Winnipeg Jets Top 20 Prospects 2017 - #5

[csk]

I will admit, I can 100% see the case for guys like Spacek, Poolman, and Harkins over Samberg, but I like Samberg's upside.

This part of our prospect pool has everyone very close. It's hard to rank them.

 

[KingBogo]

My rankings and notes as of today, subject to change tomorrow.
1 Connor - Elite talent.
2 Roslovic - High level talent.
.
Significant drop-off (High upside or very close to NHL ready.)
.
3 Vesalainen - So much speed, size, skill. Can he put it together.
4 Niku - Likely NHLer. How high is his ceiling?
5 Samberg - Loads of skill, but lots to prove.
6 Poolman - Near NHL ready, low ceiling.
7 Harkins - Near NHL ready, low ceiling.
8 Kovacevic - Strong college performance is eye catching, play lacks pop.
9 Spacek - Smaller skilled guy. Has some NHL caliber skill, but not sure he finds a role here.
10 Lemieux - 4th liner. Meh.
11 Virtanen - I am really intrigued by this kid. Does the little things well, reminds me of Copp.
12 Comrie - Still a talented goalie prospect, but I want to see him stop more pucks.
13 Gawanke - Strong numbers. Smart player. Reminds me of Morrissey in how he reads play. Can he fix his skating? He needs to.
.
Drop-off (Long shot upside or near ready marginal NHL talents.)
.
14 DeLeo - I think he can play NHL hockey, but I doubt he'll play here.
15 Foley - Real potential as a depth forward. Lots to like. Maybe too low.
16 Appleton - Doesn't move very well, but produces very well. Some real potential here.
17 Green - Flashy skating provides hope, but he is still looks like a long shot.
18 Stanley - skating. Looks like a longshot, but his shot rates make me hopeful.
19 Berdin - Stops pucks better than most. Upside! All goalies are long shots.
20 Nogier - Probable depth player, can he become more than a 7, 8, 9?
21 McKenzie - Really fun to watch, but he has a long road ahead of him.
22 Evingson - Looked good in the NAHL. Projection = ??? Ask me next year.
.
Drop-off (Really really long shots or near done.)
.
23 Lipon - I've always enjoyed Lippy, but he doesn't have an NHL role beyond 4th liner who can fight.
24 Lodge - He's got some skill, but it looks like AHL skill at this point.
25 Franklin - Poor man's Foley.
26 Cederholm - Nothing to get excited about yet.
27 Kraskovsky - Not sure he'll ever come to NA.
28 Stallard - Unlikely to be in the system much longer.
29 Glover - Unlikely to be in the system much longer.

Nice summary. I'm also high on Samberg but went with Poolman at this spot. Samberg next.

 

[puck stoppa]

I'm not as sold on Harkins. I see him as Slater ceiling, tops out fourth line but I think he's a Tweener ahl/NHL

 

[truck]

I'm not as sold on Harkins. I see him as Slater ceiling, tops out fourth line but I think he's a Tweener ahl/NHL

Why Slater and not Lowry?

 

[Gm0ney]

I don't know if you guys have heard about Harkins' hands...

(Photo Credit to Mathmew Purrrr Oh)

 

[garret9]

^ hahaha oh yes... I remember!

 

[puck stoppa]

Why Slater and not Lowry?

I think Lowry is better than Slater, great fourth liner on a deep championship team who can move up to third line duty. And I think Harkins is unlikely to sustain an NHL career, mostly AHL IMO, which is why I said Slater as a ceiling, but I don't think he gets to that level.
I wasnt comparing styles, rather potential ceiling.

 

[GJF]

Voted Poolman. Harkins next.

