Prospect Info: Who is the Canucks #21 prospect?

Nuckles · Aug 5, 2013

Southern_Canuck · Aug 5, 2013

I'm voting Polasek, dammit!

I'm going to guess that 21-25 are going to be Polasek, Lain, Cederholm, Kenins, and either Myron or Grenier...

S_C

Mofletz · Aug 5, 2013

Add Prab Rai

thefeebster · Aug 5, 2013

^^We didn't qualify Rai. I think he is a UFA now. We could add Sauve since he is signed.

Color me impressed. We could even make it to 30, that's certainly something we could not do in years previous.

denkiteki · Aug 5, 2013

Southern_Canuck said:
I'm voting Polasek, dammit!

I'm going to guess that 21-25 are going to be Polasek, Lain, Cederholm, Kenins, and either Myron or Grenier...

S_C

Thing about Polasek is you could argue he regressed last year (or at least no progression at all). He couldn't really crack the AHL roster last year and this year it looks like we might have even MORE depth on our AHL defense... meaning odds of him cracking the roster isn't all that high. Sauve also out played him in the ECHL and we did give Sauve a QO (which almost means Sauve will given every chance to earn an AHL spot).

In another word, doubtful Polasek cracks the AHL line-up. At this point of his development, if he can't crack the AHL line-up, he doesn't have much value as a prospect anymore... at the very least less value than prospect left are either locks to make the Comet (Lain) or have more upside (Cederholm, Grenier).

Luc said:
Add Prab Rai

Injury pretty much killed his dream of playing for the Canucks. For that matter, it doesn't look likely he'll even get an AHL job.

member 105785 · Aug 5, 2013

FOurteenS inCisOr · Aug 5, 2013

denkiteki said:
Thing about Polasek is you could argue he regressed last year (or at least no progression at all). He couldn't really crack the AHL roster last year and this year it looks like we might have even MORE depth on our AHL defense... meaning odds of him cracking the roster isn't all that high. Sauve also out played him in the ECHL and we did give Sauve a QO (which almost means Sauve will given every chance to earn an AHL spot).

In another word, doubtful Polasek cracks the AHL line-up. At this point of his development, if he can't crack the AHL line-up, he doesn't have much value as a prospect anymore... at the very least less value than prospect left are either locks to make the Comet (Lain) or have more upside (Cederholm, Grenier).

Injury pretty much killed his dream of playing for the Canucks. For that matter, it doesn't look likely he'll even get an AHL job.

I have to disagree about Polasek.

He looked considerably better than Sauve at the AHL level last season.

Definitely thought he showed enough defensively to be comfortable with his development for a lower ceiling 5th round pick.

Can't really comment on him vs. Sauve at the ECHL level, since I only caught a couple of games.

Obviously Sauve's offensive stats look better, but is that really an accurate point of comparison for these two prospects?

I have no hesitation saying that Polasek is the better prospect of the two at this point, based on what I saw with the Wolves.

Sauve simply looked lost more often than not.

PG Canuck · Aug 5, 2013

Polasek.

Southern_Canuck · Aug 5, 2013

denkiteki said:
Thing about Polasek is you could argue he regressed last year (or at least no progression at all). He couldn't really crack the AHL roster last year and this year it looks like we might have even MORE depth on our AHL defense... meaning odds of him cracking the roster isn't all that high.

The thing I take into consideration with Polasek (and the Wolves roster) is that there were Chicago hires competing for icetime, and the Canucks also supplied them with veteran AHLers (Vandermeer, Joslin, Mullen) to help win, but this resulted in reduced icetime for prospects:

Mark Matheson 67 games
Brad Hunt 65 games
Kevin Connauton 60 games
Derek Joslin 53 games
Peter Andersson 42 games
Jim Vandermeer 34 games
Chris Tanev 29 games
Jeremie Blain 25 games
Adam Polasek 24 games
Yann Sauve 17 games
Zach Miskovic 15 games
Danny Groulx 13 games
Brent Regner 7 games
Jeremy Price 5 games
Frank Corrado 3 games
Patrick Mullen 2 games
John Negrin 1 game

