Quote:
Originally Posted by Sandman
In my humble opinion, his skating won't be an issue at the next level. He's improved his speed every year since his draft-minus-1 year, and it didn't look that bad at the WJC (still needs work though). He has the work-ethic and competitive fire to keep improving.
I love this player, along with other American players, like Snuggerud, Gauthier, Smith, Perreault, Moore, and Leonard. I've watched plenty of McGroarty, and he's a top-6 power forward in the NHL all day long. He reminds me of a more skilled, higher IQ Boone Jenner- or maybe a poor man's Tkachuk. He thinks the game well, works hard, plays physical, can be nasty, and is a real leader. McG was a PPG player in his first year of NCAA, and has 18 points in just 13 games this season, very good production.
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I always love your analysis Sandman, very much appreciate your research and evaluation of prospects and young players. I agree with you he has competitive fire and work ethic, but as mentioned before I'm just not sure he has the speed to generate offense at the NHL level (understanding that is not the only factor) and may not quite be big enough. He may end up being a second line winger tasked with doing a lot of the dirty work, but not sure I vision him as a point producer. I think he would be a very good third liner in the NHL and would be a player you could move up and down the line up as required which indeed has value.
You admittedly are probably correct as you have maybe seen more of him than I. I have watched him closely in the US games at the World Junior (lucky enough to be at the tourney in person) and I just view him a little differently. Part of it could be that the US team also has so many of those highly skilled shifty type players on their roster that he looks much different since his style of game is definitely cut from a different cloth.
Getting McGroarty and high pick would be a win in a Lindholm trade, just don't think the Jets would do that as Lindholm is likely a pure rental in Winnipeg.