 

[Whileee]

My rankings and notes as of today, subject to change tomorrow.
1 Connor - Elite talent.
2 Roslovic - High level talent.
.
Significant drop-off (High upside or very close to NHL ready.)
.
3 Vesalainen - So much speed, size, skill. Can he put it together.
4 Niku - Likely NHLer. How high is his ceiling?
5 Samberg - Loads of skill, but lots to prove.
6 Poolman - Near NHL ready, low ceiling.
7 Harkins - Near NHL ready, low ceiling.
8 Kovacevic - Strong college performance is eye catching, play lacks pop.
9 Spacek - Smaller skilled guy. Has some NHL caliber skill, but not sure he finds a role here.
10 Lemieux - 4th liner. Meh.
11 Virtanen - I am really intrigued by this kid. Does the little things well, reminds me of Copp.
12 Comrie - Still a talented goalie prospect, but I want to see him stop more pucks.
13 Gawanke - Strong numbers. Smart player. Reminds me of Morrissey in how he reads play. Can he fix his skating? He needs to.
.
Drop-off (Long shot upside or near ready marginal NHL talents.)
.
14 DeLeo - I think he can play NHL hockey, but I doubt he'll play here.
15 Foley - Real potential as a depth forward. Lots to like. Maybe too low.
16 Appleton - Doesn't move very well, but produces very well. Some real potential here.
17 Green - Flashy skating provides hope, but he is still looks like a long shot.
18 Stanley - skating. Looks like a longshot, but his shot rates make me hopeful.
19 Berdin - Stops pucks better than most. Upside! All goalies are long shots.
20 Nogier - Probable depth player, can he become more than a 7, 8, 9?
21 McKenzie - Really fun to watch, but he has a long road ahead of him.
22 Evingson - Looked good in the NAHL. Projection = ??? Ask me next year.
.
Drop-off (Really really long shots or near done.)
.
23 Lipon - I've always enjoyed Lippy, but he doesn't have an NHL role beyond 4th liner who can fight.
24 Lodge - He's got some skill, but it looks like AHL skill at this point.
25 Franklin - Poor man's Foley.
26 Cederholm - Nothing to get excited about yet.
27 Kraskovsky - Not sure he'll ever come to NA.
28 Stallard - Unlikely to be in the system much longer.
29 Glover - Unlikely to be in the system much longer.

Nice summary.

I think you have Foley and Nogier too low. Kraskovsky, too.

 

[truck]

I think Lowry is better than Slater, great fourth liner on a deep championship team who can move up to third line duty. And I think Harkins is unlikely to sustain an NHL career, mostly AHL IMO, which is why I said Slater as a ceiling, but I don't think he gets to that level.
I wasnt comparing styles, rather potential ceiling.

I asked why though. Why do you see Harkins as a tweener as opposed to a more sturdy regular like Lowry?

 

[puck stoppa]

I asked why though. Why do you see Harkins as a tweener as opposed to a more sturdy regular like Lowry?

Skating will hold him back, plus his scoring production in his last two years in Junior were not where it needed to be, there are guys on the Moose who scored at a much higher rate and they can barely get a cup of tea.

 

[Aavco Cup]

Skating will hold him back, plus his scoring production in his last two years in Junior were not where it needed to be, there are guys on the Moose who scored at a much higher rate and they can barely get a cup of tea.

Harkins skating issues are overrated. I think a lot of it stems from him looking awkward. He is a tenacious forechecker and never seems to be slow on the puck. How does that happen if he's such a terrible skater. He'll never be a star but it's way too soon to right off the guy IMO

 

[Runforthecup]

Voted Poolman. Nominate Nogier. Interesting when a defenceman who got 10 NHL games in before he was 21 can't seem to get on our list being voted on.

 

[truck]

Nice summary.

I think you have Foley and Nogier too low. Kraskovsky, too.

Yeah. Maybe.

Foley has the look of a good depth winger. He's a pitbull and actually quite skilled. I like how he handles the puck in traffic.

Nogier has done enough to nab my interest, but not enough to make me a believer. If he has another strong year, he'll likely skyrocket up my rankings.

