Brendan Guhle Vs. Hershey Bears 4/7/17 (Grade A-)

Like most in Rochester, I was very excited for the highly anticipated arrival of Brendan Guhle. It was unquestionably worth the wait.  Even in a loosing effort, Guhle was the best Amerk on the ice. It’s unbelievable to see such a high hockey IQ in a 19-year-old prospect.  He was rewarded with the 2^nd star of the game. I’m going to rate his performance an A-.

 

Offensively, Guhle was a revelation. Unlike Fedun, he was able to make an impact without skating the puck very often. Instead, he moved extremely well off the puck finding gaps and creating space for others. Early in the first after starting the breakout, he flew up the ice splitting the defense. A quick return pass from Vaive left him wide open in the slot, allowing him to coolly sneak a quick wrister past the goalie on the far post. Guhle also used his effortless speed to generate multiple odd man rushes without shirking his defensive responsibilities. He chose his moments to join the rush well, and was able to quickly recover if a stray pass was made. His decision-making was equally strong when choosing to pinch.  

 

Defensively, Guhle played very well against a strong Hershey team. I was  impressed with his commitment to eliminating passing lanes. Several times in the defensive zone, he kept his stick low to the ice and cut down angles so the only option was a short post shot that Johansson had covered. However, on the power play the quick passing of the Bears proved too much on one occasion. They whipped it around the zone so quickly that Guhle was caught flat-footed on a centering pass and they were able to get a tap in goal. There was one more time that Guhle was stuck on his heels late in a shift, but I attribute that to a massive amount of ice time and his willingness to get forward on the breakout. The only weakness in his game is a lack of physicality. He was so much quicker than everyone else on the ice that he was able to get away with poke checking to strip the puck. However, at the next level he won’t have the same advantage and will need to to be a more complete player. 

 

Because Guhle has been so successful, it almost seems like an afterthought that he will start next year in Buffalo. I still think Brendan needs more time to show he’s strong enough to compete at the next level. He definitely has the speed and IQ to play in the NHL, but I would like to see him spend a half-season in Rochester getting used to playing the physical brand of hockey that will be required of him.

Hudson Fasching vs Binghamton Senators 4/5/17 (Grade B)

Hudson Fasching continued his strong play on Wednesday by netting a goal in the 5-2 victory against the Senators. His work rate was excellent, but after watching him I feel he still has plenty of work to do before he can effectively play at the next level. I am going to rate his performance a B.

 

Offensively, Fasching was able to use his strengths to create chances. He drove the net exceptionally well for the duration of the night. It was that net drive that led to his goal. After Fasching made a nice cut to split defenders, Bailey threaded a fantastic backhand pass to Kennedy who centered it to Hudson for a tap in. He continued to work hard in front of net by setting up screens. His net front presence led to several rebound chances for him but he wasn’t able convert any.

 

His finishing was a weak point Wednesday. He had two dangerous opportunities in the slot that were wasted; the first was a shot wide and the other into the chest of the goalie. More importantly, he seemed outmatched physically. When trying to take on defenders he had a very difficult time getting past them. His hand speed and skills were impressive, but he didn’t play with enough quickness or power to complete his moves. Instead, after getting around his man, Hudson was promptly moved off the puck or beat to it by the next defender. His lack of physicality also led to issues during the breakout. When receiving the puck on the boards to exit the zone, he was knocked off his feet before making an outlet pass on multiple occasions. A player of his size needs to be able to stand his ground in those situations if he has any chance to be successful at the next level.

 

Defensively, Fasching’s work rate was able to make up for his physical struggles. He took very good angles into forechecking scenarios and used his active stick to generate several turnovers in the offensive zone. He also continued his fantastic work on the penalty kill. The partnership he has developed with Grant has been a major factor in Rochester’s success down the stretch. His aggression on the point made it very difficult to find open shooting lanes. Hudson was caught over pursuing once, but that’s been a rare sight this year.

 

Fasching missed a good portion of this year with a serious groin injury, but has been a pivotal cog since he has returned. I’m hoping after a healthy camp he can come back a stronger, faster player next year. If that is the case, I think he has potential to become an NHL front man. If not, he can still be a top player at the AHL level. 

Casey Nelson vs Utica Comets 3/31/2017 (Grade A+)

On Friday night I was absolutely awestruck by the performance of Casey Nelson. His struggles have been well documented this year, and before puck drop I thought there was a chance of handing out my first F. Instead, Nelson put together the best 60 minuets of hockey I have scouted this year, earning my first A+. I had him rated as the best player on the ice Friday, and that included a spectacular 50 save performance from Linus Ullmark.

 

Offensively, Nelson played a phenomenal game in all areas of the ice. When under pressure in the defensive zone, he played conservatively and did not turn the puck over; instead keeping the puck on the boards and getting it to an Amerk stick. On more than a few occasions, that meant taking thunderous checks behind the net, but Nelson was willing to take the blow. However, Casey was even more impressive when given time to lead the breakout, where he was consistently able to regroup behind the net and skate the puck out of the zone with pace.

 

Once in neutral ice Nelson put on a passing clinic. Whether it was a quick direct pass up the wing, or a long cross ice lead pass, he found a Rochester stick, and the puck always got deep in the offensive zone. Unlike earlier in the year, Nelson showed great patience when a clean passing lane was unavailable. Instead of forcing the issue and committing a turnover, he took his time to let plays develop and made good decisions all night. This has been a major weakness in Casey’s game this season, and I was happy to see him making progress.

 

It was in the offensive zone where Nelson was able to sign his name to the night. After making a pass to start the breakout, he made a blazing cut up the center of the ice. He received the puck with so much speed he was able to carry it into the zone and split the defensemen with ease. With time and space, he quickly picked his corner and opened the scoring for the night. His production did not stop there. After a pass cycled around the boards Nelson uncorked a first time slap shot right at the stick of the waiting Nick Baptiste. It fizzed off the ice and right over the glove of the helpless Utica net-minder. He found additional opportunities to put the puck into net traffic for the remainder of the game, and also made two great pinches at the point that led to scoring chances.

 

On the defensive side of the puck, Nelson equaled his offensive output. When defending on the rush, Comet forwards couldn’t get past him. He cut down angles very well, and was able to poke the puck away and clear the zone very effectively. On one occasion he showed magnificent instincts to cover for his less experienced partner. Martin was beat bad on a self-pass off the wall, but before he could even turn around to hang his head, Nelson had anticipated the action and cleared the puck. Though at times Casey has looked very green, he showed impeccable defensive instincts Friday night. He has showed flashes of brilliance in times of crisis,  but has never looked this sharp for 60 minuets.

 

His aptitude for the game also showed in the way he handled his responsibilities in front of goal. Nelson was a consistent physical presence dealing with screening forwards. He was authoritatively able to lift his man’s stick and drive him away from the crease in several situations. On one occasion, while playing man to man, he harassed the 6-2, Brona Rendulic with such ferocity he gave up and left the offensive zone completely in an attempt to regroup. When Nelson was not clearing the net he covered his angles very well in the zone. So much so, that I counted 5 blocked shots from him. The most important aspect of his game was still his ability to quickly recover pucks and clear the zone without turning it over.

 

Nelson has had a very steep learning curve in Rochester. However, he has showed his potential to become an amazing defensemen at this level and the next. Both times I have scouted him, he has shown remarkable defensive instincts in moments of crisis. When he can keep his mental composure for 60 minuets, Casey has the potential to be every bit as good as Fedun, if not better. I am very encouraged to see if he can turn this game into a slingshot for his career and maintain a high level of play.