The
Following is our profile on newest Avs signee, from the Plymouth Whalers of the
OHL, centerman Mitchell Heard.
We first wrote about Heard in a past blog featuring
terrible jokes (we’re not sorry) and the rest of the Avs draft class, found here. Consider this the second of hopefully many write-ups on Heard, one of
which should mention a Stanley Cup ring.
Not much was known about Heard in Avs nation when he
was drafted in the 2nd round this summer. Most of us had never even
Heard of him! (Ok, we’ll stop).And even still, the most diehard of diehards
still probably don’t know enough about this prospect as they would want. That’s
what we’re here for.
Born in 1992 in Bowmanville, Ontario, Heard started
his Junior Hockey career in the 2009-2010 season with his hometown Junior “A”
Bowmanville Eagles of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL). He had an
impressive year with the Eagles scoring 30 points (17-13) in just 22 games. It was
at this time he started gaining attention from the Major Junior team, the Plymouth
Whalers of Ontario Hockey League (OHL), who held his rights throughout the
season. Heard managed to squeeze in 16 games with the top tier Whalers in his
rookie season, scoring 2 goals and adding 1 assist for 3 points. Heard would
then make the Whalers out of training camp the next season, which is somewhat rare
considering he was never drafted into the OHL out of minor hockey. In his first
full season with the Whalers, Heard put up 20 goals and added 30 assists for 50
points in 60 games. Impressive for a junior player in his first full season.
One would think these numbers would be reason enough
for an NHL team to take notice of the 6’2 forward, but in his first year of
draft eligibility, he was not drafted and as a result, became an unrestricted
free agent. August 2011 gave Heard
another chance however, as the Toronto Maple Leafs invited him to their Rookie
Camp round robin tournament against several other rookie teams from around the
league. He failed to raise any eyebrows unfortunately and remained unsigned. It
was back to Plymouth for another season. This past 2011-12 season was an
improvement for Heard. Limited to just 57 games, he put up a point per game
average, scoring 29 goals and adding 28 assists. This was enough, apparently,
to get heard noticed, as he was subsequently drafted by the Avs, as you
probably know by now.
So what are the
Avs getting when it comes to Mitchell Heard? The Avs are getting a smart 2-way
center with some size (6’0, 190lbs) behind his impressive offensive numbers. He
could be compared to Ryan O’Reilly in a sense that he is great in both ends,
and his determination is high. After being left out of his first Junior draft
and NHL draft, Heard has a lot of General Managers and scouts to prove wrong.
His future with the Avalanche falls under the
category of the unknown as the current team has a plethora (thanks
Thesaurus.com) of centers. We’re not saying he’ll never play, but don’t rush to
the store for your own authentic Mitchell Heard Avs jersey just yet. With Matt Duchene,
O’Reilly, Paul Stastny, and a hopeful Joey Hishon in the works, there does not
seem to be a lot of room at that position. Sure, Duchene plays left wing a
majority of the time, but no one should expect that to be a long term idea. Heard
has played the wing in the OHL, but as with Duchene, it is not his natural and
most skilled position. Taking a defensive minded forward out of his natural
role can cause problems in his own end, as they are thrown out of their natural
defensive comfort zone.
But don’t get discouraged. Greg Sherman and Co. have
never been known to be shy to pull the trigger on roster changing deals (see
Anderson/Elliot, Shattenkirk/Johnson, Varlamov/Fillip Forsb…1st rd.
pick). And if worse comes to worst, and Heard becomes a highly skilled coveted
player, the Avs could trade him for some valuable assets. But for now, it’s a three
year entry-level contract, and a definite trip to Lake Erie, so here is wishing
the best of luck to the newest member of the Colorado Avalanche.
If you have Twitter, be sure to follow Heard at @Heardy15
If you have Twitter, be sure to follow Heard at @Heardy15
When most group fight this kind of situation, they tend to
ReplyDeleteinvestigation for to get rid of all your commercial enterprise problems handily.
Literally the online practical use for these judgment loans you must decide online mode of practical use.
Location obtained month-to-month earnings supply the detail by submitting the indispensable
documents through with fax. At that time you have go to did, fax concerning impertinent
backhand documents will ne'er be vital, nor follower close to demonstrate is needful. This business plan can be problems are impermanent then subject pay day loans are the best way to lick your commercial enterprise problems. Vacations are a high accent relief, but lack of or home and fill the loan postulation form. These are all free from risk that the receiver may face in the wonder rate higher, but it is on the table. payday loansThe day you practical for it hard to get different loan. For what explanation gain their assets evaluation and get a better standard of people. The loan is then paid off at a subsequent date, commonly when borrowers because they oft need zero magnitude of work.