Brett Sonne question for Tomorrow's Blues

by Pagan on Mar 13, 2009 10:19 AM CDT

I decided to do this as a fan post and not a direct message to Brian because I think others will be interested.

Brett Sonne has 47 goals and 50 assists now for the Calgary (Calgary! Ontario! Canada!) Hitmen of the Western Hockey League and has now been signed to a contract by the Blues.

What does his WHL production project to in the NHL? I've heard third line player. But with the gaudy points he's putting up it makes me wonder if he might not have better upside than that. Or is the goaltending and defense just so crappy in the WHL that even a moderately good player can put up good numbers?

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Honestly, I see Brett Sonne as a “tweener,” a little better than the average third-liner, but not quite the caliber of your better second-line player.

As I said in a recent “Tomorrow’s Blues” column, Sonne has always been able to score. In four full seasons out west (including an injury-shortened 2007-08), he has 88 goals and 168 points in 226 games. That averages out to 56 games a year, 22-20-42 per year.

This year isn’t some aberration, IMO; it’s the culimnation of Sonne’s ongoing development as a scorer. He played with good linemates this year, and that boosted his assist totals, but even in the past, with lesser-quality linemates and less ice time, he was still able to score a healthy number of goals.

I don’t expect Sonne to be in the NHL next year, at least not right away. I figure he’ll start the year in Peoria, but should get a callup by January or so if he continues to progress. Ultimately, I see him as a great linemate for Perron; the set-up man and the sniper. Sonne is also very defensively responsible, so the Blues could put him with someone like Jay McClement on a penalty-killing unit, and the two could then go out at even strength with Perron as an absolutely killer third line.

Also, the goaltending and defense in the ’Dub are far from crappy; in fact, the WHL is probably the best junior league in the world, all around. They play more games in a season than the OHL or QMJHL, and the travel is generally more onerous, and over greater distances, than the OHL or QMJHL.

"If we do not prepare for ourselves the role of the hammer, there will be nothing left but that of the anvil."

-- Otto von Bismarck, 1851

http://www.tomorrowsblues.net

by Tomorrows Blues on Mar 13, 2009 11:26 AM CDT reply actions

(Calgary! Ontario! Canada!)

::ahem:: Alberta

by Dooks on Mar 13, 2009 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

Congradulations! You win a free turnbuckle.

Yeah, I did that on purpose, see? To see if anyone would catch it. Yeah. That’s the ticket.

"Ice hockey is a form of disorderly conduct in which the score is kept." - Doug Larson

by Pagan on Mar 13, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow.

That is wrong.

Let's go Blues!!!

by Milo. on Mar 13, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

What do you mean?

Are you talking about the oh-too-visual bulge in Mr. Lance Storm’s spandex?

"Ice hockey is a form of disorderly conduct in which the score is kept." - Doug Larson

by Pagan on Mar 13, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions

you actually looked? my eyes never went lower than the belt

by Dooks on Mar 13, 2009 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions

It’s amazing that I survived. I’m actually typing blind right now.

"Ice hockey is a form of disorderly conduct in which the score is kept." - Doug Larson

by Pagan on Mar 13, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Sonne’s intangibles are going to determine if he can be a solid second-liner. A nose for the puck around the net, hunger and quickness will get you 20 in the NHL.

by The Goalie Guy on Mar 13, 2009 1:46 PM CDT reply actions