Prospects, and the future of the NHL

I like the way this was expressed when I saw this, so I just copied it:
One of the top goaltending prospects in the world has signed his first NHL contract, as the Buffalo Sabres announced Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has inked his three-year, entry-level contract.

 

Great read on the USNTDP. This has to be the best move that USA Hockey has ever made. They realized that they can't compete with the Canadas and Russias of the world in terms of overall numbers + quality so they focused solely on quality. Pump out higher quality players instead higher numbers of less quality players.
I remember when this 1st came about and it was seen as a gimmick by some, hell I know some of the guys on the original team and know some guys that even turned down playing on the original team. The guys that left for Ann Arbor came back completely different players. Now it's a hockey factory and the #1 reason that the US can compete on every level.

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/1559276

 

Nice insight, Matty. Thanks.

 

Alexis Lafreniere is the odds on favorite to go #1 in 2020. He just had a very strong showing at the Gretzky-Hlinka tourney (when did Gretzky get his name in on this?) leading Canada to the gold. Still a little ways out but the word special seems to be thrown around when describing this kid.
USA/Canada semifinal game was awesome, as expected, controversial ending but another OT game between these 2. USA/Canada games are my favorite, at every level. So much fun.

 

^^ to be honest Matty, i never heard of the Gretzky-Hlinka tournament until last weekend when it was on. i watched 2 games. The USA got hosed plain and simple. then afterwards they said the tournament will use replay in arenas that can have it. huh? this isn't 1995. don't all NHL Arenas have replay capabilities? i thought the game was where the Oilers played at ? Rogers Place? then they said that games elsewhere DID NOT have replay, so they couldn't then use it for the semis. yeah that makes brilliant sense.

https://edmontonsun.com/sports/hockey/jones-controversy-at-hlinka-gretzky-cup-as-usa-gets-robbed

 

Miro Heiskanen said he is prepared to play in the NHL for the Dallas Stars this season.

"I think so," the 19-year-old defenseman prospect told Stars Inside Edge. "I had a really good summer. I think I am ready."

Heiskanen, the No. 3 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, reportedly was part of trade talks regarding Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson this offseason. Dallas' reluctance to trade him reportedly was part of the reason a deal was not made.

"We expect him to be an important part of our team," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said. "We expect to bring him along slowly, allowing him to play and play the way he needs to play in order to have success because, ultimately, that is going to make the Dallas Stars better. So we are going to live with mistakes, and he is going to get thrown back out there. We're going to try to make sure he is put in situations to have success early, and as he shows the ability to have success, we're going to give him more and more."

Heiskanen had 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 30 games for HIFK last season and was named the best defenseman in Liiga, the top league in Finland. He also played for Finland at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, the 2018 IIHF World Championship and the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.

He is the Stars' No. 1 prospect, according to NHL.com.

"From what we've seen, his play in the Olympics and being one of the top defensemen in Europe, playing in the World Championship, he's shown he can play at this level," Dallas general manager Jim Nill said. (NHL.com)

 

Saw Oliver Wahlstrom play this weekend and he looked really good. They were playing a lesser opponent but it was apparent this kid is pretty dynamic.

 

Panthers prospects Serron Noel and Owen Tippett are wasting away at the junior level, scoring hat tricks and displaying talent obviously above their competition. Really wish the rules didn't prevent at least Tippett from playing at the AHL level.

 

That’s the CHL for ya

 

I thought Wahlstrom was one of the steals of this draft. I cannot really fault any of the teams that picked someone over him, but I had him at 8 on my board.

 

Matej Pekar was not on the draft radar a year ago. A very good season in Muskegon rocketed the young Czech up to the top spot in the fourth round in the June.

After initially indicating an intent to go to the Miami Redhawks, he was persuaded to take his his talents to the OHL. He's played well over a pt./game so far this season.

He delighted Sabres fans during the prospects' camp by being the agitating gritty heart-and-soul that is hated by everyone but the hometown crowd. (He was the guy that Rasmus Dahlin flattened in widely seen Twitter post.) He also got under Casey Mittlestadt's skin. This kid oozes charisma and looks like a steal at #94.

His role model is Marchant. I'd love it if he becomes half the NHL player is idol is (without the licking).

Matej signed his ELC today. I think we may see him in blue & gold as early as the 2020-21 season. Just in time for when Buffalo should be on the cusp of about a decade of SC contention.

 

Who is Jack Hughes?

He was born in 2001 in Orlando, son to Jim Hughes. His dad was from Hicksville, NY and went to Providence, before ending up in albany for a year then retiring to become a coach. He was an assistant for a couple of years up here for the marlies.

Although being born in florida he completed his minor league training with the toronto marlboros. He was drafted by the missisauga steelheads and played for georgetown before playing for US U-17 and U-18.

He's basically averaging 2 pts a game. His brother Quinn was drafted 7th overall by the nucks.

 

Flyers prospect Carter Hart made his NHL debut last night. He didn't disappoint and won 3-2. Hopefully the kid is for real and stays with the teas they need a real full time goalie.

 

flyers should be focused on hughes or that foreign kid who won the gold in the junior wc. this is a draft year to not be the 5th pick. gotta get 1 or 2.

 

15 year old Shane Wright is only the 6th player to receive exceptional status. He’ll be in the upcoming OHL draft.


https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/chl-exceptional-player-shane-wright-1.5048787

 

Good to keep an eye on this kid, not that the Leafs would be in the hunt. Burlington was the place to be on a Sat night 25 years ago.

 

Japan?

 

^^^what league is that - the no defense league? looks like a bad HS league. kid is solid. great stick handling and can skate, but the goalie and the defenders stink.