CHL prospects 25-26. Fischer Jecho McIsaac

[seattleblue]

Maybe later Carbonneau as well.

The others all start their junior seasons today.

Fischer is captain of Sarnia and is his team's only NHL draftee seemingly with current roster. They got blown out their first two games and are 0-2 after missing the playoffs last year. If they make the playoffs (8 of 10 make it) it will likely be Fischer's heavy input that helps.

Jecho, that this site relentlessly and confidently changes to Echo, is on Edmonton who won their first two games. Fiddler and Echo are their two highest draftees. I like especially how it thinks it's the character from Greek myth instead of the common usage word

McIsaac is on Spokane who lost a lot of guys from a very strong team last year, we shall see whether the time with the Blues ups his game. He showed up in a ton of highlights last year with drafted forwards going around him when they played Spokane so hopefully he can lock it down.

[seattleblue]

Lukas Fischer with 2 assists and a +4 in his first game back for Sarnia. Good start

[zamadoo]

Lukas Fischer with 2 assists and a +4 in his first game back for Sarnia. Good start

He looked like he could play in the AHL at camp and preseason. His skating and positioning are superb. I think we have quite a few prospects who are pushing out of their current level, as in, could probably get away with playing in their next league/level of competition relative to their age and trajectory, but will be able to show more dominance with higher playing time and bigger roles at current level. Several of the CHL guys gave me that impression this summer. I've always found the CHL/AHL jump to be too big for most, and the rule about 19 year olds can interfere with development. I am curious about the ECHL - seems like few legit prospects ever play there at all, other than maybe goalies. CHL vs ECHL gap - mid-high level teenagers vs low level adults... Really, now I've turned this thought experiement into comparing all of the leagues. CHL vs USHL (my understanding is USHL is on the upswing, along with hockey in the US in general), ECHL vs some Hockey Europe leagues, AHL vs Hockey Europe vs KHL, etc....

[seattleblue]

Lukas Fischer with 2 assists and a +4 in his first game back for Sarnia. Good start

He looked like he could play in the AHL at camp and preseason. His skating and positioning are superb. I think we have quite a few prospects who are pushing out of their current level, as in, could probably get away with playing in their next league/level of competition relative to their age and trajectory, but will be able to show more dominance with higher playing time and bigger roles at current level. Several of the CHL guys gave me that impression this summer. I've always found the CHL/AHL jump to be too big for most, and the rule about 19 year olds can interfere with development. I am curious about the ECHL - seems like few legit prospects ever play there at all, other than maybe goalies. CHL vs ECHL gap - mid-high level teenagers vs low level adults... Really, now I've turned this thought experiement into comparing all of the leagues. CHL vs USHL (my understanding is USHL is on the upswing, along with hockey in the US in general), ECHL vs some Hockey Europe leagues, AHL vs Hockey Europe vs KHL, etc....

I've written a lot about Lindstein and Jiricek but for the last 12 months I have been sky high on Fischer. I have to hold back what I think about Fischer a bit, but let's just say that if you ask me to select who's going to far exceed expectations, and be a real NHL force, I'm going to guess him before I guess other guys in the Blues system

[STL fan in MN]

Lukas Fischer with 2 assists and a +4 in his first game back for Sarnia. Good start

He looked like he could play in the AHL at camp and preseason. His skating and positioning are superb. I think we have quite a few prospects who are pushing out of their current level, as in, could probably get away with playing in their next league/level of competition relative to their age and trajectory, but will be able to show more dominance with higher playing time and bigger roles at current level. Several of the CHL guys gave me that impression this summer. I've always found the CHL/AHL jump to be too big for most, and the rule about 19 year olds can interfere with development. I am curious about the ECHL - seems like few legit prospects ever play there at all, other than maybe goalies. CHL vs ECHL gap - mid-high level teenagers vs low level adults... Really, now I've turned this thought experiement into comparing all of the leagues. CHL vs USHL (my understanding is USHL is on the upswing, along with hockey in the US in general), ECHL vs some Hockey Europe leagues, AHL vs Hockey Europe vs KHL, etc....

