Jeremy Laura: Word on Woodward discusses prospects tournament with Shawn Horcoff

OK, Jeremy. Stop trying to get me distracted from work, will ya?!?!?!?! My Boss came in as I was reading this post......asked me to open the Word video, but US Government computers blocked it

Due, I am SO ready. The really cooll thing is that we truly don't know what we have in the system until the kids get some serious ice-time. I'll not be surprised if someone completely out-of-left-field slaps us upside the head and snags a spot on the roster.

It's cool seeing that these kids aren't being "over-ripened" in the bus leagues; "If yer ready, show me". The only thing that concerns me is if someone jumps up, blows everyone away, we'll need to sign them a bit down the road, and we're not in a position where we need a ton of talent signed up because we're not serious contenders for the SCPO yet. Make sense? I mean, it's not a fear that makes me look behind doors or under my bed, but I look at 3yrs or so down the line and think: "Dang, sure hope the Cap increases so we can keep some of these kids."

Gonna be a good year both up & down I-96. Definitely getting the AHL TV package for GR, worth every penny.

Take a breather, J. We need you healthy for the season!!!!

OK, Jeremy. Stop trying to get me distracted from work, will ya?!?!?!?! My Boss came in as I was reading this post......asked me to open the Word video, but US Government computers blocked it

Due, I am SO ready. The really cooll thing is that we truly don't know what we have in the system until the kids get some serious ice-time. I'll not be surprised if someone completely out-of-left-field slaps us upside the head and snags a spot on the roster.

It's cool seeing that these kids aren't being "over-ripened" in the bus leagues; "If yer ready, show me". The only thing that concerns me is if someone jumps up, blows everyone away, we'll need to sign them a bit down the road, and we're not in a position where we need a ton of talent signed up because we're not serious contenders for the SCPO yet. Make sense? I mean, it's not a fear that makes me look behind doors or under my bed, but I look at 3yrs or so down the line and think: "Dang, sure hope the Cap increases so we can keep some of these kids."

Gonna be a good year both up & down I-96. Definitely getting the AHL TV package for GR, worth every penny.

Take a breather, J. We need you healthy for the season!!!!
- mcmastermike1968

Ok, that’s hilarious and a huge honor. Shout out to everyone who opens my stuff at work!!!

I am so excited. Even with realistic expectations on the year, it feels like two brand new teams. It will be a lot of new reaction instead of, “fill in the blank” turned it over again….now it will be an exciting NEW name that turns the puck over! (Totally kidding).

Definitely pacing myself. There will be a glut of information starting tomorrow, so I have to pick and choose a bit. Such an awesome problem to have!

Watching NHL Tonight, Nick Leddy was interviewed. Focused on Mo Sides.....had some good things to say, for sure. Interestingly, they already had Mo in the 2 pairing, but said that it was expected to see Leddy & Mo on the 1st pairing.

Are people putting too high of expectations out there this early? I just really think there needs to be expectation-management here. The kid's got the tools, but jeepers; 1st pairing already??? Maybe in November, but not right out of camp!!!

Watching NHL Tonight, Nick Leddy was interviewed. Focused on Mo Sides.....had some good things to say, for sure. Interestingly, they already had Mo in the 2 pairing, but said that it was expected to see Leddy & Mo on the 1st pairing.

Are people putting too high of expectations out there this early? I just really think there needs to be expectation-management here. The kid's got the tools, but jeepers; 1st pairing already??? Maybe in November, but not right out of camp!!!
- mcmastermike1968

I’ll tell you this, I don’t often see management/development “overwhelmed” by a prospect. But Horcoff reminded me in that video that Mo is in his 3rd year as a pro. His stats in GR as an 18 year old got a lot of attention. Then at 19 he’s named defenseman of the year in the SHL. People are shocked by how strong and capable he already is. This player has jumped up the list so quick and pushed past expectations. It’s amazing to see what he’s accomplished.

Excellent interview but one thing he said was that he does not want any player to be given a spot and they must all earn to get it and keep it. Then they just take Seider out of the prospect tourney and hand him a spot. Seider probably is too good for the prospect camp I suspect but he truly contradicted himself.

I see some awesome talent in the pipeline headlined by Seider and Raymond. I too am excited for Veleno but Raymond looks like potential franchise player, like Seider. I believe it is 26 days to go.

Excellent interview but one thing he said was that he does not want any player to be given a spot and they must all earn to get it and keep it. Then they just take Seider out of the prospect tourney and hand him a spot. Seider probably is too good for the prospect camp I suspect but he truly contradicted himself.
- joegreif17

The feeling, all around, is that Seider’s dominant play in the SHL and what they continue to see in his development put him on the roster. The main 3 (Veleno, Raymond, Berggren) still haven’t shown that type of dominance (i.e. - Seider at 19 was voted Defenseman of the year in the SHL). Yzerman, early in the summer, stated that Seider didn’t seem to have anything else to prove at lower levels and warranted an NHL spot. If Veleno/Berggren/Raymond had achieved something similar in the SHL, they could very likely be guaranteed a spot as well.

