Winter 2009: NR
Summer 2010: NR
Winter 2010: #20
It was not a certainty for Tyler Bunz on draft day. The young man from St. Albert had interviewed with 5 teams at the NHL combine (Edm, Cal, Tor, NYI and Pittsburgh) and he was part of the 14-goalie group that attended Hockey Canada's "Goalies of Excellence" camp the week before the draft.
So he was a known prospect but there was a chance he'd fall through the draft entirely. Central Scouting had him 10th among North American goaltenders. He told his Dad he'd be happy if he was taken by the 5th round. Tyler Bunz went 121st overall--the first pick of the 5th round--to the Edmonton Oilers. He was the 7th NA goalie selected in the 2010 Entry Draft.
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Mike Remmerde, Redline Report: Strengths: Good overall quickness. Decent size. Good footwork. Weaknesses: Can get a little scrambly at times. Tends to go down too early. Might not have #1 upside. Has looked very good every time I've seen him the last two seasons, but the numbers never quite seemed to match the talent. But the numbers started to come around late this season and during the playoffs. Looks to me like he bulked up quite a bit this season, and I wonder if that's hurt his quickness a bit. Seemed much quicker last season, but still has pretty quick legs and gets around the crease smoothly. There's a good mix of technicals and raw athleticism here, and I don't see any real serious flaws. Summary: I like this guy much better than Kent Simpson, but I probably still wouldn't spend anything more than a 4th on him. I think the consensus opinion has him a bit underrated.
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Stu MacGregor post draft: "17-year old goalie who carried the mail in Medicine Hat all year. Willie Desjardins said he was one of the big reasons they were able to defeat Kootenay in the first round. He's got some battle in his game, he needs to smooth things out a little in his technique."
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Bunz is listed at 6.02, 203 on the Oilers website. This compares with Olivier Roy (6.00, 180) and Devan Dubynk (6.06, 202) among Oiler prospects.
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After being drafted, Bunz attended Oilers rookie camp and impressed. He had an interesting take on the experience:
- "I thought my camp went well, but it made me realize there is lots of work to do in order to make that next step, and for me I think I’m 3 years, at least, away from being at that level. I think this year will definitely gauge were I stand as a goaltender and what my future will look like."
- "I think my size is definitely a strength for myself, I can move well for a big guy and love to battle-I never give up on the puck. I like to play the puck as well, I feel it keeps me focused on the game more. I need to improve on rebound control and being more consistent. Although by the end of this past year I started playing with more confidence and consistency leading into playoffs."
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Bunz is having a quality season in Medicine Hat and is well clear of his backup:
- Tyler Bunz 23gp, 2.45 .915 2SO
- Deven Dubyk 10gp, 3.18 .899 0SO
Bunz' SP in the WHL (by year): .885, .886, .898 and .915 so far this season.
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I'm currently watching an NHL game in which Anders Lindback is pitching a shutout for Nashville. He went undrafted as an 18 and 19-year old before the Preds called his name 207th overall in 2008. I think we can agree there's a tremendous amount of luck involved. Bunz has size, a good work ethic and desire to make the grade. Luck, timing, hard work and skill will be required and he could struggle at any and all levels before making it to the NHL.
Goalie progress is like learning to hit a golf ball straight and long: it's an impossible task involving a lot of profanity. Tyler Bunz is on track.
And here we are.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this LT, I always look forward to this.
Bunz is a wildcard but he has had a nice season so far. here's hoping. With what, six graduates coming if Omark stays up (and how could they not keep him up if he isn't just a flash in the pan), he will certainly move up unless he steps off a cliff.
An unbelievable list to see as an Oilers' fan. Some of these guys will flame out but I cannot remember such a deep stable of prospects. Just tremendous.
One last, seeing as it pertains to the discussions here. Apparently Petry is the guy they are going to call up if they bring someone up to replace Wandermeer. Can't remember if I saw that in the EJ or if it was Brownlee over at ON.
ReplyDeleteSo maybe another kid on his way.
Hey LT,
ReplyDeleteYou say after Roy was drafted and came to rookie camp he had some quotes, and then it looks like it links to Bunz quotes. Perhaps a typo?
Thank you very much for this series! I always enjoy reading your stuff.
Andrew: Thanks, man. I enjoy doing them, but the comments are always important. I've done posts on obscure things and come back an hour later and read "my uncle went to school with this guy and..." then the person will pass along some really good info.
ReplyDeleteSo, I get a lot out of it too. I still think Guy Flaming is the best guy to do a top 20, but until he decides to do it.... :-)
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ReplyDeleteHall, Eberle, MPS, now Omark.
ReplyDeleteRenney's the perfect coach for these guys. Almost Slats like even(for those of you who are too young, Sather was an outstanding head coach back when the Gretzky gang were still learning how to win).
Ten rookie points in a game? WTF do we suddenly have here, the NHL equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters?
Black Dog: Omark's not going anywhere. Any other year but this one, he'd be our argument for a Calder candidate.
And some of these prospects sound outstanding, also.
How anyone can argue Seguin over Hall of late, is either blind, obstinate, or simply doesn't understand hockey. Nothing against Seguin, but Hall is going to be a top 5 player in this game within the next 2-3 seasons. Maybe even higher than that. The kid's a genius.
Black Dog: Omark's not going anywhere.
ReplyDeleteLike MacTavish!
