Ranking Prospects 2019-2020

[WAYNEINIONA]

He's 21.

 

[Bender]

He's 21.

Wow that's old for an OHLer.

 

[herman]

https://theathletic.com/1826556/2020/05/25/mind-over-matter-the-gift-that-defines-maple-leafs-prospect-nick-abruzzese/

Nick Abruzzese recognized his physical limitations and took the Frank Catalanotto approach to gaining advantage over his opponents.

[Ryan] Hardy [, current Chicago Steel GM] wanted people to know what type of player Abruzzese could become. He regularly sent out tweets in 2019-20 hyping his performances. (Hardy?s tweets have since been deleted)

In March 2019, Hardy received a text message from Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas. He didn?t want word of Abruzzese?s exploits spreading more than it already had.

?(Dubas) said, ?Hey, stop tweeting about Nick Abruzzese. You accomplished what you set out to do,?? said Hardy. ?I texted him back, saying, ?OK, but you better pick him if I?m gonna stop tweeting about him.??

?We tried to just stay quiet and hoped to select him later on because we felt the fit was great for Nick with the Leafs,? Dubas said via email recently.

Just minutes before the final pick of the fourth round of the 2019 draft, with the Leafs on the clock, Dubas texted Hardy: ?It?s time.?

Knowing how much Hardy had advocated for Abruzzese, Dubas wanted him to be watching live when the Leafs selected him.

Hardy quickly shot Abruzzese a text: ?Pay me.?

Further confirmation that the Leafs under Dubas are drafting (and courting free agent) hockey nerds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHJhcpiw9v8

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I forgot Abruzzese was a D+2 pick. That slightly tempers my excitement for his success this season but he still sounds like a great kid. Hopefully he continues to progress and that story about getting drafted is something all Leafs fans know.

This is completely speculation, but I wonder if there's any chance of him turning pro next season. Who knows what colleges/college sports will look like next season. Having his old coach with the Marlies now could be a selling point.

 

[herman]

I forgot Abruzzese was a D+2 pick. That slightly tempers my excitement for his success this season but he still sounds like a great kid. Hopefully he continues to progress and that story about getting drafted is something all Leafs fans know.

This is completely speculation, but I wonder if there's any chance of him turning pro next season. Who knows what colleges/college sports will look like next season. Having his old coach with the Marlies now could be a selling point.

I think at the 18-20 age range, there is still so much variation in body types and maturation that the +1 and +2 doesn't bother me too much depending on how the player is generating his success. In Abruzzese's case, his body is still on the small side for pro hockey but his mind has been progressing very obviously (and sharply). If We had drafted him his initial eligibility and he hit this stride D+2/3, I'd still be pretty pleased. His standout asset is also one that does not depreciate with age (at least within playing ages).

I thought I saw a comment somewhere that he's jumping pro 2021

Ah here it is in the comments section of the article:
Joshua Kloke: I had a few people tell me they thought he'd try to make the jump to pro in 2021. I guess a lot depends on what Harvard's season ends up looking like in 20/21.

 

[herman]

Abruzzese and Der-Arguchintsev and Abramov have the hockey minds to potentially succeed at the NHL level. Matthews, Marner, and Nylander have similar minds but they've also got the physical tools and wherewithal to pull off the plays that they foresee.

 

[Frank E]

Didn't really know where to put this, but Sean Day was released by the Rangers.

He sounds like a Dubas & co. project in the waiting.

 

[bustaheims]

Didn't really know where to put this, but Sean Day was released by the Rangers.

He sounds like a Dubas & co. project in the waiting.

Could be worth an AHL contract and invite to camp. Might be a case where he needs the right coach/staff/etc. to help him put things together.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Didn't really know where to put this, but Sean Day was released by the Rangers.

He sounds like a Dubas & co. project in the waiting.

Could be worth an AHL contract and invite to camp. Might be a case where he needs the right coach/staff/etc. to help him put things together.

He actually doesn't because by all accounts he doesn't think the game very well. The old million dollar body/ 10 cent brain scenario doesn't bode well.

 

[Highlander]

Dubas want the 10 million dollar brain 8)

 

[Bender]

Didn't really know where to put this, but Sean Day was released by the Rangers.

He sounds like a Dubas & co. project in the waiting.

Could be worth an AHL contract and invite to camp. Might be a case where he needs the right coach/staff/etc. to help him put things together.

He actually doesn't because by all accounts he doesn't think the game very well. The old million dollar body/ 10 cent brain scenario doesn't bode well.

