Quote:
Originally Posted by GioforPM
He may improve to make plays consistently at NHL speed or he may not (I think this is the main issue at persent). But looking at whether he was "dominant" in 2011 in junior hockey isn't really relevant at this point IMO. That league (and the AHL) are slower in overall pace. Sometimes it doesn't seem that way because the players are all skating hard and moving at about the same speed. But decision making at the NHL level just has to be that much quickler. Some junior phenoms don't make the transition well, or at all. Some take more time. This is why I'm always leery of prospects who scored a lot but were reported as not great skaters. Sven's skating was always reported as "solid to above average". So that's not his issue, but maybe the change in gears for decision making has been.
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Agreed, prospects have to change their game because you can't score goals the same way anymore. Look at Gaudreau's latest goal, how did he get it, some really quick heads up passes and getting a shot off a millisecond before the defender got his stick in the way.