Season 32 Challenges Thread - Wednesday, November 3rd @ 9 PM

[John - Sharks]

You may challenge any 2 skaters for SP, SK, DF.

Also, you may challenge any newly created prospect without a limit.

[BigMac3110]

Tampa Challenges

Jaime Oleksiak
Current SP - 70
Requested SP - 75
Current SK - 74
Requested SK - 75
Current DF - 72
Requested DF - 74

Has tremendous size (6-7, 260 pounds) and reach for the blueline position, so he's not easy to play against. Also skates well for his size and has good shutdown instincts

https://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/ ... e_Oleksiak

He moves well for such a big man, skating with long, fluid strides and maintains very good balance on his skates

He makes effective use of his enormous frame in defending against opposing players

https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/jamie_oleksiak/

Oleksiak plays an all around solid defensive game. When watching him play you really don’t notice any glaring holes.

For a player of his size, Oleksiak has surprisingly good footwork and a big, strong first stride.

He’s a massive kid that moves well pretty well on his feet for a big guy

Strengths:

Size
Strength
Skating
Powerful shot
Good first pass
Wingspan
Defensive Awareness

https://thehockeywriters.com/the-next-o ... on-campus/

Oleksiak has coveted goal-prevention ingredients with a 6-foot-7 frame, disruptive reach and an embracing of physicality. The lefty-shot defenseman covers ground, closes gaps

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/ ... ine-target

At 6 foot 7, Oleksiak is a hulking presence, pigeonholed unfairly into the category of massive shutdown defensemen that are increasingly extinct as the game moves towards more speed found in smaller players.

At 6 foot 7, Oleksiak is a hulking presence, pigeonholed unfairly into the category of massive shutdown defensemen that are increasingly extinct as the game moves towards more speed found in smaller players.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/stars ... ive-corps/

He is also surprisingly speedy for being 6-foot-7 and weighing 250 pounds. This is another aspect of his game that adds to the depth that he offers.

The combination of physicality, puck control, and speed is what makes Oleksiak such a valuable player

https://thehockeywriters.com/stars-jami ... iak-value/

The Stars' largest player at 6-foot-7, 255 pounds, Oleksiak has shown this season that he has the ability to not only join the rush or track down a speedy forward, but that he also can create offensively.

"Jamie Oleksiak, he's probably one of our most underrated players right now," Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said. "He has played very, very well all year for us. He's been very consistent. He can skate, he's doing everything we need him to do. He's earned the minutes, he's earned that top-four ranking."

They keep saying the game is getting smaller and faster, but I think there's always going to be a place for size and hitting," Oleksiak said. "Still, you have to be able to make plays and handle speed."

Oleksiak's nickname has always been "The Big Rig," and he likes it. When it was suggested that "Galloping Moose" might be more appropriate now

https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/underrat ... -312967470

A huge defenseman with terrific reach and strength. Moves very well for a man his size. Has superb agility and athleticism. Oleksiak can deliver thunderous hits and uses his stick effectively to break up passes. He also has good hands and puck skills, which could see him blossom into a very solid two-way defenseman.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/3 ... e-oleksiak



Erik Cernak
Current SP/SK - 70/70
Requested SP/SK - 75/75
Current DF - 72
Requested DF - 75

Yzerman, then the Lightning general manager, was about a week away from the NHL’s trade deadline and was looking at moving two-time Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop. One name that came up in talks with the Kings was Slovakian defense prospect Erik Cernak. Cernak, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound right shot, is what most teams would salivate over, a blend of snarl and skating ability. “He was a man among boys,” Cirelli said. “A beast.”

Victor Hedman may be a finalist for the Norris Trophy for the fifth straight year and Sergachev has more offensive upside, but Cernak, 24, is arguably the Cup champions’ most irreplaceable and underrated defenseman considering all he does from the right side. He and Ryan McDonagh anchor the shutdown pair, blanketing other team’s top stars, from Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby to, recently, Aleksander Barkov and Sebastian Aho.

“You look at what he’s grown into, he’s a clear top-four defenseman on any team in the league,” Cooper said. “When you can find those guys, especially guys that are right-handed. They’re just not many around. He can defend, he can play against all the big boys. Just a great find.

“He’s been a star for us.”

“He’s the type of player that doesn’t get mentioned enough. A big physical force. He may not be the flashy offensive guy that everyone wanted him to become, but he’s the type of defensive defenseman that every team needs to have. Given the chance, you could see how dominant he is. You could tell he was way better than everyone projected him to be.”

It didn’t take long for Cernak to join McDonagh on the Lightning’s shutdown pair. McDonagh, the former Rangers captain, admires Cernak’s toughness, his skating ability and willingness to learn. In most high-leverage situations, whether that’s on the penalty kill, top line matchups, preserving a lead late in the game, Cernak is almost always the first over the boards. His five-on-five defensive impact was three percent stronger than league average as Cernak led the Lightning to allow .08 fewer goals per 60 than they would have with a league-average defender in his minutes, which accounts for zone starts, competition faced and coaching impact.

