Summer 2015 Prospect Ranking - Round 6 Run Off

[automaton 3]

Of those 3, Hickey is my choice...he has the highest upside imo.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Fire

Only if you think he's done developing at the age of 22. You might be right, I had the same thoughts myself at times, but this was the first season he had significant games in the NHL. People need to remember it took Backlund a while to prove himself at the NHL level. Granlund is comparable to Backlund imo.

Granlund has actually out scored Backlund in the AHL, world juniors, and playing pro in Europe. He has also been better in the NHL at the same age

[kermitology]

Hickey for me.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Best part is, we're in round 6 with a near-3-way tie and all these guys have top line / top pairing upside IMO.

Don't agree. Granlund has 2nd line offensive upside and isn't a good enough faceoff/possession player to be a bottom 6 forward. He also disappears for long stretches. He's one of those guys with a very precise "round hole" to fit into -- the question is if he's a square peg.

Janko also probably has 2nd line upside IMO, but I think he could play anywhere in the lineup.

I don't know anything about Hickey except that he's getting a lot of buzz.

[Caged Great]

I think this might just be best to call it a 3 way tie. All of them are within 3 votes.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I think this might just be best to call it a 3 way tie. All of them are within 3 votes.

No ties! If someone wins by one vote, then they win. Other two go back in the pool and run round 7.

[DiracSpike]

Freshman Brandon Hickey had one less point than freshman Mark Jankowski.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by DiracSpike

Freshman Brandon Hickey had one less point than freshman Mark Jankowski.

I'm waaaay higher on Hickey than Jankowski, but Hickey did play with Eichel.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Janko again for me. I think the long term project of developing him into a quality NHLer is paying off. Another season at Providence and one in the AHL will have him ready for a regular gig in the NHL.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Once Granlund starts showing his offense in the NHL, you guys are going to be amazed. He can score with ease in the AHL. I feel like it's only a matter of time before he breaks out.

[McG]

I'm really happy for our prospect pool when I read all of the good things written about all of these players.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Don't agree. Granlund has 2nd line offensive upside and isn't a good enough faceoff/possession player to be a bottom 6 forward. He also disappears for long stretches. He's one of those guys with a very precise "round hole" to fit into -- the question is if he's a square peg.

Janko also probably has 2nd line upside IMO, but I think he could play anywhere in the lineup.

I don't know anything about Hickey except that he's getting a lot of buzz.

Granlund isn't a flashy / explosive primary scorer but that doesn't mean he doesn't have top line upside. He's the kind of guy you sneak to the other end of Getzlaf and Perry or the Sedin Twins and he'll burn you with that shot of his or find the open man with his vision.

As for possession, it's something he needs to improve but it was his rookie year.

It's said often, but the biggest mistake in handling Granlund is forcing him to play center. He can play the position, but he doesn't thrive playing it. It was made worse because most of the year he was centering the fourth line if he got in.. guys like Bollig who aren't offensive-minded.

Granlund is not Backlund despite the similar sounding name. I see his upside as a pure Detroit-style winger.

The first step for him is getting stronger than he was last season.

[Jacks]

I'd say just rank the next 3 as per this poll, they are clearly the next 3 to go in whichever order.

[Trojan97]

Hickey and it's not particularly close IMO.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Jacks

I'd say just rank the next 3 as per this poll, they are clearly the next 3 to go in whichever order.

I would disagree. I think klimchuk or kylington could slip in the 3rd spot. We got plenty of summer.

[thymebalm]

How is out sure fire best player of the three getting the least amount of votes? Hickey and Jankowski have so many question marks compared to Granlund. That's some bold voting.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

How is out sure fire best player of the three getting the least amount of votes? Hickey and Jankowski have so many question marks compared to Granlund. That's some bold voting.

The best player right now. If you cap grandlund as 3rd line upside the voting make sense.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

The first and foremost question about any prospect is:

"Is this kid actually going to play in the NHL?"

After that question is answered, then we can worry about relative strengths, and ceiling vs floor, and all that jazz.

The only one of those guys for whom I can look you in the eye, and without hesitation or qualifications, answer "Yes"... is Granlund.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

How is out sure fire best player of the three getting the least amount of votes? Hickey and Jankowski have so many question marks compared to Granlund. That's some bold voting.

Well not everyone votes the same way you do and Granlund isn't exactly a sure thing.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by BACKCHECK!!!

The first and foremost question about any prospect is:

"Is this kid actually going to play in the NHL?"

After that question is answered, then we can worry about relative strengths, and ceiling vs floor, and all that jazz.

The only one of those guys for whom I can look you in the eye, and without hesitation or qualifications, answer "Yes"... is Granlund.

That's one way of doing it but certainly not the only way. Heck - we don't even know if Granlund is a full time NHLer. Maybe he is a guy that goes up and down his entire career. So the fact that he has played SOME NHL games really doesn't matter.