It’s tough to overstate how many heads Seider has turned already. It’s literally shocked development coaches

I see some awesome talent in the pipeline headlined by Seider and Raymond. I too am excited for Veleno but Raymond looks like potential franchise player, like Seider. I believe it is 26 days to go.
- joegreif17

Very, very exciting times! Thanks so much for dropping in with that!

The feeling, all around, is that Seider’s dominant play in the SHL and what they continue to see in his development put him on the roster. The main 3 (Veleno, Raymond, Berggren) still haven’t shown that type of dominance (i.e. - Seider at 19 was voted Defenseman of the year in the SHL). Yzerman, early in the summer, stated that Seider didn’t seem to have anything else to prove at lower levels and warranted an NHL spot. If Veleno/Berggren/Raymond had achieved something similar in the SHL, they could very likely be guaranteed a spot as well.

It’s tough to overstate how many heads Seider has turned already. It’s literally shocked development coaches
- Jeremy Laura

I've watched him play, and watched tape of him playing. No doubt he's a beast. His AHL numbers were solid, then he destroyed the SHL. But, like you've said several times, Jeremy; the NHL is a different league all together.

My point is that folks are already saying this kid's gonna be the 2d coming of Gordy Howe, but he's not likely to burn the place down over the 1st few months. He's going to need to find his game at the NHL level. Once he does; Katie Bar the Door!! I think he will be a stellar player; Franchise-leader type. But not overnight. Like I said before, I just wish folks would tamper expectations out of the gate.

I think I'm most interested in seeing how Tyutyayev does. If I remember correctly, he fell way down the draft over concerns that he'd stay in Russia. He's from Datsyuk's hometown. The kid averaged 4 points per game in 18u and 1.3 points per game in Balarus league, which is probably a league somewhere between the ECHL and AHL. He seems to be a playmaking machine and obviously for Detroit to sign a 7th round pick, they see something in him.

I've watched him play, and watched tape of him playing. No doubt he's a beast. His AHL numbers were solid, then he destroyed the SHL. But, like you've said several times, Jeremy; the NHL is a different league all together.

My point is that folks are already saying this kid's gonna be the 2d coming of Gordy Howe, but he's not likely to burn the place down over the 1st few months. He's going to need to find his game at the NHL level. Once he does; Katie Bar the Door!! I think he will be a stellar player; Franchise-leader type. But not overnight. Like I said before, I just wish folks would tamper expectations out of the gate.
- mcmastermike1968

I don't think people expect he's going to be an elite NHL defender right off the bat. There's good reason to be excited about his NHL future, given his dominance of the SHL at such a young age, but I agree it will take time.

On the other hand, his competition at RD in Detroit this season is Hronek and Stecher. Is he already better than both? We don't know that yet, but quite possibly yes. There's a pretty wide gap between "top pairing defenseman in Detroit" and "top NHL defenseman," and given Seider's track record to this point it's not entirely crazy to suspect he's already in that gap.

I don't think people expect he's going to be an elite NHL defender right off the bat. There's good reason to be excited about his NHL future, given his dominance of the SHL at such a young age, but I agree it will take time.

On the other hand, his competition at RD in Detroit this season is Hronek and Stecher. Is he already better than both? We don't know that yet, but quite possibly yes. There's a pretty wide gap between "top pairing defenseman in Detroit" and "top NHL defenseman," and given Seider's track record to this point it's not entirely crazy to suspect he's already in that gap.
- Sven22

As usual, GREAT points. I wasn't looking at the fact that there was a paucity of RD, so his being put in the line-up like he was last night makes sense. I'd think that if he shows like people believe he will, he'll be the class of the D-line, and a much sought-after commodity when he hits U/RFA. Which is a concern because he'd one among many kids who "could" command top $$$. And I wonder how the Salary Cap would lookk at that point. I know it's down the road, BUT......

Listen, I'm super-jazzed to see what this kid brings to the ice. He has all the makings of a star player, for sure.

I think I'm most interested in seeing how Tyutyayev does. If I remember correctly, he fell way down the draft over concerns that he'd stay in Russia. He's from Datsyuk's hometown. The kid averaged 4 points per game in 18u and 1.3 points per game in Balarus league, which is probably a league somewhere between the ECHL and AHL. He seems to be a playmaking machine and obviously for Detroit to sign a 7th round pick, they see something in him.
- bluelineenforcer

I'd like to see some video of him. I've done a very short check, but found nothing. Agree that there must be something of value if they sign a 7th this early....Kinda nice to have a deluge of talent just waiting to season and hit the big-time, huh?!?!??!