Prospect Signings: March 28th, 2012
-Minnesota Wild Sign Jason Zucker To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract
-Philadelphia Flyers Sign Nick Cousins To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract
-Winnipeg Jets Sign Will O'Neill To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract
-Washington Capitals Sign Cameron Schilling To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract
-Montreal Canadiens Sign Greg Pateryn To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract
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Minnesota Wild Sign Jason Zucker To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract |
RW. Jason Zucker Age: 20 Height: 5-11 Weight: 185 Drafted: Minnesota Wild in the 2nd round (59th overall) in 2010.
2011-12 Statistics: University Of Denver (NCAA): 38 GP | 22 G | 24 A | 46 PTS | 38 PIM Team USA (WJC-U20): 6 GP | 3 G | 4 A | 7 PTS | 2 PIM
CONTRACT: Three-Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC)
Important Facts: -Named to the 2010-11 NCAA (WCHA) All-Rookie Team. -Named to the 2010-11 NCAA (WCHA) Second All-Star Team. -Named the 2010-11 NCAA (WCHA) Rookie Of The Year. -Named to the 2011-12 NCAA (WCHA) All-Academic Team. -Named to the 2011-12 NCAA (WCHA) Second All-Star Team. |
Thoughts:
The Minnesota Wild announced yesterday that they have signed twenty-year old Jason Zucker to a three-year entry level contract. Zucker, coming off of an impressive sophomore campaign with the University of Denver, will join the Wild's NHL roster immediately with the hope that he'll make his NHL debut tomorrow night. Although I'm sure many Wild fans are excited to see Zucker show what he can do at the highest level, the decision to have him join the NHL roster now means that the first year of his contract will be burnt off.
Since being drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2010 draft, Jason Zucker has been terrific. Zucker is as well-rounded as any prospect in the National Hockey League. He has been praised since his draft year for an impressive two-way game, and an impressive work-ethic. Even though both of those talents are still big pieces of Zucker's game, his offensive skill-set has really developed in his time at the University of Denver. His speed has always been a big asset for him, but with a much improved wrist shot he has become a big threat in odd-man rush situations. Along with a solid shot, he has also begun to see the ice extremely well, which has opened up a playmaking dimension to his game that many scouts didn't see in his earlier years. He can throw around his body, despite his smaller stature, and is always willing to battle in the corners and in front of the net. He just plays the game the way it was meant to be played. Along with all of his on-ice talents, his leadership in the room and on the bench is impeccable. As a three-time World Junior participant — where he was captain for one team (2011-12) and won the gold medal for another (2009-10) — he knows how to lead through important games.
Jason Zucker has all the makings of a good NHL'er. His versatility makes him extremely valuable, and opens up many doors for him to find a home in the NHL. Zucker's high work-ethic is endearing to coaches and will surely be a big plus for him going forward. He is definitely one to keep an eye on for Wild fans because I'm sure you guys will enjoy this kid.
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Philadelphia Flyers Sign Nick Cousins To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract |
C. Nick Cousins
Age: 18 Height: 5-10 Weight: 177 Drafted: Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round (68th overall) in 2011.
2011-12 Statistics: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL): 65GP | 35 G | 53 A | 88 PTS | 88 PIM
CONTRACT: Three-Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC)
Important Facts: -Led his team in goals, assists, and points. -Sixth-most assists in the OHL. |
Thoughts:
As originally announced by Cousins himself, he and the Philadelphia Flyers have reached an agreement on a three-year entry level contract. He was drafted last summer in the third round by the Flyers, with one of the picks acquired from the Blue Jackets in the Jeff Carter trade. Cousins will report to the Flyers AHL affiliate — the Adirondack Phantoms — on an Amateur Try-Out for the remainder of the season, and then next season the contract will officially begin.
Nick Cousins gets knocked a lot because of his lack of size, but this season he has done a good job at quieting his critics with a productive season on and off the ice. On the ice he has proved that he has the offensive skill-set and two-way ability to be a solid player at both ends of the ice. Off the ice, he has put on twelve pounds to help himself bulk up a bit. Regardless of his actual size, he makes up for it with his hard work and large sized game. He has a very 'Flyer-esque' dimension to his game, that has made him particularly interesting for Flyer fans. His agitating qualities are well known throughout the OHL, and he is willing to take the beating that comes with being a provoker. That side of his game sparks from his competitiveness which really has made him a 'team-first' type player. He wants his team to win, and he tries to make that happen at all costs. It has made him a leader on the ice, because once his teammates see how much he wants to win it pushes them to work a little bit harder.
He will spend next season back in the OHL, but after that he may be able to make a push for a bottom-six role with the Flyers. He does have a solid future in hockey, but it still remains to be seen if he'll be able to handle playing his style against bigger and better players at the pro-level.
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Winnipeg Jets Sign Will O'Neill To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract |
D. Will O'Neill
Age: 23 Height: 6-1 Weight: 205 Drafted: Atlanta Thrashers (Jets) in the 7th round (210th overall) in 2006.
