Ottawa Prospect Number 5

spader wrote:

LeKing wrote:Pageau is gonna be a good one. The guy is the same age as Zibanejad and you guys think he's a fringe NHLer already?   

FWIW, a lot of guys Zib's age are fringe NHLers.

There's nothing wrong with suggesting that a prospect may not pan out. We do that all the time.

I'm not even saying he won't pan out, but he's got a couple of full-time NHLers ahead of him at center for the next couple of years, and when Legwand's contract is up he'll have Zibanejad and Lazar, both of whom are natural centers. Pageau is not big enough to play on an energy/4th line.

And if he switches to wing -- assuming right wing, since he shoots right -- then he's got Ryan, Michalek, Stone, Chiasson already on the roster. Pageau had 2 goals (no assists) in 28 games last season -- that's not going to push any of those guys out of the way. I'd say Buddy Robinson will have an easier time of breaking into the Ottawa lineup (as a big body on the 4th line) than Pageau, unless last year was a complete aberration and he kills it in camp.

Unfortunately, I think Robinson is going to have to get goonier if he wants a 4th line NHL role. Doesn't fight enough.

tim1_2 wrote:Unfortunately, I think Robinson is going to have to get goonier if he wants a 4th line NHL role.  Doesn't fight enough.

There's less and less fighting in the NHL. The concussion suit is going to make a big impact pretty soon (to say nothing of the hypocrisy of making hits targeting the head illegal, while allowing two guys to stand toe-to-toe and target each other's head).

Buddy is huge and pretty good on his skates for such a big guy. As all big players he may take some time to develop, but I loved that move he had in the scrimmage at the DC where he was going wide then cut to the net -- the defenseman couldn't stop him and he got a great chance from close-in.

There are some interesting quotes and other info here:
http://www.pointstreaksites.com/view/centraljuniorhockeyleague/news-755/news_86597

For example, it was Tim Murray who drove down to Lake Superior State U to watch him play, and that convinced him they had to sign him (he was undrafted).

Clarke MacArthur wrote:He had a great shot again tonight. When he gets his feet going, he's a big horse going down the wall. It's great to see a guy like that come in and get a couple of goals.

Paul MacLane wrote:
If you're 6-foot-5, it's a little easier to go there than if you're 5-foot-5, but I thought he did a real good job of actually running their D-man into the linesman to give himself a play. That's pretty crafty, whether or not he did that on purpose or it just happened. We're excited, first of all, about his size and his speed, his abilities with the puck. He's been a very consistent player since the first time I saw him, which was in development camp. Probably one of the most consistent players through the rookie camp games and now coming to our training camp. We like what we see and we're excited about the player.

Plus he loves Ottawa.

Someone break the tie!

Just make Pageau 5 and Claesson 6 and move on to 7.