Article on D Tyler Eckford

Here's an article on D Tyler Eckford (http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archives/az/06/eckford_0446.htm) from INCH

I like this quote :
Alaska head coach Tavis MacMillan on Eckford: "His skill level and mind for the game is clearly much higher than many of his peers in college hockey. He still has plenty of room to grow physically, and when he does, he has the skill level to be an All-American. He should be an All-CCHA player this season, and with the way the NHL is now, that game is perfectly suited for a player like Tyler.”

No question! I really think he has the ability to be a decent NHL player. I only saw him 4 times this past season but he seems like a nasty player with a very nice shot and a lot of very good instincts. He played the 1st line PP in his freshman year and showed the ability to control the tempo. He's got some size and he is not affraid to use it.

The thing I like most is the mean streak. We are not talking about a prototypical college offensive defensemen here, as he plays with much more of an edge.

University of Alaska(Fairbanks) lists him as 6-3 215 but our board lists him as 6-1 205.....Not sure which is correct. Seeing the games on TV is very difficult to tell someones true size. HockeyDB also lists him as 6-3 215.

In my opinion: A player like this needs to get into the AHL if he shows a significant second year of improvement at the college level. His offensive skills are there. His defensive skills need some more improvement and his physical game should be honed at a higher level that college can't offer him. I really think this guy has the ability to be a good two way defensemen.

I'm very excited to see how he develops. I think he has the potential to become a very good NHL defenseman.

He's certainly one to keep an eye on.

It seems like we now have some decent depth with guys like Greene, Fraser, Eckford and the recent group of defensemen that were drafted. However, we're still missing that top defensive prospect. With where we've been drafting over the last decade they're hard to come by, but hopefully we can get lucky in the near future.

It seems like we now have some decent depth with guys like Greene, Fraser, Eckford and the recent group of defensemen that were drafted. However, we're still missing that top defensive prospect. With where we've been drafting over the last decade they're hard to come by, but hopefully we can get lucky in the near future.


Yeah Really......And there are those that still maybe diamonds in the rough.....

We'll get to see Defensemen Mark Fanye at Providence this year and we'll see Defensemen T.J. Miller at Northern Michigan this year as well.

Also another to keep an eye on is Winger Nathan Perkovich who has committed to Lake Superior State.....Looking for another Diamond out of this crew :)

Yeah Really......And there are those that still maybe diamonds in the rough.....

We'll get to see Defensemen Mark Fanye at Providence this year and we'll see Defensemen T.J. Miller at Northern Michigan this year as well.

Also another to keep an eye on is Winger Nathan Perkovich who has committed to Lake Superior State.....Looking for another Diamond out of this crew :)


Speaking of Miller, I read an article on him in Sports Illustrated. It was about March, because I was in my account's office waiting room. It was quite interesting and mentioned that the California kid has talent.

Speaking of Miller, I read an article on him in Sports Illustrated. It was about March, because I was in my account's office waiting room. It was quite interesting and mentioned that the California kid has talent.

Do you know which issue it was? Wouldn't mind reading it.

I'll be glued to CSTV (college sport TV) this season :)

Just wish I had an outlet to see canadian juniors :(

Do you know which issue it was? Wouldn't mind reading it.

I'll be glued to CSTV (college sport TV) this season :)

Just wish I had an outlet to see canadian juniors :(

Me too - I would give anything to get some canadian junior hockey down here.

The more I read about this Eckford kid the more I like him. This should be a real telling season for him.

Do you know which issue it was? Wouldn't mind reading it.

I'll be glued to CSTV (college sport TV) this season :)

Just wish I had an outlet to see canadian juniors :(

Sorry Jim, can't remember. I was just going through a bunch of magazines and picked up a copy of S.I., of course looking for anything on hockey and came across the T.J. Miller article. However, I do know for sure that it was the month of March. But then it could have been a older issue.

Yeah Really......And there are those that still maybe diamonds in the rough.....

We'll get to see Defensemen Mark Fanye at Providence this year and we'll see Defensemen T.J. Miller at Northern Michigan this year as well.

Also another to keep an eye on is Winger Nathan Perkovich who has committed to Lake Superior State.....Looking for another Diamond out of this crew :)

Good call on all those 3. Not highly ranked just yet, but they all have a ton of upside....

I was looking at Eckford's stats. He is having a very solid year. Has shown great improvement. Top scoring D at the moment. Should improve his prospects grade.

If Mike Del Zotto falls to us, or if Lou trades up, we will have that young, stud defenseman in about 2 to 4 years.

For now, we have to hope that Corrente and Tulupov can make the Devs in a year or two and maybe even produce a little offense.

Now that Dion Phaneuf is signed, I hope we really go after Dan Boyle.

Boyle--White
Martin--Oduya
Mottau--( Vishnevski / Greene )
Corrente / Fraser / Malmivaara

Not a bad group of defensemen. I don't know why Sutter doesn't play Greene more, but there must be a good reason. I like Andy, but he could be better both offensively and defensively. The only way to improve is to play.

Corrente is supposed to be a physical kid, so if he does well in Lowell, he could be up by mid-season.

I think Brookbank and Rachunek are history after this season. Just my 2 cents.

Later...:)