not_a_wings_fan wrote:Kyle Woodlief, the chief scout and publisher of Red Line Report wrote:26. St. Louis Blues - C Tage Thompson. Massive forward generating first-round buzz because of his 6-5 frame, but we just don’t see it. Poor skater who never uses his size to hit anyone, and in fact can’t get to the battle areas quick enough to make meaningful hits or assert himself as a physical presence. Has heavy boots and struggles to maintain pace in uptempo games. Always a step behind the action. Lacks offensive instincts and hockey sense in general. No vision — puts his head down and drives the puck at net when better options exist. Shows some good finishing touch around the net and a nice stick for getting deflections in front. Some NHL teams see a 6-foot-5 winger who scored 14 goals as a true freshman playing against more experienced talent. We see a guy who feasted on the PP with 13 goals, while scoring precisely one goal at even strength all season. Plus, he’s a defensive liability.
That's absolutely brutal. It's the only pick that has an even remotely negative assessment from the first round. If half that shit is true, this is a completely wasted pick and an utter fail. Couple this with the trades tonight and it's not a good day to be a Blues' fan.
All of below are pre-draft reports - none of which match the only negative report from Red Line Report. This looks like a cherry-picked scouting report.
Here is stuff from NHL Central Scouting and UConn head coach Cavanaugh via the
Florida Panthers pre-draft stuff
Cavanuagh wrote:Tage didn't miss often. If he gets the puck in space and can one-time it, he can bury it. He also had some goals crashing the net with his big body.
NHL Central Scouting wrote:"He's a pro player," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "For him to go into that program and get the ice time and production he's getting, he's getting bigger and stronger and his skating has picked up. He upgraded his skating even though he didn't need to, so he's one of these guys who can get in, protect the puck, get it to the net and he's hard to check. "As a freshman, to go there and get that ice time, and be given the responsibility that he has, that's what is impressive."
Thompson has great feet for a big guy. His footwork shows, especially when he's working in down low and winding up for a huge one-timer on the left side. "I try to play a power forward game, be strong on the puck down low and limit my turnovers in the neutral zone," said Thompson
Down the stretch, Cavanaugh utilized Thompson as a defenseman on the penalty kill. His reach and good stick were seen as benefits as the Huskies looked to clear the net front and keep pucks to the perimeter while down a man.
There’s no question that Thompson will have a shot at becoming a strong, talented top-six forward. While he has the ability to take face-offs with consistency, he’s better fit at higher levels as a power winger who can add a physical presence along the boards. If he can mature physically and grow into his frame, he should make a solid first or second line winger at the NHL level.
And was on the 2015 U-18 WJC USA Gold medal team.
From the
Hockey Writers:
One of the older prospects in the upcoming NHL draft – having just missed the cutoff for 2015 – Thompson’s put on quite a show at the University of Connecticut (UCONN) for the Huskies this season. Having racked up 32 points (14g-18a) in just 36 games, Thompson is second on the team in scoring behind freshman – and St. Louis Blues’ 2014 pick – Max Letunov.
Currently listed at 6-foot-5, Thompson has the size to be an intimidating figure on the ice. The figure and build of a power forward, he has a lot more upside when it comes to his offensive skill and stick handling. He’s been called for just six minor penalties this season which is a plus when a player is that big and plays the physical game.
Thompson has the ability to play both the wing and down the middle. He’s shown incredible promise in the face-off circle which could impress teams as a possible fit for a first or second line centre.
His raw skill and size should significantly impact where he goes in the upcoming draft. He can move quickly for a big guy and sees the ice as good as most project first-round picks. While he might not possess the same quality of skill as the top five picks, he’s has an all-around game that should make him an attractive prospect. He’ll likely develop into a top-six forward at some point and will be an impact player at the NHL level.
