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Does Miles Liberati Deserve an ELC?
The
Vancouer Canucks currently have 4 defencemen in their prospect system who have
yet to be signed. Those four skaters are
Nikita Tryamkin, Patrick McNally, Mike Williamson, and Miles Liberati.
Vancouer Canucks currently have 4 defencemen in their prospect system who have
yet to be signed. Those four skaters are
Nikita Tryamkin, Patrick McNally, Mike Williamson, and Miles Liberati.
Tryamkin
will like be signed next summer as he cannot be signed to an NHL contract
while he is signed to a KHL contract.
Patrick McNally is rumoured to be attending Harvard for a fifth year,
and is applying to the NCAA for another year of eligibility on the basis that he sat out a full year. Mike Williamson was drafted as
part of the 2013 Draft Class, as he is an NCAA player having just completed his sophmore years, the Canucks still have 2 more years to sign him.
will like be signed next summer as he cannot be signed to an NHL contract
while he is signed to a KHL contract.
Patrick McNally is rumoured to be attending Harvard for a fifth year,
and is applying to the NCAA for another year of eligibility on the basis that he sat out a full year. Mike Williamson was drafted as
part of the 2013 Draft Class, as he is an NCAA player having just completed his sophmore years, the Canucks still have 2 more years to sign him.
The last
remaining player is Miles Liberati. As a Canadian Hockey League player like Jordan Subban, the Canucks have to make a decision to sign him to an
Entry-Level Contract (ELC) by June 1st, this year, or else he is returned to the draft. Is Liberati worth signing? Let’s take a look at him.
remaining player is Miles Liberati. As a Canadian Hockey League player like Jordan Subban, the Canucks have to make a decision to sign him to an
Entry-Level Contract (ELC) by June 1st, this year, or else he is returned to the draft. Is Liberati worth signing? Let’s take a look at him.
The 2013
draft class continues to look like more and more of a gem for the Vancouver
Canucks, With five of their seven picks
signed (Bo Horvat, Hunter Shinkaruk, Cole Cassels, Jordan Subban and Anton
Cederholm) four of them are looking to have a good opportunity to become NHL
regulars. Miles Liberati is the 6th
member of this class that the Canucks need to make a decision on soon.
draft class continues to look like more and more of a gem for the Vancouver
Canucks, With five of their seven picks
signed (Bo Horvat, Hunter Shinkaruk, Cole Cassels, Jordan Subban and Anton
Cederholm) four of them are looking to have a good opportunity to become NHL
regulars. Miles Liberati is the 6th
member of this class that the Canucks need to make a decision on soon.
History
Liberati
was drafted in the 7th round out of the London Knights, the same
team Bo Horvat came from. Back in
2012-2013 the defence corps of the Knights was stacked with the likes of
players including Olli Maatta and Nikita Zadorov. The Canucks took a chance on a third pairing
guy who had scored just 3 goals and 6 assists in 42 games. As a below-average player in height for
defencemen at 6’0”, the pick wasn’t that exciting. In fact, most fans probably still have never
even heard of Miles Liberati.
was drafted in the 7th round out of the London Knights, the same
team Bo Horvat came from. Back in
2012-2013 the defence corps of the Knights was stacked with the likes of
players including Olli Maatta and Nikita Zadorov. The Canucks took a chance on a third pairing
guy who had scored just 3 goals and 6 assists in 42 games. As a below-average player in height for
defencemen at 6’0”, the pick wasn’t that exciting. In fact, most fans probably still have never
even heard of Miles Liberati.
In his draft+1 year, Liberati didn’t seem to improve much and was traded mid-season to the North
Bay Batallion. In that time he scored 4
points in 22 games with London and then 9 points in 43 games with North Bay.
Bay Batallion. In that time he scored 4
points in 22 games with London and then 9 points in 43 games with North Bay.
This past
season, (draft+2) Liberati’s numbers exploded (relatively) as he scored over 0.56
points/game jumping to 11 goals and 27 points in 67 games. Keep in mind this past year he was a 19
year-old playing against teenagers who are younger than himself. While his point total had increased this year
he still was not a high offensive contributor for North Bay compared to his younger teammates Kyle Locke, Riley Bruce, Kyle Wood and Brendan Miller who had all
performed better than him in various categories.
season, (draft+2) Liberati’s numbers exploded (relatively) as he scored over 0.56
points/game jumping to 11 goals and 27 points in 67 games. Keep in mind this past year he was a 19
year-old playing against teenagers who are younger than himself. While his point total had increased this year
he still was not a high offensive contributor for North Bay compared to his younger teammates Kyle Locke, Riley Bruce, Kyle Wood and Brendan Miller who had all
performed better than him in various categories.
