Quote:
Originally Posted by Tkachukwagon
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Hot take by Bader.
This is why you can't evaluate talent using a spreadsheet. Kerins' scoring is awesome, but what about his play? What about his skills? Will they translate? Does he have NHL speed? Does he have an NHL shot, or are pro goaltenders going to stop more of his shots? Does he think the game well (I've read this is his strength)? Can he play defense or display any defensive awareness? Does he have the work ethic of a pro? Does he have the mental toughness to be a pro? All of those things don't show up in a spreadsheet and more often determine whether a guy is going to be a good pro. NHLe is a poor tool to determine if a player is going to make the jump and be an NHL player. Beware the false security that junior scoring exploits provides. Rob Schremp lurks behind every junior scoring champ, waiting to poke holes in expectations.
I'm excited to see Keirns continued development and see whether his skills translate to the next level. Zavgorodniy is an example of a recent junior scorer whose game just didn't translate to pro. Immediately I would still question whether Keirns' skating and shot are NHL level. He's a very opportunistic scorer so those things may not automatically translate. But I've read many glowing reports on his ability to think the game, his work ethic, and his desire, which are all positives. Keirns seems like a guy that might be sent back for an overage season before he plays pro, so I don't think we'll know what we have for another two years.