NHL Draft Projection:
His size and forechecking ability are certainly among his assets, but his ability to get around the ice and stick-handling skills should make Thompson an interesting pick. While he could be an enticing late first-round pick, expect Thompson to be an early second rounder in this year’s NHL draft.
Quotables:
A third true freshman who is up for the 2016 draft, Thompson is quick for a 6-foot-5 kid and has great anticipation.
Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News
Tage, who is studying business and sports management at UConn, is eligible for the NHL draft in June and speculation is that he’ll be selected in the first or second round. He’s a hair under 6-5 and weighs 190 pounds, having gained 10 since his arrival at UConn, a prospect with a big frame and that booming shot.
Mike Anthony, Hartford Courant
A more balanced report from a
Flyers site which doesn't mention that he's working on his skating and was used on the PK as a defenseman which indicates he's improving defensively which contradicts part of this report. Hooray to the world of scouting reports.
A power forward who can also excel away from the net
The 6’5 winger from Oyster Bay, N.Y. has done a lot over the previous year on the ice. As a true freshman at UConn, he registered 14 goals and 18 assists in just 36 games. With one of the best slap shots in this draft, Thompson became one of UConn's best weapons on the ice by the end of the season, scoring only behind former Blues second-round pick Maxim Letunov on the Huskies roster.
Though the point totals are relatively high for an NCAA freshman, make no mistake that Thompson is a very raw prospect.
Of Thompson’s 14 goals, 13 of them came while on the man advantage. This is a pretty concerning number in terms of his five-on-five play, but the 13 power play goals also led the NCAA this past season. As noted above, his slap shot is far beyond most prospects his age, especially in an era where the slap shot is primarily a special teams weapon.
Thompson also needs to become a better defensively-minded player as his college career continues. While his skating is smooth for his height and he plays comfortably with the puck on his stick, he doesn’t utilize his size or reach when defending against the rush as well as you’d hope. He had, however, just 12 penalty minutes on the year, which is great for a physical player with unmatched size.
Will he be the fit for the Flyers?
The Flyers will probably at least evaluate Thompson through the draft process. They have the 18th pick in Round 1, and Thompson is currently rated roughly around pick 20. In comments, Hextall noted that he wants to add size and scoring to the Flyers forwards. GM’s words are really just that this time of year, but if we were to take Hextall at face value, Thompson would be a developmental kid to fill that role in the future.
Tage Thompson is undoubtedly a raw prospect that might not make an NHL impact for a good bit of time. That said, he has a lot of upside.. His shot, his size, his skating, and his discipline are all legitimate aspects that can be built on towards having a successful NHL career. If the Flyers feel they have the ability to groom Thompson’s skills over the next few years, he could be an exciting player to watch develop.
One more from
The Draft Analyst, also more balanced but doesn't mention the work done on improving skating and improving on defense with UConn.
A former member of the NTDP who starred as a freshman for UConn, Thompson is a big-bodied sniper with an excellent shot whose development in terms of NHL readiness has a handful of years remaining. He’s pretty one-dimensional at this point — all but one of his 14 goals were scored on the power play. But 5-on-5 production will come in time, as will his ability to continue battling well after initial contact with an opponent. He’s got the kind of size you’d love to see on your flank, but there’s some work left to do, especially in the defensive zone where he tends to get lost and wander. Thompson, the son of former NHLer Brent Thompson, is an above-average stickhandler who wisely uses his long reach when he’s bombing down the wing or keep the puck close by as he tries to maneuver through traffic. He knows he’s got a size advantage and he exploits it. His skating is decent but his balance and wingspan are what drive his ability to avoid giveaways.
My take seeing what he's doing at the WJC camp, the NHL Central Scouting reports have more accurate info. Part of the negative thing about checking some mention, he's hard to check, apparently per the NHL report, because of his skating ability, which is a good thing. That is showing up in those camp highlights the way he's just walking around defenseman with ease. He's also got a slick finish when in tight on the goalie which is something sorely lacking from most of the Blues forwards.
