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Post by Score on May 16, 2007 13:34:15 GMT -3
With Allan Clow coming to this team next season, where do you all see him fitting in?
Clow is a smooth skater with quick wheels, and can handle the puck very well.
As a 17yr old "Q rookie", im sure he'll have some nights off, but does he have the potential to shock some with this skill as Southorn did to many last season?
With Southorn, Clow and Malouin, our backend should be solid for the next couple seasons!
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Post by Krang7 on May 16, 2007 13:42:02 GMT -3
Clow will likely slot in at the 6th defenceman spot, behind Lessard, Southorn, Gervais, Malouin and either a 20 year old or a Euro. He'll probably see similar ice time that Southorn saw this year, get something close to a regular shift to begin the year and see his ice time tail off at the end. He might also be scratched some games in favor of the seventh defenceman, whoever that may be.
I don't think he'll make a huge impact this year, but is definetly a solid addition and will be good in years to come.
I'm just glad that it appears that management is leaning towards a smaller, better skating defence then they had been, which is better suited for the hockey in the Q these days. Getting rid of dead weight like Boutin and adding guys like Clow is going in the right direction.
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Post by SteveUL on May 16, 2007 14:11:23 GMT -3
I think at 17 he may be able to handle a good load of icetime ... but of course he isn't coming off a 70 game season (plus playoffs) and hasn't been through that grind yet. How big is he ?
I'm looking forward to seeing this kid play.
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Go Rocket!
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Post by Score on May 16, 2007 14:24:08 GMT -3
I think at 17 he may be able to handle a good load of icetime ... but of course he isn't coming off a 70 game season (plus playoffs) and hasn't been through that grind yet. How big is he ? Guessing around: Height : 6'1" Weight : 170 lbs
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Post by Krang7 on May 16, 2007 14:29:47 GMT -3
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Post by SwallowMyBitterPill on May 16, 2007 14:34:50 GMT -3
i heard he's now 7'4 and a whopping 325 lbs
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Post by catnut on May 16, 2007 15:30:47 GMT -3
i heard he's now 7'4 and a whopping 325 lbs But how much can he bench press?
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Post by rocket2 on May 16, 2007 19:52:32 GMT -3
Certainly not wanting to sound like a negative but I think comparing Clow to anything right now, especially saying that he will make the team, is a bit premature. I have seen him play a few times and was personally not impressed, I know, I know, hold on, it is just being an Island lad he may get put above expectations. With Southorn last year, before try outs, there was negative talk about him being this or that, he proved all wrong.
Is Clow ready, I don't know, skating maybe but there is a HUGH difference between Midget/Junior then there is to Major Junior. Your dicision making time is cut in half, the punishment in the corners is twice as hard, you have to be able and willing to go to war every night, can he do that, I don't know, time will tell. There are certain tangable and intangable traits a player must have, the tangable ones are easy to spot, the intangable are not so, that is why some players are a bust. Southorn went to war from day one, he faught, lost teeth, played with pain, can Clow do that?
Also to say we are smaller, this isn't true, Lessard 6' 190, Southorn 6'3" 185, Gervais 6'1" 185, Melaouin 6"2" 185, you get the point, haveing 5 of you 6 D over 6' is not small. Can they skate, Southorn & Lessard will top this group, the rest fall below.
What Clow needs to understand is what Southorn understood, play the safe game, time with maturity will allow you to take risks. Southorn was coached well, he was told to concentrate on defense only last year, the horse was held back, next year Southorn is given the free ride to take the risks he wasn't allowed to take last year, and why the hell not, he earned it. Clow, if he wants to impress and make this team needs to concentrate on one thing and one thing only, DEFENSE first, forget everything else. If he can do this, adapt to playing in limited pressure situations, then he has a better then fair shake.
Hoping the best for him and looking foreward to the draft, which is another thing, and try outs.
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Post by 1barney22 on May 16, 2007 21:32:54 GMT -3
Clow is 6'1...not 6'2...but I know that its common practice to embellish height and weight. Hes about 175...but still looks skinny. He has a frame that will allow him to be one of those guys who can be 205-210 and not be carrying extra weight. i expect you will see him weigh in at 180-185 at camp.
He WILL make the team. I saw him skate with the Rocket in MArch and he was better than Malouin already... easily. He is one of the most agile skaters I have ever seen backwards, especially laterally, and he has a great first 4 steps forward.
