Not saying top 6. He should be playing with Laughton and Schenn/Simmonds though. He has worked really hard since coming back and it has paid off. He should be rewarded. his play got him in the dog house. His recent play should get him out on a trial basis.
- mickel25

He played with Schenn, Simmonds early this year and brought them down. Vinny needs to play with a good/great puck possession player to offset his lack of ability in that area. Giroux and Voracek are really the only options there.

Personally, I expect McDavid to be a 110-120 point player in his prime and Eichel to be a 90-100 point player.
- NickTheKid87

Wow, thats saying a lot. It could or couldnt happen. I'd say based on history the chances of them, especially both of them being that good are slim.

How often do college players make it to the NHL? Not many... I mean you get Hobey Baker award players like Matt Carle come from college. lol
- GOA88

30 % of the NHL is made up of NCAA players.

He played with Schenn, Simmonds early this year and brought them down. Vinny needs to play with a good/great puck possession player to offset his lack of ability in that area. Giroux and Voracek are really the only options there.
- NickTheKid87

I agree. Giroux and Voracek are the only pairing that should NOT be changed. Any combination outside of that would be fine with me. How about this?

Schenn/Read-G-Voracek
Read/Schenn-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Laughton-Vinny
VDV-Bellemare-Umberger

I moved Schenn to the Read-Coots line because I thought that made sense. I am fine with any combination of wingers with Couturier and Laughton. I just feel that Vinny deserves to play with better players than he is currently.
- mickel25

Not disagreeing, but you also have to consider where he fits in. The point is to ice the best possible team, not make sure that Vinny plays with better linemates.

He's worked hard since his return, but he also got benched for playing with the effort of a sloth in the weeks leading up to his benching.

30 % of the NHL is made up of NCAA players.
- Jsaquella

I agree. Giroux and Voracek are the only pairing that should NOT be changed. Any combination outside of that would be fine with me. How about this?

Schenn/Read-G-Voracek
Read/Schenn-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Laughton-Vinny
VDV-Bellemare-Umberger
- mickel25

That looks fine to me. Vinny's a RW now. Our four current centers are all much better than him at faceoffs and defense.

30 % of the NHL is made up of NCAA players.
- Jsaquella

THATS NOT MANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






on a serious note, considering the time, effort, and money being put into youth hockey in america today, that number is not likely to go down any time soon.

there was a point, right around the time of the 2014 Entry Draft, that 4 of the top 5 prospects for next year were American kids. That number has shifted downwards since, but still.. that's a pretty impressive statement on the state of U.S. youth hockey.

30 % of the NHL is made up of NCAA players.
- Jsaquella

How many of them are stars? Thats my point. Also 30% isnt a whole lot.

Wow, thats saying a lot. It could or couldnt happen. I'd say based on history the chances of them, especially both of them being that good are slim.
- GOA88

True but these guys are mutually exclusive of every other draft year. Look at the 2004 draft (Ovechkin/Malkin) and 2008 (Stamkos/Doughty). I expect something like that. McDavid is being pegged by many as a generational talent, the next Crosby. Eichel isn't that far behind, possibly with the potential to be the greatest American born player ever. Eichel would probably go number one in any draft in the last 20 years that didn't feature McDavid or Crosby.

30 % of the NHL is made up of NCAA players.
- Jsaquella

great, another advanced stats discussion

How many of them are stars? Thats my point. Also 30% isnt a whole lot.
- GOA88

wait, hang on, sarcasm off for a second. How is 30% not a lot? It's nearly one in every three players.

Not disagreeing, but you also have to consider where he fits in. The point is to ice the best possible team, not make sure that Vinny plays with better linemates.

He's worked hard since his return, but he also got benched for playing with the effort of a sloth in the weeks leading up to his benching.
- Jsaquella

Also, is a waste of a talented player. Not saying give him 20 mins a game. The team struggles to score some times. Vinny is a proven scorer. Playing him on the 4th line exclusively is a waste. I would be fine with "spotting" him on other lines during games if another player is struggling as well. Play the guys that are going. To me the only players that are guaranteed a regular shift at this point are G, Voracek and Couturier. Everyone else could be mixed and matched based on who you are playing and how well each player is playing.

wait, hang on, sarcasm off for a second. How is 30% not a lot? It's nearly one in every three players.
- BulliesPhan87

Or 3 out of 10. Also I am not sure when the last time a college player scored 80-90 or 100 pts in the NHL, or if that ever happened. Im not saying it hasnt. I just dont know. I'm not saying Eichel sucks or anything either. Just that he has a chance to dissapoint the team that picks him so high. Like a Alexandre Daigle..

