Its been a while since I last posted an entry. In fact, I think this is my first post since the end of the season one I did a few weeks ago.
I've decided to do a three or four part series highlighting players I'd like for the Rangers to strongly consider drafting. I've mentioned a few of these names a bunch of times but I've never really gotten too deep into who they are and what kind of game they play.
Zack Kassian
Prior to the lock out, a premium was placed on big, physical forwards who could score and the smaller, shiftier forwards were mosly passed on and rarely made a big time impact unless they were really good. With the elimination of the redline and the crack down on obstruction penalties, it is now the smaller, quicker fowards who enjoy success in the league while the bigger, more physical forwards either really have to be able to move (Getzlaf, Carter, Iginla) or they have to be really good at other aspects of the game to make up for their lack of foot speed(Brown, Morrow, Lucic.) Zack Kassian falls into the second group of players.
Zack Kassian can be described in one word: intimidating. Standing at 6'3" and 215 pounds, Kassian is one of the most strongest players in the OHL. A Quick youtube search would allow one to learn very quickly what the tough guys in the OHL have learned the hard way -This dude can throw a punch.
On top of tossing competitors around like pizza dough, Zack Kassian brings much more to the table that make him a very attractive target in this years NHL draft. Kassian played top line minutes on a middle of the pack Peterborough Petes team this season and put up more than a point a game. Kassian Displays a pretty good set of hands and offensive awarness for a guy his size and has a cannon of a slap shot when he has time to let it rip. Hes shown a willingness to drive to the net and stick up for his teammates, regardless of the situation.
On the down side, Kassian's skating is about average to below average right now, which is not uncommon for guys who are as big as he is. Its good enough to get away with on the OHL level but its something that will for sure need to be improved on before he takes the next step to get to the NHL. Hes style of play leads to him taking bad penalties at crucial times, which can become a huge problem in the NHL. There is also question as to how much offensive upside he has and if hes worth taking high in the first round of this years draft considering how deep it is in talent.
My Rating: (1-10) 7 : I'm a fan of Kassian. I think his physical game would be very welcome on the Rangers. If I had a better feeling of him turning into a top 6 guy (Not saying that I don't think he will, but im not comfortable enough to say that I'd bet a testicle on it.) Those who worry about his offensive upside have a legit concern. The intrigue with this pick is that if he were to tap out his potential, hed look awfully good on a line with Evgeny Grachev and Brandon Dubinsky.
Chances he will be around at Pick #19 -60%. ISS has him ranked at exactly 19, but there will be a team out there who will probably be willing to take him earlier than that, perhaps even as high as 10. Infact, if he is around at pick #18, I bet the Habs take him.
Player Comparison: Todd Bertuzzi if all goes well. I think hes got a decent chance of becoming a Dustin Brown type player.
Peter Holland
I've been high on Peter Holland since the first time I heard of him. The more time passes (Holland hasn't played a game in months, mind you) the more I warm up to the thought of drafting him.
The first thing that stands out about Holland are his skills. Hes got good size, is a very good skater has a great shot that he learning to use more and a very sound defensive game. He's the type of guy who can score a PP goal and follow it up with a Short Handed goal the next minute if his team were to take a penalty. If you catch him on a good day, itd be hard not to compare him to a guy like Eric Staal. He's calm and collected, the word panic is not in his vernacular.
Unfortunatley for Holland, that last strength is also one of his weaknesses. There are times where he looks a little disinterested on the Ice or that he lacks intensity. He isn't a guy who drives the net with regularity or really uses his size/speed combo well enough to really exploit the advantage he has over kids in the OHL. The good news for Holland is that these things are easily fixable, and hes got the attitude to get it done.
My Rating (1-10) 7.5: Its a skaters league and Holland can move. Holland really strikes me as a guy who will fly under the radar a bit on draft day (he won't slide out of the first round, or probably even the top 20) but will break out in a big way next year and make people wonder why he fell that far in the first place ala Cody Hodgson. I know the Rangers are stacked with Centers but chances are that they'll need another one in 2 or 3 years. If they want to go with Holland on Draft day, they've got my approval to do so (not that they need it, but there will be atleast one guy who isn't a family members of his who will not be bitching about this pick if it happens)
Chances he'll be around at #19: 75% - Again, it doesn't help that Montreal is looking to add size too their roster but they may value one of the other big guys in this part of the first round more. ISS actually had him at 11, but its very, very unlikely that he goes that high.
Player Comparison: Eric Staal/Jeff Carter type if all goes well. More likely to develop into a Jason Arnott type.
