Greg McKegg

[Zee]

Gregg McKegg needs to make it for the rhyming potential alone.  Imagine Mark in da Park spitting the illest verses on 2 inch.

 

[bustaheims]

SSpeaking of Dido - anyone know what became of him ? I really wanted to see him in Blue & White as he wasa great player for the Seadogs.

He's struggling to produce for Chicago's AHL affiliate.

 

[Leaf 50]

thanks,Bustaheims.

 

[leafplasma]

SSpeaking of Dido - anyone know what became of him ? I really wanted to see him in Blue & White as he wasa great player for the Seadogs.

He's struggling to produce for Chicago's AHL affiliate.

Been up and down between the AHL and ECHL the last two seasons as well.  Doesn't look good for Dido.

 

[leafplasma]

22 points in just 11 games for Kegger since being traded to London.

Sounds like we have a good one there.

The year after Kadri was drafted, in 56 games he had 35 goals, 58 assists for 93 points.

I just want you to take a deep breath that its quite possible McKegg does nothing at the NHL level and/or that it takes a while before we even see him.

Right and this is Mckegg's 2nd Junior year after his draft year.  Kadri was playing for the Marlies/Leafs in his 2nd year after his draft year.  Having said that McKegg had a great year last year with Erie certainly comparable to Kadris post draft year.  McKegg seems to be more of a pure goal scorer and Kadri more of a playmaker.

 

[bustaheims]

Been up and down between the AHL and ECHL the last two seasons as well.  Doesn't look good for Dido.

He was always a long-shot to make much of an impact on the NHL level, but, he was a good story, so he grew on some people.

 

[Kin]

The year after Kadri was drafted, in 56 games he had 35 goals, 58 assists for 93 points.

I just want you to take a deep breath that its quite possible McKegg does nothing at the NHL level and/or that it takes a while before we even see him.

While there's certainly a strong chance McKegg doesn't turn into anything spectacular, it's probably worth pointing out he did go 2nd overall in the 2008 OHL draft. He wouldn't have gone that high without the talent being there. The kid has talent, there's no denying that. Whether or not he can turn it into anything at the NHL level obviously remains to be seen.

Not to speak for him but I think that Ern is making kind of a larger point there than just about McKegg. McKegg has always been a good OHL scorer. He was in his draft year(85 points in 67 games) and he even was with Erie this year(not hair on fire good or anything but almost a PPG)

The issue, as you know, is that CHL stats tell us virtually nothing about a players ability to perform well at the NHL level. Outside of the odd case like a guy like Paradis where an inability to score in junior can probably be projected out to the pros, just about every player who gets drafted by the NHL will be a very good junior player. The two go hand in hand. McKegg scoring at a high clip with London tells us essentially nothing we didn't already know. If this was LK saying "I saw McKegg and he's been a beast!" then it'd be something different although, even then, professional scouts are crap shooters when it comes to prospect evaluation and LK isn't even a pro scout but, rather, our ship's medical officer.

Kadri, as incredulously surmised, isn't really an example of how McKegg might not make it(if only because nobody should need an example to prove that) but instead an example that there's really no reason to get too excited about a young prospect until, at least, he's doing things in the NHL worth getting excited about. Kadri had great numbers in junior, produced in the AHL and right now...is more or less the same question mark he's always been.

The truth is that there's more evidence(his draft position, his not even being a WJC selection camp invitee) that should temper our hopes than there is to jack them up. He's a third round pick and our prospect. The hype machine can leave it at that for a while.

 

[rdowdall]

The year after Kadri was drafted, in 56 games he had 35 goals, 58 assists for 93 points.

I just want you to take a deep breath that its quite possible McKegg does nothing at the NHL level and/or that it takes a while before we even see him.

While there's certainly a strong chance McKegg doesn't turn into anything spectacular, it's probably worth pointing out he did go 2nd overall in the 2008 OHL draft. He wouldn't have gone that high without the talent being there. The kid has talent, there's no denying that. Whether or not he can turn it into anything at the NHL level obviously remains to be seen.