2011-12 Statistics: University of Maine (NCAA): 40 GP | 3 G | 30 A | 33 PTS | 68 PIM
CONTRACT: Two-Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC)
Important Facts: -Captain of the 2011-12 University of Maine Team. -Named to the 2009-10 NCAA (Hockey East) All-Academic Team. -Second-most assists of all NCAA defensemen during the 11-12 season. |
Thoughts:
The Winnipeg Jets have announced the signing of Will O'Neill to a two-year entry level contract. Last spring the Thrashers tried to entice O'Neill to turn pro, but once the summer came and the franchise was moved, O'Neill was lost in the shuffle. Regardless, O'Neill was hellbent on staying with the University of Maine for his senior year.
Will O'Neill has been a key player for the University of Maine throughout his four years there. As is the case with most successful players and prospects, O'Neill is known for an impressive work-ethic and intensity, that allows him to get the absolute most out of himself and his teammates. His hockey sense is above average, and he does a good job at making split-second decisions. His biggest asset in his offensive game is his first-pass. He does a good job breaking the puck out, and starting an offensive rush. In his own end, he is always positionally sound, but when he is in one-on-one situations he does tend to struggle.
O'Neill is still pretty raw, but as we all know defenseman tend to take a bit longer to develop. With his work-ethic and hockey sense, he has the foundation that a good defenseman would need. With some time in the AHL to refine his game and develop at his own pace, he could turn out to be a good 2nd or 3rd pairing defenseman. With that said, he could very well end up struggling with the transition to pro-hockey and fail to turn into a player of any value. Next season will be very telling about his future (or lack of one) in the NHL.
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Capitals Sign Cameron Schilling To A Two-Year Entry Level Contract |
D. Cameron Schilling
Age: 23 Height: 6-2 Weight: 196 Drafted: Undrafted
2011-12 Statistics: Miami (of Ohio) University (NCAA): 39 GP | 1 G | 13 A | 14 PTS | 20 PIM
CONTRACT: Two-Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC)
Important Facts: -Completed all four years at Miami University. |
Thoughts:
The Washington Capitals announced yesterday that they have signed college free-agent, Cameron Schilling to a two-year entry level contract. Schilling just completed his senior year at Miami (of Ohio) University. According to Schilling himself, the Capitals have been in-contact with him for quite some time, and have been very forthcoming about their interest in the twenty-three year old. He will join the Hershey Bears (the Capitals AHL affiliate) on an Amateur Try-Out before his contract kicks in next season.
Cameron Schilling has a very solid, two-way game. He is a good skater with above average acceleration which helps him maintain good positioning almost always. He does have some untapped offensive potential, but he is usually pretty hesitant to get involved on the offensive side of the puck as he is more of a defense-first type of defenseman. He is very good in his own end, and he takes pride in that. His good mobility helps him to be more efficient in the defensive-end as he gives himself a good chance to beat opponents to the puck. He is willing to throw his body around a bit, and he has some nastiness in his game as well. All-in-all, he is a solid all-around defenseman.
His upside is not huge, but I believe he is already good enough to be a bottom-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. Unfortunately he probably won't be much better than that, but with some work on his play on the offensive side of the puck, he could be a 2nd pairing defenseman at some point. Next season, I expect him to play in the NHL.
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Montreal Canadiens Sign Greg Pateryn To A 2-Year Entry Level Contract |
D. Greg Pateryn
Age: 21 Height: 6-3 Weight: 214 Drafted: Toronto Maple Leafs in the 5th round (128th overall) in 2008.
2011-12 Statistics: University of Michigan (NCAA): 41 GP | 2 G | 13 A | 15 PTS | 65 PIM
CONTRACT: Two-Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC)
Important Facts: -Completed all four years with University of Michigan. -Assistant Captain for the 2011-12 University of Michigan Team. |
Thoughts:
The Montreal Canadiens have signed twenty-one year old, Greg Pateryn to a two-year entry level contract. Pateryn is coming off of his senior year at the University of Michigan.
Pateryn was acquired by the Canadiens in the trade that sent Mikhail Grabovski to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Since then Pateryn has developed into a solid defensive-defenseman with the University of Michigan. At 6'3 and 214 pounds, he has the ideal size for an NHL blue-liner, and he uses that size perfectly. He won't be much of a contributor on the offensive side of the puck, but he plays a very physical style that made him one of the most feared defensemen in the CCHA. With that being said, he has a long way to go before being ready for the NHL and honestly he may never be ready. His skating needs a lot of work as it was sub-par for even NCAA standards. If, over time, he can get his skating to be at least average for the NHL level, he could be a good defensive defenseman.
This off-season is huge for Pateryn because if he doesn't come to camp with his skating much improved then he will probably find himself in the ECHL. Ideally he will work on his skating by training camp and he'll be able to play bottom-pairing minutes in the AHL for the Canadiens' affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs.
