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bbgarnett

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Posts posted by bbgarnett

    Paul Fenton has been fired as GM after just one season.

    in Minnesota Wild

    Posted · Edited by bbgarnett

    5 minutes ago, EJ0226 said:

    Honestly I would believe this if he didn't have a connection with Leipold. I think with the warming house losing people and season ticket holders not renewing and mixing in very bad trades that did nothing for the franchise but lose key players for at least this franchise, a big impact move had to be done. I suspect Modano will be announced as the new GM.

    Maybe and also that could be why Modano was brought in as CL knew he was going to fire Fenton. I personally think they'll go with experience and would want that so Some candidates include former Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall, former Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli, former San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings GM Dean Lombardi and former New York Islanders GM Garth Snow. Only guy on that list that I wouldn't mind is probably Lombardi.

     

    They said CL is having his hip replaced on Sept 17th so the search is going to be very quick or have to be as he wants a new guy in place by then most likely.

    • Like 1
    • Good Post 1

    2019 HF.net NHL Mock Draft and Discussion

    in Prospects & Draft

    Posted · Edited by bbgarnett

    With the 20th Pick in the NHL draft The New York Rangers are proud to select Tobias Björnfot Djurgardens

     

    Tobias Bjornfot is coming off of captaining Sweden’s Under-18 Team to a gold medal at the IIHF U18 World Championships. While he only registered one assist in the tournament, his defensive presence was a key factor in the win. He also captained Sweden at the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament, helping the team to a silver medal. He has plenty of international experience as he was also part of the bronze medal winning Swedish team at the 2018 IIHF U18s. Bjornfot represented Sweden at Under-16 and Under-17 level events, including last year’s U17 World Hockey Challenge.

    Bjornfot got his feet wet in the SHL, playing seven regular-season and four playoff games for Djurgardens. He spent most of his time with the J20 squad. Bjornfot scored 11 goals and 22 points in 39 games. He added three points in seven playoff games. It was enough to see him recognized as the J20 league’s best defenceman and helped his team to finish third. In 2017-18, he played in the J18 league playoffs and helped the Djurgardens squad to the championship with five points in five games. However, despite being 16, he spent most of the season in the J20, scoring 22 points in 42 games.

     

    Skating

    Bjornfot is another strong two-way defender, whose game is based on strong skating ability. He has very good speed in both directions. His acceleration is also at a high level. He pairs this with excellent pivots, agility and edgework to play a two-way game. Bjornfot covers a lot of ice quickly. He is able to transition from offence to defence, or vice-versa, effectively. Bjornfot can also quickly change speeds or direction in order to avoid a forechecker. He also has a strong lower-body which helps him to win battles along the boards and in front of the net. Bjornfot is strong on the puck and his stride helps him fight through checks.

    Offensive Game

    In the offensive end, Tobias Bjornfot has a good wrist shot with a decent release. He sneaks in from the point to get it off closer to the net. However, his slap shot could use some work. Bjornfot sees the ice well and makes smart plays with the puck. He makes good passes to start the rush and transition game. He is also not afraid to rush the puck up the ice himself or join in as a trailer. The combination of his stickhandling and skating ability also gives him the ability to skate the puck out of danger and avoid forecheckers in his own end. He has some creativity on the point, but this is an area he can continue to work on. He tends to be conservative and does not take a lot of chances to make an offensive play.

    Bjornfot is willing to join the rush at times and when he does can provide some offence with his passing skill and his wrist shot as a trailer. This is not something he does very often though, as he is again content to play a conservative and more defensive style. There is potential to produce better numbers than he has put up to date as the skill is there. It will take some coaching to get him to take advantage of the opportunities though.

    Defensive Game

    Bjornfot defends well against the rush and is very well positioned and disciplined in his own end. He has a high hockey IQ and reads the play extremely well. His anticipation of where the play is going and what play the other team will try to make is high end. This leads to him breaking up plays and intercepting passes. When turnovers happen, he is quick to transition the puck out of the zone. Bjornfot is strong on the boards and in front of the net against junior aged competition but must bulk up before he is ready to compete in the pro game.