Not to speak for him but I think that Ern is making kind of a larger point there than just about McKegg. McKegg has always been a good OHL scorer. He was in his draft year(85 points in 67 games) and he even was with Erie this year(not hair on fire good or anything but almost a PPG)

The issue, as you know, is that CHL stats tell us virtually nothing about a players ability to perform well at the NHL level. Outside of the odd case like a guy like Paradis where an inability to score in junior can probably be projected out to the pros, just about every player who gets drafted by the NHL will be a very good junior player. The two go hand in hand. McKegg scoring at a high clip with London tells us essentially nothing we didn't already know. If this was LK saying "I saw McKegg and he's been a beast!" then it'd be something different although, even then, professional scouts are crap shooters when it comes to prospect evaluation and LK isn't even a pro scout but, rather, our ship's medical officer.

Kadri, as incredulously surmised, isn't really an example of how McKegg might not make it(if only because nobody should need an example to prove that) but instead an example that there's really no reason to get too excited about a young prospect until, at least, he's doing things in the NHL worth getting excited about. Kadri had great numbers in junior, produced in the AHL and right now...is more or less the same question mark he's always been.

The truth is that there's more evidence(his draft position, his not even being a WJC selection camp invitee) that should temper our hopes than there is to jack them up. He's a third round pick and our prospect. The hype machine can leave it at that for a while.

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

 

[Kin]

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

Datsyuk is kind of a great example of what I'm saying though. All people seem to remember about Datsyuk is that he was drafted in a low round and has emerged as a great player but even then it was a long, long journey. Datsyuk didn't even get drafted until he was 20 and didn't have his first real impact season until he was 25. He didn't emerge as a superstar until he was 27.

Meanwhile, we have people saying things like "I'm sick and tired of waiting for Luke Schenn to break-out and he's already 22"

 

[Mikhail Bloodnovsky]

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

Meanwhile, we have people saying things like "I'm sick and tired of waiting for Luke Schenn to break-out and he's already 22"

You are conveniently not mentioning the fact that Luke was drafted 5th overall. Meaning the Toronto Maple Leafs thought that at the time he was 5th best young player in the world. With such a high draft position comes certain level of expectations. 

That's a totally different story than waiting for a 7th round pick to develop into a star in his late 20s.

 

[Kin]

You are conveniently not mentioning the fact that Luke was drafted 5th overall.

I'm not mentioning it because it's irrelevant to what I'm saying.

Meaning the Toronto Maple Leafs thought that at the time he was 5th best young player in the world.

Well, it means that Cliff Fletcher thought he was the fifth best choice among draft eligible players in the world, but close enough for government work.

With such a high draft position comes certain level of expectations. 

If a player gets drafted high, a fan has a reasonable expectation that the player will develop into a good player. To set a timeline on that process, especially one that starts showing impatience with a player at an age when most guys are just breaking into the league, is not reasonable.

 

[applecheeks]

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

Meanwhile, we have people saying things like "I'm sick and tired of waiting for Luke Schenn to break-out and he's already 22"

You are conveniently not mentioning the fact that Luke was drafted 5th overall. Meaning the Toronto Maple Leafs thought that at the time he was 5th best young player in the world. With such a high draft position comes certain level of expectations. 

That's a totally different story than waiting for a 7th round pick to develop into a star in his late 20s.

Is this not proof again that we should let our players finnish out there jr. careers and fully develop before they continue to hone their skills in the AHL. Agreed with short visits in the bigs so they have that carrot and know what to hone.
I really like the future up and comers on this team and says alot about how fast BB&co was able to put together some good prospects and now it's up to the Eakins and Poulins to make sure they get all the help they can to be the best they can. Then we have better control and see how they are developing. Between mcKegg and Biggs, there's some truculance coming down the pipe.

 

[rdowdall]

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

Datsyuk is kind of a great example of what I'm saying though. All people seem to remember about Datsyuk is that he was drafted in a low round and has emerged as a great player but even then it was a long, long journey. Datsyuk didn't even get drafted until he was 20 and didn't have his first real impact season until he was 25. He didn't emerge as a superstar until he was 27.

