All D...not what I would have done but I'm god damn intrigued and I don't hate it. Sorry for another long post but:
Ville Pokka:
Pokka is a pretty advanced young defenseman, as he's played beyond his age group the last two years, including getting a good amount of games in Finland's top men's league at 17 years of age. He also was a key member of Finland's blue line at the World Juniors, an unusual feat at his age for an eventual top-four team. Pokka's hockey sense is certainly impressive as it is at the least above-average but I could certainly argue that it is plus as well. He has a really cool demeanor with and without the puck on the ice. With the puck, his panic threshold is very impressive, which allows him to move the puck well as he won't turn it over, can consistently make long passes, and his decisions are quick. Pokka's defensive work is impressive for his age, as he reads his assignments well, closes his gaps efficiently, and makes all the right reads that allows him to shut down good players. Pokka still needs work in a few areas if he wants to be a truly effective two-way player, though. He will engage physically, but he's not overly threatening in that area, be it with his battle effort or his size/strength combo. He's also a fringe skater who can easily get turned around by faster players.
Adam Pelech:
The brother of former Flames first round pick Matt Pelech is a physical shutdown defenseman who shows good proficiency in being able to play his style of game. He's a smart player in his own end who reads his assignments well, has notably advanced sense of how to manage his gaps and closes on players well with his stickwork and especially his body. He can kill penalties very effectively and overall has the looks of a tough minutes high defensive zone start type of player. Pelech is a very gritty defenseman with a solid frame who shows a high level of aggressiveness and should do pretty well in the physical aspect of the game at the highest level. He has an okay skill level as he's more of an effective first pass player than a skilled puck handler or rusher. Pelech has good awareness and will jump into the rush when he senses something, but overall he's a low-offense projection type of player. His skating is a notable weakness as he has an awkward stride and doesn't extend properly through most of his motions although his gap control is good because of his hockey smarts.
Also on Pelech:
Eric Hornick @ehornick
Adam Pelech is #isles 3rd rd pick. HockeyCanada head Scout Kevin Prendergast he had "1 bad shift in 2 intl events" -- in 35th min of OT
Nothing on Leduc, but I like his size. Love the Pelech pick.
All D...not what I would have done but I'm god damn intrigued and I don't hate it. Sorry for another long post but:
Ville Pokka:
Pokka is a pretty advanced young defenseman, as he's played beyond his age group the last two years, including getting a good amount of games in Finland's top men's league at 17 years of age. He also was a key member of Finland's blue line at the World Juniors, an unusual feat at his age for an eventual top-four team. Pokka's hockey sense is certainly impressive as it is at the least above-average but I could certainly argue that it is plus as well. He has a really cool demeanor with and without the puck on the ice. With the puck, his panic threshold is very impressive, which allows him to move the puck well as he won't turn it over, can consistently make long passes, and his decisions are quick. Pokka's defensive work is impressive for his age, as he reads his assignments well, closes his gaps efficiently, and makes all the right reads that allows him to shut down good players. Pokka still needs work in a few areas if he wants to be a truly effective two-way player, though. He will engage physically, but he's not overly threatening in that area, be it with his battle effort or his size/strength combo. He's also a fringe skater who can easily get turned around by faster players.
Adam Pelech:
The brother of former Flames first round pick Matt Pelech is a physical shutdown defenseman who shows good proficiency in being able to play his style of game. He's a smart player in his own end who reads his assignments well, has notably advanced sense of how to manage his gaps and closes on players well with his stickwork and especially his body. He can kill penalties very effectively and overall has the looks of a tough minutes high defensive zone start type of player. Pelech is a very gritty defenseman with a solid frame who shows a high level of aggressiveness and should do pretty well in the physical aspect of the game at the highest level. He has an okay skill level as he's more of an effective first pass player than a skilled puck handler or rusher. Pelech has good awareness and will jump into the rush when he senses something, but overall he's a low-offense projection type of player. His skating is a notable weakness as he has an awkward stride and doesn't extend properly through most of his motions although his gap control is good because of his hockey smarts.
Nothing on Leduc, but I like his size. Love the Pelech pick. - eichiefs9
I wonder if they try and take a run at Yandle still. I know we have drafted a lot of D but most of them are years away as we know. Should be interesting.
I wonder if they try and take a run at Yandle still. I know we have drafted a lot of D but most of them are years away as we know. Should be interesting. - BringBackBalky
They shoud have the pieces for a Yandle trade. I hope yesterday's trade was just the start.
I wonder if they try and take a run at Yandle still. I know we have drafted a lot of D but most of them are years away as we know. Should be interesting. - BringBackBalky
Maloney said last night that he's not going to trade him. Might be a ploy to raise his stock a little..but he is not gonna come cheap.
Safe to say defense is taken care of for the next decade.
Gotta go forward with the next pick. Clearly Snow is going BPA. Don't blame him one bit. - potvin05
You know it's funny, I jokingly said to one of my buddies that we should just draft all d-men since we are weak (going in to the draft) in that area. Wasn't serious and didn't think they'd actually do it. But I'm liking it.
You know it's funny, I jokingly said to one of my buddies that we should just draft all d-men since we are weak (going in to the draft) in that area. Wasn't serious and didn't think they'd actually do it. But I'm liking it. - eichiefs9
You know it's funny, I jokingly said to one of my buddies that we should just draft all d-men since we are weak (going in to the draft) in that area. Wasn't serious and didn't think they'd actually do it. But I'm liking it. - eichiefs9
Suffice it to say, the islanders are no longer weak in the area of defensive prospects. Now how about getting one more vet dman and an experienced vet forward to replace PA?
