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Sabres pick #38 Connor Hurley


spndnchz

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Posted

SCOUTS QUOTE: “This kid has played everywhere this year. Some games with the US National U18 team, some games in the Fall Elite League, then the season with

Edina started and he finally ended his season playing for Muskegon of the USHL. He has improved his overall game and upped his compete at each level which scouts definitely take notice of.”

Posted

Hockey Prospectus:

38. Connor Hurley, Center, Edina (US High School)

Hurley is the top high school prospect in this draft class. He possesses many high-upside tools, and he could be 5-10 spots higher on my rankings if not for the conservatism I tend to apply to high school prospects. He is an above-average skater, arguably high end, with great speed and acceleration. He is a skilled individual with the puck as well, displaying a high level of creativity and playmaking vision. Hurley processes the game well, making quick reads. He can flourish when he is given space. He plays a decent power game, as he will muscle off checks and make power moves, but he could stand to gain some strength. One NHL scout says that he tends to play too much on the perimeter. He is certainly a player who a team may look towards for significant upside, but he will likely take a while to develop. He is committed to attend Notre Dame in the fall.

Posted

STRENGTHS: Hurley is a strong, two-way forward with big drive and a massive heart -- a leader both on and off the ice showing that he will do or play any role needed to help his team win. He skates with good intent, with solid speed and always keeps his feet moving. He pushes the pace when he has the puck, but away from the puck he finishes his checks and used his speed to eliminate time and space defensively.

 

Is a threat as a penalty killer. He raises his play away from the puck, like he understands that he needs to do little things like finish his checks and be diligent defensively to succeed. He’s sneaky good at stealing pucks and finishes his checks, supports his linemates and his defensemen. He goes into the corners determined to win battles and get the puck. Hurley’s also an exceptional distributor, makes crisp tape-to-tape passes of any touch.

 

He can feather them over sticks or laser one through traffic to a teammate. He goes into the corners to battle with any player of any size, determined to win. His vision is something to behold and one play this season sums it up well. Hurley went hard after a loose puck behind the goal line of a high school game and in one motion sent it back out to an open teammate at the top of the crease for a goal, all in on quick second. He just sees lanes and gets the puck through yet amazingly he never really forces pucks either. His passing is so crisp; every pass is clean and catchable. He zips it along the ice and it never seems to wobble or bounce

 

Has great patience with the puck, and will wait until he finds the right time to distribute. Hides his intentions with the puck so well; when you think he’s going to shoot, he’ll laser a pass across the rink to an open teammate. If you think he’s going to pass, he’ll shoot for an opening from in tight. He has that sort of ability to keep defenders guessing, freezing them.

 

Hurley’s commitment to his play away from the puck – finished every check, battles hard for pucks and works his tail off. Hurley showed a gnatty side to his game; got under his opponents skin by finishing checks, out hustling them to loose pucks, and little jabs and stick work away from the play.

Posted

When is the last time a guy was drafted out of high school and turned out super awesome?

 

Not super awesome but Nick Leddy and Brock Nelson are recent NHL'ers who were drafted out of high school.

Posted

Not super awesome but Nick Leddy and Brock Nelson are recent NHL'ers who were drafted out of high school.

Hmmmm. I was worried the Sabres just flushed the #38 pick down the toilet. This didn't make me feel much better.

 

Roenik, Housley & Barrasso?

So like 25 years ago?

Posted

Hmmmm. I was worried the Sabres just flushed the #38 pick down the toilet. This didn't make me feel much better.

 

Keep in mind that 2nd round picks make an NHL impact only about 20% of the time. 4/5's of them get flushed.

Posted

Keep in mind that 2nd round picks make an NHL impact only about 20% of the time. 4/5's of them get flushed.

I know that. But given the good CHL players still available, why get cute with a high school kid?

Posted

He's an offensive power house, great skater, tenacious defender, physical pest, and he double shifts as the equipment manager.

 

Equipment manager? Thank God we got him before he was discovered! Is he going to take the equipment managing job away from Gerbe?

Posted

http://lastwordonsports.com/2013/05/31/connor-hurley-2013-nhl-draft-player-profile-50/

 

Remember Connor Hurley is the youngest guy in the draft. We won't see him for probably 3-4years but he isn't some dumb pick. This is actually a really interesting pick for a kid that has the potential to be a top 6 winger in the NHL. He will go to USHL next year and then to Nortre Dame the year after. Skates well and works hard. Also he barely makes this draft. If he was born a day later and played all next year in the USHL I bet he would be a top 10 pick. One of the better moves we have made today.

Posted

I know that. But given the good CHL players still available, why get cute with a high school kid?

 

You are putting me in a spot forcing me to rationalize a pick I know nothing about. :P

 

The ranking I saw had him as a middle of the 2nd round pick so it isn't like Darcy was reaching,. I'm guessing this kid has attributes that Darcy was specifically looking for. That whole "we want workers" thing that was put out there a few weeks ago.

Posted

http://lastwordonspo...yer-profile-50/

 

Remember Connor Hurley is the youngest guy in the draft. We won't see him for probably 3-4years but he isn't some dumb pick. This is actually a really interesting pick for a kid that has the potential to be a top 6 winger in the NHL. He will go to USHL next year and then to Nortre Dame the year after. Skates well and works hard. Also he barely makes this draft. If he was born a day later and played all next year in the USHL I bet he would be a top 10 pick. One of the better moves we have made today.

We've taken the youngest guy in the draft before.....back in 2000.

 

His name was Gerard Dicaire and he was a 2nd round pick too. He hasn't played a single NHL game yet but, hey, maybe there's still time.

 

Drafting a guy because he would have been in next year's draft had he been born a day later doesn't guarantee anything.

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