The USHL was on the way up but I don’t think it is anymore. The main advantage the USHL had was that it was the main feeder for the NCAA and playing there kept your amateur status while the NCAA (incorrectly) considered the CHL a pro league and even one practice with a CHL team would end your NCAA amateur status. Since that’s been reversed and CHL players can now go to the NCAA, the USHL doesn’t have as great of a draw. Lots of US kids are now going to CHL teams instead of USHL teams. Just here in Minnesota, there was quite the exodus this summer of kids that’d usually go the USHL route or stay in MN HS hockey sign with CHL teams instead.

As for Fischer, I’m hoping for a big season for him. He has a lot of really intriguing tools that tend to make for a quality NHL d-man. But he’s also still quite raw and makes a fair share of defensive mistakes. Lacks some consistency. But he also has lots of really good flashes and a very nice shot.

I watched the WJSS here in MN in person a couple months ago. Was basically a warm up for the kids trying to make the WJC teams for USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland. The US team didn’t even invite Fischer. Invited plenty of much less touted and undrafted kids instead. I didn’t get it. The US team looks pretty weak this year too so it’s not like there’s a ton of obvious studs ahead of him as guys like Buium and C.Hutson have now aged out. A lot of the US defenders in that camp were quite underwhelming to say the least. Either I’m way off on Fischer or USA Hockey is. Or they know he’s deserving but snubbed him because he went the CHL route instead of the American route. They’ve certainly done that many times before.

My hope is that he has such a good start to the season that USA Hockey is basically forced to give him a shot in their December camp and he’s able to make the team after not even being invited to the Summer Showcase but I doubt it. The politics of USA Hockey is a problem and has been for years unfortunately. They’ll take kids that played for the U17/U18 NTDP that didn’t develop well over more deserving kids pretty much every year.

[seattleblue]

McIsaac looks faster in just highlights with his play and decisions, almost as if he was just playing with guys at a much higher pace just a few days ago. Spokane did lose some high end talent but maybe they will not skip a beat.

McIsaac scored an assertive, jump into empty ice goal as a defenseman in ozone to start the scoring and held up as GWG in a 3-0 shutout.

[moose-and-squirrel]

McIsaac looks faster in just highlights with his play and decisions, almost as if he was just playing with guys at a much higher pace just a few days ago. Spokane did lose some high end talent but maybe they will not skip a beat.

McIsaac scored an assertive, jump into empty ice goal as a defenseman in ozone to start the scoring and held up as GWG in a 3-0 shutout.

admittedly, haven't seen a ton of him, but from what I've seen he doesn't do much for me

[MooseCountry2025]

I think the Blues future D is in place for a long time with a superb blend of size and skill .

Broberg-Mailloux
Fischer-Jiricek
Lindstien-Parayko
Ralph-Tucker

Only keep Parayko in that group because I think his style and size lends itself to playing longer. Could be wrong but rather be optimistic.

[moose-and-squirrel]

I think the Blues future D is in place for a long time with a superb blend of size and skill .

Broberg-Mailloux
Fischer-Jiricek
Lindstien-Parayko
Ralph-Tucker

Only keep Parayko in that group because I think his style and size lends itself to playing longer. Could be wrong but rather be optimistic.

I agree that Colt should age well

[seattleblue]

so much moose lol

Fischer is about to play against the Flint Firebirds in about 15 minutes for those who want to see how camp charged him up

[seattleblue]

Fischer is Sarnia's dominant player. He looks good and Sarnia is better than last year. Very strong 1st, adventuresome second so far. awesomely defended a 5-on-3, an assist, an unusual misplay in his own zone, and just gave a player what-for in the corner after colliding with the goalie. He is just so fast and rugged. Like a fast Edmundson