Lincolns Coreau Far Better than Stats Indicate

If one were to only look at Lincoln Star goaltender Jared Coreau's stats after the quarter post of the 2009-10 USHL season, he or she would probably be apt to write him off from draft consideration. After all, how many goaltenders are selected from the USHL each draft? Usually only one, maybe two. Sometimes none. So, would a goaltender with a 5-8-0 record, a 3.27 goals-against average, and a .880 save percentage appear to be a probable pick for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft? No, not usually.

But Coreau isn't usual, he's phenomenal, and his statistics are less a reflection of him and more a reflection of the underperformance of his teammates in front of him, as well as some incredibly bad Lincoln Stars luck in terms of bounces and calls. Coreau's behind the vast majority of the other starting goaltenders in the USHL statistically, but if any USHL goaltender has an NHL future, it's the 6-foot-5 Coreau, whose mix of size, technical game, athleticism, and poise is very rare.

McKeen's correspondent Kevin Wey had the opportunity to catch the Lincoln Stars in action once in late October and once in early November and enters notes on Jared Coreau and a number of other Lincoln players eligible for the 2010 Draft, as well as one 2011 prospect who really shines.

Jared Coreau (2010), G, Lincoln

Appeared a tad slow in lateral pad slides at Fall Classic, but that is not the case anymore .. crease movements are now very quick, particularly for a 6-foot-5, 200-pound goalie .. able to load up and get to the opposite post fairly quickly .. makes composed pad slides and does a good job staying square to the shooter when doing so .. able to go down into the butterfly extremely fast, as in Miikka-Kiprusoff-challenge-the-laws-of-physics fast .. does still drop a bit early from time to time .. also ends up turned around and facing the wrong direction now and again in scrambles around the net on occasion .. exceptional extension on his kick saves helps him make some huge saves .. does a good job of keeping his torso upright on his kick saves .. generally stays calm in his net, but did show a little aggressiveness in roughing up opponents who got too close, but not losing his cool doing so .. stays calm on breakaway chances .. does a good job of directing blocker saves into the corner .. has a quick glove and makes crisp glove saves .. does a good job of tracking the puck and staying square .. don't let the stats deceive, Coreau is a highly talented goaltending prospect .. comparable to Pekka Rinne in many aspects .. regardless of stats, he should not go later than the fourth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, and that'll go up quickly if his stats do .. committed to Northern Michigan .. as of Nov. 15 had played 7:33:32 over 13 games, had a 5-8-0 record, 1 shutout, a 3.27 G.AA, and a .880 save percentage.

John McCarron (2010), RW, Lincoln

Checking-line winger needs to work on speed and hands .. 6-foot-3, 215-pounder has only average speed and acceleration with the puck, giving him little separation .. needs to improve ability to receive a hard pass .. does make fairly crisp passes .. has a decent wristshot and slapshot .. puts in a good effort down low to play a physical game and create turnovers .. also plays the body in the defensive zone and on the backcheck .. will come across a zone to make a hit from time to time .. also willing to drop the gloves .. has the size and plays a fairly physical game, but will probably need to put up better numbers to earn selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft .. no college commitment of yet .. as of Nov. 15, he had 3 goals and 2 assists in 15 games, as well as 37 penalty minutes.

David Gerths (2010), RW, Lincoln

Limited viewing, as he was with Team USA for the early November viewing, but he is not getting it done for Lincoln .. despite every shot in his arsenal being hard, he appears to lack finishing ability .. has good speed, displays all the necessary stick skills, plays a two-way game with a physical edge, that's all well-established .. Gerths must score more goals to help Lincoln win games and if he is to have any chance of selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, his second and final year of draft eligibility .. on pace for 5 goals for the season, which is a fourth or fifth of what is needed and expected .. committed to Notre Dame .. scored 2 goal and 2 assists in 4 games at the 2009 World Junior A Challenge .. as of Nov. 15, he had scored 1 goal and 7 assists in 11 games for Lincoln.

Ryan Dzingel (2010), C/RW, Lincoln

Looks like Lincoln is going to try to get Dzingel in for at least 10 games for a split season, and he'd look great as a full-time Star .. has nice cruising speed with the puck .. has very good speed and very good stride extension racing for loose pucks .. does a good job of staying open to the play and ready to receive a pass .. has a crisp wristshot .. a conscientious backchecker who uses his speed to strip opponents of the puck .. managed to catch Dzingel for two of his three regular-season games so far, and he was reminiscent of the ECHLer that really wants it, shows up and outshines the guys who have been on the AHL team all year .. a long shot for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at this point, but if he heats up in midgets and continues to impress in USHL action, his stock will move up to a legitimate possibility .. committed to Ohio State .. as of Nov. 15, he had 1 goal and 1 assist in 3 games for Lincoln .. as of Nov. 16, he had 10 goals and 13 assists in 21 games of Tier 1 Elite Hockey League play.

