Weekly Prospect Poll: Major Juniors

by Tomorrows Blues on Mar 7, 2010 7:45 PM CST in Game Time Prospect Department

Compiled by Brian Weidler, "Game Time" Prospect Department

"Game Time" PROSPECT SUNDAYS.

Your "Game Time" Prospect Department is looking for feedback from the Blues' fanbase on various issues and topics from the world of prospect development.

Last week, we asked you to tell us which current minor pro prospect was most likely to leave a long-term impression on the Blues' organization. Here's how you responded:

This week, we're asking you to cast your vote on which of five current prospects in the Canadian major junior ranks (Ontario, Quebec, and Western Leagues) will have the greatest impact on the Blues in the future. The junior ranks are where over half of the best players in the NHL got their start as world-class players, and we'd like you all to look into the crystal ball this week and tell us which teenager is most likely to be an impact NHLer in 2020... or sooner.

Take a closer look at the candidates for your consideration for this week, after the jump...

Jake ALLEN	Philip McRAE	Alex PIETRANGELO	Brett PONICH	Tyler SHATTOCK

** G, catches L	** C, shoots L	** D, shoots R	** D, shoots L	** RW, shoots L
** 6' 02, 185 pounds	** 6' 02, 195 pounds	** 6' 03, 205 pounds	** 6' 06, 215 pounds	** 6' 03, 200 pounds
** Born Aug. 07, 1990	** Born Mar. 15, 1990	** Born Jan. 18, 1990	** Born Feb. 22, 1991	** Born Feb. 10, 1990

Poll

Which current major junior prospect will have the greatest long-term impact on the Blues' organization?

Jake Allen, G (Drummondville, QMJHL)

38 votes

Philip McRae, C (Plymouth, OHL)

6 votes

Alex Pietrangelo, D (Barrie, OHL)

149 votes

Brett Ponich, D (Portland, WHL)

5 votes

Tyler Shattock, RW (Calgary, WHL)

6 votes

204 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

Whats impact?

Pietrangelo has the potential to become the best player on the list and when it is all said and done he will probably be the best player on this list, but with Jake Allen being a goalie, he is the one that can lead the Blues to a Cup in the future, so can Allen have a bigger impact without being the better player?

by mulax6 on Mar 7, 2010 8:18 PM CST reply actions

When torn between two choices . . .

I always take the goaltender, or the one with the awesome 1980’s wrestling reference for a nickname . . . or both. Jake The Snake over Petro.

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." -- Don Marquis
The Bluenote Zone - Because you KNOW you want to know more about the St. Louis Blues!

by Donut King on Mar 7, 2010 9:07 PM CST reply actions

Interestingly enough...

…and admittedly, my French is not very good, but I believe it says on Allen’s player profile with Drummondville that he’s afraid of snakes.

Maybe someone with a better command of the Gallic tongue than I can interpret this?

"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://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Mar 8, 2010 11:19 AM CST up reply actions

Well, "Serpents" would be snakes.

And according to Google Translate, that appears to be correctamundo. But we’ll see.

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." -- Don Marquis
The Bluenote Zone - Because you KNOW you want to know more about the St. Louis Blues!

by Donut King on Mar 8, 2010 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

2020 or sooner.

I’m hoping alot sooner. Does it really take that long to develop someone?

JoMilla.com

by JoMilla on Mar 7, 2010 9:38 PM CST reply actions

It is good to see

that we have a forward, defenseman, and goalie that we all are really really confident about. Here’s to the future, guys!

by russkidan on Mar 8, 2010 12:53 AM CST reply actions

I hear MacRae is developing ahead of schedule...

and lighting up the lamp in the process. Let’s hope he pans out.
BTW…Petro is too easy a vote on this poll!

by TeddyDaniels on Mar 8, 2010 9:39 AM CST reply actions

You need a Vikingstad option.

He raged at the world, at his family, at his life. But mostly he just raged.

by Icion on Mar 8, 2010 10:01 AM CST reply actions

No love for Tree?

"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://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Mar 8, 2010 10:55 AM CST reply actions

Both Petro and Allen are looking like top flight prospects.

I’m not sure if Phil will end up in the Oshie/Berglund/Perron/Eller area of our top forward prospects, but I still like him. Shattock is another guy I like, but after Sonne’s fall from grace, I’m cautious with WHL players personally. Though Sonne might just take a year to figure it out in the AHL, so what do I know.

I like Ponich a lot, and he COULD become a defensive stalwart long term, but it’s waaay to early to make predictions on him. Project is the only word for him right now.

Breaking News: I'm currently in the process of writing "I will not say and/or type "that word" 1,000 times.

by Novacain on Mar 8, 2010 2:26 PM CST reply actions

I don't know that Sonne has "fallen from grace," necessarily...

Yes, he was a 40-goal, 100-point player in his last junior year, but that may have raised expectations for him beyond reasonable linits.

He was drafted as a Jay McCLement kind of guy, a defensive-minded forward with some scoring ability. To expect him to change his game and mindset into an offense-first mode is probably not realistic, or ideal for his development as a player.

Also, to Sonne’s credit, he seems to have been “figuring it out” lately in the AHL. He’s hit double figures in goals, which is a fairly siginificant accomplishment for a rookie.

"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://futurenotes.blogspot.com

by Tomorrows Blues on Mar 9, 2010 9:52 AM CST up reply actions

that's a good point

“Victom of his own own success” as it were. Touche sir.

I am curious about Shattocks development. Not sure if I can reasonably consider him a better prospect then, say, McRae long term, but he’s been playing some damn good hockey for a guy we got in the 4th.

Breaking News: I'm currently in the process of writing "I will not say and/or type "that word" 1,000 times.

by Novacain on Mar 9, 2010 6:14 PM CST up reply actions