Texas Stars (Prospects) Thread

[Troy McClure]

I bailed on it. It kept showing the prior Blue Jackets game and freezing.

[ToddM]

Everything about that article makes me giggle with glee at how awesome the Stars will be in 2025.

[slaps]

Wheeler is good with prospects. I think what’s interesting to me is how he points out that Stankoven is short, not small. Gaudreau’s size isn’t an issue because he’s fast and skilled and still hard to get off the puck, even though he’s like 5’6”. Same with Debrincat.

[Troy McClure]

It is funny. Some smaller dudes like St.Louis or Verbeek are these fireplugs who other guys struggle with because they're tough to get leverage on.

The Stars also have the tallest small guy in the league. Seguin is listed at 6'1" but has a skating style and frame that always makes him look like one of the smaller guys on the ice.

[slaps]

I think Wheeler's take is accurate - smaller guys can turn it into an advantage due to their lower center of gravity, but they have to work a lot harder on core and leg strength, as well as quickness. Some do and just don't have the natural talent to overcome being a small guy. Others have tons of talent but don't work hard enough, and all the talent in the world won't help a guy who is 5'6" and got trucked by a dude who is 6'2".

[Troy McClure]

[Troy McClure]

Razor did a season preview podcast with Heika. Nothing super earth shattering. It's an hour long if you have some time to kill doing chores or whatever.

- Talking about the young guys, they can't even say any of them are a lock to make the lineup. We could have this group of three or four young forwards fans are super excited about end up all not making the NHL roster. Really a wet blanket conversation.

- Said Stankoven has been the best young player in Traverse City and in camp, but they also said Stankoven has no chance of making the team because Gaglardi wants Stankoven to go back for another season with the Kamloops Blazers because Kamloops hosts the Memorial Cup this season, and Gaglardi wants the Blazers to have Stankoven back to carry them to victory. Remember, Gaglardi owns the Blazers, so yes, Gaglardi is prioritizing his WHL team over his NHL team.

https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/official ... -335884094

[Knives Out]

Well then ...

[The Frugal Gourmet]

Agreed with Gagliardi. We should tank for draft picks. I'll just spend this season following basketball.

[ToddM]

The last thing we need is Stankhoven to get too cocky.

[ToddM]

Dunno, sounds like a bust to me.

[Math]

Yeah but with Lundkvist, Harley and the thought of putting Häkänpää on the PP, the Stars are now too heavily loaded on RHD. Maybe it'd be worth trading one of those guys for a 4th line grinder who is able to block shots.

[Troy McClure]

Just so I'm clear,.DeBoer hasn't even coached a regular season game yet, and we're already dusting off the #FreeHonka panic alarm?

I'd also like to remind folks Harley had his good AHL season in the covid season when every NHL team was carrying a taxi squad, which diluted the quality of AHL competition.

[BigAl]

Harley can be our power play specialist and Heiskanen can be our penalty killer.

[Troy McClure]

Harley can be our power play specialist and Heiskanen can be our penalty killer.

If that's how things end up, Gaglardi is going to add a name to his list when he goes to the media to *poo poo* on his mega contract players.

[ToddM]

Gurianov 2.0

[ToddM]

[ToddM]

Old school hockey scouts are getting reamed up the yingyang by advanced stats lately:

[ToddM]

Ok, this is legit hilarious. Apparently players with 'positive' intangibles, like 'leadership' and 'grit' perform *significantly worse* than prospects with NEGATIVE intangibles, such as 'lazy' or 'selfish':

[Math]

Maybe the Bruins parted ways with a future stud. Now they should trade for Mailloux.

[ToddM]

[ToddM]

Kids' got 8 goals and 35 points in 27 games. As a D man.

[Math]

Holy *poo poo*, the Swiss with a 3-2 upset vs. Finland in the WJC and Bichsel with the assist on the GWG.

[B Kat]

And Canada downed by Czechia in their first game.

[Math]

Canada's typical arrogance going in full hockey-champagne and Michigans against the Czechs. Welcome back to Earth, hope they will take their next opponents with a bit more of humility and respect.

[ToddM]

Bichsel has been slaying it at Juniors so far.

[ToddM]

[slaps]

For whatever it’s worth, Pronman at the Athletic had Stankoven and Bischel as two of the top performers at the World Juniors.

[Knives Out]

It's worth a lot more than Harley's performances there.

[slaps]

He put Stankoven in the tier just below Bedard.