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Are Patrick McNally and Joe LaBate Worth Keeping in the Organization?
While Mike Mike Gillis is often criticized for experimenting with drafting thanks to his idea
of spending late round picks on over-agers (an idea that works in baseball), but he
does not get enough credit for the things he did well. This is largely a result that draft picks
take a while to truly show if they are good value or not.
One
strategy that Gillis liked was to draft college bound kids in the mid to late
rounds, as it would give them more time to develop.
of spending late round picks on over-agers (an idea that works in baseball), but he
does not get enough credit for the things he did well. This is largely a result that draft picks
take a while to truly show if they are good value or not.
One
strategy that Gillis liked was to draft college bound kids in the mid to late
rounds, as it would give them more time to develop.
This idea seemed to work by finding Ben
Hutton out of Maine, but it also might have
worked on another two players, though time will still tell. Those two players are Joseph LaBate and
Patrick McNally – two players the Canucks need to sign this summer if they hope to retain their rights.
Hutton out of Maine, but it also might have
worked on another two players, though time will still tell. Those two players are Joseph LaBate and
Patrick McNally – two players the Canucks need to sign this summer if they hope to retain their rights.
But are these two players worth keeping in the organization? Let’s take a look after the jump.
Patrick
McNally
Patrick McNally
has definitely had an interesting career that has almost caused people write him
off a few times already. McNally has been
playing at Harvard for the last four years and is about to finish off his
Senior year.
has definitely had an interesting career that has almost caused people write him
off a few times already. McNally has been
playing at Harvard for the last four years and is about to finish off his
Senior year.
McNally was
drafted in 2011, the first Canucks pick that year, which turned out to be the
115th pick overall in the 4th round. McNally was playing in US High School where he put
up 1.25 points per game as a 16 year old, followed up by 1.82 points / game in
his draft year – and remember, he is a defencemen.
drafted in 2011, the first Canucks pick that year, which turned out to be the
115th pick overall in the 4th round. McNally was playing in US High School where he put
up 1.25 points per game as a 16 year old, followed up by 1.82 points / game in
his draft year – and remember, he is a defencemen.
His first
year at Harvard, McNally scored 6 goals and 22 assists in 34 games off of 57
shots. 1.67 shots a game, 0.82 points a
game and a 10.5% shooting percentage. That year, as a 19 year old, McNally was 4th on the team in scoring and 2nd
among Harvard defencemen, behind only Danny Biega.
year at Harvard, McNally scored 6 goals and 22 assists in 34 games off of 57
shots. 1.67 shots a game, 0.82 points a
game and a 10.5% shooting percentage. That year, as a 19 year old, McNally was 4th on the team in scoring and 2nd
among Harvard defencemen, behind only Danny Biega.
His
sophomore year was cut short after only 7 games, 1 goal, and 2 assists, as he
was involved in the Harvard Cheating Scandal. He was barred from playing for the rest of the year, and questions about his development arose as it would be difficult for him to miss a year while training on his own and stay on track.
When he returned to play last season and was held to a mere 1 goal and 7
assists in 20 games (0.6 points/game) most had written him off. He did improve to 1.8 shots/game, but had a
2.78% shooting percentage though.
sophomore year was cut short after only 7 games, 1 goal, and 2 assists, as he
was involved in the Harvard Cheating Scandal. He was barred from playing for the rest of the year, and questions about his development arose as it would be difficult for him to miss a year while training on his own and stay on track.
When he returned to play last season and was held to a mere 1 goal and 7
assists in 20 games (0.6 points/game) most had written him off. He did improve to 1.8 shots/game, but had a
2.78% shooting percentage though.
This season,
McNally has been a very strong force playing on the top pairing for the
Crimson. With 21 points in 20 games, he
is scoring more than most forwards. He
even came back from a massive knee injury, that originally was projected to hold him out for the season, and continued his scoring streak. He has 2.4 shots a game this season (close to Ben Hutton’s numbers) but saw a high shooting percentage of 12.5% too. He was Harvard’s top scoring defencemen, and the 5th highest scorer on a very deep team.
McNally has been a very strong force playing on the top pairing for the
Crimson. With 21 points in 20 games, he
is scoring more than most forwards. He
even came back from a massive knee injury, that originally was projected to hold him out for the season, and continued his scoring streak. He has 2.4 shots a game this season (close to Ben Hutton’s numbers) but saw a high shooting percentage of 12.5% too. He was Harvard’s top scoring defencemen, and the 5th highest scorer on a very deep team.
