Talked to Islanders pro scout Toby O'Brien, who specializes in collegiate hockey and AHL prospects and he thinks digging through the ranks of NCAA and CIS (Canada's NCAA equivalent) may become more common. O'Brien described Garth Snow's GM style as very "empowering." Basically, he doesn't micro-manage, and he puts a lot of trust into his team of scouts. That trust, O'Brien says, makes the scouting staff work harder to go places other teams won't and find those diamonds in rough. Surely, a lot of college players can go relatively unnoticed, and fly a bit under the radar. But, there are at least a couple college guys that are making blips on the Islanders' screen: UNB's Rob Hennigar and Colorado College's Jack Hillen (more on him tomorrow). O'Brien said those were two out of the three most mature, high-character guys of free agents interviewed this year.
O'Brien gave credit to the whole scouting staff for finding both, and thinks these high-skilled, high-character guys are exactly what the organization needs.
Here are some of O'Brien's thoughts on both:
On Hennigar:
"He sees things on the ice that I couldn’t, that 90 % of the guys that are out there can’t. He has that uncanny knack of getting pucks places where guys are going to be.
Rob Hennigar has the ability to make others look better."
O'Brien said that while his age (25) will force him to have an accelerated learning curve, the maturity he can bring could allow him to be a top two lines guy in Bridgeport, and eventually a top two or three lines guy in the NHL.
"He's a skilled centerman who can skate, distribute the puck, and score."
On Jack Hillen:
"He has an uncanny poise about him. He's a little undersized, but he can skate, and he can get the puck up the ice. He has the ability to change direction, get outta jams very well, push puck up ice, whether he's carrying or out-letting the puck."
O'Brien said his development went from a level 1 to a level 9 in college, and he expects him to be able to take it to the next level from there.
Besides, you can't have a more complete baptism-by-fire, O'Brien said, than being thrown into a heated series with the Rangers this April.
On both, O'Brien said their skill combined with character, poise, and maturity make them a good fit for the organization. They won't feel entitled to any opportunities presented, and will work hard to earn what he thinks they deserve.
"I'd like our coaches to be able to go to battle with guys that are good people and good players," O'Brien said.
They may not be for-sure blue-chippers, but sometimes diamonds in the rough are worth the digging.....
People may get down on collegiate hockey prospects or low-round draft picks, but let's not forget former Isle and Hall of Famer Ken Morrow (now the Islanders' director of Pro Scouting) had an illustrious college career at Bowling Green and then went on to Olympic Gold in 1980 AND helped the Isles toward four Stanley Cups. Hey, it can happen......
Comments (18)
Thanks for the info, Katie. I've followed college hockey extensively for years, and while it's an imperfect science it's surely possible for a college star to become an NHL star.
However, I'll confess to not being very high on Hennigar since Canadian college hockey is, in my experience, of vastly lower quality than that in the United States. Most talented Canadian players go on to major junior or AMERICAN universities, leaving the rest for Canadian colleges.
Also, Katie - remind them about my boy MATT GILROY. He's BU's #1 defenseman and a fellow North Bellmore native. He's spending his senior year @ BU, but he'll be ripe for the picking this time next year.
Greg, do you have any info on Bergenheim? He was injured during this past weekend's Ceska Pojistovna Cup and apparently will be going for an MRI. (Source: http://svenska.yle.fi/nyheter/artikel.php?id=126980 )
Sorry about that - didn't see that Katie's filling in for the time being.
Katie....
VERY IMPRESSIVE WORK.
It's clear to me that you have been searching and researching here.
And performing a reporter's job of throwing out information for evaluation.
Rather than looking for a headline story.
It's people like you that will keep the newspaper industry alive as well as give blogs a chance.
WELL DONE.
(and you're getting this comment from me on a Monday night).
I can't wait to see 19isles take on what you posted....
(Steady is gonna blame Snow and Wang for things that....well....
you say).
nice blog...
Is that what this glorious franchis has resorted too? Looking for a needle in a hay stack at the college level?
My God. Get a clue BOBBLEHEADS!!!
p.s See the choke job in Philly last night? I hate those fans...They come to Shea and make it smell like msg. :P)
No reason to get excitied.
No reason to get up set. I told you these days were coming.
No need to thank me. No reason to get bent out of shape. The Islanders are becoming desperate. This is the second public step to moving the team to Hamilton.
We don't need you, we have the Devils to hate now. Philly, the Pens. Everyone but those white trash ghetto loving over priced trash filled beaches seemed to make themselves relievant. How long is it now since a playoff series win. 15 seasons.
With the lowest tickets sales in the nation how can you expect a major talent to want to play for your entertainment. Wang and the gang gave away tickets all season long and still ended the season with the lowest total. Will you visit the Lighthouse after he sells the team to another town? Will the mall/dinner and a park mix well without hockey? What's the name of the town that doesn't want to be destroyed by Wang and his multi million dollar project. We all know what heppens to nice little towns after you build something like that, in 5 years you can't walk down the street at night.
