So how good are these kids, especially the OHL guys.......they are putting up incredible numbers for 16 yr olds and just seem to keep scoring, scoring and scoring!
Will any of these guys move into the 'Big Top 3' next year, especially giving Tavares and Hedman a run for their money?
Also out West, Tyson Barrie(voted Top 16 yr old in the Western Conference of the WHL) and Evander Kane, also Scott Glennie(Schenn's linemate), Jared Cowen and a few others are playing a ton as rookies.
This is my take on Ellis. A smaller, better offensive, worse defensive version of Bryan McCabe.
Ellis is one of the smartest players in the OHL. For a 16 year old Dman his size to be doing so well is amazing. Please don't ever use Bryan McCabe and Ryan Ellis in the same sentence again.
If fact, if Ellis was 6'3", he'd be an all world prospect and challenging for 1st overall in 09.
Ellis is one of the smartest players in the OHL. For a 16 year old Dman his size to be doing so well is amazing. Please don't ever use Bryan McCabe and Ryan Ellis in the same sentence again.
If fact, if Ellis was 6'3", he'd be an all world prospect and challenging for 1st overall in 09.
Now it's an insult to compare a 16 year old prospect to Bryan McCabe? That's silly. The comparison may or may not be accurate- I don't know personally- but it certainly isn't a bad thing to be compared to a veteran defenceman with McCabe's track record.
For Ryan Ellis, I agree with the Rafalski comment.
Like stated, if he was bigger, he would be a top 3 pick next year for sure. He is so smart, so poised and actually good defensively.
Taylor Hall, if he continues to improve the way he has since day one, IMO may battle for the #1 overall pick in 2010.
Warren Rychel picked two gems this year. Many people argue and think that Ellis and Hall should of been one, two based on their seasons (no disrespect to O'Reilly)
Ellis is extremley gifted offensively but isnt really all that effective in the defensive zone. Hes good at spotting the puck and taking it away from players but he isnt physical at all and isnt effective when he tries to be. He has a rocket of a shot and is a great powerplay quarterback but I dont think he will be in the top 5 in 09. He's putting up some pretty incredible numbers for a 16 year old defenceman.
Taylor Hall's draft year is in 2010 and he will be up near the top
Ellis might have some trouble in his own end, but it isn't because of his skill set, it's because of his size and age. God forbid if this kid grows. He knows how to play in his own end, and "gets it", it's just his size doesn't allow him to do what he wants to do on the ice in the OHL against older bigger players. He showed at the under 17 that he can be effective in his own end and he threw some big hits - which shows he's capable against his peers - so will he be able to do that against his peers when he's 24? Only time will tell.
If you had to rank the top 16 year old in the CHL how would the list look?
Taylor Hall -
Ryan Ellis -
Brayden Schenn -
Tyson Barrie
Scott Glennie -
Jared Cowan -
Ryan O'Reilly
Hall
Schenn
Cowan
Ellis
Glennie
Barrie
O'Reilly
Its a really tough choice between the top 3 (Hall, Schenn, and Cowan) because I have seen Hall play alot more than the other 2 and only seen Schenn and Cowan at the U-17's. It could be anyones game for the top 3 spot.
Ellis takes pucks away and starts the play almost every time..He is just incrdible for a 16 year old-AND I DISAGREE THAT HE IS NOT PHYSICAL--he throws hits a lot against way bigger guys and is solid on his skates...true he won't win any pure strength battles but when you consider everything else he does,if he were 6'1 he'd be the #1 pick in his draft...
Still at his young age who is to say he won't grow? Let us see where he is at the time of the '09 draft...meanwhile he has such great hockey smarts at that age it is something to behold..
AS for being bad defensively--that is way way off....he is a +21 but I assure you that is not the "mirage" that JOHN TAVARES' +23 is ..TAVARES is slow and stinks defensively which even a kindergartner can see derfines his one-dimensonal game...TAVARES is only +23 because of Oshawa's offensive scoring prowess-but he is lousey checking anyone.. Ellis is very deserving of his +21 as it is not hidden by an overabundance of Windsor scoring at even-strength --but yet Ellis does contribute immensely to Windor's offense too --he is well rounded.
Last edited by hawksfan50: 02-18-2008 at 11:55 AM.
The Rafalski comparison is pretty good. Or maybe Kimmo Timonen.
Not really, Ellis is way more phsyical than both those guys put together. However like McCabe, Ellis overworks himself in his own end and his positioning is pretty bad. I've seen Ellis over 8 times live this year and I'm quite happy with my analysis on him. You can judge him how you want, I'm not asking you to change your opinion. Also I'm not a huge McCabe fan at all, but he is still a pretty good defenseman and was an All-Star defenseman, so I don't see how comparing Ellis who is 16 years old to an NHL All-Star defenseman is "under valuing" Ellis.
Ellis takes pucks away and starts the play almost every time..He is just incrdible for a 16 year old-AND I DISAGREE THAT HE IS NOT PHYSICAL--he throws hits a lot against way bigger guys and is solid on his skates...true he won't win any pure strength battles but when you consider everything else he does,if he were 6'1 he'd be the #1 pick in his draft...
Still at his young age who is to say he won't grow? Let us see where he is at the time of the '09 draft...meanwhile he has such great hockey smarts at that age it is something to behold..
AS for being bad defensively--that is way way off....he is a +21 but I assure you that is not the "mirage" that JOHN TAVARES' +23 is ..TAVARES is slow and stinks defensively which even a kindergartner can see derfines his one-dimensonal game...TAVARES is only +23 because of Oshawa's offensive scoring prowess-but he is lousey checking anyone.. Ellis is very deserving of his +21 as it is not hidden by an overabundance of Windsor scoring at even-strength --but yet Ellis does contribute immensely to Windor's offense too --he is well rounded.
I wonder what would happen if Tavares got dealt to Windsor.. seriously c'mon.
Ellis takes pucks away and starts the play almost every time..He is just incrdible for a 16 year old-AND I DISAGREE THAT HE IS NOT PHYSICAL--he throws hits a lot against way bigger guys and is solid on his skates...true he won't win any pure strength battles but when you consider everything else he does,if he were 6'1 he'd be the #1 pick in his draft...
Still at his young age who is to say he won't grow? Let us see where he is at the time of the '09 draft...meanwhile he has such great hockey smarts at that age it is something to behold..
AS for being bad defensively--that is way way off....he is a +21 but I assure you that is not the "mirage" that JOHN TAVARES' +23 is ..TAVARES is slow and stinks defensively which even a kindergartner can see derfines his one-dimensonal game...TAVARES is only +23 because of Oshawa's offensive scoring prowess-but he is lousey checking anyone.. Ellis is very deserving of his +21 as it is not hidden by an overabundance of Windsor scoring at even-strength --but yet Ellis does contribute immensely to Windor's offense too --he is well rounded.
You are over-hyping/overating Ellis a little too much. He is a good player but you statement saying "if he were 6'1 he'd be the #1 pick in this draft". The 2009 draft class with guys like Tavares, Hedman, Paajarvi, Rajala and Duchene.... I dont think so. There is no way if he was even that much bigger he would be considered for the #1 spot. He still has a alot of work to do to become better in the defensive zone. And Tavares defensive game has improved immensley this season and his foot speed is getting better. I think Tavares would probably be the one to wina footrace to the puck between him and Ellis. I am not ripping on Ellis at all because I think he is a great young d-men that is putting up some astonishing numbers this year for a rookie d-men in the OHL but when you say that if he was a few feet taller he would go 1st overall I think your really over-seeing him.
