DobberProspects

Prospect Ramblings – Foudy, Merkley, Transactions, U-17, and the Top 2

Pat Quinn

 

 

Welcome to the Thursday ramblings, hopefully everyone had a good Canadian turkey day. This week’s ramblings will be a bunch of news, notes and general rambling.

 

But first! My #GoodTweet of the week (I have not tweeted a lot this past week. I need to be taught how to social media better haha)

 

{source}<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Because Carter whiffed on it <a href=”https://t.co/sioVvkjTB7″>https://t.co/sioVvkjTB7</a></p>&mdash; Pat Quinn (not that one) (@FHPQuinn) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FHPQuinn/status/1183585559584768000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>October 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
{/source}

 

 

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Liam Foudy was officially sent down to the OHL’s London Knights by the Columbus Blue Jackets as the forward came off of injury reserve after being hurt in the September prospect tournament. Foudy will serve as co-captain with Alec Regula (DET) in his fourth and final OHL season. The Knights are currently 3-3-1 and the speedy scoring forward should invigorate the team from its 500 status.

 

 

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Recent CHL Trades this week

 

WHL

 

On Tuesday (October 15) the Prince Albert Raiders acquired Duncan McGovern from the Winnipeg Ice for an 8th round selection in 2022. Immediately after the Raiders then sent goalie Brett Balas (2020 prospect) to the Spokane Chiefs for a 9th round selection in 2023.

 

Since Prince Albert was the only team trading this week, they also acquired Reece Vitelli (2020 prospect), a 2nd and a 4th in 2021, and a conditional 3rd in 2022 from the Everett Silvertips for Cole Fonstad (MTL).

 

OHL

 

Tuesday this week the Kingston Frontenacs sent Billy Constantinou (2020 prospect) to the Soo Greyhounds for a 4th in 2020 and 2021, and a 3rd in 2024.

 

The Guelph Storm sent Owen Lalonde (passed over for two drafts) to the Flint Firebirds for Michael Bianconi (2020 prospect) a 2nd in 2021, 2022 and a conditional 2024, and a conditional 5th in 2022.

 

At the end of last week, the Soo sent Ryan Roth (a free agent that will likely be signed at the end of this CHL season) to the Sarnia Sting for a 2nd in 2022, a 4th in 2021, and a conditional 5th in 2013.

 

There were no real QMJHL trades to discuss. Thumbs down.

 

 

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Speaking of trades, Ryan Merkley was set free on September 27 and traded to the London Knights for the low low cost of a 3rd in 2022, and conditional 2024 2nd and 3rd round selections.

 

Merkley currently has eight points in five games as he is such an elite talent on the back end. The production should increase as long as he can show he is not a liability in his own end. Also, for those wondering he does have 10 penalty minutes so far but hopefully those totals do not increase. I have faith that this kid will put those “attitude issues” behind him, and thankfully he is not on the Islanders where apparently those type of issues makes it so you will never become an NHLer #FreeHoSang.

 

The only problem I see long term for Merkley in San Jose is that Burns still has five years remaining on his deal and Karlsson has eight, so good luck bumping those two off of a powerplay.

 

In regard to fantasy hockey if you are playing the long game keep him, but if you want to trade a big prospect name for a top player use Merkley as we will likely not see what he can do statistically in the NHL for at least five seasons, if Burns is not moved.

 

 

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Team Canada announced the 56-man roster for the U-17 World Hockey Challenge happening November 2-9 in Medicine Hat, Alberta and Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Those players are:

 

Goaltenders:

 

Defencemen:

 

Forwards:

 

Of course, all of the 56 players will play in the tournament for Canada

 

 

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There is a lot of talk about Quinton Byfield surpassing Alexis Lafrenière for top prospect of the 2020 draft, and I wonder if those people have watched Lafreniere dominate the QMJHL since 2017. Now I do understand the size and position of Byfield does appeal to 100% of GMs out there, and he will be a number one centre eventually, but I do not understand passing on the skill of Lafreniere.

 

To me in fantasy hockey this is not close, it is AF still by a large gap. I feel Byfield may be coming in a little more overrated due to his size where Lafreniere has the history and ever-evolving skill that has not stopped. This is likely a “we need to hype the 1-2 battle” that we have every year coming up to the draft from the sports media but there is a good chance an NHL team takes Byfield first due to the importance of the centre ice position, I would prefer Lafreniere myself.

 

 

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Thanks for reading, let us all hope the Devils turn the season around. Follow my twitter: @FHPQuinn

 

 

 

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