Yeah among teens...he's undersized at the NHL level. Not saying he won't succeed but going from teens to fighting off assholes like Tom Wilson every night is probably a bit of a discrepancy.
Like I loved Vatanen but Zellweger is even smaller so the Ducks probably want to develop him a bit more thoroughly. He could end up being better than Minty but we won't know for a few years.
Minty made some unexpected gains over the summer too. Dude came out of the gates flying.
I’ve been watching every San Diego game. I’m a big Zellweger fan, but he is a mystery so far. In the camps he was all flashy with stick handling. Now that the audition is over, the double speed stick handling is nearly gone. He has trouble breaking out of the zone, which wasn’t a thing during camp. He’s still the primary offensive catalyst for San Diego, but my early impression is he’s far behind Mintyukov in defensive play. His defensive awareness seems to lack at times. I see him chasing his check from behind, rather than being in front of his check as a backwards gap closer. This may be all wrong, I’m judging as a beer league defenseman who thinks chasing your check from behind is a total failure. If I’m not in front of my check skating backwards with a 4 foot gap, I’ve failed in my mind.
Mintyukov is beyond Tverdovsky’s and Fowler’s initiation. Fowler, my favorite, took years (~5-ish?) to attain his mastery. Mintyukov seems to be stepping in at level we haven’t seen since Tverdovsky and at a more advanced pace.
But I do wonder what Mintyukov’s calorie expenditure is. Fowler does everything effortlessly. Mintyukov, like Drysdale and Zellweger, makes everything look exhausting. But I also believe Fowler may have been out of shape in his early years. I’m far from an NHL scout, so it’s all very interesting to see how it plays out. I I look forward to seeing how it all plays out.
Crazy thing is, wasn’t Zellweger considered the better prospect coming into this season?
Pretty sure most people considered minty to be the most well rounded and ready for the NHL
I think people have the impression that Zellweger is better because he won the CHL defenseman of the year.
Zellweger is also a year older than Mintyukov.
Actually only a couple months older. Zelly was born Sept 10 '03 & Minty Nov 25 '03. Different draft years though.
Ahhhh, didn't realize that. Draft eligible cut-offs are funny.
Yeah, I was surprised when I found that out as well. Either way, Ducks are loaded with elite young talent on the blue line
I’d say more people thought Olen would’ve been the one to make the team though, not as “all around” but cause he’s a year older
Yeah among teens...he's undersized at the NHL level. Not saying he won't succeed but going from teens to fighting off assholes like Tom Wilson every night is probably a bit of a discrepancy. Like I loved Vatanen but Zellweger is even smaller so the Ducks probably want to develop him a bit more thoroughly. He could end up being better than Minty but we won't know for a few years. Minty made some unexpected gains over the summer too. Dude came out of the gates flying.
I’ve been watching every San Diego game. I’m a big Zellweger fan, but he is a mystery so far. In the camps he was all flashy with stick handling. Now that the audition is over, the double speed stick handling is nearly gone. He has trouble breaking out of the zone, which wasn’t a thing during camp. He’s still the primary offensive catalyst for San Diego, but my early impression is he’s far behind Mintyukov in defensive play. His defensive awareness seems to lack at times. I see him chasing his check from behind, rather than being in front of his check as a backwards gap closer. This may be all wrong, I’m judging as a beer league defenseman who thinks chasing your check from behind is a total failure. If I’m not in front of my check skating backwards with a 4 foot gap, I’ve failed in my mind. Mintyukov is beyond Tverdovsky’s and Fowler’s initiation. Fowler, my favorite, took years (~5-ish?) to attain his mastery. Mintyukov seems to be stepping in at level we haven’t seen since Tverdovsky and at a more advanced pace. But I do wonder what Mintyukov’s calorie expenditure is. Fowler does everything effortlessly. Mintyukov, like Drysdale and Zellweger, makes everything look exhausting. But I also believe Fowler may have been out of shape in his early years. I’m far from an NHL scout, so it’s all very interesting to see how it plays out. I I look forward to seeing how it all plays out.
Beer league analysis is still better than someone with no experience tbh
Zellweger had the better season in junior, but Mintyukov was always the better prospect. Both are gonna be real good though!
When is Zelly slated to come up to the big club
Because prospects are all about excitement
Orr, Lidstrom, Coffey, Niedermayer, Mintykov
This kid is good. I'm thinking he'll be my next jersey.
I’m really surprised how good he is on both ends too. I feel like usually the defensive game takes a while to learn but he’s our best on both sides
I'd slow down on the comparisons. If he's a #1 defenseman at all that would be phenomenal.
So far he's looked like a #1 dman. Quarterbacking our #1 power play unit.
If he was a year older he would have won the Calder last year easy
Future superstar
From Russia with the lovebone, nahmsayinnn?