Q: I'm a Leaf fan and have no knowledge of college hockey in the USA and was hoping to get your opinion on the following Leafs prospects and college free agents they might be after:
Chad Rau - Colorado
Alex Berry -
Viktor Stalberg - Vermont
Matt Gilroy- Boston
Are these young players sure things? Near NHL ready? I assume Matt is the closest?
I consider you the college hockey expert! Your thoughts are appreciated. We are desperate for talent in Leaf land.
- Carlo
A: Thank you for the compliment! But I don't know that I'm an expert per se, but I do know more than most ;) I'll start at the top...
Chad Rau out of Colorado College has 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 33 games this far to lead the Tigers in goals and points. He's a natural leader who is known to come up big in key situations and knows where and when to be in a position to score - aka - he likes to set up shop around the net - and is very good in the faceoff circle. He's a senior this year and will obviously be making the jump to the professional ranks after the season is over. CC is not projected to make the NCAA's this season so unless they win the WCHA title, he will be available in about three weeks, if not sooner. I think he'd be sent to the Marlies for the remainder of the season. He'll be a dependable depth guy for the Leafs in the forseeable future.
Alex Berry from the University of Massachusetts (Go Minutemen!) has 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 30 games. He's a big boy (6'2'' 215 lbs.) who likes to throw his weight around especially in the corners. He's not a goal scorer but he does generate a lot of scoring opportunities through his physical style of play. He's a mucker and grinder who will fight you for every inch of ice and usually doesn't lose his battles along the boards or in front of the net. He is also a senior and could go to the Marlies after UMass finishes its season. I might be biased because a) he's from UMass and b) he's my type of player, but I like what he brings to the table always giving you everything he's got.
Viktor Stalberg from the University of Vermont has 20 goals and 15 assists for 35 points in 30 games and will most likely be named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award next month. He's big and fast with a scoring touch. I could definitely see him make the jump after this season and contend for a spot on the Leafs next fall. He's big enough, strong enough and fast enough to make it at the NHL level, but he will have to work on the defensive side of his game (which isn't all that terrible to begin with) to stay there.
I wrote about Matt Gilroy out of Boston University earlier who is the only college free agent you listed, but in short: He's a great character guy who's a good skater that can move the puck up ice and is the kind of guy Brian Burke likes to have on his teams.
There are other Leafs prospects in the college ranks though that you didn't mention...
Jimmy Hayes out of Boston College is a big body and plays with a lot of passion. He's just a freshman and will fill out his 6'5'' 205 lb frame and should learn how to channel that passion in a positive way as he develops into the power forward type player many predict him to be.
Matt Frattin from the University of North Dakota has established himself as a goal scoring specialist. He's not much of a playmaker, but definitely a finisher and goes to the dirty spots to be in position to do so. There's much for him to work on to become a more all around player, but as a sophomore, he's got time to do just that.
Tyler Ruegsegger out of Denver University has lost some of his draft day promise as his offensive numbers have dropped considerably over the years, but he's competitive at both ends of the ice and is quite physical along the boards and in the corners. He could develop into a great shut down specialist, but the greatest knock against him is his skating. It's not so fabulous and definitely something he'll need to work on to make it to the next level.
The last guy I want to mention is Grant Rollheiser from Boston University. He and fellow freshman goaltender Keiran Millan started the season playing in tandem until Grant had a minor injury and Keiran took over the reigns and hasn't let go. What I like most about Grant is his attitude. He is one of my favorite guys to watch on the bench as he he one of the most active backup goaltenders I've ever seen, giving his teammates love taps when they come off a shift and shouting words of encouragement as he watches the play over the boards. He's got plenty of time to prove his worth between the pipes.
Q: Do you think the Buffalo Sabres might be hard pressed to make a trade before the deadline to aqquire another goalie in Millers absence? Even with the team playing not so inspired hockey against the Ducks the other night, Lalime still looked completely hopeless on two of the goals he let in. There is no way that was the kind of debut Ruff, and Regier wanted to see out of their backup netminder. Just no way.
Thanks!