“He’s been a rock ever since we got him,” Hedman said. “He’s tough to play against. Those hits prove that. He and Mac complement each other very well, playing against top lines and playing physical. He’s maturing into the player where he can make plays too, he’s not afraid to take the puck and go. ”

In both the Panthers and Carolina series, it was Cernak and McDonagh who got the majority of shifts against the top lines. Cernak logged 40 even-strength minutes against Aho and 56 minutes against Barkov, who had three even strength points all series.

https://theathletic.com/2641806/2021/06 ... ik-cernak/

A huge defenseman with both size and a great stick, he is also strong enough to compete against big NHL opponents already. Also boasts pretty good hockey sense

Big, shutdown defenseman

https://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/ ... rik_Cernak

Černák is a big defenseman with excellent reach and strength. Is brilliant defensively and in front of his own net. Can also play on the powerplay thanks to his hockey sense. Doesn't take a lot of penalties for a physical player.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/1 ... rik-cernak

Cernak took a big step forward this season offensively. The points may not be overly exciting on first glance, but he finished third on the team in defensemen scoring. He was also even stronger defensively than he had been in the past

https://www.rawcharge.com/2021/8/18/226 ... tor-hedman

Played the 3rd most total pk unit minutes on the Bolts while averaging the 2nd most pk minutes a night
http://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report ... ageSize=50

Cernak is an all-around defenseman

https://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/erik-cernak/

Cernak has already emerged as one of the best defensive defenders in the NHL. His offense isn’t anything special yet. But it doesn’t have to be because he’s one of the rare players whose defense is a difference maker. And not in a Kris Russel media narrative way. In a real impact on the ice way.

https://www.rawcharge.com/2019/3/20/182 ... -analytics

Kucherov praised Cernak's skating, saying his speed made the play

https://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightnin ... send-back/

Cernak plays nearly 19 minutes a game, fourth most among all Lightning skaters. He's a shot-blocking machine on the penalty kill. And he has an edge to his game that keeps opponents from taking liberties against his teammates.

"He does so much more than just what he does defensively," Lightning center Brayden Point explained. "A physical presence, a guy that will stand up for his teammates, blocks a ton of shots. He's got that nastiness that sometimes our team misses. He brings that every night. And his speed too. His speed in the offensive zone when he's going behind the net, he's just a great player and he's a big miss for sure."

https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/defe ... -323404644

“He’s had big responsibilities playing with (Ryan) McDonagh and the assignments he’s taken, but he’s been able to handle it. That’s a sign of somebody that probably has a big future in this league.”

“He’s done a much better job this year of just getting his big body in lanes and blocking shots,” Richards said. “Some of that is probably spending some time with McDonagh and watching him.”

Once they started playing together, McDonagh noticed Cernak strong skating.

“His ability to defend backwards, his backwards skating, his ability to close on these top forwards at a high pace,” he said. “For a big guy (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), he can move laterally so well.”

Cooper suggested the Lightning had underestimated Cernak skating before he joined the team. It makes a difference in how he breaks the puck out and allows him to skate out of a situation and make a quick little play.

“When you can do that and also be able to defend,” Cooper said. “You’re an incredible asset to the team.”

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightni ... hl-future/

Without Cernak, the Lightning would be incomplete in a lot of ways. He eats up a lot of minutes (his 20:45 per game are fourth most on the team) and plays on the squad’s top penalty-kill unit with McDonagh

“Cerny’s just the guy who goes unnoticed sometimes back there,” coach Jon Cooper said. “... But he and Mac (McDonagh) do some heavy lifting for our group. And it’s no surprise, when he’s not around our game slides a bit.”

Since Cernak entered the league in 2018-19, he’s consistently partnered with McDonagh in the team’s second defense pair. The shutdown duo work so well together because of how well they know each other’s game.

With every year, Cernak grows more confident in his game. He wants to become a better all-around defenseman, so he spent the offseason focusing on how he can jump into more plays and rushes.

His teammates have noticed a difference, too. During training camp, McDonagh said Cernak’s experience has made him a more confident player on the ice.

“He’s a big guy that gets up and down the ice pretty quick, too,” McDonagh said at the time. “That falls into what’s expected of us as d-men, getting up in the play and being part of the rush, and he wants to do that. He wants to be there for us as a team, and it’s just another part of him becoming a two-way force out there.”

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.tampaba ... utType=amp





Rookies

Ty Smith
Current SP/SK - 76/77
Requested SP/SK - 79/79
Current DF - 69
Requested DF - 71

A prototypical, modern-day defenseman, his skating ability sets him apart from the pack. Can put up points from the back end and also defend his position with aplomb. Can log a ton of minutes effortlessly, too

Mobile, talented all-round defenseman

https://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/27030/Ty_Smith

An intelligent, two-way defender who runs a power play with precision. A playmaker who boasts tremendous skating ability

he Devils desperately need defensive transition facilitators in order to suit the style they play – Ty Smith fits that mold to a T. His exceptional four-way mobility

The quick skating defender

He blends terrific offensive ability with equally strong play in his zone thanks to his terrific speed, a great stick, strong positioning, and a high hockey IQ

The dynamic two-way defender

https://dobberprospects.com/player/ty-smith/

Smith ended the season with 69 shots in 48 games and provided a bit of offense with his defensive game

https://thehockeywriters.com/devils-202 ... efensemen/

Smith played in all situations and was second among Devil’s defensemen in even-strength ice-time

https://devilsarmynetwork.com/articles/ ... n-part-ii/

Elite skating defender

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/281814/ty-smith

Smith is an excellent skater. He can rush the puck up the ice, or pinch in at the blue line and still cover up his spot defensively. He has excellent speed in both directions. His acceleration is elite, as he reaches top speed in just one or two strides. Smith also has the pivots, agility, and edgework to cover large areas of the ice. This helps him in the defensive game. It also allows him to walk the line, and to open up passing and shooting lanes. Smith has good balance and a low centre of gravity. He will need to keep improving his strength and power though.