10 cent brain  ;D

 

[bustaheims]

He actually doesn't because by all accounts he doesn't think the game very well. The old million dollar body/ 10 cent brain scenario doesn't bode well.

Which is exactly why he might need the right coach/etc. That side of things can be improved through coaching, training, skills development, and so on. If he has the physical tools - which he appears to - the rest can be worked on.

Also, you know, AHL contract. Pretty low risk.

 

[Highlander]

He actually doesn't because by all accounts he doesn't think the game very well. The old million dollar body/ 10 cent brain scenario doesn't bode well.

Which is exactly why he might need the right coach/etc. That side of things can be improved through coaching, training, skills development, and so on. If he has the physical tools - which he appears to - the rest can be worked on.

Also, you know, AHL contract. Pretty low risk.

Agreed, hard to give up a 22 year old defensemen who is 6'2" and almost 230Lb.  Supposedly an excellent skater.  Perhaps they can inject some Bobby Orr brain cells into him.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

He actually doesn't because by all accounts he doesn't think the game very well. The old million dollar body/ 10 cent brain scenario doesn't bode well.

Which is exactly why he might need the right coach/etc. That side of things can be improved through coaching, training, skills development, and so on. If he has the physical tools - which he appears to - the rest can be worked on.

Also, you know, AHL contract. Pretty low risk.

Pretty good write up here.
https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/the-new-york-rangers-have-cut-ties-with-sean-day

I tend to agree with not giving exceptional status to players. Especially ones that are not a consensus exceptional player.

I've never understood the concept of pushing a player to play above their heads. Let them enjoy being the big fish. Let them experience being the leader and gaining that skill that they may be lacking. When you're really good, the game slows down for you. Why force them to play at a skill level that's too fast for them to process. Let them enjoy playing a game that seems to be moving slower.

 

[Highlander]

Noel Hoefenmayer who we picked up for a sack of pea's or nothing, has been declared the CHL Defenseman of the year.  Hope he is a pleasant surprise. I like Dubas signings, the Russians and the rest.

 

[L K]

He actually doesn't because by all accounts he doesn't think the game very well. The old million dollar body/ 10 cent brain scenario doesn't bode well.

Which is exactly why he might need the right coach/etc. That side of things can be improved through coaching, training, skills development, and so on. If he has the physical tools - which he appears to - the rest can be worked on.

Also, you know, AHL contract. Pretty low risk.

Pretty good write up here.
https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/the-new-york-rangers-have-cut-ties-with-sean-day

I tend to agree with not giving exceptional status to players. Especially ones that are not a consensus exceptional player.

I've never understood the concept of pushing a player to play above their heads. Let them enjoy being the big fish. Let them experience being the leader and gaining that skill that they may be lacking. When you're really good, the game slows down for you. Why force them to play at a skill level that's too fast for them to process. Let them enjoy playing a game that seems to be moving slower.

Is it really that fair of a statement on the program when we are talking about seven players granted exceptional status.  Three of them are really good NHL players.  One is still a well regarded prospect

John Tavares - a 1st overall pick
Aaron Ekblad - a 1st overall pick
Connor McDavid - a 1st overall pick
Joe Veleno - a 1st round pick and played in the AHL as a 19 year old
Shane Wright - >PPG in his rookie OHL season
Connor Bedard - granted exceptional status this year
Sean Day

I think there is a better argument for maybe not granting exceptional status for defensemen.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Is it really that fair of a statement on the program when we are talking about seven players granted exceptional status.  Three of them are really good NHL players.  One is still a well regarded prospect

I wanted to go back and see what the reaction to Day earning the status was and even in the first article I looked at it says there were people who seemed skeptical that he deserved it:

But just how exceptional is Day? There was some speculation he might not receive exceptional status because there is a chance that neither the Ottawa 67?s nor the Erie Otters, who own the first two picks in the OHL draft April 6, intend to choose Day. And one scout who has seen the other three exceptional players in their junior draft years said Day is not at their level.

?From what I saw, he was nowhere near a player who dominated at his level of competition,? the scout said. ?Not even close.?

The article also suggests that politics may have played a part here as it's speculated he would have gone the NCAA route had he not been granted it.

I also just did a quick check and it looks like Day was the only "exceptional" player to play his U15 hockey outside of Canada. Maybe that played a role here too. If the CHL doesn't have a complete knowledge of all the training/development systems a player goes through in Michigan as they would in Toronto then they probably shouldn't be looking at players from there for something like this.