- Philip
A: I've talked a lot about needing plenty of depth at defense to make a long run in the playoffs. I firmly believe that had Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn not gotten hurt in the ECF last year, that series would have gone seven games and obviously been much more competitive, but they didn't have the defensive depth to play through the injuries. Same goes for goaltending...should your No. 1 go down, you MUST have enough confidence in your backup to play like he's your No. 1. Do I think the Sabres will trade for another goalie - no...but I wouldn't be surprised if the goalie market is very active on Wednesday.
Q: Is it true Tim Thomas is the most competitive guy in the league? McGuire was saying that one day on TSN, and to read your comments, seems to indicate the same.
I am a pens fan of course, but if the Bs were to win the cup, I wouldnt be surprised, and I think they are the team that deserves it, at least thus far.
- Dfirst
A: I don't know that Tim's the MOST competitive guy in the league as I haven't met all of them, but he's definitely near the top of the list. He's just very focused and has worked so hard to get where he is that he's not interested in disappointing anyone for giving him the opportunity to shine, especially himself. He knows how lucky he is and is always working on ways to improve his game because he simply wants to be the best that he can be. After a loss, he's not the most plesant person to talk to and even after a win, he's happy for the two points but can usually point out some things he will work on in practice the next day.
Q: Who is the most untradeable player in the NHL... Gomez, Redden, Briere, Blake, Penner, Toskala, Jokinen?
- Aetherial
A: I don't think such a player exists, but as with anything...everything is for sale for the right price, just depends on what you want for it.
Q: Hey Julie, at one point in the year Chad Rau was considered maybe a Hobey Baker finalist, what has happened to his game that made him drop out of contention for it in your opinion. Thanks.
btw, nice job on the write ups of the players in your 3 part series.
- LeafMan1
A: The big reason for me is that a Hobey winner should be a game changer and while Chad is the most productive player for the Tigers averaging a point per game, he hasn't come up big when they've needed him to and it's highlighted by the nosedive CC's taken this season. When the going gets tough you always look to your top players to show up and he hasn't quite been up to the task this year. In addition, there are other players out there that are more deserving.
Q: What teams pose the biggest matchup problems for BU? I'm hungry for my Terriers to get a title and I'd like to know who to root against.
- Tideplaya
A: LOL way to support your team! BU wins because they out compete everyone. They are a very well conditioned team and simply wear you down. They're fast, they're physical and they're skilled. They move the puck well, play the body and don't give their opponents many opportunities to get set up. It reminds me very much of Michigan's team last year... The team that has given them their toughest challenge this year has been Vermont - the only team to beat them twice - and it's not really surprising as UVM plays a very physical game. Should these two teams meet in the Regionals is will be one heck of a game. I also think it would be interesting to see them play North Dakota again as that team has really come into it's own from the start of the season and are much more physical than in years past.
********
Now here's the run down of the college hockey TV schedule for the weekend:
Fri. Feb. 27
Ohio State at Miami - NHL Network 7:30 p.m. - What a great game for a national audience!! No.9 Miami has a tough weekend against Northern Michigan last week where as No. 15 Ohio State hopes to build off their win over Michigan last Saturday and solidify a berth into the NCAAs.
Michigan State at Notre Dame - CBS College Sports 7 p.m. - Like last week, Notre Dame is just looking to make it to the post season in one piece as they've already wrapped up the CCHA regular season title.
Boston University at Massachusetts - NESN 7:30 p.m. - Go Minutemen! ;) They've already beaten top-ranked BU earlier this season and look to give the Terriers some trouble heading into the final weeks of the season. What's even more interesting is that these two teams could meet up in the first round of the HE playoffs in two weeks.
Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota - FSN North 8 p.m. The Gophers have really struggled as of late going 5-8-1 in 2009 and their inclusion in the NCAAs, after being ranked No.1 for much of the first half of the season, is in serious jeopardy.
St. Cloud State at Denver - FSN RM 9:30 p.m. - The No.5 Pioneers are looking to secure the top spot in the WCHA...NR St. Cloud State swept them earlier this season and are looking to do it again.
Sat. Feb. 28
Ferris State at Michigan - CBS College Sports 8 p.m.
Notre Dame at Michigan State - FSN Detroit 5 p.m.
Merrimack at New Hampshire - NESN 7:30 p.m.
Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota - FSN North 7 p.m.
St. Cloud State at Denver - FSN RM 9 p.m.
That's all for now...
Talk soon!
Julie
[email protected]
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