Nittel=Underrated

Living close to Albany, it enables me to go to around 25 Rats games a year, and if there is one thing I have gathered this year, it is that Ahren Nittel is the next Bobby Holik-probably better. It pains me that this guy gets no recognition from anyone. TSN has him as a 4th line center, the rating here isnt too good either. In 38 or 39 games this season, he has 21 goals, 8 assists, 16ppg. His shot from the right faceoff circle on the PP is simply outstanding. No NHL goalie could stop it. He is now (finally) starting to gain noteriety with some of the Rats fans. He is a finesse player, but can play a physical game if need be. And at 6'3'', 235lbs, hes just what the doctor ordered for New Jersey. Couple that with his faceoff prowess and his ability to knock the puck home on the PP, he would be the first guy from Albany I would call up-even over Parise and Mcammond.

Sorry to bore you with my opinionated bias, but I think he should get more recognition.

Living close to Albany, it enables me to go to around 25 Rats games a year, and if there is one thing I have gathered this year, it is that Ahren Nittel is the next Bobby Holik-probably better. It pains me that this guy gets no recognition from anyone. TSN has him as a 4th line center, the rating here isnt too good either. In 38 or 39 games this season, he has 21 goals, 8 assists, 16ppg. His shot from the right faceoff circle on the PP is simply outstanding. No NHL goalie could stop it. He is now (finally) starting to gain noteriety with some of the Rats fans. He is a finesse player, but can play a physical game if need be. And at 6'3'', 235lbs, hes just what the doctor ordered for New Jersey. Couple that with his faceoff prowess and his ability to knock the puck home on the PP, he would be the first guy from Albany I would call up-even over Parise and Mcammond.

Sorry to bore you with my opinionated bias, but I think he should get more recognition.

The last time the top 20 was re-ranked at the end of December, Nittel moved up three spots to #13, and next re-rank, which will be coming fairly soon, once all the minor pro and junior leagues have wrapped up the season, he will defenitely be jumping up the rankings. I can say that he most likely will be in the Top 10 for sure, jumping ahead of guys like Foster, Laine, Tallackson possibly......He's been getting much more noteriety on this board, and his potential seems to be improving each and every game.....The big power winger, is on the rise that's for sure! :amazed:

Good to hear then. :)

In Albany does he play LW or Center?

Sometimes he plays wing, but mostly center. Hes pretty good on faceoffs.

on this other board, he gets load of recognition, but those are from all devs fans just following the rats with no season, personally i think he's a beast.

I can't wait to see him!

I'm not doubting I am just asking, cause I haven't seen him.

1. "Ahren Nittel is the next Bobby Holik-probably better" Are you saying he is capable of being a yearly 20+ goal scorer and a shutdown center?


2. "I would call up-even over Parise and Mcammond. " Are you saying he is NHL-ready now?

Thanks in advance.

1. "Ahren Nittel is the next Bobby Holik-probably better" Are you saying he is capable of being a yearly 20+ goal scorer and a shutdown center?


I think some people forget (or want to forget) how good a player Bobby Holik was for this team. I have no firsthand knowledge of Nittel myself, but the above is quite a lofty claim.

I think some people forget (or want to forget) how good a player Bobby Holik was for this team. I have no firsthand knowledge of Nittel myself, but the above is quite a lofty claim.Agreed. I shudder to think about how good the Devils would be if certain players would have completely bought into the system (like Stevens, Dano, etc.). What if Holik wasn't so concerned about his own legacy? What if Guerin would have wanted to stay and build a dynasty? Or Lemieux? I know he was traded, but if he would have been willing to put the team ahead of his own desires for a higher salary, he wouldn't have been dealt. And by the way, in terms of Claude Lemieux fans, there are few as psycho-for-Claude as I am.

The point I was making about Holik is that his history with the Devils was forever tainted when he left for New York. For me, it was tainted when he balled about his arbitration hearing. What the heck was that? He decided to go the route of arbitration and was upset that the Devils would try to low-ball him? For a guy who excelled at blue-collar hockey, he sure was naive about the way the game is played off the ice. He was absolutely the prototypical player for the Devils though . . . well, everything but the "me" attitude. That part of him fits in nicely across the river.

Living close to Albany, it enables me to go to around 25 Rats games a year, and if there is one thing I have gathered this year, it is that Ahren Nittel is the next Bobby Holik-probably better. It pains me that this guy gets no recognition from anyone. TSN has him as a 4th line center, the rating here isnt too good either. In 38 or 39 games this season, he has 21 goals, 8 assists, 16ppg. His shot from the right faceoff circle on the PP is simply outstanding. No NHL goalie could stop it. He is now (finally) starting to gain noteriety with some of the Rats fans. He is a finesse player, but can play a physical game if need be. And at 6'3'', 235lbs, hes just what the doctor ordered for New Jersey. Couple that with his faceoff prowess and his ability to knock the puck home on the PP, he would be the first guy from Albany I would call up-even over Parise and Mcammond.

Sorry to bore you with my opinionated bias, but I think he should get more recognition.

Unfortunatly, it looks like the board doesn't quite go back far enough for me to show you, but every year at camp I do a writeup of who's haveing an unexpected good camp.

2 years ago I mentioned Mike Danton, and he ended up beating Berglund out for a spot. Last year , of the forwards, I liked Ikka Pikkarainen (and he almost made the team), but I really liked Ahren Nittel, a guy I had never heard of. He was almost dominant at camp, and looked completely out of place among all the minor league talent, and was even outplaying some of the NHLers. I asked about him, and was told that he had all the tools, but a problem with consistancy. So I've kept my eye on him since then, and it looks like he's finally starting to put it together.

Better than Holik? I'd say that's a stretch. His max upside I would say is a 20 goal scorer that hits like a truck and holds his own defensively, but I don't think he'll be the shutdown force Holik was. Still, damn good player.

I always thought nittel had issues defensively? I mean he has a HUGE minus, or is this just another indicator of how dumb plus minus is?

Better than Holik? I'd say that's a stretch. His max upside I would say is a 20 goal scorer that hits like a truck and holds his own defensively, but I don't think he'll be the shutdown force Holik was. Still, damn good player.


Well in all fairness, I don't think anyone would have predicted Madden would have become the type of defensive center he has become.

But I've also heard comparsions to Arnott, which also seems interesting to me.

I always thought nittel had issues defensively? I mean he has a HUGE minus, or is this just another indicator of how dumb plus minus is?

I think that's because he does all his scoring on the powerplay.

I think that's because he does all his scoring on the powerplay.Great point -- and he plays on a team that loves to play defense . . . in the offensive zone. I would rather see Nittel play the forward position simply because we have some pretty good defensive centers in the fold already with Madden, Rasmussen and Parise (not great, but definitely not a minus). Besides, playing the wing would allow him to backcheck without the necessity of dropping down deep like a centerman is supposed to. Comments?

" I always thought nittel had issues defensively? I mean he has a HUGE minus, or is this just another indicator of how dumb plus minus is?"

Everyone on the Rats has a huge minus.

I really think he has the upside to be a prolific goal scorer in the NHL. This guys shot is one of the best I have ever seen-at least on this level. He may lack some of the defensive awareness of Holik, but it seems, that if he enters in the Devils system, that wont be too big of a problem. Get this guy on the right faceoff marker on the PP, he'll give you 25-30 a year.