These Point-like players can play
Manitobans Jarvis, Robins don't mind comparisons to star Tampa Bay forward
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/10/2020 (1449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It’s the trendy comparison and Seth Jarvis and Tristen Robins are getting used to it.
In fact, most of the tenacious but undersized forward prospects for next week’s NHL Draft probably get the treatment: Could (insert name here) be the next Brayden Point?
“Yeah, I get that a lot,” says Jarvis, the 18-year-old Winnipegger who tore up the WHL with a sensational post-Christmas burst last season. “That’s who I compare myself to. I think with the success he had in the playoffs and what he’s done, he’s only helped people and their view of me…
“He’s someone that I look up to and I think a lot a lot of smaller players should look up to him, just the way he plays the game, the way he’s always able to dominate like that at his size.”
Point, a major figure in Tampa Bay’s recent run to a Stanley Cup title, wasn’t always a can’t-miss prospect.
Chosen in the third round of the 2014 draft, the 5-11, 166-pounder’s rise to stardom has helped to change the perception of how the game should be played and by whom.
It’s also paved the way for those who follow in his footsteps and Jarvis, a 5-10, 175-pound right-winger, and Robins, a 5-11 1/2, 184-pound centre from Clear Lake, are members of the club.
Jarvis, a sure-fire first-round pick who plays with the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, and Robins, who went from a fourth-line role as a rookie to the become the leading scorer of the Saskatoon Blades in 2019-20, has been pegged as a third-round prospect but has been trending higher on recent draft boards.
While both are among the best prospects available and likely the first two Manitoba-born players to drafted, they also have a shared history. In 2017-18, they were linemates with Winnipeg’s Rink Hockey Academy midget prep team.
No defence was safe when the dynamic duo was on the ice. Jarvis led the club in scoring with 35 goals and 65 points in 37 games while Robins chipped in with 20 goals and 60 points in 36 games.
“We kinda had chemistry right from the jump,” says the right-handed Jarvis, who played on Robins’ left side that season. “He was obviously a great passer and has great vision. I was he able to kind of finish off those passes and I think that we kind of went hand in hand and had a really successful year.”
The adjustment to playing his off wing was troublesome only at the start.
“Once you get the hang of it, it became something I’m super comfortable with,” says Jarvis. “I can see its value in my game now, just being able to make tougher plays under pressure with my backhand.”
Jarvis’ dexterity with his backhand and his ability to exploit a defence with his speed off the rush was a lasting memory for Rob Smith, the Rink’s midget prep coach.
“I will say he’s probably one of the better players I’ve seen at this level with his edge work,” says Smith. “The speed that he creates out of not skating, not striding is awesome. He beat so many guys just using his edges — it was incredible.”
Robins’ skillset was different but made him similarly difficult to track.
“We had him on the wing to start but very quickly put him in the middle,” says Smith. “Because when you get the puck in the middle, he can fly No. 1, but he also distributed the puck to the left or the right very well. And so you just find yourself getting out of the zone very easily.”
Robins says he has no position preference, admitting he’s better in the middle. But where does that put Jarvis? Could his versatility become a curse?
Portland head coach Mike Johnston experimented with Jarvis as a centre during his rookie season but eventually moved him to right wing in 2019-20, a tactic that became wildly successful for the counter-attacking Winterhawks.
During the pandemic-extended lull, where Jarvis fits best has been a favourite question in pre-draft calls with NHL teams. Does he believe he’s a centre?
“I think they just want to see where my head’s at in terms of what position I need to play to be successful,” says Jarvis. “But my answer never changes. I just say I’m a forward. I can play — whether it’s right wing, left wing, centre — whatever they kind of need. I’m comfortable in any kind of position.”
Robins, who turns 19 on Nov. 15 and by virtue of a late birthday is draft eligible for the first time, a slower development arc meant less attention as a younger prospect.
A breakout sophomore season with the Blades has changed all of that.