His defensive game is based on smart positioning and a quick stick, but he is undersized. Smith must continue to get stronger, to be better in front of the net and in the corners. He is willing to battle forwards, but could use more muscle. Smith is good at getting the puck out of his own end quickly. Once there is a loose puck, he can get to it quickly and either skate it out of danger or make a good first pass to start the transition game. Smith’s best defensive attribute is his skating. It helps him to maintain good gap control, and he is tough to beat off the rush. Overall, his defensive game is strong, with the main concern being size and strength.

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/201 ... nhl-draft/

As per his defending, I think Smith was one of the better players on the back end for New Jersey last season, if not the best. He has good awareness, good anticipation and knows how to make the correct play way more often than not.

he has shown he has the smarts to separate it from his man and get play going in the right direction.

https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2021/ ... r-ty-smith

Alexander Romanov
Current SP/SK - 75/75
Requested SP/SK - 77/77
Current DF - 69
Requested DF - 71

A great skater

His smooth skating

https://dobberprospects.com/player/alexander-romanov/

Can do it all on the ice. A smooth skater with tremendous lateral mobility, he plays with poise and makes a solid first pass out of the defensive zone.

Can log huge amounts of ice time. Plays bigger than his modest frame. Is mobile and adept enough to play on either side of the ice, which adds to his overall value.

Excellent all-around defenseman

https://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/ ... er_Romanov

All of his profiles in the Top 25 Under 25 have started off by praising his footwork and the technical skills he displays with his skates. His edgework, his stride, and especially his backward speed are top notch.

He is a physical athlete too, and pairing his skating with a low centre of gravity and a strong core makes for a veritable wrecking ball. There have been instances in the KHL when he destroyed opponents. His open-ice hits are old school, and very clean. He hits in a similar way to Niklas Kronwall when he steps up at the blue line but he never really lifts his arms

it is all the small things that Romanov does that are his bread and butter. He reads the game well, even with limited experience on the small surface in the NHL. Coaches speak about hockey IQ, and Romanov’s is high. He uses the technical edgework to position himself correctly, and he can rectify a bad position quickly thanks to his speed and skill

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/top- ... ting-stats

n the defensive zone he is more secure and plays smarter. He has also taken a more responsible role when the team controls the puck in the attacking zone, almost playing more like a libero (as in soccer) while letting his partner run the offence

It is no surprise that a Russian player can skate, but Romanov is in the top percentile even among his fellow countrymen. He can change direction quickly, even when going backward. His acceleration benefits him in the race to the corners or when he needs to cover for a wayward partner, or, as in the gif below, when he forces attackers into mistakes. He was constantly one of the top five skaters on CSKA in terms of top speed during the games this season

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2020 ... tats-video

Where Alexander is going to be really good is that he's going to be able to get the puck from the defensive zone, with control, moving forward out of it

Romanov uses a proactive approach to defending, which explains why some in the hockey world have dubbed him "The Assassin." As one scout explained, Romanov is the player who shows up to kill any offensive opportunities his opponents create. He also performs this task with a surprisingly high level of consistency, which is usually a weak point for younger D-men.

"Romanov has confidence," said Button. "And that extends to both ends of the ice. But he doesn't create any type of vulnerabilities for himself or his team when he's on the ice. His gap control is fantastic."

https://www.nhl.com/canadiens/news/alex ... -319717036

[Juliet-Bruins]

Adam Fox

SP 75 -> 79
SK 75 -> 79

https://lastwordonsports.com/2016/06/02 ... -draft-63/

He has elite skating ability, moving around the ice with very good speed and acceleration. He can lead or join the rush; or pinch at the blue line and still get back to defend his own zone as well. Fox has very good agility, and edge work. He can weave in and out of traffic while rushing the puck up the ice, and use quick cuts to avoid opponents, be they fore checkers trying to pin him in his own end, or defenders against the rush.

Adam Fox uses his quick feet to keep attackers in front of him off the rush. He has good backwards skating and a quick stick and is tough to beat one-on-one

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/what-sc ... x/c-887543

A smooth skating, offensive defenceman who shows strong mobility and excellent vision

He displays efficient puck control in transition, and often shows his impressive top-end speed while joining the rush.

Fox wants the puck on his stick and likes to start the rush through the middle, where he can dance through forecheckers while displaying a good combination of puckhandling skill, elusiveness and speed.