Meanwhile, we have people saying things like "I'm sick and tired of waiting for Luke Schenn to break-out and he's already 22"

I know...that's why I said it.  It seems that every fan of every team thinks that their prospect, or unsigned college kid is the next Martin St Louis, or Adam Oates, or Pavel Datsyuk.  The odds are stacked against that happening.

 

[rdowdall]

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

Datsyuk is kind of a great example of what I'm saying though. All people seem to remember about Datsyuk is that he was drafted in a low round and has emerged as a great player but even then it was a long, long journey. Datsyuk didn't even get drafted until he was 20 and didn't have his first real impact season until he was 25. He didn't emerge as a superstar until he was 27.

Meanwhile, we have people saying things like "I'm sick and tired of waiting for Luke Schenn to break-out and he's already 22"

You know, I wonder if Grabovski can make the same sort of leap as Datsyuk? 

 

[Bullfrog]

I highly doubt it. he's a valuable player though that shows determination at both ends of the rink, but Datsyuk is just on another plane.

 

[rdowdall]

I highly doubt it. he's a valuable player though that shows determination at both ends of the rink, but Datsyuk is just on another plane.

Agreed, but it's not like he was always there.  He started out slow and then built up to that.  Also, I believe Grabovksi and Datsyuk work out together in the offseason.

 

[Bullfrog]

At Grabovski's age, Datsyuk just started a string many 85+ points, so here's hoping, but I highly doubt it.

 

[Zee]

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

Datsyuk is kind of a great example of what I'm saying though. All people seem to remember about Datsyuk is that he was drafted in a low round and has emerged as a great player but even then it was a long, long journey. Datsyuk didn't even get drafted until he was 20 and didn't have his first real impact season until he was 25. He didn't emerge as a superstar until he was 27.

Meanwhile, we have people saying things like "I'm sick and tired of waiting for Luke Schenn to break-out and he's already 22"

You know, I wonder if Grabovski can make the same sort of leap as Datsyuk?

He's a slight level below Datsyuk's production at the same age. 

Datsyuk's first full year 35 points in 70 games
Grabovski's first full year 48 points in 78 games  -- this is as good or better

but then
Datsyuk 2nd year - 51 points in 64 games
Grabovski 2nd year - 35 points in 59 games

Datsyuk 3rd year - 68 points in 75 games
Grabovski 3rd year 58 points in 81 games

And then Dats takes off with 87 points or more for 4 straight seasons.  So Grabovski at just a notch below, if he trends similarly we could be seeing 60-70 points?  That would be fantastic.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I blame Pavel Datsyuk for raising the hopes of everyone.

Datsyuk is kind of a great example of what I'm saying though. All people seem to remember about Datsyuk is that he was drafted in a low round and has emerged as a great player but even then it was a long, long journey. Datsyuk didn't even get drafted until he was 20 and didn't have his first real impact season until he was 25. He didn't emerge as a superstar until he was 27.

Meanwhile, we have people saying things like "I'm sick and tired of waiting for Luke Schenn to break-out and he's already 22"

You know, I wonder if Grabovski can make the same sort of leap as Datsyuk?

He's a slight level below Datsyuk's production at the same age. 

Datsyuk's first full year 35 points in 70 games
Grabovski's first full year 48 points in 78 games  -- this is as good or better

It's better by a decent margin actually.

 

[Kin]

He's a slight level below Datsyuk's production at the same age. 

The thing to keep in mind about Datsyuk though is that in his earlier years he's blocked on the depth chart by Fedorov and Yzerman. His upswing in production corresponds with those two leaving the Red Wings and him getting the opportunity to establish himself as a #1 centre. Grabo hasn't, and doesn't, had any similar roadblocks in his time here.

Is it possible that he has a similar growth? Sure. But it's not like Datsyuk's growth is typical or there's any real reason to connect the two. So it's probably not much worth thinking about until it actually happens.