TALENT SHOW
Lowetide
December 26 2012 09:17AM
This is Nathan MacKinnon, back in Halifax in the Mooseheads dressing room. The talented forward is in Ufa today, part of Team Canada at the WJ's and adding a page to his draft resume. MacKinnon and Seth Jones are generally regarded as the top 2 players for the 2013 draft, and according to several tweets by Bob McKenzie today MacKinnon is the consensus #1.
That's a pretty wide gap, not quite the separation Nail Yakupov enjoyed a year ago but impressive at this point in the year. MacKinnon's role for Canada is as a role player in this tournament, and Jones is a feature player on the American team. MacKinnon's offense is very good for his age (30, 22-30-52) and he's much younger than Jones (342 days by my count) so there's almost a year difference in development despite their being 2013 eligible.
- Craig Button on MacKinnon: Nathan has a burning desire to make a difference in the game and more times than not, he's successful. His skating is excellent with first step quickness that is exceptional. It allows him to beat defenders and create opportunities in a flash. He has great hands and is able to manoeuvre the puck in the tight areas. His shot is quick and accurate and he doesn't allow goalies to get a read on it. He is forceful and at times may be inclined to shoot first rather than consider passing options, but his playmaking is very good. He's a single-minded player in his approach and his determination, along with his skill, allows him to have an impact the game and to do so at the most important times. A clear cut No. 1 centre.
I don't see a lot of mention about his size (MacKinnon is listed as 5.11, 179) but a growth spurt could take care of any concerns in that area.
ANYTHING ELSE?
McKenzie also tweeted out the scouts top 10 (and more) among the WJ eligibles and it's a deep and interesting list:
- C Nathan MacKinnon
- D Seth Jones
- C Aleksandr Barkov
- L Elias Lindholm
- L Jonathan Drouin
- D Rasmus Ristolainen
- L Valeri Nichushkin
- C-L Alex Wennberg
- C-W Jacob De La Rose
- D Linus Arnesson
McKenzie also mentioned some of the kids I passed along in the tee up to the WJ's, among them American Ryan Hartman, Slovak Marco Dano and Swiss defender Mirco Muller. The list would certainly include the now recalled D Robert Hagg who is a ranked draft eligible for 2013.
WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
We talked last week about the large group of draft eligibles at this year's WJs. The McKenzie list gives us a very good idea about the rankings and where some of these kids currently slot. It also tells us the Swedes have a bunch of kids we're not terribly familiar with on this side of the ocean, so we should pay special attention to them.
It's important to remember this is a list of the players who are at the WJ's in Ufa, and does not reflect the overall list for 2013 at this time. Finally, for a team that once employed Risto Siltanen and Reijo Ruotsalainen, how can the Oilers possibly pass up on Rasmus Ristolainen?
There is no need to get pissy with each other about typos, it's just distracting... usually more so than the initial typo.
And... there is no need to get pissy about who said what when... when it is all easily searchable info.
DSF on Gagner at the Spengler:
Only two of these guys played pivot.
top two lines:
Spezza-Tavares-Gagner Bergeron-Seguin-Ritchie (sometimes Duchene)
I have no idea how this giantic team is going to continue through the series, but so far DSF is way off.
Most of these centres are playing wing. Gagner was on the Spezza-Tavares line all night and got lots of PP time there too.
THis was obvious to all with eyes to see as Gagner and Tavares are a natural combo.
-----
as far as the game goes, couple of notes...
the commentary is terrible. ten minutes in I had a better handle on who the players were than they did.
the canadian coach isn't playing his massive bench very deep.
The shifts are monstrously long and on the big surface, these guys are going to get tired.
The level of competition is solid and the hockey was entertaining.
Seguin was a sparkplug.
Barker somehow didn't fall trying to skate backwards.
ps. here's the closest you'll get to stats on the game that I can find.
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75138/la_id/1/game_id/197894/season_id/197877/ss_id/197926/
DSF wrote (may28):
goes to the credibility of the witness your honour.
Technically DSF was wrong the moment Gagner stepped onto the ice since he had Gagner playing behind a guy who wasn't even on the roster.
If you can't argue with his point. Criticize his spelling.
@DSF
Sorry I was just dumbing it down for you. I really don't care about that stuff, when I am talking to a complete jackass.
You are an embarrassment to life, and this site.
You said there was no way Gagner was going to play wing for Tavares. You were wrong as usual, so now admit it.
who = whole
It was obviously a typo. For someone like you who is a master of the English language, I thought you would have been smart enough to understand what was implied. Please spend the next three years learning something about hockey.
@DSF
I know the language. I made a comment from an old cell phone and there was a typo.
Now can you just admit that Gagner played with Tavares as you said it would never happen.
Every TV show needs a oaf that consistently says stupid things. The Simpsons, Family Guy, etc.
I am starting to think DSF is a character put together buy the Genius that is Wayne to bring up the site hits for Oilersnation.
@Oilertown
Your grammar is pretty awful though.
@DSF
I use my real name and am a life long Oiler fan living in the USA and don't hide behind BS. You on the other hand are an obvious failure hiding behind something hanging around here and bug me beyond comprehension you Oiler bashing dickhead ....
I agree its a damn comments section on a blog not a friggin essay. So long as it makes some kind of sense who the hell cares.
Kind of funny how the topic changed from hockey to spelling when he was called out about backing up previous comments.
Ya you can't give DSF ammunition for anything cause as soon as he is proven wrong on something. He tries to use whatever he can to turn it on that person whether its cherry picked stats or whatever.
He's just a grumpy old man that is over envious of the Oils bright future.
DSF! how dare you make a fool of yourself when i take a break from the nations! Now I'm forced to go back and read all the jargon from the last few days just to pin point exactly where you went wrong (although much thanks to Romulus).