Smallish defender is highly mobile and a take charge quarterback from the blueline. The prototype of a modern rearguard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmOUPnWhEo0

[bluesgm]

Filip Hronek:
DF:70 asking 73

Has averaged 2:27 over the last two year SHTIO
Averages over 23 minutes per game of ice time
Averaged 1 block/gm for the last two yrs.
https://www.rotowire.com/hockey/player.php?id=5204

"Two other stats that I should mention are his Corsi For % (CF%) and his defensive zone start % (dZS%). Entering Thursday, Hronek has a 54.5 CF%, meaning the Red Wings control the puck nearly 55% of the time when he’s on the ice. That’s better than Kris Letang, Charlie McAvoy, and Rasmus Dahlin this season. All of this while Hronek’s dZS% is 58.2%, which means he starts in the defensive zone 58% of the time"
https://thehockeywriters.com/red-wings- ... n-2020-21/

Like most young defensemen who are rushed to the NHL he needed to get better defensively. He has done that and the Red Wings rely on him accordingly.
He deserves to have his DF bumped.

[anthgrt-la]

Nicolas Hague

SP: 71 requested 73
SK: 71 requested 73
DF: 69 requested 72

SCOUTING REPORT
A mammoth physical specimen at 6'6", 221 pounds, he skates very well for a hulking defenseman and can log huge minutes. Owns a heavy point shot and also displays the physicality to perform shutdown duties with aplomb. Needs to become a bit more consistent in all facets of the game in order to maximize ice time and output at the highest level. Can be guilty of being a little too aggressive at times. Is not a natural power-play quarterback.

Long Range Potential: Towering, big-minute defenseman with upside.

https://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/ ... olas_Hague

The 6-foot-6, 221-pound defenseman is the biggest player in the organization but uses his size well to defend. One of his greatest assets is his shot, nicknamed the “Haguer Bomb,” and he’s shown flashes of massive offensive potential.

The ability to use Hague offensively or defensively gives DeBoer options, especially as the group adjusts following the offseason departure of Schmidt and addition of Alex Pietrangelo.

https://www.knightsonice.com/2021/1/9/2 ... er-knights

He looked more and more comfortable as the season progressed, and he turned out an especially impressive performance from a possession standpoint.

Among Vegas defensemen, Hague ranked at or near the top in most possession categories, finishing first in Corsi For percentage (54.59), shot share (54.74 percent) and expected goal share (56.59 percent). He finished second — trailing only Shea Theodore — in goal share (59.65 percent) and scoring chance share (55.52 percent), and his 56.11 percent high-danger Corsi share was second on the team behind Nick Holden, who played just 17 games.

https://www.knightsonice.com/2021/7/17/ ... ago-wolves

Already measuring 6’6″ tall, Hague is a giant on the blue line. His skating is surprisingly quick for a player his size, and his stride long and fluid.

He plays a strong two-way game and covers a lot of ground for a big man. His edge work and pivots are also good for his size..... He has surprisingly good lateral agility.

The big man shows good defensive instincts for a player his age. He steers attackers to the outside, battles hard in the corners and clears the front of the net. Hague maintains good gap control. He is not afraid to use his body and push players around and knock them off the puck, but don’t expect big open-ice hits either. Hague uses his positioning and a long, active stick to cut down passing and shooting lanes.

https://lastwordonsports.com/2017/04/19 ... -draft-21/

"The NHL is clearly trending towards a fast game, and favours defencemen that can move the puck in transition from the defensive zone. By looking at the tale of the tape, you may think Hague is a throwback to the old days where defencemen had to be big hulking physical defensive defencemen. At 6-6, 214 pounds it would be easy to see Hague fit that mould. However, skating is far from a deficiency in his game and he is equally adept offensively as he is defensively. He has a cannon of a shot from the point and can run the power play. Defencemen with his skill set are simply next to impossible to acquire outside of the draft, and as such he should be a top ten pick as the should be the second defenceman off the board come June." - Peter Harling

"I'm sure many will focus on his size and projection as a shut down type of defender. But I'd rather talk about the interesting progression of his offensive game. He's not your prototypical offensive defender. He's not a particularly dynamic player off the rush and I don't think he's got a natural feel as a puck carrier/distributor. But, he uses his size exceptionally well in the offensive end. Consistently pinches in deep to keep pucks in, and actually plays a lot below the hash marks, using his size to work the cycle. He's smart about it though and doesn't get caught up ice all that much. Then there's the big point shot. He does a great job of finding scoring lanes and he actually does a good job of using different releases to get it through to the net. I don't know how much that will translate to the next level, but the improvements and confidence in his ability to make things happen in the offensive end is worth noting." - Otten

https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2017/ ... ississagua

Strengths
Size and reach
Puck Moving
Skating for his size

https://thehockeywriters.com/nicolas-ha ... t-profile/

Hague is very active in the offensive zone, especially with the man advantage, and his footspeed is good enough to double back in time to quell an odd-man rush. He has a very active stick, maintains a tight gap and his one-on-one play improved as the year progressed.

https://www.thedraftanalyst.com/2017-nh ... las-hague/

"I was working with a skating coach last summer before I was drafted here and then after I was drafted I had the opportunity to work with Scott Jones on my skating. All season, he'd come to Mississauga and work with me and we'd do video and really break it down and do what seemed like pretty fundamental stuff just to figure out different areas within my skating that I could improve on, whether it's the transition game of the first couple of strides to get going quicker. Now he's just giving me little tips to focus on. Now whenever I step on the ice, I feel like I've gone through it so much with him that they're just ingrained in the back of my head and it's always something I'm thinking about on the ice, I'm aware of it and conscious of it to make sure I'm not falling into old habits and continue to do the right things. I think, based on that and the work I've been able to do, it's been a big help for me."

https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/ ... -299305748

The 22-year-old has always had the ability to be a good defender. He’s the tallest player on the Knights’ roster by 2 inches and one of the largest in the NHL. Only four skaters in the league are listed taller than 6-6.