The one facet that shines positively on Liberati is in this past season he was
playing on the top pairing of the second best possession team, and most
successful defensive team, in the Ontario Hockey League.
Given his large ice time, he likely played a role in that success. Liberati also had the 2nd highest
Even-Strength +/- (+13), the highest ES-Goals For % and the highest relative
ES-Goals For% of all players on North Bay. These types of qualities suggest there is defensive value in this player.
playing on the top pairing of the second best possession team, and most
successful defensive team, in the Ontario Hockey League.
Given his large ice time, he likely played a role in that success. Liberati also had the 2nd highest
Even-Strength +/- (+13), the highest ES-Goals For % and the highest relative
ES-Goals For% of all players on North Bay. These types of qualities suggest there is defensive value in this player.
Qualitative
Analysis
Of course
the numbers don’t tell the whole story so I had to go to the scouts to learn
some of the qualitative analysis on Liberati.
the numbers don’t tell the whole story so I had to go to the scouts to learn
some of the qualitative analysis on Liberati.
Corey Pronman summarized him as a great skater with some skill, but not much of a
prospect. His physical game and his
hockey senses are below average according to Pronman. That
does not bode well for him, but other scouts had a different perspective.
prospect. His physical game and his
hockey senses are below average according to Pronman. That
does not bode well for him, but other scouts had a different perspective.
Todd Cordell is an OHL scout based out of Barrie and has seen a lot of Liberati over the past two
years. Cordell praised Liberati for making a good first pass, skating out of trouble when
needed, and being smart with the puck.
Cordell also noted Liberati as someone who doesn’t force anything that is not there; he has seen Liberati’s defensive play grow “leaps and bounds” and has played as a shutdown pair against Sam
Bennett and other top players.
years. Cordell praised Liberati for making a good first pass, skating out of trouble when
needed, and being smart with the puck.
Cordell also noted Liberati as someone who doesn’t force anything that is not there; he has seen Liberati’s defensive play grow “leaps and bounds” and has played as a shutdown pair against Sam
Bennett and other top players.
Cordell
predicts it is unlikely Liberati will ever be a big point guy; but if Liberati makes it to the
NHL, but won’t be a pylon that can’t skate or pass. Cordell still thinks it is unlikely that Liberati will be an NHL regular, but believes Liberati’s had made some progress and seems worthy
of an ELC.
predicts it is unlikely Liberati will ever be a big point guy; but if Liberati makes it to the
NHL, but won’t be a pylon that can’t skate or pass. Cordell still thinks it is unlikely that Liberati will be an NHL regular, but believes Liberati’s had made some progress and seems worthy
of an ELC.
Should He
Be Signed?
We now have
a good picture of what Miles Liberati is in a player. The numbers and the eyes seem to agree that
there might be something there, and whatever is there is likely going to be a
defensive defencemen and at best could play as a reasonable depth role. He doesn’t have a high chance of success but
then again few prospects do.
a good picture of what Miles Liberati is in a player. The numbers and the eyes seem to agree that
there might be something there, and whatever is there is likely going to be a
defensive defencemen and at best could play as a reasonable depth role. He doesn’t have a high chance of success but
then again few prospects do.
Should Liberati
be signed to an ELC? In a vacuum I think
that decision would be worth the price of a contract. He
has some tools, he has the chance to be a depth guy which is not much more than
you can hope from the 205th pick overall.
be signed to an ELC? In a vacuum I think
that decision would be worth the price of a contract. He
has some tools, he has the chance to be a depth guy which is not much more than
you can hope from the 205th pick overall.
Will Liberati be
signed? I have my doubts. I don’t think the current regime thinks that
highly of Liberati which was evident in the fact that Liberati was one of
the first cuts out of camp last year. It
seems that his fate is to go back in the draft and hope another team picks him
up, or to sign an AHL contract in the off-season. Given the number of RFA’s Vancouver needs to sign too, it’s tough to see the Canucks spend one of their 50 contracts on Liberati.
signed? I have my doubts. I don’t think the current regime thinks that
highly of Liberati which was evident in the fact that Liberati was one of
the first cuts out of camp last year. It
seems that his fate is to go back in the draft and hope another team picks him
up, or to sign an AHL contract in the off-season. Given the number of RFA’s Vancouver needs to sign too, it’s tough to see the Canucks spend one of their 50 contracts on Liberati.
This much
we can be sure: he is still better than Mackenze Stewart.
we can be sure: he is still better than Mackenze Stewart.
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