Quote:
Originally Posted by timbit
I may be wrong but it seems like your evaluations are heavily skewed towards prospects' performance at the level they are playing.
While that is important, there is another very crucial facet in evaluating NHL prospects.
That being how they project as NHL players.
Size is not Fox's biggest challenge to becoming an NHLer.
Acceleration is.
His first two steps are not great and the NHL is a lot faster in every way than the NCAA.
If that area improves , he should be a no brainer.
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Yeah but so did Giordano, Weber, Chara, Hedman, and many other great defenseman. Unless he's going to skate the puck up or make some major pinches, skating isnt AS important among defenseman as it is for forwards. IQ, vision, body position, outlets passes, shots on net, and stick defense is pretty important for a guy like him.
I think skating is more important for guys like Karlsson and Subban because they like to carry the puck up the ice. Plus they skate back in order to defend because they get caught deep in the zone due to their offensive instincts.
Based on performance, Fox has shown he has the tools to be successful at what he does. Now if he defends like Denis Wideman (ie, likes to pinch), yes his skating will be a downfall, much like Wideman's skating was for him.