Sigh. I know you won't respond to this, or any other comment made about your idiocy but i do know that you're reading this, DSF.
You're hard nosed stance against the Oilers makes you look foolish more often than not, with this thread as a case-in-point.
Morning LT!
WDIAMB - WHOAH!
The big question is what is going to happen to the draft if there is no season. None of the possibilities seem very positive. So, let's play 48 games and get a 10th pick. That will still be a fine pick this year.
@Mumbai Max
What they should do... not have a draft and push a year of eligibility back by a year, better for everyone involved.
WDIAMB?? The "B" is for babe?
I hope so.
On the subject of the entry level draft.
It is my understanding that if the NHL resumes play without a CBA there will not be an entry level draft, ever. This would be the outcome of the NHLPA decertifying of taking similar action.
Instead, players' agents will be able to hold an auction just as Justin Schultz did earlier this year. The player will select those teams he is prepared to play for and the auction will occur.
There won't be a salary cap either, so teams with deep pockets and the best teams will have a competitive advantage in acquiring the best players.
This will increase the importance of scouting amateur and professional hockey players.
I recall DSF swearing off Oilersnation if Sammy played on the first line at the Spengler Cup ? I am not sure if its a win or loss as the line went scoreless anyway. Either way, we have a lot of talent being show cased all over the place and you have to have a screw loose not to admit it.
Let's forget the act of decertifying its not going to happen. Pretty sure every big head in the league has already said its not going to happen.
LMAO did he play on the first line?
Watched the highlights from that game. Sure looked like that goalie absolutely stole that game from Canada.
@Oilertown
I am not one to let facts get in the way:
"The line of Spezza, Tavares and Gagner generated plenty of scoring chances, while the combination of Seguin, Bergeron and Byron Ritchie provided Canada with its only goal."
Haha thanks Darrell and now let's hope DSF is a man of his word's. Doubt it though.
Is the Spengler Cup over?
Do you have TOI numbers?
Didn't think so.
ya, i started this one commenting that wellwood did not make the team. I than said he would play with tavares, and he said no way.
On a team with only centers it would make sense that a center would end up playing with his buddy that played together their who life as kids.
Please spend the next three years learning how to compose a coherent sentence complete with capitalization, punctuation and spelling.
You're an embarrassment to our school system.
" who their life as kids"
What does that mean?
Please try and learn the language.
You're not dumbing it down for anyone.
Except yourself.
I said nothing about Tavares.
And you missed a comma and have a run on sentence with two subjects.
@DSF
Later hater ;) Too bag Gags is our 6th best player or we would really rub it in your face ..... work on your Oiler shades when your gone as we all wear them here at Oilernation!
It'll be great when the Christmas break at Junior High is over.
Good grief.
Yes I do recall the whole conversation. Agreed with you as well DSF had figured there was no way Gagner would even start on the second line. Ha what a joke.
@DSF
No. I specifically said Gagner would play with Tavares after you implied him being a healthy scratch. You than commented saying he would not get a sniff of the number one line (see comments section above). I rebutted saying whether you consider Tavares the first line or not they would play together. Again, you stated they wouldn't.
Oh for the rest of you Wellwood fans;
http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2009/04/kyle-wellwood-is-fat.html
By the way DSF I seem to recall a time not so many years ago when you yourself was not the greatest poster on here for punctuation and grammer.
It wasn't until some of the other posters on here rode your ass so hard about it that you started cleaning it up.
Thanks oilerstown. I admit when I post from my phone, I tend not to give a crap about spelling or punctuation.
Also you get very ignorant when people call you on your crap. You told me to learn how to spell because I spelled Defense instead of spelling it Defence. There's two ways to spell some stuff and only the most ignorant of people are gonna call someone out for something like. That just like Centre or Center even some of the bloggers on this site I have seen spell it both ways.
Later hater :) pick up some Oiler goggles on your break as we all wear them here at OilersNation .... when you get back we will still have RNH, Ebs, Hallsy, Yak, Hemmer, Schultzie and of course Gags and hope you will recognize what we do with your new shades .... cheers dude!
@Romulus' Apotheosis
You spelled gigantic wrong :P
but I spelled "giantic" right!
(probably a cousin of Giant Man)...:)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Pym
@Wanyes bastard child
Oilers Nation is friggin gigantic and sorry I lost my cool Gretz. I take enough crap living outside Oilernation and don't need to see it here as its where I get my fix.
@Romulus' Apotheosis
All good dude, just wanted to inject a little humour into the thread eh ;)
@Darrell
No need to apologize to me my good man. DSF has that effect on many people, you just have to take him for what he is. I'm a fellow nationite just as you eh.
You spelled spelt wrong.
Don't care i'm pretty sure most of it makes sense to most people it's the dummys that can't read that might have trouble.
DSF, with all the haters you need some love! You do contribute to conversations and are a valuable member of the Nation. If we didn't have you what would things look like? Was The Lord of the Flies a good book without "Piggy"? Who would watch Mr. Bean without Mr. Bean? Does Ricky not improve the trailer park? Random idiots are what makes life enjoyable! You are that enjoyable guy!! Some love to hate you but I love to love you :)!! *HUG*
@Cheap Shot Charlie
Good call Chuck !
Get your love back with the help of Vashikarna:- There is no age to get into love relations with somebody. But the main factor is whether you have got/win him/her in accordance with your desires. love spell
Get your love back with the help of Vashikarna:- There is no age to get into love relations with somebody. But the main factor is whether you have got/win him/her in accordance with your desires. love spell
Get your love back with the help of Vashikarna:- There is no age to get into love relations with somebody. But the main factor is whether you have got/win him/her in accordance with your desires. love spell