Buffalo In A Carwash · Aug 5, 2013

Not a lot of love for Grenier. I think he has the most upside of anyone left and could be a complete beast if he turns out. (Albeit the chance of that happening is pretty low)

thefeebster · Aug 5, 2013

S_C does bring up a good point that needs further explanation. You can look at the games played as a indication of him not being able to crack an AHL roster, but you need to understand the situation with the Wolves. The backend was very lopsided in terms of left and right side defenseman, to the point where at one time, there were only 6 left side D men healthy. The left side D were: Joslin, Hunt, Connauton, Groulx, Vandermeer, Polasek, Sauve. The right side was Tanev, Andersson, Blain, Miskovic, Regner, Price/Corrado. The left side consistently had players available and it was tough to get ice time for both Polasek and Sauve.

---

I disagree that Polasek regressed. I think he actually showed improvements in various areas of his game in his AHL games (never watched ECHL games). I feel like a tape recorder by this point, but Polasek played some very good hockey at the end of March and April. Arniel told the Wolves Colour guy that he was his best defenseman during that stretch. I think he showed noticeable improvement in his skating/movement around the ice, decisions in the defensive zone and with the puck, while still providing a strong physical presence. He was used frequently on the PK, saw no PP time yet still improved statistically.

Hammer79 · Aug 5, 2013

Grenier based on upside. He has a power-forward upside (he's 6' 5") and put up nearly ppg stats with the K-wings. If he can put that together at a higher level he'd be one heck of an asset.

arsmaster* · Aug 5, 2013

denkiteki said:
Thing about Polasek is you could argue he regressed last year (or at least no progression at all). He couldn't really crack the AHL roster last year and this year it looks like we might have even MORE depth on our AHL defense... meaning odds of him cracking the roster isn't all that high. Sauve also out played him in the ECHL and we did give Sauve a QO (which almost means Sauve will given every chance to earn an AHL spot).

In another word, doubtful Polasek cracks the AHL line-up. At this point of his development, if he can't crack the AHL line-up, he doesn't have much value as a prospect anymore... at the very least less value than prospect left are either locks to make the Comet (Lain) or have more upside (Cederholm, Grenier).

Injury pretty much killed his dream of playing for the Canucks. For that matter, it doesn't look likely he'll even get an AHL job.

To be honest it feels you didn't watch Wolves games last year. Sauve started in the AHL and got demoted. Polasek started in the ECHL (shouldn't have...many opined at the time he deserved a spot) and got promoted in January and finished the season in the AHL.

Polasek is miles ahead of Sauve in the AHL.You can tell he actually has a clue out there.

Polasek is a tough physical player with good hockey sense. Funny thing from the stats I looked at, he matched his AHL production this year in half the games.

He's improving and can and has been a tough PK defensman with an ok offensive upside.

He's what we wish we had in Sauve.

Sauve isn't about to get preferential treatment because he was qualified either. 2 other guys who were qualified are playing in Europe this year.

For some reason the Canucks want to give Yann, one more look.

Polasek IMO will also get a QO next year after a full year in the AHL.

shottasasa · Aug 5, 2013

I'm on the Polasek train. This is mostly out of hope as I've always had a soft spot for him, doubly so after he knocked out Teubert. If he makes it he could be a tough player to go against.

monster_bertuzzi · Aug 6, 2013

Lain pretty easily at this point.

FOurteenS inCisOr · Aug 6, 2013

monster_bertuzzi said:
Lain pretty easily at this point.

I've still got a few in front of him.

Not very high on the kid, TBH.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that last year's sample with the Wolves was a small one where he was transitioning from college to pro, but he didn't show a lot that made me optimistic about his future. Decent skater for a big guy, great at faceoffs, and sometimes plays with a physical edge.

Needs to improve his decision making and consistency in the defensive zone before he has a chance at even earning a call up.

Didn't even look comfortable with bottom 6 AHL minutes last season.

vanuck · Aug 9, 2013

I think Polasek has more potential than Lain. Perhaps not a huge difference but I like the former's upside if he puts it all together consistently.

Good to still be able to debate this at #21 though!

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