Prospect Signings: March 17th, 2012
-Boston Bruins Sign Adam Morrison To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract
-Anaheim Ducks Sign John Gibson To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract
-Winnipeg Jets Sign Julian Melchiori To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract
-Carolina Hurricanes Sign Austin Levi To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract
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Boston Bruins Sign Adam Morrison To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract |
G. Adam Morrison Age: 21 Height: 6-3 Weight: 170 Drafted: Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round (81st overall) in 2009. 2011-12 Statistics: Saskatoon Blades (WHL): 2 GP | 4.50 GAA | 0.866 SV % Vancouver Giants (WHL): 54 GP | 2.73 GAA | 0.901 SV % CONTRACT: 3 Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -The Flyers chose not to offer him a contract by the 2011 draft which made him an unrestricted free agent. -This season was his first as a full-time starter in the WHL. |
Thoughts:
Adam Morrison was once a very highly regarded goaltending prospect in the NHL. At the time of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, he was thought to be one of the better available goaltenders. Unfortunately for the Flyers and Morrison, things didn't go as smoothly following the draft as they would've hoped. He had trouble replicating the stats he had in his draft year, and last season he dealt with a bad case of mononucleosis that held him out for a big portion of the year. Following the Flyers decision to not sign the 6'3 goaltender, he went back to the WHL. Early in the season the Saskatoon Blades traded Morrison to the Vancouver Giants where he was able to get a full-time starting job. He played really well with Vancouver, and was able to put himself back on the map as an NHL prospect.
Morrison has been described as a bit of a 'hybrid' type goaltender. He plays with a blend of both technical goaltending skills and athletic goaltending skills. With his big size and long legs, it has been very effective for him. If he's able to consistently play the game at his best, and maintain his composure (especially after letting up a bad goal) he could be a solid pick-up.
The Bruins signed him to a three-year entry level contract. He will remain in Vancouver until the end of the WHL season and then will report to Providence of the AHL. If the Bruins give him enough time in the American Hockey League I could see Morrison developing into a good back-up goaltender at the NHL level, with an outside chance of being a number one.
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Anaheim Ducks Sign John Gibson To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract |
G. John Gibson Age: 18 Height: 6-3 Weight: 203 Drafted: Anaheim Ducks in the 2nd round (39th overall) in 2011. 2011-12 Statistics: Kitchener Rangers (OHL): 31 GP | 2.84 GAA | 0.926 SV Team USA (WJC-U20): 1 GP | 4.00 GAA | 0.852 SV CONTRACT: Three-Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Chose to decommit from University Of Michigan for the OHL. -Named the Best Goaltender in the 2010-11 WJC-U18 tournament. -Tied for the best save percentage in all of the CHL. |
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Thoughts:
The Anaheim Ducks have signed one of their top prospects and 2011 2nd-round pick, John Gibson, to a three-year entry level contract. Although he didn't have to be signed yet, the Ducks were not going to take any chances. At just eighteen years of age, he is already one of the best goaltenders in the OHL.
Gibson has the ideal body of an NHL goaltender at 6'3, 203 pounds, and he does a good job at correctly utilizing that size. His style in net is more positionally-based rather than athletic, and it really allows him to take away a lot of the net. His movement is terrific for a big goaltender, and it always gets him to where he needs to be. He also displays a calmness in his game that not only helps him to remain in position in high tension situations, but also helps his entire team in front of him to remain composed as well. From what I've seen of Gibson, he reminds me a lot of Carey Price. They both play very similar styles, have the same calmness in their games, and both have very similar body structures.
John Gibson has all the makings of a good starting netminder at the NHL level, and the Anaheim Ducks will give him all the time he needs to develop. With Jonas Hiller already in their nets, they won't need to start looking for a new starting goalie for a few years (at least) and in that time they will be grooming Gibson for that role. Next season he will be back with Kitchener in the OHL, and he might even go back again the year after that. Once the Ducks decide he is ready for the pro-game, he'll be placed in the American Hockey League, where he'll likely spend at least two seasons.
He may not be close to the NHL, but the Ducks have a very good goaltender on their hands for the future.
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Winnipeg Jets Sign Julian Melchiori To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract |
D. Julian Melchiori Age: 20 Height: 6-4 Weight: 190 Drafted: Atlanta Thrashers (Jets) in the 3rd round (87th overall) in 2010. 2011-12 Statistics: Kitchener Rangers (OHL): 35 GP | 2 G | 17 A | 19 PTS | 42 PIM Oshawa Generals (OHL): 23 GP | 0 G | 13 A | 13 PTS | 20 PIM CONTRACT: Three Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Chose to decommit from UMass Lowell for the OHL |
Thoughts:
The Winnipeg Jets have signed prospect Julian Melchiori to a three-year entry level contract. Melchiori, who was drafted in third round of the 2010 draft by the Thrashers, has really come into his own this year. Labeled as a 'late bloomer', his success hasn't come quickly, but with patience and time he has developed and will continue to develop, on both sides of the puck.
At 6'4, he is on the larger side which makes his impressive skating all-the-more surprising. He has good foot speed and acceleration, especially for someone his size. He still needs to work on learning how to effectively use his big body, but that will come over time. He does a good job with his first passes and breakouts, but I doubt we'll ever see him be a big offensive contributor. His biggest asset in my opinion is his knowledge of the game and how to play defense, which has helped him succeed through solid positioning and composed, panic-free decisions.
Next year he will join the AHL affiliate for the Jets — the St. Johns Ice Caps — for his first (of a few) seasons in the American Hockey League. He will need some time before he is ready for the next level, but he has the potential to, one day, be a very useful NHL defenseman.
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Carolina Hurricanes Sign Austin Levi To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract |
D. Austin Levi Age: 20 Height: 6-3 Weight: 185 Drafted: Carolina Hurricanes in the 3rd round (85th overall) in 2010. 2011-12 Statistics: Plymouth Whalers (OHL): 60 GP | 5 G | 22 A | 27 PTS | 44 PIM CONTRACT: Three Year Entry-Level Contract (ELC) Important Facts: -Born in Columbus (OH) |
Thoughts:
The Carolina Hurricanes have signed twenty year old defenseman Austin Levi to a three-year entry level contract. Levi has played 206 OHL games over the past four seasons. This past season has been his best in the league and he has shown a lot of improvement.
Austin Levi has developed into one of the best defenseman in the OHL. Defensively he has been an absolute rock. His good skating and quick feet really enable him to stay with the opposing forwards, and then use his size to get them off the puck with a good check. Earlier in his OHL career he struggled sometimes with getting out of position to make a hit, but this year he's been much more disciplined. He now picks his spots better, and still throws some bone-crunching hits, but only when he knows he can without hurting his team. Some scouts say he has some offensive upside that he hasn't reached yet, but he, himself still says that he is primarily a shut-down defenseman.
He will need a year or two in the American Hockey League, but after that time he will most definitely be ready for the NHL. He has top-four potential and I expect him to reach that.
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