He always becomes really good i EHM(yes it's just a game).
Tried to read about him, and the few places I've seen, it says that he biggest problem is his skating. Too slow moving side to side...defensivly. Someone working on this with the guy?
He wasnt drafted but I believe the Flyers invited him to their camp. He is usually a smart player but he is prone to making some mistakes. He racks up tons of points for a defenseman and is a good powerplay QB. He is a physical player, loves to hit, great shot, the only knock on him would be his skating.
Yeah, skating and decision-making have long been the knocks on him. I think he looks like maybe he's got some improved lower body strength and balance this year (although improved is not necessarily the same as "good"). Great shot, and he has been a fine hitter and willing combatant too - which makes me think that if he does get a bit sturdier on his feet, he could actually become almost intimidating in that area.
I was a bit surprised when nobody took a flyer on him back in his draft year, but he should get a chance once again in somebody's camp, and if he's got the drive to really focus on his footwork, his pivots, his crossovers, all that mobility stuff really, moreso than any straightline issues for now, then who knows, he could get somewhere. I think as long as a guy like that passes all the psychological checks for you, you give him a shot and see what he can make of himself, even if it means starting in the East Coast league.
Yeah, skating and decision-making have long been the knocks on him. I think he looks like maybe he's got some improved lower body strength and balance this year (although improved is not necessarily the same as "good"). Great shot, and he has been a fine hitter and willing combatant too - which makes me think that if he does get a bit sturdier on his feet, he could actually become almost intimidating in that area.
I was a bit surprised when nobody took a flyer on him back in his draft year, but he should get a chance once again in somebody's camp, and if he's got the drive to really focus on his footwork, his pivots, his crossovers, all that mobility stuff really, moreso than any straightline issues for now, then who knows, he could get somewhere. I think as long as a guy like that passes all the psychological checks for you, you give him a shot and see what he can make of himself, even if it means starting in the East Coast league.
Yeah, the main issue here is lateral and backwards mobility. I actually think he's a fine straight ahead skater. He has the ability to rush the puck out of the zone and he looks pretty slick end to end. But it's when an opposing forward drives to the net against him, he tends to look awkward. Essentially, he makes Hal Gill look like Scott Niedermayer sometimes.
Good OHL defender, maybe even great OHL defender, but I'm just not sure he has the hockey sense to make it at the next level, even if he does work on his mobility issues.
Is he still with Sarnia? What level are they on? Don't know how good the different "under-leagues" are.
He's in Sarnia, of the OHL, with Stamkos and Katic and so on. They're a decent team with enough talent to be a contender, but too much inconsistency to be a _real_ contender. (The OHL/QMJHL/WHL are the member leagues of the CHL, the top junior-aged league in Canada).
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If he is so bad at skating defensivly, why not play him as forward until he get's better?
Well, he does have a physical presence back there, and he does have a good shot from the point. Presumably everybody along the way keeps hoping he'll improve his skating and learn his position, so that at the end of the day his positive traits are maximized as a defender. But that said, it's also worth pointing out that being a poor skater by the standards of NHL-projection is not necessarily the same as being a poor skater by OHL standards. I don't find that he's a liability as a defenseman in the OHL. But you could project that if he didn't improve his skating, he'd increasingly become one at higher levels.
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Think anyone is going to draft him this year?
No. But he'll get training camp invitations and look for a free agent contract again. I think he'll probably be signed to a minor league deal.
WEll pulled out this older thread. Intend to check Avs board too about his progression. If u can add something Id appreciate it. Has he improved his skating lately etc????
It's the tale of two players. I've typed this out a few times so i'll keep it as short and sweet as i can..
The Good: Huge shot from the point, very physical and has a gift for catching guys with their heads down landing massive hits. Is capable of fighting, not able to keep up with the enforcers, but the part time fighters he'd be able to hold his own in that group.
The Bad: Skating was horrible, as was his decision making.. had a habit of throwing the puck up the middle under pressure, makes really bad decisions occasionally with the puck, gets caught in the offensive zone on a regular basis. Positioning is sometimes questionable, not that he's bad defensively, but sometimes found myself thinking why is he playing over here when the play is over there.
In Sarnia he was liked by many fans, hated by a few, but when you break it down he has his highs (shot, physical play) that really made him a likable player and his lows (decision making with the puck, skating) which made him frustrating to watch sometimes. He's easily an AHL defenceman but it's hard to say if he'll ever stick long term in the NHL. He's good with simple things like blasting the puck, hitting an opponent, but when it comes to things that involve hockey sense, or small margins of error they were not his strong suits, so whenever that is the case it's hard to gauge how they will do in terms of making the NHL, some do, some don't
The thing i've noticed the most about him is his physical play. He throws the body around every single chance he gets. His decision making isnt even that bad. He seems to always make the simple play...just throwing it up the boards or a quick easy pass out of the zone. Sacco really has the Avs D jumping up this year, even Hannan...and you can see that Wilson is actually quite comfortable offensively. He's a good young player, but unfortunately he is likely the odd man out on the backend once players like Liles and Preissing are back at 100%. I fully expect to see him full time next season.
While I don't think Wilson is a liability, his skating is holding him back from taking away a job from the Avs top 6 D men when healthy. Its not that he is a bad skater, nor particularly slow, but if he had another half step to his speed, he would be a much more valuable D man.
As mentioned above, 9 times out of 10 he is going to make the safe play... which again does not make him a liability, but it does not make him special either. Part of it is a lack of confidence in his playmaking ability at the NHL level, another part is simply his role with the club as the 6th/7th D man. Last night we saw he was capable of making the outlet pass (on the McLeod goal) and that he can step in to make the offensive play (his goal) but his job to this point has been to eat up some ice time and not make mistakes.
