Prospects game

[KennyBanyeah]

Some players are standing out to me.

Nugent-Hopkins has done nothing to harm his status.

Couturier looks solid but not like star material. This is becoming a consistent theme with him.

Huberdeau looks really good. He really uses his reach to his advantage. If he works on his skating I can see him being an NHL star.

Ryan Murphy on defense looks to me like the second coming of Ryan Ellis. Only time will tell what that means at the NHL level.

 

[puckhead]

Ryan Murphy on defense looks to me like the second coming of Ryan Ellis. Only time will tell what that means at the NHL level.

I'm really curious to see how Ryan Ellis' game means at the NHL level.
He's so good, but so small.

 

[devs30rko]

i still haven't seen much of nugent-hopkins but its sound like if the team picking no.1 wants a fw he may be pulling away

 

[juliansteed]

Huberdeau looks really good. He really uses his reach to his advantage. If he works on his skating I can see him being an NHL star.

I'm a bit biased and I haven't seen as much of Couturier, but I think Huberdeau is the best prospect the Q League has to offer this season. I've gotten to see Couturier live 3 times this season, and while he looks like a decent player but he doesn't look like a man among boys that you would expect from a potential #1 overall pick. Huberdeau on the other hand has done that at times. Not to mention the fact that because Couturier has a late 92 birthdate and Huberdeau has a mid 93 birthdate, so for every league they've ever played in, Couturier is considered a year older. Huberdeau hasn't even matured physically yet. He's 6"1' and only about 170 pounds. Its scary to think how good he can be once gets his strength. Again I'm biased and I don't see as much of Couturier but get to see Huberdeau all the time. What few times I've seen Couturier he's either been up against the Russian all-stars or the top ranked team in the CHL. Maybe if I got to see what he could do against weaker teams I'd be more impressed.

 

[puckhead]

I'm a bit biased and I haven't seen as much of Couturier, but I think Huberdeau is the best prospect the Q League has to offer this season. I've gotten to see Couturier live 3 times this season, and while he looks like a decent player but he doesn't look like a man among boys that you would expect from a potential #1 overall pick. Huberdeau on the other hand has done that at times.

makes sense... Huberdeau looks like he's about 37.

or is it just me?

 

[dash]

^^^

That's quite the Tim Hunter schnozz on that kid...

 

[KennyBanyeah]

I'm a bit biased and I haven't seen as much of Couturier, but I think Huberdeau is the best prospect the Q League has to offer this season. I've gotten to see Couturier live 3 times this season, and while he looks like a decent player but he doesn't look like a man among boys that you would expect from a potential #1 overall pick. Huberdeau on the other hand has done that at times. Not to mention the fact that because Couturier has a late 92 birthdate and Huberdeau has a mid 93 birthdate, so for every league they've ever played in, Couturier is considered a year older. Huberdeau hasn't even matured physically yet. He's 6"1' and only about 170 pounds. Its scary to think how good he can be once gets his strength. Again I'm biased and I don't see as much of Couturier but get to see Huberdeau all the time. What few times I've seen Couturier he's either been up against the Russian all-stars or the top ranked team in the CHL. Maybe if I got to see what he could do against weaker teams I'd be more impressed.

I've been meaning to ask you about Huberdeau, JS.

To me he looked taller than 6'1 last night. His reach, at least, looked like that of a guy who was 6'4. His skating will need to improve for him to succeed in the NHL. He looked a little awkward and not nearly strong enough on his pins. That's to be expected for a lanky 17-year-old though. His hands and creativity were great last night though. He, last night anyway, thinks the game really fast and knows where everyone is on the ice in the offensive zone. You can't teach that kind of hockey IQ, IMO.

It'll be interesting to see where he goes in the draft. I wouldn't be upset to see him on the Sens after his play last night.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

D David Musil is going to be a STUD.

 

[juliansteed]

I've been meaning to ask you about Huberdeau, JS.

To me he looked taller than 6'1 last night. His reach, at least, looked like that of a guy who was 6'4. His skating will need to improve for him to succeed in the NHL. He looked a little awkward and not nearly strong enough on his pins. That's to be expected for a lanky 17-year-old though. His hands and creativity were great last night though. He, last night anyway, thinks the game really fast and knows where everyone is on the ice in the offensive zone. You can't teach that kind of hockey IQ, IMO.

It'll be interesting to see where he goes in the draft. I wouldn't be upset to see him on the Sens after his play last night.

While the youtube title is an extreme embellishment, here's a pretty nice example of what you were talking about from a recent game. I don't think anyone in the building was looking for a pass here. I for one was expecting to see a low percentage shot after he wasn't quite able to break away. I was sitting in the stands and didn't even notice the winger streaking in.

YouTube - EP.113.2 STAINSLAV GALIEV FROM HUBERDEAU GOAL OF THE YEAR TO DATE