Earlier
accounts suggested that McNally was considering a 5th year of school
given he still had eligibility after sitting out for a full year. More recent reports from McNally himself says
he is not focusing on signing with the Canucks until after his season is over. Jason Botchford is under the impression that the Canucks are
interested in signing him, so McNally is likely a Justin Schultz situation, where he can become an unrestricted free agent if he is not signed by August 15th.
accounts suggested that McNally was considering a 5th year of school
given he still had eligibility after sitting out for a full year. More recent reports from McNally himself says
he is not focusing on signing with the Canucks until after his season is over. Jason Botchford is under the impression that the Canucks are
interested in signing him, so McNally is likely a Justin Schultz situation, where he can become an unrestricted free agent if he is not signed by August 15th.
Should the
Canucks sign him? I think from an asset
management standpoint they should try – he’s likely better than other defensive prospects they
have signed (Cederholm), and he has a history of success in the lower leagues
and as a freshman.
Canucks sign him? I think from an asset
management standpoint they should try – he’s likely better than other defensive prospects they
have signed (Cederholm), and he has a history of success in the lower leagues
and as a freshman.
But then
again, McNally’s production could be a mirage as he’s been susceptible to high shooting percentages
in all of his small sample sized seasons.
He is also older than most NCAA players, currently at 23 years old –
but then again most people had written off Ronalds Kenins before this season
started for being too old as well.
again, McNally’s production could be a mirage as he’s been susceptible to high shooting percentages
in all of his small sample sized seasons.
He is also older than most NCAA players, currently at 23 years old –
but then again most people had written off Ronalds Kenins before this season
started for being too old as well.
Joseph
LaBate
Joseph
LaBate is another NCAA players the media surrounding the Canucks seems to have forgotten
about. He is finished his Senior year,
and with Wisconsin not earning a berth into the NCAA final he is officially
finished his season. The Canucks have
until August 15th to sign him or he is also eligible to walk away as
a UFA.
LaBate is another NCAA players the media surrounding the Canucks seems to have forgotten
about. He is finished his Senior year,
and with Wisconsin not earning a berth into the NCAA final he is officially
finished his season. The Canucks have
until August 15th to sign him or he is also eligible to walk away as
a UFA.
LaBate has
a similar background as McNally. He was
drafted out of US High School where he scored around 2 points per game both as a 16 and
17 year old.
a similar background as McNally. He was
drafted out of US High School where he scored around 2 points per game both as a 16 and
17 year old.
He played
all four years at Wisconsin without missing any significant time away. His scoring numbers, never raising much
higher than a half point a game, have never been that impressive at first
glance, until you realize that Wisconsin
has not been a high scoring team during his tenure there. LaBate has been in the top 5 scoring on his
team all four years. Even this season with
LaBate having scored just 18 points in 35 games, he is 2nd on his team in
scoring.
all four years at Wisconsin without missing any significant time away. His scoring numbers, never raising much
higher than a half point a game, have never been that impressive at first
glance, until you realize that Wisconsin
has not been a high scoring team during his tenure there. LaBate has been in the top 5 scoring on his
team all four years. Even this season with
LaBate having scored just 18 points in 35 games, he is 2nd on his team in
scoring.
There may
be some talent within LaBate and from my perspective he is worth signing. He also has age working for him as he is
still only 21 years old and has a few more years of development and growth
until he hits his peak.
be some talent within LaBate and from my perspective he is worth signing. He also has age working for him as he is
still only 21 years old and has a few more years of development and growth
until he hits his peak.
Conclusion
All in all,
these two players may still have something in them that would allow them to be NHL
players. They are both definitely better
than others prospects in the pipeline and it would serve Vancouver management well to protect their assets by trying their best to sign these players. We still have a few months until the players
can walk away and take their talents to another team, so for now all we can do
is watch.
these two players may still have something in them that would allow them to be NHL
players. They are both definitely better
than others prospects in the pipeline and it would serve Vancouver management well to protect their assets by trying their best to sign these players. We still have a few months until the players
can walk away and take their talents to another team, so for now all we can do
is watch.
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