Dan Weissenhofer (2010), D, Lincoln

Forced me to take notes on him after not taking notes on him at the Fall Classic .. gets down low backwards, keeps his eyes on the opponent's chest, and maintains a short gap .. able to angle opponents toward the boards .. able to eliminate his man in the corner .. has decent size at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds .. has a fairly powerful stride with good knee bend .. makes crisp outlet passes and crisp transitional passes to his d-partner .. showing a little offensive awareness in being able to disguise intentions with the puck now and again .. able to make hard, crisp clears out of his defensive zone .. appears to be adapting well to the USHL game and has the makings of developing into a good defensive defenseman that moves the puck reliably and capably .. still a long shot for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, his second year of eligibility, but he's now on the radar .. no college commitment of yet .. as of Nov. 15, he had 2 assists in 12 games.

Garrett Peterson (2010), C, Lincoln

Major disappointment this season .. displayed all the tools in the preseason to be a point-per-game player, but has barely scored a point .. limited viewing, as he was suspended for the early November viewing .. still displays the cruising speed with the puck, the hard, crisp wristshot, the hard accurate passes, and the physical game, but Lincoln needs him to contribute a lot more offensively .. has all the tools to be a standout two-way hockey player, but just can't seem to put up the points .. an extreme long shot for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at this point, but still time to turn it around .. committed to Notre Dame .. as of Nov. 15, he had 1 goal in 13 games.

Dax Lauwers (2010), D, Lincoln

A depth defenseman for Lincoln who receives limited icetime .. is making too many gaffs with the puck, such as flubbing and fanning on attempts to wrap it up the boards .. needs to commit to his decisions, such as committing fully to go for a loose puck or to start moving backwards .. will pinch in from the point for the occasional hit on the opponent's breakout .. makes crisp, accurate passes, just like he did at the Fall Classic .. an extreme long shot to be selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, as 2009-10 is definitely setting up to be a transition year to regular icetime next season .. no college commitment of yet .. as of Nov. 15 he had 1 assist in 13 games.

Tucker Brockett (2010), C, Lincoln

One of Lincoln's few forwards making any offensive impact .. offensive awareness is his strength .. does a good job to take a look before getting to the puck in short, quick races, thus is more aware of his options .. shows some hustle and speed bursts going for loose pucks, but isn't speedy for his size (5-foot-8, 170 pounds) .. able to make some nice feeds to teammates through traffic .. does need to make sure to stop at the net and not circle away so as to keep himself an option to receive and bury centering passes .. an extreme long shot for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft due to lack of size and underwhelming speed for his size, but is off to a decent start to his USHL career .. committed to Princeton .. as of Nov. 15 he had 4 goals and 6 assists in 15 games, third in Lincoln scoring.

Dominik Shine (2011), C, Lincoln

Living up to his name, one of the few bright spots for Lincoln in terms of results .. able to build decent speed with the puck, but only adequate by USHL standards .. able to undress opposing defensemen with sweeping stickhandling once he gains control, but struggles initially to control pucks and has to look down at his stick .. does a good job staying open to his defensemen for the breakout pass and presents a target .. defensive effort creates a lot of his opportunities .. puts in a good effort on the forecheck and intercepts some passes .. finishes his checks on the forecheck, some with only adequate force, but some with significant force .. can line up opponents for open-ice hits, too .. also a threat on the backcheck .. willing to do "the hard" in front of the net for rebound chances .. does a lot of the little things that add up to success .. setting himself up for a fine draft year in 2010-11, as he'll continue to adapt to the quickness of the USHL and improve his speed this year and next summer .. no college commitment of yet .. as of Nov. 15 had 4 goals and 7 assists in 14 games, leading Lincoln in scoring with 11 points.

Other Notes

McKeen's took notes on Lincoln left-winger Kyle Gibbons at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic, but only lodged a couple notes on him at the late October viewing and he was suspended for the early November viewing. As of Nov. 15, Gibbons had 3 goals and 1 assist in 12 games.

The Stars activated right-winger Brent Tate off of the IR on Nov. 4 and McKeen's was able to see him shortly thereafter. He received very limited ice time in that viewing, but McKeen's expects him to play a physical game in a fourth-line role for the Stars. As of Nov. 15, he had no points in 3 games.

On the transactions front, Lincoln traded defenseman James McNulty (whom McKeen's took notes on at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic) to the Okotoks Oilers of the Alberta Junior Hockey League on Oct. 27. At the time of the trade, McNulty had only played in two games for the Stars and had no points.

Lincoln also traded back-up goaltender Steve Racine to the Waterloo Black Hawks on Nov. 6. The Black Hawks, who were struggling in goal and needed an upgrade, were able to get Racine added into a trade that saw 1989-born Jimmy Siers trade to Waterloo as well. The Stars were forced to trade the hard-working when they decided to add 1989-born Puskar to a roster short on offense, as Puskar had scored 9 goals and 15 assists in 20 games with the Burnaby Express of the BCHL (and no points in 1 game for the Quesnel Millionaires after being traded there just before re-signing with Lincoln), but the team was already at its limit of four 1989s. Racine had an unimpressive 4.30 G.AA and .863 save percentage in 97:43 over 2 games prior to his trade to Waterloo, but McKeen's expects him to be the starter for the Black Hawks, shore up their situation in net, and flash the solid skills he showed at the 2009 USHL Fall Classic.