2013/14 Prospect Stats & Updates Thread

[Calgary4LIfe]

Kanzig is no speedster out there, but he is very impressive considering his size. He is not 'slow'. He is actually fairly mobile.

If he wasn't, then he would end up like Breen - undrafted. Kanzig does have NHL upside. He has weaknesses - and he can use some additional speed - but to call him 'slow' is incorrect I would say.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Kanzig is no speedster out there, but he is very impressive considering his size. He is not 'slow'. He is actually fairly mobile.

If he wasn't, then he would end up like Breen - undrafted. Kanzig does have NHL upside. He has weaknesses - and he can use some additional speed - but to call him 'slow' is incorrect I would say.

One of the drills at the July camp had the players start at the icing line, skate to the blue line and back, the red line and back, the far blue line and back and the far goal line and back.

Conroy said that you need to be near 43 seconds to have enough speed to be in the NHL. Kanzig was over 47. Even Hanowski who is considered slow finished in the 44-45 second range.

He isn't bad for a big guy, but it definitely needs a lot of work.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

One of the drills at the July camp had the players start at the icing line, skate to the blue line and back, the red line and back, the far blue line and back and the far goal line and back.

Conroy said that you need to be near 43 seconds to have enough speed to be in the NHL. Kanzig was over 47. Even Hanowski who is considered slow finished in the 44-45 second range.

He isn't bad for a big guy, but it definitely needs a lot of work.

That's all well and good as a general rule.

But what matters for a big man, and particularly a big defenseman, is the first few steps.

It's much like linemen in the NFL - they couldn't sprint 100 yards to save their lives. But that is irrelevant. What matters is how quickly they can move 10 yards.

Kanzig is never going to be Karlsson, but we don't need him to be. What we need is for him to be able to turn and take two steps quickly.

And from what I saw in the summer, he isn't bad. More work is needed of course (as with any 18 year old). But anyone suggesting that his skating currently suggests that he isn't a legitimate prospect, is completely wrong IMO.

[YogiBerra]

Kanzig was suspended 2 games so he will not play tonight but will be back tomorrow in time to get swept.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

One of the drills at the July camp had the players start at the icing line, skate to the blue line and back, the red line and back, the far blue line and back and the far goal line and back.

Conroy said that you need to be near 43 seconds to have enough speed to be in the NHL. Kanzig was over 47. Even Hanowski who is considered slow finished in the 44-45 second range.

He isn't bad for a big guy, but it definitely needs a lot of work.

How did that compare to other 18 year olds?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

How did that compare to other 18 year olds?

Poirier and Klimchuk were both near or in front when they did it. Eric Roy was also in the upper end of the middle of the pack. IIRC the NCAA guys were gone by then, but Tim Harrison was rather quick in the other drills and John Gilmour was average in his efforts, it didn't stand out either positively or negatively.

Kanzig was last of our players, I think a couple of walk ons had a tough time like Penner.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Yeah, the fast guys were faster... was hoping since you seem to know the Kanzig number you knew the actual number for those guys too.

[StrykerSteve]

Kanzig did an end to end rush in one of the scrimmages last year, put any worries I had about his speed firmly to rest.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Yeah, the fast guys were faster... was hoping since you seem to know the Kanzig number you knew the actual number for those guys too.

The best ones out of them all were in the 42-43 range and the middle guys were more in the 44-45 range. It's harder to keep track of everyone when you've got 15 or so guys going at once. Kanzig stood out because he was at the very back of the pack. IIRC Conroy said that the best skaters period (guys like Sanderson or Bure) can do it in 41 or just under.

[Freeway]

How well guys can do the mountain climbers also depends on WHEN during the practice tey do it, too.

[Caged Great]

True enough. it was at the end of the day as well.

[expatflame]

Anyone heard any updates on Rafikov?

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

Kanzig did an end to end rush in one of the scrimmages last year, put any worries I had about his speed firmly to rest.

I've seen Smid do an end to end before, and he is a brutal skater.

[Savvy27]

I watched a couple of the Prospect tournament games in Penticton and Kanzig's skating was not a concern there. It's not a strength, but the criticisms on here are overstated.

[Freeway]

Originally Posted by expatflame

Anyone heard any updates on Rafikov?

Possibly coming over next season, won't know what's happening until CHL import draft in July.

[lanny9]

Originally Posted by Savvy27

I watched a couple of the Prospect tournament games in Penticton and Kanzig's skating was not a concern there. It's not a strength, but the criticisms on here are overstated.

I watched online and his speed wasn't a going concern for me. I think with a big man like that you aren't going to get top end skating(at least not too many pan out that way). His speed will undoubtedly be better in the coming years as he gets further NHL style conditioning and better understanding of the game. Who knows, although he is a beast already, he may need to get more leg strength to move that big body around for an NHL speed of game.

That said a big man can get away with lesser foot speed if he plays his position solidly. Don't get out of position and with his size I think he can turn into a very serviceable defenseman in the NHL. Has to have good hockey IQ....

Has anyone watched him much this year to gauge his speed or overall game compared to last year? I know his stat line has become better, especially his +/-. I am sure in the extended stay with the Flames camp they worked with him and strongly outlined what they think is required of him to become an everyday NHLer.

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

True enough. it was at the end of the day as well.

Ya was about to ask, was this the time Agostino went into leg spasms after the mountain climbers? I remember Kanzig was slow that one, and only beat Agostino because he couldn't move his legs any more on that last lap.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

I've seen Smid do an end to end before, and he is a brutal skater.

And Smid is a serviceable nhl player. With Kanzigs size and supposedly good hockey IQ his skating shouldn't be an issue. That's good to know.

[devo22]

Eric roy ‏@Royzy07
What a season with the boys, loved every minute of it, Gonna miss everyone. #

doesn't necessarily sound like a typical "will miss you in the summer, see you in the fall" tweet ... maybe turning pro with the Flames? He has 4 full junior seasons under his belt and he'd be AHL eligible in the fall (turns 20 in October). Maybe Alaska bound next season?

2010-11 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 49 4 15 19
2011-12 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 69 11 42 53
2012-13 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 72 17 22 39
2013-14 Brandon Wheat Kings WHL 66 11 33 44

he's 6'3" and 195 according to the WHL website.

[Vulcan]

I like Eric Roy, he's got a wicked shot. Any reports on his defensive game lately?