Ekblad 3YP

[quantaloup]

Hey guys!

How do you see Ekblad's 3 years projection? Fantasy-wise, do you see him flirting with Josi-like value? How soon? Considering +- and, to a lesser extent, hits, but mostly points, goals and PPpoints.

[finminer]

Ekblad's stats in his two seasons have been pretty steady. Maybe one more at this level, then he kicks it up in his 4th year. I could see high 40's, even 50 later on, but a lot will depend on who he gets paired with and how the offense is run. The guys that have the best offensive results are often paired with a defensive stopper - they can join the rush while the stopper hangs back. If Campbell is gone, who complements Ekblad the best? Matheson is another offensive d-man; I've seen him play, and he looks like an extra forward out there. Maybe McCoshen when he turns pro in another year or two? Petrovic? Kulikov? Talent to be sure, but a lot of uncertainty in his situation.

[STONE.]

I'm most worried he becomes the steady guy and they pair him with the puck mover that rakes in the points.
I own him and love it, but think there's a chance he becomes the Pietrangelo to somebody else's Shattenkirk.
Not that Pietrangelo doesn't have value....

[Eskimo Brother]

I'm most worried he becomes the steady guy and they pair him with the puck mover that rakes in the points.
I own him and love it, but think there's a chance he becomes the Pietrangelo to somebody else's Shattenkirk.
Not that Pietrangelo doesn't have value....

I could definitely see a Pietrangelo type outlook for him a few years down the line.

[ericdaoust]

Even Shea Weber had inconsistencies on offense early in his career as he tried to figure out his role. Ekblad has high potential but also a wide margin of realistic projections. He could fall anywhere from 30 to 50.

[Goldendelicious]

Ekblad is 20 years old and already producing close to the 40 point mark when most defensemen are 3-4 years away from being relevant NHLers. I non-points only leagues I think he'll be absolute stud defenceman. Pointswise, I would peg him as a 50-55 point player with upside to potentially reach 65.

[ericdaoust]

I have some concerns in multi-cat as well.

GP: 159
PIM: 73
HIT: 196
BLK: 139

Not exactly eye-popping. Of course this could change as he evolves but there is reason for concern.

[FinnishFlash]

I have some concerns in multi-cat as well.

GP: 159
PIM: 73
HIT: 196
BLK: 139

Not exactly eye-popping. Of course this could change as he evolves but there is reason for concern.

I've had the same concerns. No doubt that in the NHL, he's a top tier talent (or at least has the potential to be). But I find that he's pretty overrated in multi-cat.

[Goldendelicious]

I have some concerns in multi-cat as well.

GP: 159
PIM: 73
HIT: 196
BLK: 139

Not exactly eye-popping. Of course this could change as he evolves but there is reason for concern.

I agree, not eye-popping but I think you have to take into account the age here as well and he is far from developed. Not to directly compare the 3 but because they have been mentioned:
Pietrangelo
(first 4 seasons starting at age 19, but only played 17 in his first two combined)
GP: 177
PIM: 63
HIT: 154 (90 in one season looks to be an outlier)
BLK: 263

Weber
(First 3 seasons, started playing at age 20, partly due to lockout)
GP: 161
PIM: 151
HIT: 115* Don't have hit data for his first two seasons...would estimate the total to be ~300
BLK: 44* Don't have block data for first two season...would estimate the total to be ~128

Now that being said Weber is a much more physical defenseman than Ekblad (true back to junior) and Pietrangelo. The three look quite equivalent from a points perspective (so my 65 upside is a bit ambitious) but Ekblad doesn't have the Hit/Pim pedigree of Weber or the BLK pedigree of Pietrangelo but I would say he's going to supply the multicats pretty well. Year 3 is always a big telling point so it will be interesting to see how his stats improve (or hopefully not, regress) over the course of next season.

[Ianclark5525]

I have some concerns in multi-cat as well.

GP: 159
PIM: 73
HIT: 196
BLK: 139

Not exactly eye-popping. Of course this could change as he evolves but there is reason for concern.

I was looking at buying him.this offseason and making him my 3rd defenceman. But I'm not sure what it will cost. But yeah I was a suprised I thought his multi cat numbers would be better