking list this year. I guess they know more than I do.

 

[Laveuglette]

FAVORITES:

NHL team: Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL player: Sidney Crosby

Couturier's favorite player was Malkin. Now he shuts him down.

 

[Garbage Goal]

Also, lets not kid ourselves, is there anyone on our current NHL D that isn't expendable long-term? Coburn if nobody develops into making him expendable, but that's about it. Our D needs a huge prospect pool right now.

 

[sa cyred]

@sportsdoctormd: Travis Sanheim's mother's step brother is related to Ron Hextall. Or something like that

 

[Stizzle]

I've been pumping this guys tires for weeks. I promise you guys will love him. This is a steal. Go watch the U18 Worlds. He was the best player on the ice.

 

[Appleyard]

Morin: Age 18, 6'7, 210lbs. Very good skater for size.
Gostisbehere: Age 21, 5'11, 180lbs. Excellent skater.
Hägg: Age 19, 6'2, 210lbs. Smooth, classy skater.
Sanheim: Age 18, 6'4, 190lbs. Smooth skating, fast, good acceleration.
Alt: Age 22, 6'4, 210lbs. Great all round skater.

That is one massive, mobile blueline corps being built.

 

[Random Forest]

Is it me or does he kind of look like Couturier?

Especially with the 14 jersey on, too. Uncanny.


Pick is growing on me. I had him ahead of Fleury, so I definitely think highly of him. With Milano off the board, I don't think there was anything too enticing that we passed up on.

And between Morin, Sanheim, and Ghost, you have some incredible skill sets.

 

[CSKA1974]

@sportsdoctormd: Travis Sanheim's mother's step brother is related to Ron Hextall. Or something like that

nepotism?

 

[UKFlyers]

I like it. I don't know much about him but I like them picking up another guy with big upside.

 

[Flyerss]

I'm starting to doubt that Craig is one of our scouts he usually have our guys ranked very high

 

[deadhead]

Interesting pick, definitely not a typical Flyers pick. Kinda makes me think of a bigger Timonen, in that he's a good skater, supposedly very smart and responsible, but not that physical.

One thing about a big and mobile defense, it allows you to carry some wingers who lack speed but have good offensive skills because your defensemen can attack the zone and still get back into position. Since those kind of wingers are commonly available in the middle rounds, you don't have to find 9 high draft picks to fill out your front lines.

The slow defensemen the Flyers have had are forced to play conservatively if they're not paired with forwards who are both fast and defensively responsible, and that puts a lot of pressure on your forwards and limits their offensive production, while discouraging your defense from being aggressive on offense. So improving the speed on defense will help the offense as well.

 

[Beef Invictus]

Questions:

1) what is his ceiling? Good pick?
2) who the **** is this guy?
3) can he play wing?

 

[Tankadelphia]

Questions:

1) what is his ceiling? Good pick?
2) who the **** is this guy?
3) can he play wing?

All facets of his game are being compared to Ryan McDonagh (so thats his ceiling). Only reason he was relatively unknown is because this was his first year playing in the CHL. Had a great world championships

 

[MiamiScreamingEagles]

A common comparable for Sanheim’s game is St. Louis Blues blue-liner Jay Bouwmeester

“My strength as a player is my skating,” said Sanheim, who is joined at the draft by brother Taylor, father Kent and mother Shelly. “I like to make a good first pass. I’m also able to jump up in the rush offensively and I see the ice fairly well.”

Sanheim’s development wasn’t a surprise to former Hitmen head coach Mike Williamson.

“The progression in the second half was more just him being comfortable and ready for the opportunities,” said Williamson, who is now the bench boss of the Tri-City Americans. “He’s not an arrogant person at all, but he’s confident in his abilities.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2014/06/26/elkhorns-travis-sanheim-rising-quickly-on-nhl-draft-lists

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Questions:

1) what is his ceiling? Good pick?
2) who the **** is this guy?
3) can he play wing?

1. High & yes.
2. Big left-handed two-way defensemen out of Calgary in the WHL.
3. He probably could actually but obviously won't, he skates like the wind & has some pretty good offensive skills.

 

[Striiker]

some highlights

 

[ILoveStephanieBrown]

Would you guys say he has the highest ceiling of all our dmen prospects? If not, who's is higher?

 

[Random Forest]

Would you guys say he has the highest ceiling of all our dmen prospects? If not, who's is higher?

I think he has the most well rounded skill set AINEC. I'd also say he's the most likely to turn into a true #1.

But I'm not sure I'd say he has a higher ceiling than Morin.

 

[FlyTimmo]

Would you guys say he has the highest ceiling of all our dmen prospects? If not, who's is higher?

I'd say it goes in this order:

Morin
Ghost
Sanheim
Hagg
Alt

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Would you guys say he has the highest ceiling of all our dmen prospects? If not, who's is higher?

I would still say Morin. He has potential to be a big punishing two-way defender.

Sanheim isn't soft but he isn't overly physical & he still needs work in his own zone.

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

some highlights

Very adept at walking the blue line.

Looks really posed with the puck on his stick and isn't afraid to join the rush.

 

[Striiker]

I think he has the most well rounded skill set AINEC. I'd also say he's the most likely to turn into a true #1.

But I'm not sure I'd say he has a higher ceiling than Morin.

Like him that much?

It'll be important to see if he can continue growing his offense next season. If he can take another large step it'd be a great sign.