David Musil's job description--stay at home defender--is the kind of discipline that normally requires years of on the job training before NHL arrival. This could be true in Musil's case, but there is some evidence that he could be on a fast train.
International Scouting services called Musil #1 defensive defenseman available in the 2011 entry draft, and counted decision making and reliability among his strengths. Musil is a man already in size--6.03, 200 according to ISS--and has some impressive things on his resume.
ISS: He is not easy to get around, can play physical when required and isn’t afraid to mix it up or answer the bell when required. He has great gap control and can really lure players in and then strip them of the puck using his big reach. His skating ability has come a long way as has most of his other technical skills.
Musil will play in the Joey Moss game today alongside Taylor Fedun. He is one of 22 defensemen in camp right now, and my guess is on TC exit he'll be higher on the depth chart than he was when he entered camp. David Musil could fly by a few defensemen in the organization over the next 12 months and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him pushing for NHL employment one year from now.
I don't think he's ever going to be a big time offensive performer (his shot is not strong, although should be better than Laddy Smid's) but if ending opposition sorties has high value--and it does--then Musil's game should get him to the show the moment he's ready. The countdown for Oiler fans begins today.
So you are hear to dispel the myth he was only drafted because of his Dad's ties to the organization ?
ReplyDeleteThe more scouting reports we see and stories from Don Hay, it appears this kid comes as advertised. It's good to hear.
I remember in 2010 when Pitlick was supposed to be one of the most NHL ready prospects as well.
ReplyDeleteSo, with Petry, Musil, and Marancin (sp?),would it be safe to say that there are a few good bets for the next 2 to 3 years for the defense?
ReplyDeleteI mean, if at least 2 of these guys can come in and play top 4, then I would say that the system is actually pretty well stocked with d-men. I mean, who am I missing? Klefbom.
I know you've said it many times LT, but this team seems to have something special in the making. It sounds stupid to talk about a last place team being special, but the kids all the way up to age 25 are in abundance.
The key is to not screw it all up with rushing things for some of these guys.
I don't ever recall Pitlick being mentioned as a possible fast track to the NHL. He was destined to play in the WHL on the day he was taken. Redline did say he had an NHL calibre shot before the draft, is that what you remember?
ReplyDeleteMarincin was however mentioned as a guy who might be headed to the AHL. MacGregor said that after the draft.
our issue with D still lies in the lack of a true top 2 all around impact player. Not sure if any of them project to be more then a 2 or 3 on the depth chart.
ReplyDeleteMind you after the last few years of lots of 5 and 6 dmen, i'll take a team of 2 and 3's
As for Petry, Marincin and Musil; an a lesser extent Teubert, we do have some nice pieces for the future on defense.
ReplyDeleteBut defenseman are the hardest to estimate when they'll be ready and toughest to project to the NHL level. 3-4 years ago Alex Plante was the next big thing, and he still hasn't cracked the top 6 on a weak club.
I still think the Oilers will either need draft or trade for their top-pairing defenseman when this team switches from rebuilding to a contender.
Does anyone have a link to the pre-draft comment about Musil being as NHL ready as Landeskog?
ReplyDeleteI don't remember that being said at all.
The only defenseman in last draft I do remember it being said about was Larsson.
Seems even stranger for it to be said about a defensive defenseman who has had skating issues. Think of Coltan Teubert who was drafted with much higher expectations than Musil, and also had a man's body... These guys are not expected to be drawing regular NHL shifts one year after being drafted. Certainly 30 teams would not have passed on him in the first round if that were the case.
There's nothing I see in his game (in the two rookie games I've seen so far and a couple Jr games last year) that leads me to believe he's going racing up the depth chart. The only prospects on D you have ahead of him, LT, are Kelfbom, Petry and Marincin. And he's 8th overall. Who is he going to race past exactly?
Is Musil the anti-Petry?
Rick: MBS hasn't drafted a project like Plante near the first round. The earliest would have been Hesketh, and that was iirc #71 overall.
ReplyDeletespOILer: At this point on the depth chart, I'd suggest Musil is in the mid-teens. I don't think that will be the case for long, however.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes me like Musil is:
ReplyDelete1 - His dad was a top flight hockey player from behind the Iron Curtain.
2 - His dad had the balls to escape that shitty life to achieve something better
3 - I believe the children of immigrants(1st generation) usually grow up with a superior set of values than the locals(entitlement comes to mind straight off the bat)
4 - From all accounts the kid is a beast
hahahahaha
See you all at the JMC!
ReplyDelete@Hunter: David Musil might be the most Canadian Czech to date - born in Calgary, lived in Ottawa, Edmonton, and now on the left coast - but I'm not sure he classifies as the son of an immigrant (admittedly I'm a bit fuzzy on the exact definition of the term). After Dad's playing days were done the family repaired to the Czech Republic where David played his minor hockey right up until he was drafted in the CHL Import Draft. So in a sense he is an immigrant himself, and in another he is a good Canadian boy.
ReplyDeleteIirc Musil was #10 in predraft rankings. Anyone know what happened? Lack of offense?
ReplyDeletePs note to others log in before making comments on mobile browsers. I lose my comment everytime.
Musil has good bloodlines and should be low maintenance unlike say if that lardass Jason Bonsignore had a draft-age son.
ReplyDeleteGet out of my head, Glen Sather!
Lol. Picture this: Keegan Lowe as a free agent after 5 seasons in Carolina.
ReplyDeleteLT: so now you're Trying to get me started?:)
ReplyDelete