That size gives Hague reach and length his teammates can only dream of.

“He’s got a fishing rod for a stick there,” defensive partner Zach Whitecloud said. “For him to have that and have good feet and a good mind, the way he defends is quick and hard, and he’s physical and he’s big. That’s scary for a lot of forwards.”

The Knights haven’t given up much defensively as a result when he’s been on the ice. The team allowed about 24.3 scoring chances, 12.3 high-danger scoring chances and 3.4 goals per 60 minutes with Hague out at five-on-five last season. Through his 66:31 of five-on-five time this season, the Knights have conceded 15 scoring chances, six high-danger chances and one goal.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/go ... s-2274999/




Gabriel Vilardi

DF: 57 requested

[Jamie]

Connor Garland
SP 75 - 78
SK 75 - 78
DF 56 - 66

https://thecanuckway.com/2021/07/24/can ... -the-team/
"Forechecking is also a strong suit of Garland. He uses his speed to close down the space on dump-and-chase plays, and can create pressure-filled situations for his opponents with his sound defensive fundamentals and good reach with the stick."

https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/canu ... se-4192960
"Conor Garland is a puck possession powerhouse"
"Likewise, he has a strong impact on defence, making opponents’ shots 4% less dangerous.

A lot of that comes from winning battles and controlling the puck along the boards and Benning is hoping that it’s contagious.

“He’s a kid that competes hard on the puck, a relentless worker, has good skill, and his work ethic is gonna rub off on all of our other guys,” said Benning."
"He also repeatedly made smart plays in the neutral zone in the shifts I watched. Sometimes it was as simple as putting pressure on the puck carrier at the right time to guide them into a teammate for a turnover or forcing a dump-in instead of a controlled zone entry. Sometimes he picked off the puck entirely and quickly turned it back into an opportunity for offence."
The word that comes to mind is “safe.” Garland’s off-puck positioning was solid and he kept his head on a swivel, constantly checking to make sure his man didn’t sneak in off the point. "
"another underrated element of his defensive game is just getting the puck out of the zone when he has the chance. Simply avoiding getting hemmed in the defensive zone for extended shifts helps limit shots and chances against.

According to Garland, improving his defensive game was a focus for himself and his coach last season.

“Rick Tocchet this year worked a lot on that, helping me become more defensively reliable, so I can be a first-line player in the league,” said Garland. “You can’t [play on a first line] if you can’t play on the other side of the puck.”

That’s good because it’s guaranteed that his new head coach, Travis Green, will have the same expectations of Garland defensively. "


https://thehockeywriters.com/canucks-co ... t-to-know/
"He may be small at 5-foot-10, but he makes up for it with speed:
"He is also one of the hardest workers night in and night out."

[RichBasterd]

Carter Verhaeghe

SP= Current: 72 Requested 76
SK= Current: 72 Requested 75
DF= Current: 58 Requested 66

I picked this type of chart for the obvious reason, but HockeyViz agrees, Verhaeghe is amazing at creating offence, and not exactly bad defensively for a winger.

I don’t think Verhaeghe is a passenger, however. He’s at the very least an able navigator while Barkov drives the car.

https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2021 ... y-too-soon

Besides this, he is a monster +23, which leads the team, and is taking on over 17 minutes of ice-time each night.

https://thehockeywriters.com/tampa-bay- ... verhaeghe/

Although he spent much of his time as a bottom-six forward for the Lightning, he will have the chance to prove he’s worth a spot on the second or third line in South Florida.

https://thehockeywriters.com/panthers-v ... idden-gem/

He played most of last season on the team’s top-line alongside Aleksander Barkov and helped the line become very successful.

“Carter emerged as one of the best possession forwards in hockey last season, elevating his game to fill an important role on our team,” Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito

https://nhltradetalk.com/florida-panthe ... extension/

However, the impact that he has brought to the team has been much more than being another lethal scoring option. Not only has he become a great contributor on the offensive side of the puck, but he is great on the other side as well. Verhaeghe also brings a strong defensive presence. He can turn defense into offense as quickly as anybody in the league.

Carter Verhaeghe has become a big factor as to why the Florida Panthers have had the second best start to a season in franchise history.

https://puckprose.com/2021/02/07/florid ... ee-agency/

“He’s always looking for ways to improve whether it’s fitness, whether it’s positioning, whether it’s possession, but he’s always trying to do the little things that can either be more deceptive or enhance his shot,” Quenneville said. “He’s really helped himself in the last year and a half and for us, he’s been pretty amazing.”

In the offseason, Verhaeghe focused on his skating. He said it’s always been “his thing” and being a pretty good player and skating well go hand-in-hand.

“Over time, (my game’s) evolved and learning from guys, playing with guys and (working with) different coaches and everything has helped a lot,” said Verhaeghe, 26. “It progresses over time, and I just keep trying to get better.”

