Quote:
Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe
What I was looking for was how Kassian was scouted in terms of hockey IQ. To me, that is his most glaring weakness whenever I see him play in Vancouver:
http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/...layer.php?7143
Ritchie is bigger (same height, but 25lbs heavier), faster, more agile, better hockey sense and an elite shot apparently. |
One thing that I think Feaster et al did very well was place a high premium on hockey IQ. That nearly every player they acquired has stepped in and, at the worst, not looked totally out of place bears out that hockey IQ is one of the real determining factors on whether a player's game can translate to the NHL level. It can certainly make up for a lack of size, especially when coupled with speed (see Byron, Paul).
Prospects that are noted as having "poor hockey IQ", or even where it is listed as a concern or being merely average, should be avoided IMO.