Tom Kurver Prospect Showcase

[zamadoo]

74 Anthony Kehrer caught my attention a few times, did anyone watching the game live have any feedback on how he played? I’m going to rewatch the game and pay attention to his play.

Just rewatched the game. 74 Kehrer has good positioning, decent skater, not very tall but must be solid. Twice he was in the tracks for a big hit and the opposing player just bounced off him. He made 3-4 really good plays to keep the puck in the O-Zone. Made several smart passes. Was only out of position twice due to going for a hit. With under two mins to go he almost coughed the puck up to Moore but recovered to get the puck going the other way. The Blues were never hemmed in their zone with him on the ice. Seems like a smart player, I'd say more stay at home but was active pinching in a few times. He is 23 but could be an underrated signing. Will be interested to see how he does in Springfield.

He looked fast and was making a difference. I figured he was an older guy. Reminded me of how I thought Mayich was one of the best on the ice at the tournament, and they didn't even keep him around.

I thought all the D were pretty good. Lindstein made smart, subtle plays under pressure that caught my eye. Fischer just seems to flow to the right place with effortless skating. Burns is a hockey player and I really like him. McIsaac didn't impress but didn't make me think he was bad or would never make it (just over 19 years old).

[moose-and-squirrel]

74 Anthony Kehrer caught my attention a few times, did anyone watching the game live have any feedback on how he played? I’m going to rewatch the game and pay attention to his play.

Just rewatched the game. 74 Kehrer has good positioning, decent skater, not very tall but must be solid. Twice he was in the tracks for a big hit and the opposing player just bounced off him. He made 3-4 really good plays to keep the puck in the O-Zone. Made several smart passes. Was only out of position twice due to going for a hit. With under two mins to go he almost coughed the puck up to Moore but recovered to get the puck going the other way. The Blues were never hemmed in their zone with him on the ice. Seems like a smart player, I'd say more stay at home but was active pinching in a few times. He is 23 but could be an underrated signing. Will be interested to see how he does in Springfield.

He looked fast and was making a difference. I figured he was an older guy. Reminded me of how I thought Mayich was one of the best on the ice at the tournament, and they didn't even keep him around.

I thought all the D were pretty good. Lindstein made smart, subtle plays under pressure that caught my eye. Fischer just seems to flow to the right place with effortless skating. Burns is a hockey player and I really like him. McIsaac didn't impress but didn't make me think he was bad or would never make it (just over 19 years old).

McIsaac doesn't do much for me.. meh

[Harry York 37]

I missed it, but it seems like the training camp only move of putting a cold goaltender in in the middle of the game cost them the W.

Ya gotta do it. That is another of those things that training camps are for.


Sternberg is gonna play a while in the NHL, I believe.
Dvorsky seems to get bored easily. In the WJC tournament last year, he played with fire. Maybe a Coach or teammate can help him become more of a. Self-starter.Im sure the length of a pro season in NA American hockey is a helluva grind for any kid.

Is Cranley as good as he seems?

[DawgDad]

By the end of this season there are at least five first round draft picks that could potentially make a case to be in the NHL, and who might be with a lesser team. Plus Snuggerud being a rookie. If Jiricek stays healthy his timeline could dissolve away quickly. How will all this motivate Texier, Joseph, Suter, Bjugstad, Tucker, et al? Should be a fun ride.

Also, the Hawks need to stay patient, they have some players, too.

[zamadoo]

I missed it, but it seems like the training camp only move of putting a cold goaltender in in the middle of the game cost them the W.

Ya gotta do it. That is another of those things that training camps are for.


Sternberg is gonna play a while in the NHL, I believe.
Dvorsky seems to get bored easily. In the WJC tournament last year, he played with fire. Maybe a Coach or teammate can help him become more of a. Self-starter.Im sure the length of a pro season in NA American hockey is a helluva grind for any kid.

Is Cranley as good as he seems?

I also noticed he looked bored, but also noted that he generally just has a cold as ice look on his face. He looked bored in the OHL, and I think it's because he was vs that level of competition. I mean had just come from 48 games in the SHL plus WJC action. Then last season he was a top prospect in the AHL at only 19. They were saying on the broadcast that when he was out of the lineup in Springfield, there was a noticeable negative difference. I see it more as he knows how good he is, the importance of each game, and when to turn it up. In other words, I don't see it as a negative. He's not in a position like Kehrer who needs to go 100% every shift.

In previous tournaments, I've wondered if Cranley is as bad as he seems. It seems like we get to go back and forth every year on goalie prospects. You just never know. If that Russian goalie for the Hawks doesn't turn out to be the next Vasilevskiy, it will be a great example of reading into one performance or a small sample size of young goalie prospects. Man was he good last night.

[seattleblue]

This was a good two game showcase. I’m looking forward to watching the players individually in their upcoming seasons. Dvorsky is still our top prospect. It’s very evident when he is on the ice. Lot of key guys, but that is our key guy. I’m pretty sure he’s getting NHL games if not straight up making the team on wing.

