Quote:
Originally Posted by BrownDrake
Crouse is all size and potential. He is probably the only "project" prospect in the top 10 or 15 on most rankings. If he is 20 pounds lighter and 2" shorter he is a 15 to 30 pick, if he is 4 inches shorter and 40 pounds lighter he quite possibly doesn't get drafted in the first 4 rounds.
How is his skating - needs to improve, how is his agility and puck handling skills - need to improve.
If he can improve in many areas he might be a top 6 forward. I am a fan of big and heavy skilled players but they are tough to project. I think you take the skilled player and pass on him in the top 15 to 20 of a draft class like this.
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Here is a quote from FC about Crouse, "The big bodied player skates well, with no huge amount of speed, but exceptional stability; once he gets up to speed he is incredibly difficult to stop or angle off. Crouse does have a powerful stride that gets him moving and generates solid speed levels for his size. Moves well with the puck, does not slow down at all, and makes it near impossible for opposing players to knock him off it or strip him"
Doesn't sound like skating is a big issue with him.
Powerforwards often don't put as gaudy offensive numbers up. Doesn't mean they aren't valuable and rare commodities. Lucic put up 19 points in 60 games in his draft year. Who wouldn't want him now?
One thing some fans don't seem to understand is that having size and strength AND using it effectively to shield the puck, bowl over opponents, dominate on the cycle is a skill. It's not like undressing a defenseman 1 on 1 but it's a valuable skill that can help a line generate offence off the cycle. To say Crouse is unskilled would be wrong.
Would fans want another Ferland? Cause that's the type of player Crouse sounds like to me. Flames have been missing power forwards for years, arguably since Simon. A lot of the successful teams in the league have players like that, especially in our division. Crouse would be able to physically match up against players like Getzlaf, Perry, Maroon, King, Nolan, whereas the majority of our team is physically dominated by those types of players.
I'm not saying we have to draft a power forward but we're definitely one of the teams interested in that type of player. Would it surprise me if we traded up to draft Crouse? Not at all. Would it surprise me if we stayed pat and took a smaller guy like Konecny or Merkley? Nope. I think that mock draft was off base having Crouse drop out of the top 12.