I am not sure what some of you are expecting from him, hes not going to dominate every shift or anything.....defenseman never do, just by the nature of their role. I hear people talking about him as on offensive D. Hes not offensive like Grags was with end to end rushes.....he just makes really good offensive decisions and hes quite solid defensively...he only needs to put on some weight and strength and he will be a major player.
As for the level of play this past season...I think its compareable to Jr A....playing teams like Shattuck and Northwood.
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Post by Hockeyfan99 on May 17, 2007 8:23:30 GMT -3
There is no doubt that Clow will make this team this season the only question is how good will he be. Personally I am not that focussed on what he actually contributes this season but more so am excited that the Rocket are adding another young player with first round talent and great potential.
I watched him play a few times 2 yrs ago and he looks like a very smart smooth skating defenseman who can play in this league so I feel confident that he could develop into a quality blueliner for us in the future although this season depends more on how he developed playing Prep last season. At this point I don't think anyone really knows.
As well with Lessard, Gervais, Southorn, Malouin all returning and the expected addition of another top 4 guy there really shouldn't be too much pressure on Clow. And so as a 17 yr old rookie he should start off with 5th/6th defenseman ice time and his play will dictate if he gets a little more or a little less. Either way like any rookie defenseman and especially with the other guys we have I don't think Clow's actual production should be the focus but more in assessing how he develops as the season progresses.
Just as a reminder going into the draft last season Clow was ranked to go in the bottom half of the first round just behind defensemen Barberio, Amyot & O'Conner and ahead of defensemen like Southorn, Malouin & Mortin-Boutin.
And HPO offered the following assessment:
Clow is a very smooth defensemen. His skating is effortless. He isn’t the prototypical offensive defensemen though. He plays well in his own end and uses positioning because he isn’t able to out muscle many forwards. His frame will allow him to add at least another 25 lbs, which will make the job in his own end much easier. His on ice vision is outstanding. When he is playing the point on the PP he always makes the proper play with the puck, he knows what he is doing out there, it comes natural to him. He reads the play well and has a good point shot. His main strength is that his break out passes are always on the tape and he makes solid puck decisions. Clow has the speed, smarts and skill to be able to play in the QMJHL next year but the team that picks him will probably bring him along slowly. Puck Skills/Shooting: B ; Passing/Vision: B+ ; Intangibles: A- ; Skating: A- ; Toughness: B+
Personally I'm really looking forward to seeing Clow in training camp but like Southorn and Malouin last season I don't have high expectations on what he may bring this season but I am excited about what Clow could bring in the future.
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Post by David Aebischer on May 17, 2007 11:09:38 GMT -3
Clow is a guy that had awesome tools but was a bit raw at 15 so giving him an extra year outside the Q is not a bad idea. He reminds me a lot of Jim Sharrow who played in Halifax.
Another guy who is a pretty safe bet to play next year is Owens, I have heard from the Miramichi staff that they don't expect him back. With Southorn Malouin Clow and Owens plus Lessard and possibly Gervais around next year, you should have a strong defense. I expect Boutin to be traded at the draft.
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Post by Hockeyfan99 on May 17, 2007 11:43:33 GMT -3
I agree Owens is a player not getting enough consideration when talking about the upcoming season's defense as he had a tremendous year in Jr A and could be very good for us this season.
Which leaves Savard with some interesting option at the draft before training camp. As IMO if we were simply a rebuilding or midpack team a young defense with potential pairings of:
Lessard-Southorn Gervais-Clow Owens-Malouin
would probably be acceptable but if this team hopes to be a top team in the East we will need to add a Top 4 defensemen and let Clow/Owens/Malouin share the 5th/6th spots.
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1978
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Post by 1978 on May 22, 2007 22:01:41 GMT -3
I have heard lots of good things about young clow, as most have mentioned above. nice 5th round draft pick. I dont remember owens though.
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Post by hockeydog on May 24, 2007 17:11:41 GMT -3
i have sene clow play alot. and yes, he can certtainly skate. as far as making good offensive decisions, i hardly agree, he panics, and i think that will hurt him in the q. but the biggest difference, between clow, and southorn, is, clow is soft, and that is a trait that is hard to get rid of.
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Post by 1barney22 on May 24, 2007 18:51:46 GMT -3
Hey Hockeydog....do you live in Ontario??? You must if you saw Clow play. I can't imagine that all the Q scouts were off by that much to rank him so high....but maybe they are. who knows!!
Did you ever notice too...that all of your posts are negative ones...whats with that?
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