“I wasn’t given a whole lot opportunity when I was 17,” says Robins. “I was playing fourth-line minutes, less than 10 minutes a game. And I didn’t get a whole lot of room to kind of show what I could do. Didn’t get any power play or penalty-killing time.
“I think the more opportunity that I got this year opened up a lot more room, not only for development, but just so that I could show what I could do.”
Early in their development, the one-time linemates were on a different paths. Jarvis’ father Raymond, the founder of the football program at Dakota Collegiate, had no formal hockey training while Robins’ father Trevor was a two-time all-star goaltender in the WHL who went on to a lengthy pro career in North America and Europe.
Trevor served as Tristan’s coach through minor hockey until his 14-year-old season.
“You don’t think about it when you’re playing with a goalie or against a goalie but I guess they kind of see everything (unfold) in front of their eyes,” says Tristen. “That’s probably why my dad was such a good coach for me when I was younger and I think that’s why he knows so much about the game. Not only did he live it but he also studied and watched it.”
mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @sawa14
Mike Sawatzky
Reporter
Mike has been working on the Free Press sports desk since 2003.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Just the facts
Seth Jarvis, RW
Current team: Portland Winterhawks, WHL
Hometown: Winnipeg
NHL Central Scouting rank: 11th among North American skaters
Prospect watch: will be the highest Manitoban drafted since Nolan Patrick went No. 2 overall to the Philadelphia Flyers and Cody Glass went No. 6 to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017.
Draft talk: “He’s No. 7 on our list and it’s for good reason,” says Mark Edwards, founder and director of scouting for HockeyProspect.com. “He might even end up being on the wing in the NHL, I’m not predicting it one way or the other. We were prepared for maybe how that works out and we’re fine with it because he’s going to be a line driver from the wing, if that happens. He’s a guy who affects play a lot, just incredible tenacity. He’s the energizer. We watched games where he really took over and made a huge impact. He’s a smart player. He’s impressive the way he went to the net. He could play-make and make guys better but he also took the puck to the net and scored from the inside, and the way goaltenders are today you’ve gotta be able to get to the inside and score… I think he’s going to go higher than some people think.”
Tristen Robins, C-RW
Current team: Saskatoon Blades, WHL
Hometown: Clear Lake
NHL Central Scouting rank: 86th among NA skaters
Prospect watch: almost tripled his point production from his rookie season in the WHL after a late birthday pushed him into 2020 draft class.
Draft talk: “(Brayden) Point comparisons as potential third-round steal but could be big riser based on those similarities,” says Larry Fisher, WHL scout for FC Hockey and head scout/senior writer for The Hockey Writers. “Surprising first-rounder? Unlikely, but never say never. Second round/top 50 starting to sound more likely (he is gaining momentum) but should be taken in top 100 regardless.”
Braden Schneider, RD
Current team: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Hometown: Prince Albert, Sask.
NHL Central Scouting rank: ninth among NA skaters
Prospect watch: showed a growing confidence in his offensive game in 2019-20 but he is a feared defender with a nasty edge. Makes life miserable for opposing forwards. As a pro, would be a ideal partner for a high-end, point-producing first-pairing blue-liner.
Draft talk: “He’s got a high floor,” says Fisher. “You know he’s going to be Travis Hamonic at worst and at best, he might be Colton Parayko. Some people have even said Shea Weber potential. I see him more (as) Parayko.”
Ridly Greig, LW/C
Current team: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alta.
NHL Central Scouting rank: 14th among NA skaters
Prospect watch: another steady riser in the draft rankings (up nine slots from mid-season), Greig has superb bloodlines (dad Mark and uncle Bruce were both NHLers) and an abrasive side to his game scouts love.
Draft talk: “A lot of people are giving him the poor man’s Jonathan Toews comparison,” says Fisher. “He’s a two-way force.”
Daemon Hunt, LD
Current team: Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL
Hometown: Brandon
NHL Central Scouting rank: 25th among NA skaters
Prospect watch: suffered an awful injury when a skate blade badly damaged his right arm and probably torpedoed his hopes of being chosen in the first round. Returned to the Moose Jaw lineup late in the season
Draft talk: “Wild card due to freak injury absence and bad team,” says Fisher. “Could go 30-100 basically. I assume some team reaches for him with his upside in the 50-75 range.”
