Watched all the junior games.. most impressed with Fox

[FlamesFan68]

I was very impressed with Adam Fox, he had a few defensive breakdowns as a defenseman, but more than made up for it with his pin point break out passes and offensive creativity. Didn't notice him shoot much, but if he can develop a good shot, I'd compare him to Duncan Keith.

[Heavy Jack]

I thought Dube played great as well. Had a secondary assist on the opener, drew the penalty on the go ahead 2-1 goal, grinded and battled along the boards on more than a few shifts, didn't look lost at all and was leaned on in the final minute of the game where his line didn't even allow the Russians to pull their goalie. Very good opening game from Dube.

[Enoch Root]

I watched him very closely as well. On top of the multiple really good passes that came as advertised, I was really impressed with all the little plays he made defensively.

Whether it was winning a board battle, blocking a player out, chipping it to a team-mate or whatever, it just seemed like he made smart play after smart play.

He's quite small obviously, but he is really aware.

[FlamesFan68]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I watched him very closely as well. On top of the multiple really good passes that came as advertised, I was really impressed with all the little plays he made defensively.

Whether it was winning a board battle, blocking a player out, chipping it to a team-mate or whatever, it just seemed like he made smart play after smart play.

He's quite small obviously, but he is really aware.

Yes, you saw exactly my impression of him. He's listed at 5'10" and 185 lbs, which to me at 18 or 19 is fairly solid and can grow a bit more. Skating was smooth and he seemed very confident. USA didn't seem to play him much, but was on #1 pp and a 3rd pairing it seemed time wise.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I watched most of all the games (minus Finland vs Czech Republic).

Fox will be an NHLer. Great skating, passing, vision, everything minus the shot.

Dube looked really good too and I think he's earned more ice time. Seemed to make something good happen whenever I noticed he was on the ice. I see a lot of Klimchuk in him though which might not be a good thing. But he does seem to have above average skating and speed which might help separate him.

Karny was decent I thought. His good forechecking was a big part of the first Russian goal, I'm not sure why he didn't get an assist on it. And he left the ice before the goal so he didn't even get a + (same with Dube's assist weirdly enough).

Kylington played a very solid game overall and got lots of ice time in all situations. He made some bad mistakes I'll give you that, but so did Brodie up until he was 22. He showed some great offensive instincts, passes and ability to recover from pinches with his skating. He was the best defenseman out there at keeping the puck in the offensive zone as well. He'll hold onto the puck for an extra second to let another play open up. His smooth effortless skating allows him to consistently box other players out before they can get a scoring opportunity. His game still needs some work around his own net, but he's progressed leaps and bounds from where he was a year ago. Also looks bigger out there and laid out some well timed hits.

Can't judge Parsons much based on his limited play, but he seemed fine and made a couple of big saves. The breakaway goal was probably stoppable, but hey it's a breakaway goal.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Limited viewing but he's my favourite D prospect. Super smart back there.

[FBI]

Fox = Top 5 in next summers prospect pool?

[dissentowner]

Wouldn't it be nice if he became Phil Housley version 2.

[Jiggy]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I watched most of all the games (minus Finland vs Czech Republic).

Fox will be an NHLer. Great skating, passing, vision, everything minus the shot.

Dube looked really good too and I think he's earned more ice time. Seemed to make something good happen whenever I noticed he was on the ice. I see a lot of Klimchuk in him though which might not be a good thing. But he does seem to have above average skating and speed which might help separate him.

Karny was decent I thought. His good forechecking was a big part of the first Russian goal, I'm not sure why he didn't get an assist on it. And he left the ice before the goal so he didn't even get a + (same with Dube's assist weirdly enough).

Kylington played a very solid game overall and got lots of ice time in all situations. He made some bad mistakes I'll give you that, but so did Brodie up until he was 22. He showed some great offensive instincts, passes and ability to recover from pinches with his skating. He was the best defenseman out there at keeping the puck in the offensive zone as well. He'll hold onto the puck for an extra second to let another play open up. His smooth effortless skating allows him to consistently box other players out before they can get a scoring opportunity. His game still needs some work around his own net, but he's progressed leaps and bounds from where he was a year ago. Also looks bigger out there and laid out some well timed hits.

Can't judge Parsons much based on his limited play, but he seemed fine and made a couple of big saves. The breakaway goal was probably stoppable, but hey it's a breakaway goal.

I really like Fox as a prospect, but I think its early to say he will be an NHLer. There is lots of prospects that do well in this tournament and don't amount to much of a pro career.

[Jakester]

The main knock on Fox is that at 5'10", he's a bit undersized for an NHL defenseman. Defensemen under 6' don't usually make it to the NHL unless they're elite offensive performers. If he were a bit bigger, I'd give him about an 80-90% chance of making it to the NHL, but as it is, I'd say his chances of making it are about 50-50.

[ClubFlames]

Originally Posted by Jakester

The main knock on Fox is that at 5'10", he's a bit undersized for an NHL defenseman. Defensemen under 6' don't usually make it to the NHL unless they're elite offensive performers. If he were a bit bigger, I'd give him about an 80-90% chance of making it to the NHL, but as it is, I'd say his chances of making it are about 50-50.

Like Kris Russell, Matt Hunwick, JM Liles, Forsling, Spurgeon, etc. aren't all elite offensive performers.

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Limited viewing but he's my favourite D prospect. Super smart back there.

He is really good at protecting the puck. Oh, and he already outweighs Kris Russell by 10lbs.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

Like Kris Russell, Matt Hunwick, JM Liles, Forsling, Spurgeon, etc. aren't all elite offensive performers.

They were in lower levels

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

They were in lower levels

Fox is showing that so far as well. 16 pts in 11 games as a freshman NCAA defenseman is a pretty outstanding. It's outstanding for a freshman forward actually.

Sample size is small, but all looks well so far.

[Beninho]

He does have a lot of similarities to Brodie at the same age. Probably not as great of a skater but still very smooth and great on his edges. His puck movement seems effortless and his hockey IQ is probably higher than Brodie's at the same age. Obviously hard to tell how much he needs to work on his defense but it seems like he knows how to position himself well from highlights I've seen. I am extremely excited to see him play against Canada. Lots of potential in a 3rd pick, loving how this team has drafted recently.

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

He is really good at protecting the puck. Oh, and he already outweighs Kris Russell by 10lbs.

But can Fox ride a friken bull or break a horse?

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

But can Fox ride a friken bull or break a horse?

Hell, I'm not even sure he chews tobacco.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

But can Fox ride a friken bull or break a horse?

Dunno, but maybe he is in a Harvard Final Club. There is a "Fox Club"

[Jakester]

Originally Posted by ClubFlames

Like Kris Russell, Matt Hunwick, JM Liles, Forsling, Spurgeon, etc. aren't all elite offensive performers.

They're the exception that proves the rule. I'm not saying the Fox won't make it, but if his offensive talent doesn't translate to the NHL it will be much more difficult for him to make it as an undersized defender. Of course, if his offensive talent does translate, his chances of making it increase considerably.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

They were in lower levels

So is Fox so far in College. We'll see if he can maintain it for the full season, but so far, he's having an incredible freshman year offensively.

He's scoring at a better rate as an 18 year-old freshman than Brian Leetch did 30 years ago.