23-24 Prospects Thread

[buddha]

i'm excited about asp too, but i still worry he's too small.

[slothfacekilla]

4 hours ago, buddha said:

i'm excited about asp too, but i still worry he's too small.

He's taller and heavier than Quinn Hughes already (at least both of their listed public numbers) and did the best bench press testing at his prospect combine, so I'm hoping he can overcome his smaller stature with his skills and hockey IQ.  But it is another reason why he's the most intriguing prospect to me (range of outcomes from complete NHL bust to NHL superstar).

[Shinzaki]

 

[slothfacekilla]

Really excited he's playing, and at center.

[slothfacekilla]

 

 

[slothfacekilla]

Grand Rapids is down in their series but Wallinder had a good game last game

 

 

Goal and assist

[slothfacekilla]

 

 

 

 

 

[slothfacekilla]

 

Another goody from last night.  L'Heurex has been an absolute rat this series so it has been good to see people go after him a bit.  I know Tuomisto also bopped him good after a whistle around the Griffins' net.  An interesting thing is that L'Heurex has actively gone at Cossa to talk **** after goals.  Cossa no doubt must be talking a lot of **** too, I know one of his hallmarks in junior was being very confident and talking to other teams a lot.  I think he does it in practice too apparently.  Goalies...  Edvinsson came back after missing games with an injury so that was huge.  Danielson did take a seat though, he honestly must be tired after going through a playoff run already.  It also looked like he needed to add strength playing against men.  That should be good motivation to go hard in the offseason program so he has a chance to make the NHL next season.  I don't think he even had time to practice with the Griffins, so it was a tough spot for him anyways.

[buddha]

it was good to see soderblom throwing his weight around a bit too.

[Shinzaki]

A little surprised they passed on Bednar...he had a decent year at Toledo.  

[slothfacekilla]

On 6/1/2024 at 2:32 PM, Shinzaki said:

A little surprised they passed on Bednar...he had a decent year at Toledo.  

I thought Bednar might get a deal just for ECHL depth but in the end I don't think losing him will matter.

[buddha]

hurts to lose a second round pick but it was obvious he didnt have it.

bednar had been playing well, i thought.  interesting that they didnt sign him.

[Shinzaki]

Bednar just signed an AHL deal with Grand Rapids

[buddha]

2 hours ago, Shinzaki said:

Bednar just signed an AHL deal with Grand Rapids

to tandem with cossa?  augustine to stay at msu or go to toledo?

[Shinzaki]

Bednar could still get loaned to Toledo...I guess.  I think Augustine would stay at MSU...but who knows what might happen in camp

[Hongbit]

I don’t see anyway that Toledo would be in the picture for Augustine.  Quality of play is higher at NCAA than ECHL. 

Edited June 4, 2024 by Hongbit

[Shinzaki]

They also signed 2019 pick Carter Gylander to a 2 year contract earlier this spring.  He's gonna have go play somewhere. Probably Toledo?

[slothfacekilla]

Guessing Gylander and Bednar to Toledo.

[Shinzaki]

Goalie John Lethemon is leaving Toledo to play in Finland next year

[slothfacekilla]

Seeing some rumblings that ASP might come over to North America next season instead of staying in Sweden, like a Leo Carlsson situation where he was supposed to stay but ended up coming over to the Ducks.

[lordstanley]

I don’t know how respected is McKeen’s, maybe one of you guys do. 
 

 

[slothfacekilla]

I think McKeen has some respect in the industry but I'm not too familiar.  The rankings seem about right for their system.

 

[slothfacekilla]

 

Two more seasons of Buch in the KHL

[slothfacekilla]

 

Super interesting (and encouraging) to see Buch in Detroit training with other prospects.  Usually with the KHL / Europe schedule he doesn't come over.

[slothfacekilla]

Wheeler on our newest prospect after the trade, from February as Nashville’s 10th best prospect and Nashville as the 8th best prospect pool:

Finland’s captain at times with their U18 team last year, Kiiskinen really impressed me at the fall 2022 Five Nations in Plymouth, where he was in on eight of their 12 goals, led the team in points and shots, and showed both skill and a respectable work rate. He was also one of the more productive players in Finland’s top junior league (which included a 20-shot hat-trick performance) and had real chemistry with countryman Jesse Nurmi on a line internationally throughout last year. This season, though he didn’t make the Finnish world junior team (he’ll be a top-nine winger at the Ottawa tournament next year), Kiiskinen was Finland’s best player at the U20 Five Nations in February, has played almost exclusively in Liiga this season and has lit up Finland’s junior level in brief loans.

He’s dangerous on the flank and point on the power play because of his shot (both a quick wrister and the one-timer on his off-wing) but also a willingness to use his shot as a decoy into a pretty compelling passing game. He plays hard and gets off the flank to finish plays around the net. He has a pro frame and strong balance on his skates playing through bumps. But he’s not a quick north-south skater (due in large part to short, almost stunted stride extensions) even though he evades defensemen with cuts and stop-ups to change directions and has looked a step quicker this year. He’s also got a pro shot and deft handling skills, with a knack for having the puck in good spots a lot and a confidence flipping the switch to attack mode. That includes skill at catching and giving saucer passes and good dexterity around the net on tips and redirects. He doesn’t turn 19 until the end of August either, giving him good runway to become a productive Liiga player and then come over to North America to try to work into the call-up conversation in the AHL eventually. My only complaint about his game is that it can lack pace at times. This is the point in Nashville’s list where the players’ odds of making it get a little longer but I’m a fan of his game and felt he was a worthwhile third-round pick.