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Ranking Prospects

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Seems to me like the last 2 pages of this thread belong in the Useless thread.

So, based on this...

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2016/6/27/12048420/keaton-middleton-comparable-colton-parayko

Middleton in anyone's Top 10 under 25? :P
 
Coco-puffs said:
Seems to me like the last 2 pages of this thread belong in the Useless thread.

So, based on this...

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2016/6/27/12048420/keaton-middleton-comparable-colton-parayko

Middleton in anyone's Top 10 under 25? :P
Click to expand...

Middleton's problems are decision making and moving. Both are fixable, but I'm not holding my breath for anything exciting out of him for the next 4 years. He's like growing our own meaner Marincin.
 
herman said:
Coco-puffs said:
Seems to me like the last 2 pages of this thread belong in the Useless thread.

So, based on this...

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2016/6/27/12048420/keaton-middleton-comparable-colton-parayko

Middleton in anyone's Top 10 under 25? :P
Click to expand...

Middleton's problems are decision making and moving. Both are fixable, but I'm not holding my breath for anything exciting out of him for the next 4 years. He's like growing our own meaner Marincin.
Click to expand...

I think you're being very kind.
 
herman said:
Middleton's problems are decision making and moving. Both are fixable, but I'm not holding my breath for anything exciting out of him for the next 4 years. He's like growing our own meaner Marincin.
Click to expand...

Funny, it seems his scouting reports are all over the place. 

While Middleton isn?t routinely ranked as a top prospect for the 2016 NHL draft, there?s no shortage of appealing assets to the hulking defensemen?s game. For instance Middleton boasts impressive mobility for a player of his stature, along with a lengthy and powerful stride that allows him to generate deceptively good speed and cover a large amount of ice in a small amount of time. While his puck skills aren?t elite, Middleton shows deceptively good vision and an ability to make a strong an accurate first pass. A player who shows poise and patience in possession, Middleton makes strong decisions in possession, rarely forcing plays as he keeps his game simple and takes whats given to him.
Click to expand...

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2016/6/27/12033998/why-did-the-leafs-draft-keaton-middleton

(BTW, I'm not sticking up for this selection.  Korshkov and this pick were my least favourite, but I didn't hate the rest of the draft like some others)
 
Frank E said:
I think you're being very kind.
Click to expand...

Thank you; I try.

Coco-puffs said:
herman said:
Middleton's problems are decision making and moving. Both are fixable, but I'm not holding my breath for anything exciting out of him for the next 4 years. He's like growing our own meaner Marincin.
Click to expand...

Funny, it seems his scouting reports are all over the place. 

While Middleton isn?t routinely ranked as a top prospect for the 2016 NHL draft, there?s no shortage of appealing assets to the hulking defensemen?s game. For instance Middleton boasts impressive mobility for a player of his stature, along with a lengthy and powerful stride that allows him to generate deceptively good speed and cover a large amount of ice in a small amount of time. While his puck skills aren?t elite, Middleton shows deceptively good vision and an ability to make a strong an accurate first pass. A player who shows poise and patience in possession, Middleton makes strong decisions in possession, rarely forcing plays as he keeps his game simple and takes whats given to him.
Click to expand...

http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2016/6/27/12033998/why-did-the-leafs-draft-keaton-middleton

(BTW, I'm not sticking up for this selection.  Korshkov and this pick were my least favourite, but I didn't hate the rest of the draft like some others)
Click to expand...

Yup, this one no one knows what to do with.

In that same article:
Middleton has huge size and a massive frame, which can make him tough to get around. He has a pretty good stick and loves the physical stuff in his own zone. His balance and skating need improvement, but they have come miles since his Minor Midget season. Keaton's puck play has also come along over the past couple years, he is often able to make the smart simple pass up ice. He still makes a fair amount of puck mistakes and can get stripped, but he has shown consistent improvement in this area. He is a relentless competitor along the wall and wins a ton of battles through his size, strength and a relative comfort in these types of situations. Middleton played top minutes 5 on 5 and on the penalty kill, and secondary minutes on the power play. He's relentless in the slot area, making life difficult for forwards and has the reach to take away passes shorthanded. He's not an over the top fighter, but he has good toughness and isn't afraid to drop the gloves when necessary.
Click to expand...

