Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
From all Reports, has top line center playmaking ability. At worst a real good third line center with good size. I think the hit on him right now is his skating. He was pretty good in the faceoff circle IIRC in the WJC. [...].
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I think he's a pretty safe bet to be a second line center, or at least as safe as any prospect can be. If the scouts feel that other forwards project to have higher offensive upside in a few years, that's one thing, but Barkov has tons of skill and is already very mature. He could even get his first taste of the NHL next season.
Great two-way center. Intelligent. Excellent vision in the offensive zone. But you can't expect explosive movement from a player of his type. He's more like a Mats Sundin or Joe Thornton type (which is not to suggest that he projects as high).
Not a fast skater but defintely not a bad skater either. You have to remember that he's quite a sturdy 17-year-old at 205 pounds (for example Seth Jones who is almost a year older weighs 208 pounds, according to TSN'n list today) and his leg strength will improve. One funny detail is that is his linemate Ville Nieminen has been acting as almost like a personal trainer to him. They trained together already during the summer.