Kraskovsky, I just don't think he'll come over to NA. He is an okay prospect, but not amazing.

 

[lanky]

Space Man!

To the moon!!!

 

[puck stoppa]

Harkins skating issues are overrated. I think a lot of it stems from him looking awkward. He is a tenacious forechecker and never seems to be slow on the puck. How does that happen if he's such a terrible skater. He'll never be a star but it's way too soon to right off the guy IMO

So you think he scored enough in Jr?

 

[garret9]

Voted Poolman. Nominate Nogier. Interesting when a defenceman who got 10 NHL games in before he was 21 can't seem to get on our list being voted on.

If the Jets didn't have 5 starting defenders injured at one time, I don't think Nogier gets a shot.

 

[KingBogo]

Voted Poolman. Nominate Nogier. Interesting when a defenceman who got 10 NHL games in before he was 21 can't seem to get on our list being voted on.

Great point. Also nominate Nogier. IMO more likely to at least be a 6-7 d-man then some of these forwards are likely to be 12/13 forwards.

 

[truck]

If the Jets didn't have 5 starting defenders injured at one time, I don't think Nogier gets a shot.

Aye. I believe he was 10th on the depth chart.

Strait and Postma are gone, but Niku and Poolman were added.

I suspect he's behind the following on the Jets callup list...
Niku
Poolman
Melch

My hope is that he can be a quality 6 or 7 when / if players like Toby and Myers move on. More than that is cream.

 

[Aavco Cup]

So you think he scored enough in Jr?

Enough to do what?

What happened in junior is irrelevant at this point. Why does it matter?

The only thing that matters is how he plays going forward.

 

[puck stoppa]

Enough to do what?

What happened in junior is irrelevant at this point. Why does it matter?

The only thing that matters is how he plays going forward.

Oh that's interesting, you're right, no one on this site has ever used point totals in junior to predict future success
I'm rooting for him. I like the kid just don't think he amounts to much.

 

[Aavco Cup]

Oh that's interesting, you're right, no one on this site has ever used point totals in junior to predict future success
I'm rooting for him. I like the kid just don't think he amounts to much.

When I watched him play this year, he seemed to be already training for the role he knows he will be playing if he makes it to the NHL. He played a very pro game his last season in Prince George at least from what I saw. And he scored pretty decently while doing it. He's probably more ready for the pro game than Spacek is.

Point totals in junior may be used in various ways, but they are in no way definitive. What is your point total cutoff for success?

Like I said Idon't expect him to be a star, but I won't be surprised if he becomes an NHL regular.

 

[puck stoppa]

When I watched him play this year, he seemed to be already training for the role he knows he will be playing if he makes it to the NHL. He played a very pro game his last season in Prince George at least from what I saw. And he scored pretty decently while doing it. He's probably more ready for the pro game than Spacek is.

Point totals in junior may be used in various ways, but they are in no way definitive. What is your point total cutoff for success?

Like I said Idon't expect him to be a star, but I won't be surprised if he becomes an NHL regular.

I've watched him play too. He may adapt well to ahl but I just don't think he will do much more. And I don't expect him to be an NHL regular.

 

[Aavco Cup]

I've watched him play too. He may adapt well to ahl but I just don't think he will do much more. And I don't expect him to be an NHL regular.

You never answered how many ponts a player needs to score in junior to have success.

 

[truck]

Oh that's interesting, you're right, no one on this site has ever used point totals in junior to predict future success
I'm rooting for him. I like the kid just don't think he amounts to much.

Kosmachuk 1.49 ppg
Lipon 1.46 ppg
Spacek 1.44 ppg
Lemieux 1.38 ppg
De Leo 1.25 ppg
Lowry 1.22 ppg
Genarro 1.16 ppg
Harkins 1.13 ppg

I still like Harkin's odds though. He has the kind of size and play style that coaches and GMs crave. That said, I wouldn't bet on an imoact roll. Best case is a two-way bottom-six forwards.