Connor McClennon, RW
Current team: Winnipeg Ice, WHL
Hometown: Wainwright, Alta.
NHL Central Scouting rank: 65th among NA skaters
Prospect watch: high-energy scorer but at 5-8, 157 pounds, it may be difficult to project his pro potential. Was one of the hottest shooters in the WHL when an injury ended his season.
Draft talk: “Had hot hand until broken collarbone, out of sight out of mind for a long time, hard to say where he goes,” says Fisher. “Size hurts him, too. McClennon should go in the top 100 (top three rounds) but could be anywhere from 50th to 125th realistically. Big range of possibilities. Some team could see (Jordan) Eberle upside and reach for him but many could pass him over repeatedly.”
Owen Pederson, C/LW
Hometown: Stony Plain, Alta.
Current team: Winnipeg Ice, WHL
NHL Central Scouting rank: 103rd among NA skaters
Prospect watch: working hard to improve his skating but the big man displays uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time. Promoted to the top line after McClennon’s injury and showed he belonged.
Draft talk: “Big forward who got the Peyton Krebs bump when McClennon went down, plays to his strengths but no real standout skills,” says Fisher. “Another 50-50 guy as a fourth- to seventh-round option outside the top 100, but there are always surprises in the draft (Carsen Twarynski was a third-rounder/82nd overall in 2016 as somewhat similar player but better shooter IMO). Some teams will like Pederson, others not so much.”
Ben Zloty, LD
Current team: Winnipeg Ice, WHL
Hometown: Calgary
NHL Central Scouting rank: 139th among NA skaters
Prospect watch: made a nice transition to the major-junior ranks with 27 points in 54 games and became an integral member of the Ice.
Draft talk: “Undersized modern-day D. Don’t want to call him dime a dozen but lots of these players available every year (Dawson Davidson a good WHL comparable who went undrafted),” says Fisher. “I like Zloty and think he’ll continue to trend up in WHL but not sure on his NHL upside. Again, some teams will like him as an option in those later rounds outside the top 100 but probably less likely to get drafted (30 to 70 range perhaps).”
Ben McCartney, LW
Current team: Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL
Hometown: Macdonald
NHL Central Scouting rank: 153rd among NA skaters
Prospect watch: strong competitive streak, a high-energy player and a little underrated for his skill. Undrafted in first year of eligibility but became a point-a-game WHLer in 2019-20. Projects as a bottom-six forward as a pro.
Draft talk: “Overager but projectable pro and lots to like in his game,” says Fisher. “Overagers go later, so rounds four to seven, outside the top 100, if at all. Overagers and goaltenders are the hardest to predict. I’d say 50-50 he gets drafted, maybe even 40-60 that he doesn’t.”
Carter Loney, C
Current team: Salmon Arm, BCHL
Hometown: Winnipeg
NHL Central Scouting rank: 167th among NA skaters
Prospect watch: University of Minnesota Duluth commit moved to a higher level of competition in the BCHL during the off-season. Coming off an outstanding campaign with the Steinbach Pistons where he registered 50 points in 52 games and earned MJHL rookie of the year honours. Only 5-9, 161 pounds, Loney is an explosive skater who rose 31 places from 198th in the Central Scouting rankings.
Draft talk: “His desire to improve, to be a hockey player is at another level,” says Pistons head coach/GM Paul Dyck. “It’s not necessarily an attribute every player has… He’s not going to be a one-dimensional player (as a pro). He can have a backup game if he’s not producing. He’s extremely strong. He’s got tremendous edges. His balance is excellent. He goes in against players 30, 40 pounds heavier willingly and comes out with the puck.”
— Mike Sawatzky, with files from Jason Bell
Mike Sawatzky
Reporter
Mike has been working on the Free Press sports desk since 2003.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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History
Updated on Friday, October 2, 2020 10:07 PM CDT: Fixes typo.