And any other year Omark would be the Oilers' Calder candidate - we typically break in, what, two rookies per year? Who'd have been our candidate last year, Taylor Chorney?
I remember listening to the pipeline show and their Chl insider said that Bunz is a very underrated goalie and should have a break-out season this year.
ReplyDeleteBunz started out slow and is doing very well now. Actually his back-up DD started out great and fizzled out. So it doesnt look like anyone will take the goaltending reigns from him at Medicine Hat
I see a bubble team next year.
ReplyDeleteOther than a D man, I don't know if any of the players on Lowetide's top 20 will be ready for the show next year. Lots will go to the AHL. And watch for the sophmore slump.
They might be a bubble in two years. Certainly there will a ton of guys ready to break in.
Can you imagine if MBS has another two drafts like last year? The depth will be scary.
Who'd have been our (Calder)candidate last year, Taylor Chorney?
JDD I would think...
Hunter - I think if he keeps it up that you are right. I wouldn't have held my breath on him staying up before but matheson's column in the EJ is a tell if you believe that he's talking for the org. which I think is fairly accurate. Basically he compared JFJ to MP as a guy who the org. is tired of waiting for and if that is the case then you have to figure that he is finally running out of time. Add to that the fact that Brule has found himself on the fourth line and that Renney has really had a lot of nice things to say about Linus and I think that he may be here to stay even when Hemsky comes back. Its early but the kid has had a positive impact in two games and he doesn't look lost at all whereas Brule is, well, Brule.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is when Hemsky comes back that Jacques takes the gaspipe. They can't unload Brule but unless he gets his shit together he's going to get the Nilsson treatment this summer.
LT: Ironically his backup made the same path. (And his 1st year in the NHL he improved his AHL save % by ,010)
ReplyDeleteWhat a draft Oilers had last year. Kevin Lowe is the man!
ReplyDeleteKL.
I think the biggest fan of Bunz in the organization has to be Gene Principe.
ReplyDeleteAt last count he had 425 Bunz puns already written. 234 of them referring in one way or another to "hot" Bunz.
Someone in the last thread asked what the best way to project goalies' future performance.
From what I've read the experts are split between tea leaves and chicken entrails.
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ReplyDelete"What a draft Oilers had last year. Kevin Lowe is the man!
ReplyDeleteKL."
I agree with that
If only there was a way to combine the two WG, like tea leaves poured over the entrails?
ReplyDeleteWitchcraft as they say...goalies are pure witchcraft. Oh yeah, and they're evil.
How anyone can argue Seguin over Hall of late, is either blind, obstinate, or simply doesn't understand
ReplyDeleteMy wife has called me all these things in the last 24 hours, so you are in good company. ;-)
I am very much enjoying the first 30 games of Hall's career and I think he is going to be good, verging on great. But I also don't think I can judge Seguin on the first 30 games of his career. There is lots to be said about these two guys, so declaring the case closed is a bit premature. JMHO.
after tonight's game, he is 4th in the Whl in Sv%
ReplyDeleteLT:
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my eyes peeled for Guy Flaming's top twenty then! Until then I'll let you know when my uncle goes to school with somebody.
Prospects are funny, especially defensemen.
ReplyDeleteI remember thinking that Doug Lynch would have a long NHL career as a second-pairng guy. Solid junior career -- albeit no WJC appearances -- an AHL all-star at age 20. Then injuries hit and he disappeared.
Jeff Woywitka is another guy who had a good pedigree, but never really seemed to put it together at even the AHL level. Similarly, Alexei Semenov put together some real nice numbers in junior, but never put it together at the pro level.
Some oddities at forward as well. A lot of people crap on KP for the Niniimaki pick, but he was doing some nice things post-draft and tracking well statistically, until he broke -- not separated, not dislocated, but broke -- his left shoulder.
I suppose what I'm trying to get at here is that you can't really trust a prospect until they play pro and don't injure themselves, and for that reason I rank the Omarks and Petrys of the world higher than any kid playing junior (top 10 picks excepted).
Realistically, as rich as the cupboard seemingly is at the moment, history tells us that only a quarter of these players on your top 20 will amount to anything.
Bling: True thign about Niinimaki.
ReplyDeleteThing that should also be considered:
The guys drafted after him were even bigger donkeys.
Either guys who took a long way to make it (Paille, Babchuck, Grebs, Steen, Eager or Slater) (None of them made it with theyr original team)
Or guys who just sucked. So technically you'd have to say KP did a good job by swinging for the fences.
A fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable ride through the world of the Oiler toddlers.
ReplyDeleteCheers LT.
@ Steve Smith: LOL @ MacTavish coaching this collection. Conjures up Hall being sent back to the OHL with 0 games played, Eberle in the AHL"for more seasoning", MPS platooned between the press box and 4 mins a night on the 4th line.
ReplyDeleteOmark would score his fancy shoot out goal and the coach would tell the press it's 'not hockey', then bench his ass 57 mins a game for 3 more games before sending him back down to the AHL.
But the team would be better on the pk.
I had the opportunity to see the "Medicine Hat Tylers" play a few weeks ago and was pretty impressed with both of them, especially Bunz who had a very strong night. Scouting report here if you're interested.
ReplyDeleteNice to see Oilers with a couple of decent prospects between the pipes at the CHL level. It's a long way from there to here for Roy and Bunz, but they seem more promising already than Bryan Pitton or Alex Fomitchev ever did.
@LT: Terrific series, as usual. Thanks.