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Aulie to TBay for Carter Ashton

Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus has some nice things to say about the trade:

Carter Ashton, Left Wing

Seeing Carter Ashton being dealt was very surprising to me. The majority of NHL sources I talked to have pegged Ashton as Tampa's best or second-best prospect (excluding Brett Connolly) and I would have thought Tampa would have asked for more. While I don't agree with the industry's assessment, it was my perception he had more value than being a straight up asset exchange for Keith Aulie. The first round pick in 2009 has logged a lot of PK time in the AHL this season and has shown the ability to be very capable defensively while also spotting in front of the net on the power play here and there. He's a high-end skater and shooter but limited with the puck exhibiting a very simply puck game this year after being a little more creative in the WHL, bringing more value in the transition game, and corner work. He likely tops out as a fringe second, to a very good third line winger who could make the NHL jump soon.

Keith Aulie, Defense

I've been generally impressed with Steve Yzerman for the beginning of his tenure with Tampa Bay, especially at how he's made a conscious effort to acquire young talent and take risks, but I did not understand this trade at all for Tampa. Once a prospect worth dreaming on, Aulie has really hit a wall in his development. One pro scout said this on Aulie, "He can't skate, he can't do anything with the puck, and he can't think the game. His only positive is his size." Aulie has really struggled in the AHL and NHL this year, and Tampa should only really be hoping he becomes an average third pairing defender at his peak.

This deal was a head scratcher because it seems it should have been an "instant no" proposal from Tampa's perspective. Chalk this deal up as a win for Toronto as they continue to pile up young assets into a system that becomes more impressive every year.
Click to expand...

Link
 
Wow, that sounds even better than what I read yesterday. If anything, it sounded like an even trade, unless that scout just really doesn't like Aulie. I thought he took a step back, but I wouldn't have thought it was as bad as he says.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus has some nice things to say about the trade:

Carter Ashton, Left Wing

Seeing Carter Ashton being dealt was very surprising to me. The majority of NHL sources I talked to have pegged Ashton as Tampa's best or second-best prospect (excluding Brett Connolly) and I would have thought Tampa would have asked for more. While I don't agree with the industry's assessment, it was my perception he had more value than being a straight up asset exchange for Keith Aulie. The first round pick in 2009 has logged a lot of PK time in the AHL this season and has shown the ability to be very capable defensively while also spotting in front of the net on the power play here and there. He's a high-end skater and shooter but limited with the puck exhibiting a very simply puck game this year after being a little more creative in the WHL, bringing more value in the transition game, and corner work. He likely tops out as a fringe second, to a very good third line winger who could make the NHL jump soon.

Keith Aulie, Defense

I've been generally impressed with Steve Yzerman for the beginning of his tenure with Tampa Bay, especially at how he's made a conscious effort to acquire young talent and take risks, but I did not understand this trade at all for Tampa. Once a prospect worth dreaming on, Aulie has really hit a wall in his development. One pro scout said this on Aulie, "He can't skate, he can't do anything with the puck, and he can't think the game. His only positive is his size." Aulie has really struggled in the AHL and NHL this year, and Tampa should only really be hoping he becomes an average third pairing defender at his peak.

This deal was a head scratcher because it seems it should have been an "instant no" proposal from Tampa's perspective. Chalk this deal up as a win for Toronto as they continue to pile up young assets into a system that becomes more impressive every year.
Click to expand...

Link
Click to expand...

That seems like an overly harsh assessment of Aulie's abilities.  I think he's too slow to be a top pairing guy, but when he's on his game and working hard to stay ahead of the forecheck, he can pretty much take away any attempts to bring the puck down low.  And while he's not overly physical, any time a behemoth of a defenseman is leaning on you against the boards, it is going to tire you out. 

On the flip side, I don't think I have heard a more glowing review for a guy who is projecting to be a good 3rd line player.  One of the lines essentially said "he can't use his offensive skills from the WHL and has to rely on a simpler game".  It was phrased as a compliment, and I agree that a guy who realizes his limitations and plays within them, should be a positive, it is essentially an admission that he doesn't have the offensive skill to pull himself out of being a checking grinder who pots the occasional goal. 

I think that's great to have, and it's a component the Leafs sorely need, but it hardly seems "#2 prospect" worthy...well either that or its an admission of how terrible Tampa's prospect depth is.
 
Dudley's assessment was like many I've heard:
http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20120228_003232_6148
He all but guaranteed that he'd be a very good 3rd liner in the NHL with a decent chance to be top 6.

Loiselle was with Tampa when they drafted him and felt similarly.
http://www.fan590.com/ondemand/media.jsp?content=20120228_110400_12176

He's apparently been doing a lot of PK in the AHL which can only help him make the transition to the NHL.

After watching a bunch of video of him yesterday, he's like what I'd hoped for from Caputi: he goes to the net. The difference between the two is that he seems to have more ability to get his stick on the puck and put it away. A bunch of his goals in junior and the AHL are from within 5 feet of the crease.

The Leafs don't have a player like that. So I'd go a little further than Dudley/Loiselle  to suggest that he could give the current Leafs PP a different look because he goes to the tough area of the ice and works for his goals - banging them in. I think the Leafs could really use that.
 
Carter Ashton is acquainted with Leafs prospect Josh Nichols
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wq6AstFrZ4
 
Just a fyi Ashton might have been born in Winnipeg but he grew up in Saskatoon and played his minor hockey there.
 
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