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Calgary4LIfe · 04-10-2016, 06:55 PM

Out of thanks (and quotes aren't working for me right now), but good post FDW - also Itse. Nice to hear what a Finnish poster has to say on Finnish prospects.

I would just like to add to FDW's post here. I think that the 'he is big for junior and that is why he is excelling now, but once he goes to the NHL that advantage will be erased and he will suck' analysis fails.

I think you have to look at why these big guys are excelling or not. Just looking at stats - including their height/weight stats is lazy. You have to see for yourself WHY they can or can't translate. Are they poor skaters? Do they do things at too slow of a pace? Are they not tenacious enough? Do they have a certain level of skill? How is their IQ (hugely important). You have to look at their individual strengths and weaknesses to properly assess if a kid is translatable or not, or if he is merely living off his size.

There are TONNES of huge kids in junior that don't translate ever, and even more that don't get drafted at all. They simply don't translate because they have no skill, or no IQ, or simply take too long to make decisions with and without the puck.

Also, I think it helps to see how physically developed a player is. For instance, look at Rocco Grimaldi vs Johnny Gaudreau. They were both thought of as 'top 5 talents' in their draft class, but were both undersized. Compare Grimaldi's physique at the time (and probably still now) to Gaudreau's. Grimaldi was very physically developed - an 'early bloomer'. He relied on his strength and speed to do what he needed to do. He needed to develop more of an IQ to be elusive, as he would for sure be physically over-matched in the NHL. I don't think Grimaldi will be a regular NHL'er - I see him now as a fringe NHL'er.

Mark McNeil - also an over-physically developed prospect that relied on his strength. I bet he doesn't make the NHL - at least not anything more than just a plug.

Then you have oddities like Keegan Kanzig, Jamie Oleksiak and Nikita Zadorov. Huge guys, with fairly high IQ, who are already fairly 'built'. I think these guys are the most difficult to get a firm grasp on, but when they hit their upsides are really big (pun intended). Again, you have to see HOW they play - of course their size advantages obviously help them, but how do they read the plays? How are their games with and away from the puck. That is what makes or breaks these prospects.

04-10-2016, 06:55 PM	#2077
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	Out of thanks (and quotes aren't working for me right now), but good post FDW - also Itse. Nice to hear what a Finnish poster has to say on Finnish prospects. I would just like to add to FDW's post here. I think that the 'he is big for junior and that is why he is excelling now, but once he goes to the NHL that advantage will be erased and he will suck' analysis fails. I think you have to look at why these big guys are excelling or not. Just looking at stats - including their height/weight stats is lazy. You have to see for yourself WHY they can or can't translate. Are they poor skaters? Do they do things at too slow of a pace? Are they not tenacious enough? Do they have a certain level of skill? How is their IQ (hugely important). You have to look at their individual strengths and weaknesses to properly assess if a kid is translatable or not, or if he is merely living off his size. There are TONNES of huge kids in junior that don't translate ever, and even more that don't get drafted at all. They simply don't translate because they have no skill, or no IQ, or simply take too long to make decisions with and without the puck. Also, I think it helps to see how physically developed a player is. For instance, look at Rocco Grimaldi vs Johnny Gaudreau. They were both thought of as 'top 5 talents' in their draft class, but were both undersized. Compare Grimaldi's physique at the time (and probably still now) to Gaudreau's. Grimaldi was very physically developed - an 'early bloomer'. He relied on his strength and speed to do what he needed to do. He needed to develop more of an IQ to be elusive, as he would for sure be physically over-matched in the NHL. I don't think Grimaldi will be a regular NHL'er - I see him now as a fringe NHL'er. Mark McNeil - also an over-physically developed prospect that relied on his strength. I bet he doesn't make the NHL - at least not anything more than just a plug. Then you have oddities like Keegan Kanzig, Jamie Oleksiak and Nikita Zadorov. Huge guys, with fairly high IQ, who are already fairly 'built'. I think these guys are the most difficult to get a firm grasp on, but when they hit their upsides are really big (pun intended). Again, you have to see HOW they play - of course their size advantages obviously help them, but how do they read the plays? How are their games with and away from the puck. That is what makes or breaks these prospects.