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/ ... story.html

“His effort, speed and creativity are infectious on and off the ice.”

https://floridahockeynow.com/carter-ver ... -panthers/

His offensive and defensive game improved as well, as shown in the stats such as xGF/60 and xGA/60. Due to Verhaege having a positive contribution on both ends of the ice, he led the team in both xGF% and HDCF%.

He also played well against elite competition and had a positive impact against them, having a DFF% (Dangerous Fenwick For Percent) of close to 60%. He was 12th in the league in this category (filtered to forwards with at least 100 minutes). This shows that Verhaege can be placed against elite competition and still put up results.

https://lastwordonsports.com/hockey/202 ... ut-season/

“I want to develop better skating habits; getting going faster is my main focus,” Verhaeghe said. “But I can work on everything, whether it’s offense, defense or just being a team player.”

https://www.si.com/hockey/news/carter-verhaeghe

“Carter’s come a long way,” said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. “I watched him in the Calder Cup playoffs last year, and if there was a guy that stood out to me, it was him. He’s not afraid to go into dirty areas, and he’s got sneaky good skill."

“He’s really worked on his skating, and it’s great to see what Carter’s done to put himself in a position to play in the NHL.”

https://www.tampabay.com/sports/lightni ... f-the-way/

While the goal scoring wasn’t as prolific at the NHL level as it was at the AHL level, he contributed in other ways, mainly as a key part of the fourth line for most of the season.

While he was often the 12th forward during games when Coach Cooper went with an 11/7 rotation he did appear in 8 games during the playoffs, including 3 Stanley Cup Final games. Despite off-and-on usage he never complained about his role, simply going out and doing the job he was assigned.

He has NHL-level speed and a wrist shot that is a lot sneakier than it should be

https://www.rawcharge.com/2020/11/10/21 ... e-prospect

When he was acquired from the Islanders in exchange for goaltender, and near Latvian cult hero Kristers Gudlevskis, at the draft in 2017, the Lightning development staff saw some potential but knew Verhaeghe needed to improve his skating if he wanted to take the next step.

He did, and he did, and found himself making a major contribution to Tampa Bay's Game 3 victory against Columbus in his NHL playoff debut.

https://lightninginsider.com/index.php/ ... mprovement

Verhaeghe made sure to take full responsibility for that challenge last summer. His sessions with Lightning skating coach Barb Underhill boosted his speed, and, by extension, his ability to capitalize on offensive chances.

"This season we’ve seen a progression. He’s picked up a step in his skating and that’s made a difference in the offensive zone. He’s more in a position to use his speed to make plays,'' said Tampa Bay general manager Julien BriseBois.

"I had a good summer. It’s kind of trying to play with pace at all times, not taking shifts off. I think it’s kind of mental. You’ve just got to keep it going and keep generating speed,'' Verhaeghe said. "I think all the work I’ve been doing with Barb in the summers, all the workouts and stuff, I’ve been developing and getting stronger. I think I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in. It’s just working at it in practice, trying to push yourself to extra gears in practice. I think I’m just coming into my body. I kind of feel like I’m getting fully developed. ''

https://www.syracuse.com/crunch/2019/01 ... runch.html

Assets Can be a decent point producer at lower levels, thanks mainly to his playmaking skills. Owns a projectable (6-1) frame. Is also defensively responsible most of the time.

https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/player/carter-ve ... r_id=55442

Michael Raffl
DF= Current: 67 Requested 70

He’s not going to produce many points or create many awe-inspiring offensive plays, but he’s an adequate bottom-six forward that can drive play and jump up to provide a fine third wheel for a top-six line

Perhaps a drop in 5-on-5 minutes and being used as a fourth liner will allow Raffl to return to the bottom-six possession monster we’ve seen in the past while still chipping in ten goals and 25 points.

https://www.broadstreethockey.com/2019/ ... hael-raffl

The quintessential bottom-six guy, Raffl brings some much-needed sandpaper to the lineup and also sees decent time on the penalty kill.

While not nearly as prolific as other Flyers, advanced possession statistics like Corsi (46.72%) show that Raffl isn’t the worst in his own end, especially on the penalty kill. While a number of his 5-on-5 numbers show him to be aggressively average, he actually has pretty solid numbers on the penalty kill, outperforming other noteworthy penalty-killer Scott Laughton.

For reference Laughton's DF is 68 so he should be higher if he "outperformed" him
https://broadstreetbuzz.com/2021/03/11/ ... ael-raffl/

He’s been firmly a fourth-line player this season, getting some penalty-kill assignments in his 13 minutes a night.

The 6’0”, 200-pound left wing led Philadelphia forwards with 23 blocked shots and was tied for fifth on the team with 50 hits.

https://russianmachineneverbreaks.com/2 ... line-deal/

SCOUTING REPORT
Has decent NHL size and he knows where to be in all three zones whenever he's on the ice. His instincts are very good and he doesn't shy away from contact. Is quite versatile at the NHL level. Must prove capable of producing consistent offense over the long haul at the highest level in North America. In order to do so, he could stand to add more bulk and get physically stronger.

