In addition to all of the commotion around possible trades and free agency right around the corner, Canes fans will be treated to some actual hockey this week. The prospects arrived yesterday and practices which are open to the public begin on Wednesday. The full schedule is HERE.
I will add to it as the week rolls on and certainly write more of a game version for the scrimmage on Saturday, but here is the overview version of ‘what I’m watching’ for the Carolina Hurricanes Prospect Camp.
1) Andrei Svechnikov
One of the best parts of this annual event is the chance to get a first glimpse at the newly-drafted prospects. As when Noah Hanifin and Elias Lindholm were here, Andrei Svechnikov brings another high-end talent who will compete for a roster slot immediately. I always enjoy watching new players just to see their demeanor and personality on the ice and around the other players, and I also like getting a feel for their games and who they remind me of. I am hearing Marian Hossa for Svechnikov, so I will be watching to see if that checks out. In addition, as a player expected to play in the NHL this season, I will be watching to see if Svechnikov looks to be a level above this younger group of players who are not (at least yet) NHL caliber.
2) Jake Bean
His case is an interesting. He is a similarly high-pedigree draft pick selected in the front half of the first round but has taken a more step-wise development path playing two years in juniors after being drafted. Suddenly, he is a 20-year old veteran at this camp and is slated to take the next step moving up to the AHL in 2018-19. My assessment of his progress differs significantly from many others’ views. Many have him trying to win a bottom pairing role in the NHL in 2018-19. I see him needing a full year in the AHL continuing to work on the defensive side of his game before he is NHL-ready in that regard. As of last summer’s camp and also training camp, I saw him as a player with a ways to go defensively. No doubt, Bean will post some dazzling offensive plays. He will look comfortable carrying the puck. And he will look good in any offensive or power play drills. But specifically my watch points are the other side of the puck.
Has he improved his gap defending off the rush, or does he just keep backing up and backing up to the point where the offensive player can go where he wants and ultimately use him as a screen?
Does he stand out defensively in this group? As stated above, this is not NHL level hockey and much of the competition is 18 and 19 year olds. If Bean does not stand out defensively in this group, it means he will likely struggle come September.
3) The older college crew
In a group with the majority being 18 or 19, the group for NCAA forwards will return for their third or fourth prospect camp. If they are on track, players like Max Zimmer, Matt Filipe, Luke Stevens and David Cotton should play their way to the top of this group. Filipe played well in last summer’s event and boosted his standing in my informal prospect evaluations. I will be watching to see if he or any of the others can distance themselves from the young group this week.
4) Martin Necas
To be honest, I think the real watch point for Necas will be in training camp. He proved last year that he is at the top of this group and that he can create offense against this level of competition. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to get an updated read on him heading toward September.
5) First impressions
All of the six 2018 NHL draft picks will be in attendance as will defenseman Adam Fox (obtained in Hamilton trade) and Michael Fora (Swiss defenseman signed as a free agent), so this week presents a great chance to form first impressions for the newest group of prospects. As such I will be watching them closely.
What say you Canes fans?
Who will you be watching most closely this week?
Go Canes!
1. Does Svechnikov have an Aho level desire to win?
2. Does Necas have a scoring touch now? If he does, he’ll stick.
3. I really just wanna watch some hockey.
1. Svechnikov – Does he really standout.
2. Necas – does he have any finishing abilities. Otherwise I know he can handle himself at the NHL level.
3. Bean – How he handles himself defensively.
4. Fox – Does he appear as good as his press clippings. How close is he to NHL ready as I feel to keep him he will have to be offered an NHL contract ala McAvoy.
5. Sareela – Is he dynamic on offense and can he play acceptable defense a the NHL level.
6. Drury – Just an idea of his real potential. From his current record he looks like a carbon copy of what DiGuiseppe looked like when he came out of Michigan.
Just an unrelated note: On other sites they point out that Ferland did no score much in the last 30 games (2 goals) for Calgary. To set the full record straight Elias Lindholm scored just 2 goals over the last 29 games for the Canes. The second one coming in the last game of the year. This was during a period when he was playing 18-20 minutes per game and on one of the power play units. Just wanted Canes fans to know in case it was of concern.
I wouldn’t expect Ferland to continue to score 20+ goals. He had never been a scorer in the past. Playing with Monahan and Gaudreau will do that for you. Maybe he has improved to that point, but the player I think we are getting is a big, gritty, hard to play against forward. I’m good with that.
Have him playing with Aho and Turbo and he may have similar results as with Gaudreau and Monahan. He can hit and clear space, he has good hands, and speed that could keep up with both G&M.
I hope Ferland gets a chance to ride shotgun with the Finns. It would also be interesting if he played a veteran role with Necas and Svech. Two rookies together would be tough but fun to watch.
Don’t want to let the cat out of the bag early, but I have half of a 2-part interview on Hamilton and Ferland from writers who track the Flames like I/we do the Canes. The contact thought Ferland was a good complement for Gaudreau/Monahan as an aggressive forechecker and player who played near the crease creating havoc and having enough skill to finish when the puck showed up. Though he is not a pure version of a top line scoring forward, Ferland’s skill set could similarly be complementary for Aho/Teravainen.