And then from the original article you posted, one of the commentors dug up:
From Brock Otten /OHL Prospects (#35 of top 50 OHL draftees)

35. Keaton Middleton ? Defence ? Saginaw Spirit
Hulking defender (6?6, 235lbs) who is still scratching the surface of his potential. Even if he didn?t have the greatest of seasons, I?m still a fan. Look at it this way. If both players reach their high end potential, is there really much separating Middleton and Logan Stanley? Stanley is without a doubt progressing quicker and demonstrating more now, but is that a guarantee 5 years from now? You?ll have to use a 1st or 2nd on Stanley, but you could have Middleton in the mid rounds. Keaton, the brother of 67?s defender Jacob (and one of the best defensive defenders in the OHL), has so much potential as a stay at home blueliner. He?s got a great stick and he does a great job of using his long reach to disrupt passing lanes. Middleton is also an incredibly physical player who loves to engage forwards cutting across the blueline or in front of the net. The key to his development moving forward is his lateral and backwards mobility, and his puck distribution ability. These two areas of his game remain works in progress and they are why he struggled at times this year. But, it?s not impossible to improve (look at Stanley this year versus his rookie year).
Click to expand...

To me, there is nothing compelling here at all. It does illustrate how a handful of views can't paint a full proper picture. I can only assume that Hunter and Co. saw enough here to spend a pick, or Dubas' team is banking on a data nugget.
 
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2015/7/20/9006441/blue-jackets-draft-video-shows-leafs-offered-pick-no-4-for-picks-no-8

I don't know if this is the spot for this, but I must of spaced on this if it was mentioned earlier. So it would appear Marner was never the Leafs preference?
 
McGarnagle said:
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2015/7/20/9006441/blue-jackets-draft-video-shows-leafs-offered-pick-no-4-for-picks-no-8

I don't know if this is the spot for this, but I must of spaced on this if it was mentioned earlier. So it would appear Marner was never the Leafs preference?
Click to expand...

I don't care what happened, but thank God it worked out in our favor.  I'm happy we have Marner.
 
McGarnagle said:
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2015/7/20/9006441/blue-jackets-draft-video-shows-leafs-offered-pick-no-4-for-picks-no-8

I don't know if this is the spot for this, but I must of spaced on this if it was mentioned earlier. So it would appear Marner was never the Leafs preference?
Click to expand...

That they were open to a trade down doesn't necessarily mean he wasn't their preference, just that they were pursuing other options. You can think Marner is the right choice at #4 while still thinking other things might be more valuable. That's a heck of a collection of picks.
 
Nik the Trik said:
That they were open to a trade down doesn't necessarily mean he wasn't their preference, just that they were pursuing other options. You can think Marner is the right choice at #4 while still thinking other things might be more valuable. That's a heck of a collection of picks.
Click to expand...

It is a haul of picks, and it is too early to say it would have been the wrong decision, even now in hindsight.

If I'm understanding correctly, I guess I was just under the impression that Hunter was drafting Marner at that spot as a first priority and plan. If the link it to be believed, they didn't think enough of him to prefer giving up that spot and trading down. That surprised me.
 
McGarnagle said:
It is a haul of picks, and it is too early to say it would have been the wrong decision, even now in hindsight.

If I'm understanding correctly, I guess I was just under the impression that Hunter was drafting Marner at that spot as a first priority and plan. If the link it to be believed, they didn't think enough of him to prefer giving up that spot and trading down. That surprised me.
Click to expand...

Me too but, to give the organization credit, I think there's real value in exploring all of your options. That very well might have been a "they'll never give us all that, will they?" sort of offer.
 
Nik the Trik said:
McGarnagle said:
It is a haul of picks, and it is too early to say it would have been the wrong decision, even now in hindsight.

If I'm understanding correctly, I guess I was just under the impression that Hunter was drafting Marner at that spot as a first priority and plan. If the link it to be believed, they didn't think enough of him to prefer giving up that spot and trading down. That surprised me.
Click to expand...

Me too but, to give the organization credit, I think there's real value in exploring all of your options. That very well might have been a "they'll never give us all that, will they?" sort of offer.
Click to expand...

If the Leafs think Columbus' rookie GM wants Hanafin, they make the offer to see if they'll bite.  It was the Leafs trying to take advantage here, not so much them not liking Marner.

They seemed to like Werenski enough to keep their stash.

So, I agree. 
 
Another thing to consider is that Toronto might, and I realize this is a big might, might have thought Marner would still be around at #8. Because if you figure that the reason to trade up for Columbus is to take Hanifin and then Carolina and Philadelphia still want defensemen and take Werenski/Provorov in some order then all Marner has to do is get by New Jersey and he's there. So if they knew that Jersey was in love with Zacha...
 
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