Long Range Potential: Solid, versatile two-way forward.

https://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/ ... hael_Raffl

Raffl is a solid lefty who can move up and down the lineup to offer strong two-way play. To start out, Raffl has been playing the left wing on a line with Jamie Benn and Denis Gurianov, while Glendening has manned the right wing next to Radek Faksa and Blake Comeau. Both are expected to be big parts of the penalty kill, as well.

"They do a great job on the penalty kill, Glendening will win faceoffs," Stars head coach Rick Bowness said. "They're veteran guys who know how to play. They play the right way. They're good veteran guys."

https://www.nhl.com/stars/news/luke-gle ... -326592076

Raffl ranked sixth among Flyers forwards with 37:24 penalty kill minutes. He is on pace for 19 points and has recorded at least 20 points in five of his last seven seasons.

Raffl will be good for bottom six depth. He spent his entire eight year career with the Flyers in a bottom six role. Don’t expect him to be a big point getter. His last season with double digit goals came in 2018. He is mostly a fourth line player and a mainstay on the penalty kill, averaging 13 minutes a night.

https://starsandsticks.com/2021/04/12/w ... ael-raffl/

[Carolina Gm-Andrew]

Josh Anderson

Current
SP SK
77 76

Requested

SP SK
81 79

On his own team he's much more noticeable than Dvorak (78 Speed). On Carolina he should be faster than Miles Wood 80 and Sean Kuraly 79. Let's look at the case!

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/anal ... -net-front

Key points

The term ‘unicorn’ was coined in the basketball world. It qualifies big men who can dash around the surface and generate offence with a variety of subtle, controlled movements that aren’t usually accessible to heavy and long-limbed players.

Is a Josh Anderson a unicorn? Not exactly. He lacks the glow that would make him the focal point of fan attention on the ice, but his power forward breed is still seldom found in the NHL.

The 6’3” winger has remarkably refined skating mechanics. Usually we see players of that stature hop on the ice, achieve less knee bend, ankle flexion, and/or hunch over their skates. They also aim to conserve a bit of momentum to win sprints to loose pucks.

In contrast, Anderson’s game is filled with rapid stops and starts. His technique, heavy on crossovers, is much more conducive to speed. His body drops in the direction of his steps to generate momentum, his outside edges grab the ice and add extra propulsion due to the lateral twist of his ankles, and even if his posture remains upright, his feet recover low to the surface at a high rate, allowing him to rapidly chain pushes. Once the winger reaches top speed, we also see the optimal limb flexion in forward strides that is typical of smaller, speedy skaters.

What Anderson lacks in the playmaking department, he makes up for with above-average scoring instincts, or the ability to attack pockets of space at the right time and speed to capitalize on passes.

Like his offensive game, however, Anderson’s defensive play is mostly sustained by his superior tools.

https://awinninghabit.com/2021/06/14/mo ... produce/4/

Anderson has a terrific and unparalleled combination of speed, physicality, skill. He skates as well as anyone, hits like a truck

His ability to skate and get in on a forecheck and crush a defenceman on nearly every shift led to plenty of turnovers and offensive zone time, wearing down the opponent’s defencemen.

https://www.thehockeyfanatic.com/2021/0 ... 1-edition/

Do I agree with the below list... not all... but it shows he is in the conversation for fastest players

1 Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers Centre CCM JetSpeed
2 Mathew Barzal New York Islanders Centre CCM Super Tacks AS3 Pro
3 Dylan Larkin Detroit Red Wings Centre Bauer Vapour 2X Pro
4 Nathan MacKinnon Colorado Avalanche Centre CCM Ribcor 70K
5 Quinn Hughes Vancouver Canucks Defense CCM Ribcor 70K
6 Cale Makar Colorado Avalanche Defense Bauer Supreme 2S Pro
7 Patrick Kane Chicago Blackhawks Right Wing Bauer Vapour 2X Pro
8 Travis Konecny Philadelphia Flyers Centre Bauer Supreme 2S Pro
9 Miro Heiskanen Dallas Stars Defense CCM Jetspeed FT2
10 Josh Anderson Montreal Canadiens Right Wing Bauer Vapour 2X Pro

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2021 ... paul-byron

Ask anyone at Montreal Canadiens training camp about Josh Anderson and they’ll say the one thing that surprised them about the big winger is his speed.

“He’s just a powerhorse,” said Tatar after Monday’s practice. “I knew he was fast but you don’t really realize it until you’re working with a guy every day.”

“It’s shocking that a guy that big moves as well as he does,” Petry said. “He’s up there with Paul Byron as one of the fastest guys on our team.”

In a few words, the winger’s skill set is one of the rarest in the league and represents a great fit for the current team.

Mike Reilly
Reilly has become a reliable top four defenceman and Boston (contending squad) has found it fitting to play him that way. One of the reasons for his success is his experience and increased hockey IQ. His skating has always been a plus as articles below would support. Hoping to get his skating to a respectable area where he won't be behind the play in DHL.

Current
SP 71 SK 71 DF 70



Players who use mobility as part of their success on defense like Jensen (75) Marino (74) Scandella (74) Kulak (74) are all good examples of where he should be.

Requested
SP SK DF
74 72 72

He’s been strong in all three zones and a critical part of the Bruins’ breakout.