I hope everyone realizes why the Flames hired Peters and traded for Hanifin/Lindholm is because they missed the playoffs. I think Aho becomes a better C than Monahan, but TT is not the winger that Gaudreau is. Ferland, as RR mentioned, only netted two goals in last 30 games. Let’s not be so quick to forget that Zykov had 3 in 10 games. I would be concerned if Ferland starts with Aho/TT with Zykov with Rask or the undetermined “other” center. I don’t want Necas centering Zykov, or likely even Svech, because having two rookies on one line is gambling with development issues.
I hope RBA is wise enough to realize that Hamilton is an upgrade on Hanifin (at least last’s year version) but Ferland is not the all-around player that Lindholm is. I would think Ferland works with Rask and Martinook/Foegele.
While I’m not sure Ferland will be a consistent 20-25 goal scorer, I am confident he is every bit an all around player. Scoring is the thing he wasn’t known for. Much like Lindholm. Lindholm had every chance to play on the PP all season and still struggled to create offense. Lindholm may ( I stress may ) have a higher ceiling, but he has shown little in the offensive instinct department.
Ferland has not been used on the penalty kill in any of his four seasons–Lindholm was a key penalty killer. Based on that and how often he was credited with a hit, I believe that Ferland is more aggressive but less positionally sound.
I would say seeing fox is pretty important. Does he look ready? If so, do we go with McKeown as the 3rd pairing RHD as a place holder until the NCAA season is over?
Eetu? How does he look against peers versus men over in Europe? Bring him into Charlotte this year?
Yes does anyone have any news on whether the Eetu will be in Charlotte next season? Would like to see him there – he’s played plenty of Liiga now.
I don’t know about where he’s going to be, but after that first practice today, I get the feeling that he really doesn’t like being hit. So he’d probably do well to get some AHL time.
All I want in the world this week is to see Necas and Svechnikov go at it. Yes I know different positions, different skillsets, but for real. Necas v. Svechnikov. That is all.
This is a great point. The word is out on Svech being in a potential ‘elite’ category whereas I think the verdict is still out on Necas. He has elite potential for certain but at the same time here is a guy who compared himself to David Krejci. Which is fine – Krejci is a great player but he’s a 2nd line center- I’d like to see those top end Giroux comparables fill out. Will be curious to see how they look and if either has an edge. Necas has 2 full seasons of pro hockey (granted Czech league seasons not too many games) under his belt whereas Svech has none.
Would you post a short clip of Fox exiting the zone to Necas at at center ice who makes a dazzling pass to Svech for a world class finish? Please set to repeat for the next decade. Thanks.
Fox, Fora, Zykov, Necas, Zvechnikov, for starters. The big new Finn. This is exciting!
Wish I could see any of them–will be eagerly awaiting the responses from Matt and others who attend sessions.
Obviously interested in first impressions of Svechnikov. Excited to hear if Matt thinks Necas and Bean are nearing NHL-level readiness.
However, I think I am most interested in Martin, Mattheos, and De Jong. The first two because early reports are that they are both going to be solid contributors in the near future. De Jong because Matt’s contact earlier this year stated De Jong has “elite skating for the WHL.” I will be thrilled if his skating stands out compared to other prospects, because it would be great to have a 6’5″ defenseman with excellent skating.
I’ll be listening to the sound of skates on ice and of sticks whacking pucks. And I’ll be in heaven. Curious to see Svechnikov, of course, as well as the other newbies. But I just want to enjoy some hockey.
Like jm97, I want to see combinations on the ice. I want to see a combination that looks like future NHL top line (likely a combination of Svechnikov, Necas, Geekie, Mattheos) and a combination that looks like a future NHL top pairing (Bean and Fox).
It better yet, two combinations each of the above.
Hockey is a team sport, let’s see if these young guys team in a way that makes the group stand out.
Necas impressed the professionals there – Maniscalco and even DeCock who went so far as to say Necas simply didn’t belong as prospects camp; he is that much improved and that good. Saw Fox with some great takeaways. Svech and Necas on a 4×4 drill looking good together. Didn’t see enough of Bean but what I did looked good.
Thank you for the update, please share more observations and thoughts.
I only mentioned six players in my post but think there is a pool of 10-12 that could produce at least one very good top line and top pairing.
Svech and Necas together made me so happy. They have a long way to build clearly, but the talent was palpable, and it was fun to see them tear through and start building what hopefully is a long and prosperous hockey relationship.
Was fun to see Svechnikov cut through an entire foursome to get a Grade A chance as well.
Jack Hughes is smart as hell. Might want to work on staying on his skates a bit lol.
Jake Bean is good but not Necas and Svechnikov transcendent good. More like best of the rest good.
Luke Henman is just super excited to be there.
Fox was intriguing. Fora was more intriguing.
Maniscalco and DeCock are professionals? Media professionals. While I am happy to hear positives about Necas I would put my hockey knowledge and experience, and most of yours, above those two.
Optimism abounds for the young players. Cool day to be a Canes fan.