thewordbird
06-29-2009, 08:35 AM
Hi there guys and gals.
I have gone into depth, writing about the NHL Prospects that have had varying degrees of influence on the 2008-2009 NHL Playoffs. I would love to see your comments and input on the piece. I have outline #16 through #11 here, the rest can be found at www.chillerinstinct.com . The WHL produced a few of these guys.
Chiller Instinct Top Prospect Performers
2008-2009 NHL Playoffs
During playoff runs both fruitful and hampered, a team thrives when its directive is supported by players making entry-level salaries. The wealth of flexibility a team receives when a club can fill a need with an emerging teenager or a developmentally sound farm player is immense, and yet it carries a risk all on its own. Below, Chiller Instinct (www.chillerinstinct.com) has taken the time to recount the 16 most significant additions* to any NHL playoff roster, in acclivity:
16 (RW, Columbus) Jakub Voracek (6'1" - 205 lbs, 15 August 1989) is a supreme talent and could be a top forward on most any team. The timing was just not perfected in the Blue Jackets playoff debut; the entire team was wind-swept. The Kladno, Czech-born forward was used sparingly against Detroit, averaging below 12 minutes of ice-time in the four games, managing an assist, an even rating, and 12 shots (including six in Game #4). The former Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) star is standing on a humongous goal-scoring drought however, dating back twenty-three games to early March, against Los Angeles. Voracek has impressive playoff totals in feeder leagues and is a vital key to success is Columbus. Keep in mind that the young Slovak averaged three shots per game, second only to Bobby Ryan. Management will implore their young play-maker and defensive forward to shoot more often still.
15 (C/W, Philadelphia) Darroll Powe (5'11" - 211 lbs, 22 June 1985) will most likely provide the Flyers with a stable, young forward to fill-in on the cheap for next season, after bolstering the lower lines for GM Paul Holmgren in 60 games this year. While he accumulated only 11 points in those games, it was the Saskatchewan-bred Powe's intensity that showed through in the playoffs most impressively. The undrafted centre out of Princeton University (NCAA) was a nice addition to the club, scoring three points (one goal), 16 hits, 10 shots, and registered an even rating against Pittsburgh.
14 (G, Columbus) Steve Mason (6’4” – 202 lbs, 29 May 1988) locked up the NHL’s Calder Trophy this week and finished second for the Vezina behind only the supreme efforts of Boston goalie Tim Thomas. The postseason held much less water for the shell-shocked netminder though, as Detroit steam-rolled the fledgling club in four games. Oakville, Ontario’s Mason would do well to build on the fact that night after night, his efforts kept the Blue Jackets in most games. The Wings fired an average of 34.75 shots per game his way. So while his GAA (4.27) was nearly 2 full goals higher, and a .878 save-percentage looks shabby beside his award-winning .918 figure from earlier in the season, their opponent was the powerhouse Red Wings. Columbus’ 3rd round pick in 2006 and former London Knight certainly has a bright future ahead of him.
13 (D, Calgary) Adam Pardy (6'4" - 220 lbs, 29 May 1984) is a rough and tumble defender that holds the keep. During the season, the Bonavista, Newfoundland-born defenseman proved to be a capable depth guy and installed third-pairing minutes when called-up from Quad City (AHL). However, the Flames' postseason would have been lengthier, had the team also displayed their 6th-round (2004) pick's desire to win. Pardy's contributions stand out on the Calgary roster the way Robyn Regehr's would have or Jarome Iginla’s does; he fought Ben Eager and added two assists in the opening round. Expect Pardy to be kept around, providing that management deals with his Class VI impending free agency accordingly.
12 (RW, Columbus) Derek Dorsett (5'11", 187 lbs, 20 December 1986) was in familiar territory during the Blue Jackets’ first foray into postseason play; the seventh-round pick in 2006 rang out 14 total hits in his three games, averaging less than 10 minutes-per-game. Dorsett was pitted against his former team-mate Darren Helm, who was the only player to average more hits-per-game (5.13 to 4.67) than Dorsett. Both were pivotal players in Medicine Hat's 2006 WHL Championship season. In just over one full campaign since turning pro last season with Syracuse (AHL), Dorsett has scored 11 goals in 71 games, offsetting his 324 PIM. Columbus Head Coach Ken Hitchcock finds appropriate ice-time for players with such an ilk; the Kindersely, Saskatchewan-born player will likely claim a full-time roster spot next season.
11-1 at CI (www.chillerininstinct.com)
*The requirements are that the player have played in no more than 82 regular season games, with no more than 65 in any two seasons, and have not reached his or her 26th birthday by the time the playoffs commenced on 15 April 2009. This would discount players such as San Jose winger Devin Setoguchi and Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller on age. Although eligible, the list overlooks the underwhelming playoff efforts of Montreal forward Matt D'Agostini, St. Louis centre Patrik Berglund, Boston's Blake Wheeler, or Flyers' teenage Swiss defenseman Luca Sbisa for instance.
Vancouver, New York, New Jersey, Montreal, and San Jose all incredibly do not have one of the 16 players.
