Wanted to come and post this here. The Wranglers gave up so many ten bell chances and Wolf looks so composed in the crease despite that. This little package shows a couple of breakaway chances that he shrugs off without looking like he's nervous at all.
I'm really excited to see how he handles more NHL games this year.
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I'm as hopeful and excited about a top prospect as anyone, but I don't think you rush to unload a NHL goaltender under value when the replacement has only played one game against a listless Sharks team.
He could get lit up.
Size still might be an issue.
Hoping it isn't, but lets see it play out.
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Still needs to be put to the final test of talent and do what he does in that video against NHL skill but man his athleticism, positioning, scrambling, glove hand all remind so much of Kipper. I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a Goalie prospect we’ve drafted and it’s pretty awesome.
I'm as hopeful and excited about a top prospect as anyone, but I don't think you rush to unload a NHL goaltender under value when the replacement has only played one game against a listless Sharks team.
He could get lit up.
Size still might be an issue.
Hoping it isn't, but lets see it play out.
I'm with you on "NHL games are different" when looking at his AHL stats, but... 1st overal in minutes played, shots against, saves, SAV%, GAA, wins and shutouts.
How many times has that happened in either league? Like there's no "sure he has the best SAV%, but he only played...." stuff when you have the best stat line combined with the most minutes and shots against.
There are a couple concerns, like sometimes he gets caught way out there and some of his rebound control looks a bit off, but I think he's ready. I don't know if he's ready to be the de facto #1, but I do think he's ready to challenge for it. I guess the question is 50+ games in the AHL vs 20-60 (if he succeeds) games in the NHL.
Just sat across Wolf on the flight from Calgary to IAD and noticed a few other wrangler bags come out of the carousel at bag claim. Any reason they’re done here?
Just sat across Wolf on the flight from Calgary to IAD and noticed a few other wrangler bags come out of the carousel at bag claim. Any reason they’re done here?
A small but acrobatic goaltender, Wolf relies heavily on quick feet and structure to his game to make up for the deficiencies of being undersized. He is very agile on his feet and dynamic post-to-post. He is an excellent play predictor and competes for every puck or shot attempt, setting himself up in an aggressive manner to eliminate holes at any angle. He uses his active stick to poke-check scoring chances and passes and keeps his head on a swivel. He’s a good communicator with his teammates and has decent vision through traffic. An extremely composed player who has great bodily control and while not playing overaggressive, he keeps in sync with his crease and challenges all shots thanks to his dynamic feet and ability to track play. His ability to keep square to shooters is highly impressive given his physical make up and he is consistently in adjustment and focused, not flinching prior to a shot. His legs are explosive and he is excellent at going in and out of his butterfly and kicking his pads out in a quick yet controlled manner. He has a very composed posture and is very strong with his hands, using his glove effectively and confidently, giving up no extra chances. He uses both his glove hand and blocker well to make sure shots are controlled and he is set up to handle secondary attempts.
– FCHockey’s 2019 NHL Draft Guide
(It's a wall of text, but that's the way it was written.)
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Yeah the bet really is Bedard v. "The Field".
And I would still take Bedard.
I am pretty surprised at how many people I have discussed this with (outside of CP) who feel the opposite - or at least, don't entirely agree. I would say 80% are in the: "too small, too slow, to be generational, will be a good goal scorer / top line winger, but will never be a superstar" camp. At least 80%. I actually got in a bet with the over/under for him at 55 points this year (I took the over).
And I can see the argument, but I think his elite hockey IQ carries him at least to a Kucherov-type level.
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I am pretty surprised at how many people I have discussed this with (outside of CP) who feel the opposite - or at least, don't entirely agree. I would say 80% are in the: "too small, too slow, to be generational, will be a good goal scorer / top line winger, but will never be a superstar" camp. At least 80%. I actually got in a bet with the over/under for him at 55 points this year (I took the over).
And I can see the argument, but I think his elite hockey IQ carries him at least to a Kucherov-type level.
I feel like the same criticism could have been sent Tavares' way, but he was seen to be a generational pick for quite some time. Turned out to be a very very good player but was nowhere near what some projected him to be since he was in Junior.
Fingers crossed Bedard is what he is advertised to be, but he can easily fall short of such lofty expectation.
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I feel like the same criticism could have been sent Tavares' way, but he was seen to be a generational pick for quite some time. Turned out to be a very very good player but was nowhere near what some projected him to be since he was in Junior.
Fingers crossed Bedard is what he is advertised to be, but he can easily fall short of such lofty expectation.
Tavares is an excellent example. But I think he was coming into the NHL more as a 'good' #1, but not a generational probability (probably less expectations than MacKinnon, for example). Bedard is coming in with Crosby/McDavid expectations. If he has a 'Tavares' career, the doubters will be right. TO justify the hype, he needs to be transformative for the Hawks, and he needs to be challenging for the scoring race (annually) in a few years.
(I am not saying he won't, just presenting the opposing views)
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