Man it must be tuff to be an Islanders fan.
#1
Nice article Katie ... A lot of players of given up on if they haven't shown up on NHL scouting radar by age 20. I find nothing wrong with finding diamonds in the rough. The Redwings have been doing that in Europe for over a decade.
505 ... to your disappointment I have no long post in response to Katie's article ... not yet anyway ... I have a very long busy work day today with the PA Primaries today.
However 505 ... I have a spot of good news for you. Newsday is on the block ... and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is poised to plop down the big bux for the paper. Some people like News Corp ... some people don't.
But I can tell you as the little guy in the huge media maza .. and working for / freelancing for other company's in the past like AP, CBS, FOX, Fox News and a variety of independent media companies that work with all the other networks ... that FOX was most definitely the most noticibly diverse and open organizations I've ever been involved with ... from all different perspectives and opinions.
Certain nameless companies I've either worked with or for in some capacity ... who will remain nameless have an obvious slant or biased ... with no other agenda except to slant the truth to fit their agenda.
Good luck to all those at Newsday ... I'm sure it will also benefit and enhance what you guys bring to the table.
---------------------------------
Happy Earth Day everyone. Especially a big shout out to our favorite tree hugger ... D-$
#1 ~ I enjoy reading Ranger fan's posts from time to time ... if they are relevent. Ranger fans have the right to beat their chests and root for their team ... they deserve it. No one is taking that away from them ... but when you spew your ROT on here ... you make yourself irrelevent and nobody gives a RAT'S BUTTOX what you say because you take a fact ... and twist it like pretzel.
Aside from that .. this is an Islander blog ... so you are wasting your time and energy preaching your satanic rituals to a church choir.
When my rottweiler takes a dump on your porch .. don't come complaining to us that a dump truck dumped a truck full of fertilizer on your porch. Stick with the facts and we'll debate it.
Also .. the Hamilton stuff ... my coworker is from Hamilton .. he says in no way and form could Hamilton ... even with it's tremendous growth be able to support an NHL team ... there are too many Leaf and Sabre fans in the area ... he said Winnipeg would be a better spot to get a team again .... and we all know how that ended up.
my co-worker is from Hamilton too. He says different.
Is your coworker a Doctor too.
505,
I see R.C. has shown his ugly face again yesterday. Know anything about that?
a rotty? I bet you drive a red sports car too.
Easy Steady...
Signing undrafted college prospects is an additional pool to draw from... its not the only source..
You would be one of the same fans that would moan if the Isles weren't exploring this route...
tomjets...Obviously you are new. Way off. Read the past three years of this blog to learn who and what I am all about.
Name me 5 strong college players that were undrafted in the past 20 years! Hope you can prove me wrong!
#1...You are a funny read. My God are you lonely and bored. Try Yoga or self mutilation.
Well, Brian Rafalski and Jason Blake come to mind right off the top of my head and with no research whatsoever.
Steady...
all i was saying that it just gives them another source to tap in...
so how does my being new to this blog have anything to do with my comment?? i have been following the isles for over 30 years..
because i disagree with you i am lonely and bored??? get a grip
oh.... and i found you more than 5:
Ryan Carter – Minnesota State – Anaheim - 2006
Dustin Penner – U of Maine – Anaheim – 2004
Chris Kunitz – Ferris State – Anaheim - 2003
Ty Conklin – U of New Hampshire – Edmonton - 2001
Andy McDonald – Colgate – Anaheim – 2000
Brian Rafalski – U of Wisconsin-Madison – New Jersey– 1999
Dan Boyle – Miami U – Florida - 1998
Martin St. Louis – U of Vermont – Calgary – 1998
John Madden – U of Michigan – New Jersey - 1997
Todd White – Clarkson – Chicago – 1997
Dwayne Roloson – U of Mass Lowell – Calgary – 1994
Anaheim tapped into the free agent college talent to help build their Stanley Cup team...
tomjets - way to shut up the high and mighty Steady!!!!!
2 more...
Curtis Joseph - Wisconsin
Jason Blake - North Dakota
now I realize the lonely and bored comment wasn't directed at me
Do you know where hockey players play when their careers are over or they want to be signed by the Islanders, Canadian College hockey. Ex junior players who realize an education is the best thing unless the Islanders sign you. The game hasn't changed that much, look at the size of these guys. If they were sought after wouldn't you think a real hockey would sign these guys. Look up in Canada at the major jr. level, stay out of the college level for awhile. DP STOP THE PUCK. WHAT'S NEXT A PULLED EYELASH. Get rid of Nolan and do everyone a favour if your not signing him.