[News] With the 64th overall pick the Flames select D Brandon Hickey

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by TheDebaser

So I'm hearing tons of good things about this kid, but what are his drawbacks. Why did he go in the third round?

He played in a Jankowski'esk league.

[FlameZilla]

Caged Great, I just found this profile you wrote-up about Hickey.

http://www.firesidechat.ca/2014-prev...key/#more-1011

Worth a click. There's a video where Hickey talks about his Hockey Canada experience and I'd say he comes across well. I wonder if Treliving & Pascall wee familiar with his play from their time with Hockey Canada? Even though he played in a 'Jankowski-esque' league he has participated in a lot of tourneys for Canada and he must have caught the scouts eyes there.

[saillias]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

The way the kid described himself it sounded like he was describing how Bouwmeester plays. Wheels are his biggest asset, can cup in offensively but his biggest strength is getting back to break up chances due to his speed

Yeah well you know who else that describes? Scott Niedermayer. I don't know this BowMister character, thank you very much.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He played in a Jankowski'esk league.

Don't think it's exactly accurate to compare the AJHL to a high school hockey league. JR 'A' is obviously a big step behind the CHL, but just a big a step big step above HS hockey.

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Don't think it's exactly accurate to compare the AJHL to a high school hockey league. JR 'A' is obviously a big step behind the CHL, but just a big a step big step above HS hockey.

Stanstead plays a very similar strength of schedule as the AJHL.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Stanstead plays a very similar strength of schedule as the AJHL.

OK - thanks for that.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Stanstead plays a very similar strength of schedule as the AJHL.

I'd disagree with that. Stanstead is more comparable to Midget AAA if not just by age alone. The AJHL is more comparable to the USHL.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I'd disagree with that. Stanstead is more comparable to Midget AAA if not just by age alone. The AJHL is more comparable to the USHL.

The AJHL had 2 players selected in the 2014 NHL Draft, Hickey being the first.
The BCHL had 5.
The OJHL had 4.
The CCHL had 1.


The USHL had 35 players selected in the same draft. Even if you exclude the USNDP who participate in the USHL, they still had 22 picks.

Based on the above, you would have to believe that the AJHL or any other Tier 2 junior league in Canada is not even close to being a comparable to the USHL.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by timbit

Based on the above, you would have to believe that the AJHL or any other Tier 2 junior league in Canada is not even close to being a comparable to the USHL.

I think you have to use all of the CJHL in comparison to the USHL, not individual member leagues.

Any idea how many were drafted from the MidWest Prep League?

[timbit]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I think you have to use all of the CJHL in comparison to the USHL, not individual member leagues.

That is exactly what I did.

Those are all of the players selected from the CJHL in the 2014 NHL draft. There were 12.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by timbit

The AJHL had 2 players selected in the 2014 NHL Draft, Hickey being the first.
The BCHL had 5.
The OJHL had 4.
The CCHL had 1.


The USHL had 35 players selected in the same draft. Even if you exclude the USNDP who participate in the USHL, they still had 22 picks.

Based on the above, you would have to believe that the AJHL or any other Tier 2 junior league in Canada is not even close to being a comparable to the USHL.

Lots of hyperbole in your post, but coming from an American, I understand.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by timbit

That is exactly what I did.

Those are all of the players selected from the CJHL in the 2014 NHL draft. There were 12.

Right. Exactly. So it was 12 versus 22, which is what I would expect the ratio to be most draft years - perhaps even a bit lower for the CJHL.
In regard to the Midwest Prep League, the AJHL itself would be a good comparable, in terms of how many players should be drafted in a comparable league.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Right. Exactly. So it was 12 versus 22, which is what I would expect the ratio to be most draft years - perhaps even a bit lower for the CJHL.
In regard to the Midwest Prep League, the AJHL itself would be a good comparable.

You're kidding? Just by age alone the MPL is for high schoolers which is equivalent to our AAA Midget. The MPL has three players who have played or worked in the NHL. I'm not ready to count how many Junior A players who have gone on to play and even star in the NHL but it's probably in the 100s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest...ked_in_the_NHL

The USHL has been getting better over the years as US hockey has improved and has probably passed our Junior A leagues but there isn't a great difference.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

You're kidding? Just by age alone the MPL is for high schoolers which is equivalent to our AAA Midget. The MPL has three players who have played or worked in the NHL. I'm not ready to count how many Junior A players who have gone on to play and even star in the NHL but it's probably in the 100s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest...ked_in_the_NHL

The USHL has been getting better over the years as US hockey has improved and has probably passed our Junior A leagues but there isn't a great difference.

Sorry - not what I meant at all!
I was asking how many players were drafted from the MPL, this year and on an ongoing basis - simply because I do not believe it to be comparable at all.

I meant comparable to the AJHL in terms of number of teams - and therefore if it is comparable is strength of competition, it should be comparable in terms of drafted players.

[Street Pharmacist]

So with Hickey getting 1g+1a last weekend, he now has 8pts in 15 games. That leads defenseman on his team (except a f/d). As a freshman, that's great. As an 18 year old, that's outstanding!

[Caged Great]

There's a lot of talent there, it'll just take a while for him to put everything together. Probably will play another 2 years in the NCAA at the least before signing to the AHL.

[PeteMoss]

Looks to me that he's already putting it together. He's one of the better d-man on the #2 team in the country.

Looking like a very strong pick. He's got decent size and a very good skater already.

[Street Pharmacist]

Also is second for defensemen with 35 shots in 15 games. That's pretty decent. I'm probably most excited about hockey of all the non-Bennett 2014 picks

[sureLoss]

In before the Debbie Downers say his stats are being propped up by Eichel

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

In before the Debbie Downers say his stats are being propped up by Eichel

My counter to that would be the fact that Eichel hasn't propped any other defenseman's numbers, so why would he be special