Welcome to the Thursday ramblings! This week with the start of the NHL season at least eight days old I decided to give some random thoughts on the current season in various leagues.

 

First, here is my #GoodTweet of the week

 

{source} <blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” data-lang=”en”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Wait… Do some people think high MHL/VHL/Other Jr. Euro leagues production is not impressive? They are equivalent (and in some cases better, some cases worse) than some North American leagues <a href=”https://t.co/WiYvWfxBER”>https://t.co/WiYvWfxBER</a></p>&mdash; Pat Quinn (not that one) (@FHPQuinn) <a href=”https://twitter.com/FHPQuinn/status/1180180547647094786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>October 4, 2019</a></blockquote>{/source}

 

 

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Ty Smith is too good for the WHL (the CHL in general) but not yet good enough for the NHL. He really should be in the AHL. I wonder why more teams just do not send these players overseas as the SHL, Liiga, and KHL are all a better development league for competition than the CHL.

 

He currently sits with three goals, three assists, in three games since being returned

 

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There is a lot of hype with Victor (G)O(a)loffson right now, and rightfully so with four goals in four games, but if you are in a one-year league sell high. He could crack 30 this year but I would bet against it (ever so slightly) as he will eventually hit a rookie wall. I would expect around 25 goals, but if you can sell him for a known 30 goal guy do it ASAP.

 

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For only having one assist in three games, Nick Suzuki has looked like an NHLer

 

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In other New Jersey Devils watching news:

• Hughes has looked a little overwhelmed early but also has not gotten the bounces yet
• Hynes still will not give Zacha wingers that can score, and insists that Zajac deserves more offensive wingers and opportunities both Zacha and Hughes
• Gusev is going to put up 55+ points

 

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Capitals third round pick in 2018 Alexei Protas is currently second in WHL points overall with 11 in seven games. Why is this impressive? Well he has done most of his scoring while playing on the third line for the Prince Albert Raiders. He has now rightly been promoted. This kid could be a steal if he continues the production.

 

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Speaking of too good for the WHL (can you tell I live in the West haha), Dylan Cozens is another player just dominating with Nine points in four games. It was a good idea for Buffalo to send him down but I guarantee you they wish they could have sent him to the AHL or overseas.

 

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I wish an NHL team would take a shot on putting Reid Boucher in the top six (or even nine), I bet he could be a decent scorer.

 

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Interesting tidbit, and I know it is super early in to the season, but does Andrei Svechnikov look more comfortable than Elias Pettersson right now? Six assists in four games for Svechnikov and no points in two/three games for Pettersson (so far zero points as Vancouver is playing LA as I type this.). It is just interesting to me to see how this plays out.

HA! Pettersson just scored as I was about to post it. Caught it in time! 

 

Year one for both players has Pettersson get all the ice time and powerplay time versus minimal on both fronts for Svechnikov. Now EP is getting played ultra-tightly and Svechnikov appears to have more room, and his powerplay until in Carolina (with Hamilton) is outperforming the main unit.

 

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Thanks for reading. Tune in next week! Follow my twitter: @FHPQuinn