[STL fan in MN]

I missed it, but it seems like the training camp only move of putting a cold goaltender in in the middle of the game cost them the W.

Ya gotta do it. That is another of those things that training camps are for.


Sternberg is gonna play a while in the NHL, I believe.
Dvorsky seems to get bored easily. In the WJC tournament last year, he played with fire. Maybe a Coach or teammate can help him become more of a. Self-starter.Im sure the length of a pro season in NA American hockey is a helluva grind for any kid.

Is Cranley as good as he seems?

Yep. Putting in Koprowski almost certainly cost them the game but what were they going to do? Invite an 18 yr old goalie and then play him 0 minutes? Winning is nice but the bigger goal is development and evaluation. Not sure if Koprowski was viewed as just a body to fill space or they have legit interested in signing or drafting him but either way, they needed to give him at least half a game to see what he can do. He’ll probably spend 2ish days at main camp and then be released and sent back to his Jr team. Not much commitment from the Blues but something that could be invaluable to someone like Koprowski who was draft eligible a few months ago but went undrafted.

Cranley was surprisingly good. Maybe this is a sign of him taking a step but we’ll see. He’s been just average to below average at the ECHL level his 2 years as a pro so far so it’d be nice if he could take a step. He seems destined to be the #5 guy this season behind Binner, Hofer, Ellis and Zherenko but he could dominate the ECHL and maybe get some AHL time as well if he shows he’s ready for that.

Agree that Stenberg is going to be a player. He’s not a great finisher but he’s very smart and crafty. Probably the highest hockey sense among our forward prospects. There’s lots of Schwartz and Steen in him.

I don’t really see Dvorsky as being “bored” but his pace is still not quite where it needs to be. The skill is evident but he needs to continue to work on his pace - processing the game at a faster rate. That’s going to be the main difference between the AHL and NHL.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

JC looked good, love how he plays, he’ll need to control his emotions more before playing in the NHL.

Control his emotions?

Is he supposed to just let defensemen rip his helmet off or get their hands up in his face and knock him down without any retribution? I thought he handled both confrontations well and paid them back immediately. He has a right to defend his self.

[Bluesfan1978]

JC looked good, love how he plays, he’ll need to control his emotions more before playing in the NHL.

Control his emotions?

Is he supposed to just let defensemen rip his helmet off or get their hands up in his face and knock him down without any retribution? I thought he handled both confrontations well and paid them back immediately. He has a right to defend his self.

Yeah you can defend yourself. You usually don’t do two leg take downs from your knees to defend yourself in the NHL. You also don’t stay on your knees for a few seconds and then punch someone low. Neither of those are hockey plays. Teams will pick him apart if they know they can get under his skin.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

JC looked good, love how he plays, he’ll need to control his emotions more before playing in the NHL.

Control his emotions?

Is he supposed to just let defensemen rip his helmet off or get their hands up in his face and knock him down without any retribution? I thought he handled both confrontations well and paid them back immediately. He has a right to defend his self.

You usually don’t do two leg take downs from your knees to defend yourself in the NHL. You also don’t stay on your knees for a few seconds and then punch someone low. Neither of those are hockey plays.

They shouldn't be standing over him like goons. Both were much bigger and should've just got their lick in and skated away, not hover over him and try to make him look like a punk. Those aren't hockey plays either. He handled them well.

[Bluesfan1978]

Not saying what they did is right but once teams know they can get under his skin the book will be out on him just like Binner. Or he can keep defending himself like that and not get to play any NHL games.

[dp88]

Another note about Dvorsky, he was matched up against both Wild and Hawks top forward lines when he was on the ice, and they didn't do much at 5v5. Dvorsky wasn't on ice for a single goal against and I don't recall many times he was stuck in his zone either. I feel he was pretty solid on faceoffs as well.

[DawgDad]

Another note about Dvorsky, he was matched up against both Wild and Hawks top forward lines when he was on the ice, and they didn't do much at 5v5. Dvorsky wasn't on ice for a single goal against and I don't recall many times he was stuck in his zone either. I feel he was pretty solid on faceoffs as well.

I wasn't keeping score but that doesn't surprise me, there is a calm assuredness in his game. You can bet that didn't escape the coaching staff.

[Harry York 37]

Another note about Dvorsky, he was matched up against both Wild and Hawks top forward lines when he was on the ice, and they didn't do much at 5v5. Dvorsky wasn't on ice for a single goal against and I don't recall many times he was stuck in his zone either. I feel he was pretty solid on faceoffs as well.

Thanks for that. I had not noticed.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

Not saying what they did is right but once teams know they can get under his skin the book will be out on him just like Binner. Or he can keep defending himself like that and not get to play any NHL games.

I believe the opposite will happen.