I agree. Giroux and Voracek are the only pairing that should NOT be changed. Any combination outside of that would be fine with me. How about this?

Schenn/Read-G-Voracek
Read/Schenn-Coots-Simmonds
Raffl-Laughton-Vinny
VDV-Bellemare-Umberger
- mickel25

Thats what I would do....

Or 3 out of 10. Also I am not sure when the last time a college player scored 80-90 or 100 pts in the NHL, or if that ever happened. Im not saying it hasnt. I just dont know. I'm not saying Eichel sucks or anything. Just that he has a chance to dissapoint the team that picks him so high. Like a Alexandre Daigle..
- GOA88

You also must remember that Eichel has nothing to do with any other NCAA player so x college player not scoring 90+ points has literally nothing to do with Eichel or his prodution at the NHL level.

How many of them are stars? Thats my point. Also 30% isnt a whole lot.
- GOA88

It's nearly 1 player in 3. That's the second highest ratio in the NHL, behind CHL players.

Guys like Jonathan Toews, Phil Kessel, Ryan Kesler, Johnny Gaudreau, Jonathon Quick, Zach Parise, Max Pacioretty, Kyle Okposo, Ryan McDonagh and Marty St Louis, off the top of my head.

You also must remember that Eichel has nothing to do with any other NCAA player so x college player not scoring 90+ points has literally nothing to do with Eichel or his prodution at the NHL level.
- NickTheKid87

I am just basing it off of history. That he is somewhat of a risky pick in the top 3. Thats the way I see it. How many times have we seen players dominate in juniors/college and amount to not being that much of an impact. A lot! It happens.

It's nearly 1 player in 3. That's the second highest ratio in the NHL, behind CHL players.

Guys like Jonathan Toews, Phil Kessel, Ryan Kesler, Johnny Gaudreau, Jonathon Quick, Zach Parise, Max Pacioretty, Kyle Okposo, Ryan McDonagh and Marty St Louis, off the top of my head.
- Jsaquella

Vanek's another, Suter as well.

Also, is a waste of a talented player. Not saying give him 20 mins a game. The team struggles to score some times. Vinny is a proven scorer. Playing him on the 4th line exclusively is a waste. I would be fine with "spotting" him on other lines during games if another player is struggling as well. Play the guys that are going. To me the only players that are guaranteed a regular shift at this point are G, Voracek and Couturier. Everyone else could be mixed and matched based on who you are playing and how well each player is playing.
- mickel25

Not really. He's a limited player. He's not very good at the transitional game, he's a poor possession player, lacks the speed to really keep up with and be effective with a pair like Giroux or Voracek and needs a playmaker on his line to reach his full effectiveness.

I don't disagree that the roster is full of interchangeable parts, but so far the one spot he's been effective at has been the 4th line, with VDV and Bellmare.

It's nearly 1 player in 3. That's the second highest ratio in the NHL, behind CHL players.

Guys like Jonathan Toews, Phil Kessel, Ryan Kesler, Johnny Gaudreau, Jonathon Quick, Zach Parise, Max Pacioretty, Kyle Okposo, Ryan McDonagh and Marty St Louis, off the top of my head.
- Jsaquella

Thats pretty damn good company. I wasnt aware of that.

I am just basing it off of history. That he is somewhat of a risky pick in the top 3. Thats the way I see it. How many times have we seen players dominate in juniors/college and amount to not being that much of an impact. A lot! It happens.
- GOA88

You can't base this kind of thing off of history though. What does Zach Parise's play have to do with Eichel's? Or any other player that played in college. They're not related at all. They're completely different individuals.

great, another advanced stats discussion
- BulliesPhan87

this is remedial stats

great, another advanced stats discussion
- BulliesPhan87

You can't base this kind of thing off of history though. What does Zach Parise's play have to do with Eichel's? Or any other player that played in college. They're not related at all. They're completely different individuals.
- NickTheKid87

I understand that. The logical thing to do as a human is to make decisions based off of prior events. Its the best way to not get burnt.