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Combined Top-25 Prospect Rankings: #16 - #20

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The second part of Copper & Blue's top-25 prospect rankings takes a look at the lower half of the Oilers' top-twenty.  It features a couple of long in the tooth AHL prospects and some more recent but lower round draft picks with significant red flags that they'll need to overcome.

As before, we evaluate the players using a format of strengths, weaknesses, and 'Seal' value - the best case scenario, if everything works out right (reference here).

Star-divide

16. Johan Motin

Strengths: Motin boasts good size and strength, and although he’s somewhat inconsistent taking the body he can also play the game mean.

Weaknesses: Skating ability isn’t a glaring weakness, but it isn’t nearly good enough to be called a strength either. On top of that, Motin has close to zero offensive ability and will always be a stay-at-home defenseman.

Seal Value: Motin could develop into a decent shut-down defenseman, particularly on the bottom pairing of an NHL team, just like… Aki Berg

17. Rob Schremp

Strengths: Has very good offensive instincts, particularly on the powerplay. He fires crisp passes and has an occasionally excellent shot, plus when he’s on his game he can be an effective forechecker.

Weaknesses: He’s worked hard, but remains a poor skater. Additionally, he isn’t very aware defensively and both his commitment level and intensity flag.

Seal Value: If he puts it all together, Schremp could end up as a second-line and powerplay forward playing a sheltered role, much like… Mark Parrish

18. Toni Rajala

Strengths: Spectacular skill level and a goal-scoring knack. Good feet and hands, great agility. Releases the puck in a hurry. Outstanding passer.

Weaknesses: Extremely small, he's listed at 5'9" but he's likely 5'6". He's listed at 163 lbs, but is playing around 150. He's a perimeter player that gets overwhelmed in traffic.

Seal Value: He learns to think the game at a high level to overcome his size deficiencies, avoids injuries and blows the doors off of the league like..Paul Kariya

19. Olivier Roy

Strengths: Roy is a competitive and focused goaltender who also boasts great athleticisim and reflexes. He also telescopes out of the net well to challenge shooters.

Weaknesses: A smaller goaltender (just 6’) Roy struggles to play more of a stand-up style and often commits to butterfly too early. There are also concerns about his ability to handle traffic in his crease.

Seal Value: If Roy can modify his game to be more of a hybrid goaltender, he has a good chance at a decent starting career similar to… Jocelyn Thibault

20. Ryan Stone

Strengths: He's willing to do the dirty work in all ends of the ice. He's strong on his skates and stout for his size. He hits hard and willing to drop the gloves and can score once in awhile.

Weaknesses: He's slow, isn't particularly adept at penalty killing, and isn't a strong forechecker. He's also injury prone, already suffering three distinct and significant injuries in his career.

Seal Value: He gets his big break on a team that needs some bottom six smash and turns it into a decade-long career a la...Jamal Mayers

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Jocelyn thibault….wow….that is extremely average

by SumOil on Jul 12, 2009 10:26 AM MDT reply actions  

Well, Thibault did last nearly a decade as a starter prior to the lockout; if Roy gets eight years as a starting goaltender I for one will be a little surprised.

A posse ad esse.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and OilersNation.

by Jonathan Willis on Jul 12, 2009 11:08 AM MDT up reply actions  

it will be a nice surprise

by SumOil on Jul 12, 2009 10:28 PM MDT up reply actions  

Not a fan of these “seal values”.
They lock readers’ opinions on a prospect to a single NHLer and they’re guesstimates at best….
 

by ebi on Jul 13, 2009 2:16 AM MDT reply actions  

Seal Value

It’s pretty clearly explained. If everything happens perfectly for the prospect down the lines of health, development, opportunity and physical and personal growth, that’s our pie-in-the-sky bet.

How many of the top 25 will hit? Probably 2.

Contributor to The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jul 13, 2009 6:34 AM MDT up reply actions  

I think the Seal Value estimations have been pretty good so far. I think there’s more danger in the TSN-esque “Player Style” comparisons because it leads to over-estimation of prospects’ abilities when they are all being compared to first ballot hall of famers.

It’s fun to get caught up in the potential of prospects coming up, but I think it generally leads to things getting out of hand.

If you can pick a top-end for these prospects that is realistic I say go for it.

by Jon Kerber on Jul 13, 2009 7:23 PM MDT reply actions  

Realistic

Thanks for the vote of confidence – we’re not taking the comps lightly, but they aren’t really comps – I mean these are shoot-the-moon estimates, but we start off by saying that, so I’m happy with it.

Contributor to The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jul 13, 2009 8:46 PM MDT up reply actions  

A more current comparison for Motin could be a fellow playing for the Blackhawks right now in Niklas Hjalmarsson. He’s only played parts of 2 NHL seasons at this point, but he’ll be full time on the Hawks’ blueline this coming year, I’m sure.

by ykmisfit on Jul 14, 2009 6:53 AM MDT reply actions  

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Northwest Standings

GP W L OTL PT
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(updated 2.11.2012 at 6:02 AM MST)

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