Robin Keith Thompson
I have gone into depth, writing about the NHL Prospects that have had varying degrees of influence on the 2008-2009 NHL Playoffs. I would love to see your comments and input on the piece. I have outline #16 through #11 here, the rest can be found at www.chillerinstinct.com . The WHL produced a few of these guys.
Chiller Instinct Top Prospect Performers
2008-2009 NHL Playoffs
During playoff runs both fruitful and hampered, a team thrives when its directive is supported by players making entry-level salaries. The wealth of flexibility a team receives when a club can fill a need with an emerging teenager or a developmentally sound farm player is immense, and yet it carries a risk all on its own. Below, Chiller Instinct (www.chillerinstinct.com) has taken the time to recount the 16 most significant additions* to any NHL playoff roster, in acclivity:
16 (RW, Columbus) Jakub Voracek (6'1" - 205 lbs, 15 August 1989) is a supreme talent and could be a top forward on most any team. The timing was just not perfected in the Blue Jackets playoff debut; the entire team was wind-swept. The Kladno, Czech-born forward was used sparingly against Detroit, averaging below 12 minutes of ice-time in the four games, managing an assist, an even rating, and 12 shots (including six in Game #4). The former Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) star is standing on a humongous goal-scoring drought however, dating back twenty-three games to early March, against Los Angeles. Voracek has impressive playoff totals in feeder leagues and is a vital key to success is Columbus. Keep in mind that the young Slovak averaged three shots per game, second only to Bobby Ryan. Management will implore their young play-maker and defensive forward to shoot more often still.
15 (C/W, Philadelphia) Darroll Powe (5'11" - 211 lbs, 22 June 1985) will most likely provide the Flyers with a stable, young forward to fill-in on the cheap for next season, after bolstering the lower lines for GM Paul Holmgren in 60 games this year. While he accumulated only 11 points in those games, it was the Saskatchewan-bred Powe's intensity that showed through in the playoffs most impressively. The undrafted centre out of Princeton University (NCAA) was a nice addition to the club, scoring three points (one goal), 16 hits, 10 shots, and registered an even rating against Pittsburgh.
14 (G, Columbus) Steve Mason (6’4” – 202 lbs, 29 May 1988) locked up the NHL’s Calder Trophy this week and finished second for the Vezina behind only the supreme efforts of Boston goalie Tim Thomas. The postseason held much less water for the shell-shocked netminder though, as Detroit steam-rolled the fledgling club in four games. Oakville, Ontario’s Mason would do well to build on the fact that night after night, his efforts kept the Blue Jackets in most games. The Wings fired an average of 34.75 shots per game his way. So while his GAA (4.27) was nearly 2 full goals higher, and a .878 save-percentage looks shabby beside his award-winning .918 figure from earlier in the season, their opponent was the powerhouse Red Wings. Columbus’ 3rd round pick in 2006 and former London Knight certainly has a bright future ahead of him.
13 (D, Calgary) Adam Pardy (6'4" - 220 lbs, 29 May 1984) is a rough and tumble defender that holds the keep. During the season, the Bonavista, Newfoundland-born defenseman proved to be a capable depth guy and installed third-pairing minutes when called-up from Quad City (AHL). However, the Flames' postseason would have been lengthier, had the team also displayed their 6th-round (2004) pick's desire to win. Pardy's contributions stand out on the Calgary roster the way Robyn Regehr's would have or Jarome Iginla’s does; he fought Ben Eager and added two assists in the opening round. Expect Pardy to be kept around, providing that management deals with his Class VI impending free agency accordingly.
12 (RW, Columbus) Derek Dorsett (5'11", 187 lbs, 20 December 1986) was in familiar territory during the Blue Jackets’ first foray into postseason play; the seventh-round pick in 2006 rang out 14 total hits in his three games, averaging less than 10 minutes-per-game. Dorsett was pitted against his former team-mate Darren Helm, who was the only player to average more hits-per-game (5.13 to 4.67) than Dorsett. Both were pivotal players in Medicine Hat's 2006 WHL Championship season. In just over one full campaign since turning pro last season with Syracuse (AHL), Dorsett has scored 11 goals in 71 games, offsetting his 324 PIM. Columbus Head Coach Ken Hitchcock finds appropriate ice-time for players with such an ilk; the Kindersely, Saskatchewan-born player will likely claim a full-time roster spot next season.
11-1 at CI (www.chillerininstinct.com)
*The requirements are that the player have played in no more than 82 regular season games, with no more than 65 in any two seasons, and have not reached his or her 26th birthday by the time the playoffs commenced on 15 April 2009. This would discount players such as San Jose winger Devin Setoguchi and Anaheim goalie Jonas Hiller on age. Although eligible, the list overlooks the underwhelming playoff efforts of Montreal forward Matt D'Agostini, St. Louis centre Patrik Berglund, Boston's Blake Wheeler, or Flyers' teenage Swiss defenseman Luca Sbisa for instance.
Vancouver, New York, New Jersey, Montreal, and San Jose all incredibly do not have one of the 16 players.
Robin Keith Thompson