Canucks Young Guns

[Hockey Widow]

Will Lockwood has told the #Canucks he will stay at U of Michigan 1 more year and not turn pro.
twitter.com/Dhaliw...

Still looking for better confirmation. Last thing from Canucks was that he was going to decide next week.

[Hockey Widow]

Will Lockwood has told the #Canucks he will stay at U of Michigan 1 more year and not turn pro.
twitter.com/Dhaliw...

Still looking for better confirmation. Last thing from Canucks was that he was going to decide next week.

Forget this shit. It was from March 2018. oops, sorry.

[SKYO]

Yup we'll see what Locks decides next week.

Benning spoke with Will Lockwood this morning and is expecting a decision next week about if he’ll turn pro or return to school.

[Mickey107]

Is he here yet?
.

.

Wrong Hughes buddy.

Well, at least someone made the connection to the parody.

[Hockey Widow]

Interesting update from Benning on Hughes. He said when he spoke to him today Hughes told him his ankle is still quit swollen and he walks with a limp, weight bearing is hard.

From the Sun, or Province, I don't remember:


"The highly-hyped seventh selection in the 2018 draft will have a physical and CAT-scan to assess ankle stability. X-rays performed late Friday revealed no structural damage, but the 5-foot-10, 175 pound dynamo played sparingly Saturday. And he was still limping Monday, two days after his Michigan Wolverines were swept Saturday by the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Tuesday scan results will determine whether Hughes plays in home games Wednesday against the New York Rangers or Friday against the New Jersey Devils."

Its also possible there could be a hairline fracture that didn't show up in the X-ray but the CAT-scan will tell us more. Given the type of injury its possible Hughes gets shut down before he plays a game, making him a perfect Canuck. But take heart if the worst happens, he won't burn a year on his ELC until he plays one game

[Mickey107]

[Mickey107]

Almost half an hour!!!!! Ends with: Gonna have a little talk with Louis Eriksson about his production.

[Hockey Widow]

Almost half an hour!!!!! Ends with: Gonna have a little talk with Louis Eriksson about his production.

Wow. Listen to the whole thing. The rumours of wanting Lockwood to play in Utica were true. If he turns pro he’ll be in Utica the rest of the year. Benning seems fine if he returns to the NCAA. Not contemplating bringing him into Vancouver this season. So that really is why Lockwood is taking the week to think about it. One more year of college then UFA or in Utica and Canuck property for 7 years having to fight to get to the NHL.

I guess the Canucks aren’t as high on him as we thought. Considering how many NCCA players they have given a chance to burn a year I guess Lockwood is disappointed to say the least. Gotta wonder at this point in team development why they just wouldn’t sign him rather than risk him going UFA.

Of course it could be a year of college or a year in Utica. They could still sign him after next season. But apparent they don’t think he’s ready for the NHL.

[Blob Mckenzie]

You can’t have 3rd round picks with their first good season in college hockey dictating terms. Having him finish up in the AHL would be the norm for most if not all other teams. Gaudette, Hughes and Boeser were way different situations as they were dominant players in college. I have no idea what the thought process was with Griffin Molino.

Elmer is handling this correctly.

[Blob Mckenzie]

Almost half an hour!!!!! Ends with: Gonna have a little talk with Louis Eriksson about his production.

I think Loui fits in down in Utica. Let him be a mentor down there.

[2Fingers]

You can’t have 3rd round picks with their first good season in college hockey dictating terms. Having him finish up in the AHL would be the norm for most if not all other teams. Gaudette, Hughes and Boeser were way different situations as they were dominant players in college. I have no idea what the thought process was with Griffin Molino.

Elmer is handling this correctly.

Exactly - if this is how the kid and his agent think then he is doomed. Mark my words, he will not play more than 10 games in the NHL if he thinks he deserves NHL time right from the start without putting his time in the AHL.

Now on the other hand maybe the Canucks are getting a rep that they do not develop their players properly in the AHL so their chances are better on another team.

[UWSaint]

A cope weeks back I went to two Michigan games in Wisconsin. Both were spirited affairs; Michigan losing both in OT. A caveat on the analysis that follows: I saw two games and they were kind of meaningless games from Michigan's perspective.

I thought Lockwood was a difference maker in the college game. Strong on the puck, good release, willing to go into dirty areas. Its hard to judge skating -- he was a good college skater but that means very little. Joe Labate looked like he could skate in college. I honestly thought Lockwood was Michigan's most dangerous forward.

Hughes played like he had mastered the level. That's both good and bad. There was a certain "NBA" all star feel to his game -- you know, where players decide on some shifts they are dominant (Okay, boys, I got this) and other shifts that they will sort of take it easy. His skating is as advertised, but I thought he played with the puck like he was used to getting away with things that you don't get away with in the NHL; same on defense, playing somewhat out of position knowing that if the opposition makes a play, there is time to recover (all the more so as the Badgers play on a big sheet). Hughes is a guy who looks to set up players and get shots through (think Rafalski on the power play), not a huge shot. Always moving, changing angles, etc. (I prefer this approach on the PP, by the way). He was targeted by the Badgers and didn't shy away from pushing back. (Not a flower).

Anyway, I left the weekend thinking that (1) Lockwood should be signed, considered a prospect with mid-6 upside, and possesses a game that could convert into a 4th line game if he didn't reach that upside (most likely outcome is that he is a tweener) and that (2) Hughes is going to receive a lot of hard lessons in the NHL unless he has the ability to turn the focus on. I am a believer, though. His upside is a top 4 (or top pairing with a strong stay at home), first unit power play offensive D-man, 60+ point potential. But there are going to be growing pains, especially on defense, and I hope the kid has thick skin. Because setting him up as the second coming means there will be disappointment in the near term. Hughes is going to take bad angles, cough up the puck by not making the simple play, etc., and these things will directly lead to goals against. Its okay -- its part of taking the good with the bad and more importantly, it is part of mastering how to successfully make the not-as-simple play (which leads to better transitions). But to the choir, I preach patience....

[rats19]

Great report uw... much appreciated

[Topper]

My concerns from seeing him at the WJC are real, thanks UW.

That Jr/College fancy will get flattened at the NHL level. I suspect a few deer in headlights moments as he learns the pace of the NHL game.

[Madcombinepilot]

Almost half an hour!!!!! Ends with: Gonna have a little talk with Louis Eriksson about his production.

Hopefully it's my "31 teams" conversation