The Avs are very high on his potential, and given the injuries that the Avs D core has had, he has gotten alot of ice time. With the amount of UFA and the age of some of the UFA, Wilson is likely to get a good shot at earning his way into the top 6 for good next season. (that is unless he does so this year)
While I don't think Wilson is a liability, his skating is holding him back from taking away a job from the Avs top 6 D men when healthy. Its not that he is a bad skater, nor particularly slow, but if he had another half step to his speed, he would be a much more valuable D man.
As mentioned above, 9 times out of 10 he is going to make the safe play... which again does not make him a liability, but it does not make him special either. Part of it is a lack of confidence in his playmaking ability at the NHL level, another part is simply his role with the club as the 6th/7th D man. Last night we saw he was capable of making the outlet pass (on the McLeod goal) and that he can step in to make the offensive play (his goal) but his job to this point has been to eat up some ice time and not make mistakes.
The Avs are very high on his potential, and given the injuries that the Avs D core has had, he has gotten alot of ice time. With the amount of UFA and the age of some of the UFA, Wilson is likely to get a good shot at earning his way into the top 6 for good next season. (that is unless he does so this year)
If he works on his skating I can see him becoming something like Greg deVries
If he works on his skating I can see him becoming something like Greg deVries
Better.
It's been well documented that he was once a great offensive threat in junior...the guy was a PPG in the OHL. If he can work on his mobility and foot work, he already has the offensive tools to become a top 4 guy and much more offensive than DeVries ever was.
The thing i've noticed the most about him is his physical play. He throws the body around every single chance he gets. His decision making isnt even that bad. He seems to always make the simple play...just throwing it up the boards or a quick easy pass out of the zone. Sacco really has the Avs D jumping up this year, even Hannan...and you can see that Wilson is actually quite comfortable offensively. He's a good young player, but unfortunately he is likely the odd man out on the backend once players like Liles and Preissing are back at 100%. I fully expect to see him full time next season.
Well said. I thought hes even improved his skating too.
Given Sacco penchant for and success with young Kids, if he continues ro impress he'll find a way to keep him in the lineup. Problem is, when all get back, one off game will lead to the pressbox
16Team Dynasty League
Team:
C MDuchene,JCarter, RO'Reilly, TBozak,
MPerreault, Kyle Turris
LW VStalberg, JVR, NFilatov, MLucic, EKane
RW PKane, BLittle, KOkposo
D APietrangelo, ZBogosian, VHedman, DDoughty, EKarlsson, CBarker, RWilson, BValibik,
G JGustavsson, ASalak, DTokarski
The Farm: MBacklund, KBeach, OEkman-Larsson, REllis, SGlennie, JHudler, CKreider, JMarkstrom, ARadulov, BSchenn, BSanguinetti, JSchroeder 2010 Prospect Draft - 1st x 3, 2nd X 1
While I don't think Wilson is a liability, his skating is holding him back from taking away a job from the Avs top 6 D men when healthy. Its not that he is a bad skater, nor particularly slow, but if he had another half step to his speed, he would be a much more valuable D man.
As mentioned above, 9 times out of 10 he is going to make the safe play... which again does not make him a liability, but it does not make him special either. Part of it is a lack of confidence in his playmaking ability at the NHL level, another part is simply his role with the club as the 6th/7th D man. Last night we saw he was capable of making the outlet pass (on the McLeod goal) and that he can step in to make the offensive play (his goal) but his job to this point has been to eat up some ice time and not make mistakes.
The Avs are very high on his potential, and given the injuries that the Avs D core has had, he has gotten alot of ice time. With the amount of UFA and the age of some of the UFA, Wilson is likely to get a good shot at earning his way into the top 6 for good next season. (that is unless he does so this year)
Well it's good that he learned from his mistakes, he'd make alot of risky passes, and they weren't as successful at a high enough rate, and that if anything pushed scouts away from suggesting he be drafted, so the fact that he made that adjustment now in pro is one less hurdle for him to overcome.
Well it's good that he learned from his mistakes, he'd make alot of risky passes, and they weren't as successful at a high enough rate, and that if anything pushed scouts away from suggesting he be drafted, so the fact that he made that adjustment now in pro is one less hurdle for him to overcome.
His outlet pass on Colorado's second goal last night was a thing of beauty.
He's a really awkward skater - his knees are almost touching at times... There are plenty of awkward skaters in the NHL (like Wayne Simmonds) but Wilson's awkwardness if an actual deficiency. When I saw him in junior, my first impression was that he was a forward. Good vision, terrific offensive instincts. I'm sure his defensive play has come a long way and I'd love to see the guy make the show full time.
He reminds me of Jeff Finger of 2 years ago when he was with us. Below average skater, but solid in his own end, very physical, makes the simple, smart play in his own end, and has a hard shot.
Hopefully for Leaf fans sake it turns out a bit differently.
The thing i've noticed the most about him is his physical play. He throws the body around every single chance he gets.
He was a tremendous open ice hitter in junior. He would hammer guys coming across the middle.
He got five and a game for that for leaving his feet but one foot was still down prior at contact.
Wilson had a great offensive game while playing for the Sting, he had a very heavy shot (which he almost seemed to reluctant to use sometimes) and was a pretty good passer who excelled on the PP. His biggest problems were clearly his skating and bad defensive lapses often at the wrong time. Dave MacQueen would play him for crazy amounts of ice time (well over 30 minutes at times it seemed) so it's hard not to at least partially blame fatigue for his late in game defensive collapses.
