Top Prospects game

[hockeyfanatic]

It's too bad Moncton doesn't have any prospects playing but AFG is making a case as well as Keegan Warren. Thoughts .. comments..

[hockeyfanatic]

Big save on a breakaway in BLB just now for Warren

[joehockey]

Jan 17, 2024 20:05:02 GMT -4 hockeyfanatic said:

It's too bad Moncton doesn't have any prospects playing but AFG is making a case as well as Keegan Warren. Thoughts .. comments..

Yeah, Warren has been a solid backup so far - has had a couple rough outings, but a lot of solid showings otherwise. I hope that he gets into a few more games against mid-pack teams to see how he stacks up. Overall, happy with what he’s shown so far.

[lirette]

Warren looked terrific against the Oceanic. Perhaps if he was in a role on another team as a starter he'd have made the roster but limited viewings likely hurt him.

The reality is with only 40 spots available and 3 leagues it's not an easy roster to make, even a year like this. Mateiko was only just added and was 36th ranked in North American on Central Scouting. I mean Justin Poirier who is one of the best snipers in the league is not even there, so an undersized Dman like AGF not putting up big numbers just never really had a shot. Guys rated to go 4th round and beyond are in tough unless there's some injuries. Next season would have been a much better year to host the game with Desnoyers, but glad to see tickets are close to sold out.

[joehockey]

I hope that Gabe Smith is able to get going a bit more offensively to finish off the year. His offensive output hasn’t progressed as much as I expected, but it certainly seems like he’s turning the corner the last few games. Missing allof October set him back and he had a couple slow month in November and December.

He’s always noticeable when I’ve seen him, but adding a bit more offense would be great.

[catzfans]

Jan 17, 2024 23:20:05 GMT -4 joehockey said:

I hope that Gabe Smith is able to get going a bit more offensively to finish off the year. His offensive output hasn’t progressed as much as I expected, but it certainly seems like he’s turning the corner the last few games. Missing allof October set him back and he had a couple slow month in November and December.

He’s always noticeable when I’ve seen him, but adding a bit more offense would be great.

Much like we've seen with Muller, I think Smith is a guy we have to be patient with as he's still only 17. I can see him as a guy who takes a big step forward next year

[lirette]

Jan 17, 2024 23:20:05 GMT -4 joehockey said:

I hope that Gabe Smith is able to get going a bit more offensively to finish off the year. His offensive output hasn’t progressed as much as I expected, but it certainly seems like he’s turning the corner the last few games. Missing allof October set him back and he had a couple slow month in November and December.

He’s always noticeable when I’ve seen him, but adding a bit more offense would be great.

I'm not a scout by any means, but if you compare him to a guy like Milo Reolens, I think it's fair to expect a bigger breakout offensively at 18-19.

I find watching him he has the hockey sense, he puts himself in good position to score, he makes the right passes, he's starting to have more confidence to drive to the net, it's just that the execution isn't always there. I think as he matures and becomes a little less awkward on his skates that should come.

He's not a player type you see in the league very often. He has that same size as Bruce Graham, but Bruce never really used his size and was often criticized for his lack of intensity & physicality despite being much bigger than everyone on the ice. I don't think you could say the same about Gabe who's often throwing himself into the boards in hopes to finish every check. Bruce had more finesse than Gabe at a young age but Gabe has some of the other things that you can't teach or expect to come with time. Roelens is really the only other recent comparable I can think of.