“He’s defended well for us. He’s long. I wouldn’t call him a hard player, but when it’s his turn to battle, he’s certainly willing to do it. He’s been a good addition for us,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “The good thing about Mike is that he doesn’t overextend shifts very often. He doesn’t put himself in bad spots where he’s going to be at a disadvantage. I think he’s a smart hockey player in that regard. He knows what he’s good at, what he can get away with and how to defend to his strengths. He’s got a very good hockey I.Q. and has done a real nice job for us at both ends of the ice.”

https://nesn.com/2021/04/what-new-bruin ... blue-line/

It is Reilly’s offensive prowess that seems to be his biggest strength, though. Multiple scouting reports laud the Illinois native’s skating ability and mobility, as he fits the profile of a true puck-moving defenseman.

Puck-moving, transition game, skating ability. Even saw the difference when Matt Grzelyck went out of the lineup. We want to be a team with transitions a little cleaner at times. [Reilly]’s produced offensively. Not necessarily scoring, but contributing point-production wise. Has played in all the situations


https://www.sportsforecaster.com/nhl/p/ ... ike_Reilly

Has tremendous offensive ability, as he sees the ice well and has excellent mobility to join the rush. Is also a solid puck mover whose stick is always active and effective. Needs to add significant bulk to his 6-2 frame, and get much stronger overall, in order to maximize output at the National Hockey League level.

https://www.silversevensens.com/2021/3/ ... a-senators

One of the most pleasant surprises of the Ottawa Senators’ season has been the play of the second pair. Mike Reilly and Artem Zub have achieved stellar results, with Ottawa getting a 53.89 CF% and a sparkling 58.38 xGF% share while the two are on the ice together. They’re also the only defensive pair to boast a positive goal differential at 5v5, thanks to fourteen scored and only seven allowed; I will note here that they are also benefitting from somewhat unsustainable goalie play, as the Sens’ keepers have stopped 94% of the shots they’ve faced in that time — still, the overall success is very real. You could make a convincing argument that they are the best second pairing to lace ‘em up for Ottawa since the 2006-07 season. Damning with faint praise, I know, but after the veritable revolving door of replacement-level players the team has trotted out to fill the spots on the blueline over the years it’s been extremely gratifying to watch the pair go to work.

Considering where he was just over a year ago when the Sens traded for him, it’s been a remarkable glow-up for the Chicago-born defender.

[John - Sharks]

These will be due on Wednesday, Nov 3rd

[Ted Riot]

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
DF 65 -> 68

https://www.google.com/amp/s/edmontonjo ... 93720/amp/

"Nugent-Hopkins is a strong defensive winger, and excellent on the penalty kill,"

http://www.nhl.com/stats/skaters?report ... ageSize=50

"2020-21 RNH played second most penalty kill minutes in oilers"

[smallz]

Andrew Mangiapane
Current DF: 57
Requested DF: 66

Among the ten Flames players who played significant minutes on the penalty kill, he ranked fourth in Corsi against, high-danger corsi against, and goals against, as well as fifth in expected goals against. All stats are on a per sixty minutes of ice time basis, taken from NaturalStatTrick (with Mangiapane’s team rank in brackets).That means that in his first kick at the can, Mangiapane joined a pretty solid penalty killing group (the Flames were 15th is PK% this season), and fit right in. While these defensive metrics aren’t the best of the group, they are solid. Couple that with the offensive threat he brings to the penalty kill, and his value is clearer than ever.

https://thewincolumn.ca/2021/05/27/appr ... eason-yet/

He’s a strong skater, defensively sound, skillful shooter, deadly distributor, and a feisty forechecker.

https://flamesnation.ca/2020/09/16/flam ... giapane-2/

while he is on the ice, the Flames are suppressing chances/shots from those areas relative to his teammates. It shows that with Mangiapane the Flames are doing a good job keeping opponents out of the slot, while without him teams are getting way more dangerous looks.

https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/ ... -darn-good

But don’t confuse that as meaning that Mangiapane is a one dimensional player. He saw extensive penalty kill time this year, and is generally regarded as a good two-way player

https://www.matchsticksandgasoline.com/ ... 5-under-25

[John - Sharks]

Should clarify that deadline is 9 pm tomorrow.

[John - Sharks]

Alex Iafallo

Asking to change DF from 60 -> 68.

Iafallo was on the top Kings' top PK last season with 1:57 SHTOI/gm.

His takeaway/giveaway ratio was 15:9, one of only two forwards on the Kings with a positive ratio.

51.2% Corsi was 2nd on the team.



From: https://lakingsinsider.com/2021/04/13/t ... x-iafallo/

“All aspects of his game are a real good modeling tool for a lot of young players coming up,” Kings Head Coach Todd McLellan said. “He can check, he’s responsible defensively, he understands structure,

Todd shows a lot of trust in him, putting him on the power play and PK, he plays in every single situation. He’s a big part of this team.”

From: https://www.si.com/hockey/news/re-signi ... rebuilders

He’s not a top-notch driver of play on offense, but he grades out as one of the better defensive wingers in the league in terms of suppressing scoring chances and makes a fine two-way linemate to play with two-time Selke Trophy winner Anze Kopitar.

But don’t be surprised if, over the long term, he transitions from big-minutes first-liner to a valuable shutdown middle-six winger.