    Projection and Comparison

    Bjornfot could develop into a two-way defenceman with a top-four role at the NHL level. Like most young defenders, he still has some things to learn in his own zone. That said, he is already highly advanced for a draft-eligible player. The question here is the offence. It is rarely seen in Bjornfot’s international appearances (with the exception of the Five Nations tournament). While he puts up points in the domestic junior league, there is also some concern that the points per game did not grow much from last season to this one. If a team can unlock his puck-moving and offensive skill, they could have a gem on their hands. Currently, his game is similar to Jonas Brodin but this is a style comparison only and not one based on skill.

     

     

    @pilldoc and the Pittsburgh Penguins are now Finally on the clock.

    • Like 1

    2019 HF.net NHL Mock Draft and Discussion

    in Prospects & Draft

    Posted

    With the 20th Pick in the NHL draft The New York Rangers are proud to select Thomas Harley D Mississauga (OHL)

     

    Skating

    Harley is a strong two-way defender with good size and skating ability. He has very good speed in both directions. His first few steps and acceleration are outstanding. Harley uses this ability to change speeds to move the puck out of his zone and make plays through the neutral zone. Combine this with his good agility, edgework, and pivots and his skating allows Harley to play a strong game in both ends of the ice. He can beat defenders off the rush, as well as walk the line in the offensive zone to open up shooting and passing lanes. His balance is good and he is strong on the puck. This should improve as he continues to add muscle to his frame.

    Offensive Game

    Harley makes a good first pass out of the zone and can start the transition game. He handles the puck well, especially while moving at top speed. This helps him to rush the puck out of his end and to lead the play in the neutral zone. Harley is also willing to take chances and join the rush as a trailer. He is also able to make smart plays with the puck in the offensive zone. Harley is a creative player. He has good vision and sees plays developing in the offensive zone. He can make passes through tight areas and sets up teammates for good scoring opportunities.

    Harley has improved his shot this year and the goals are starting to go in as a result. His slap shot has gotten significantly harder and he uses patience and his agility to open up shooting lanes and get it on net. Harley also keeps his shot low, allowing teammates to get to the net for screens, tip-ins, and rebounds. Harley could improve by sneaking in from the point and letting his wrist shot go more often.

    Defensive Game

    Harley is a solid defensive defenceman. He keeps good gap control and forces defenders to the outside. Harley forces attackers into bad shooting positions and uses his long reach to cut down passing lanes. However, especially quick and shifty forwards can sometimes give him problems one-on-one off the rush, and he must get a little quicker to handle them better.  He also has good positioning and reads the play well, helping him to be especially strong in his own end for a 17-year-old. He does not seem to play a physical game at this point despite the fact that he has a good frame. Harley is willing to battle in the corners and in front of the net, but don’t expect too many big hits from him. He needs to get stronger and add muscle to that frame.

    Projection and Comparison

    Harley will need some time to iron out the defensive wrinkles and continue to get stronger. He has the potential to develop into a strong offensive defenceman, quarterbacking a power play and playing big minutes for his NHL team if he can hit his ceiling. While certainly not a sure thing, there is a chance he could become a top pairing defender in his prime. Harley’s game and style show similarities to Thomas Chabot but this is not a comparison based on skill or ability.

     

    Tall OHL left defender who plays on Mississauga’s top pairing. Is a balanced four-direction skater with upright skating style which doesn’t detract him from being and excellent backward skater or his ability to close on attackers. Sees time on the penalty-kill but the PP is where he is an offensive standout, and relishes joining the rush and being a QB. Still working on not getting caught flat-footed in transition, displaying better gap control, and reading the defensive coverages in his end, and some might question whether he has displayed high end attack skills or can play in the higher levels and have success in both ends that he has achieved in junior as he is finesse-type player; what is certain is that he currently already displays sharps edging, quick pivots, vision, excellent offemsive hockey sense, and calm composure taking care of business in his current level with solid passing skills and excellent vision.


    —Bill Placzek—

     

     

     

    @pilldoc and the Pittsburgh Penguins are on the clock

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