NHL Scouts’ Quotes – Grieg/Neighbours
April 24, 2020
By Grant McCagg
Ridly Grieg – C Brandon WHL 2002-08-08 5-11.25 163
2019-20 Stats – Shoots Left
NHL scout February 2020 – He’s really competitive, he’s mean actually, he’s a hunter out there. He can make plays, he can shoot. He just needs to get stronger. He’s not mature at all physically. He may only be a third-line guy, but he brings a couple of other parts to his game that other guys can’t. Slightly ahead of Neighbours. He plays so hard that you wonder can he stay healthy. Fabbri played pretty hard, and couldn’t stay healthy in St. Louis. The difference in the two is that Greig doesn’t put himself in vulnerable positions nearly as often as Fabbri. A Konecny comparable for me too, similar to him in character/compete.
NHL scout April 2020 – A hard, two-way, smart player. He can make plays, he can play in all situations. He’s very slight, needs to get bigger. You’re hoping that the body matures…but he’s a younger guy. He’s a hitter instead of a hittee…he doesn’t put himelf in vulnerable positions to get hit and possibly hurt, which is good. He may end up on the wing higher up in your lineup, he may be a second-line winger, or even a first if you are looking to add some energy/grit to your top unit. He plays a lot, his coach loves him.
NHL scout April 2020 – I love Grieg; he’s only scratching the surface. He has more growth potential than (Dawson) Mercer; with Mercer what you see is what you’re gonna get, but Greig is still only 17, and we could see another growth spurt and level to his game when he’s 15 or 20 pounds heavier. You could even say the same about Neighbours; there is more room for growth with Greig.
Recrutes April 2020 – There aren’t any real flaws in his game. You like the way he battles, the way he skates, the way he thinks the game, and his puck skills. Imagine if the junior season doesn’t get going until November…how much muscle could he add with nine months of uninterrupted weight training? No combine, no draft weekend in Montreal, no development camps, no junior camps, no September training camps..nine straight months of training if he has the facilites and the desire. Considering that his dad is a former NHLer, odds are pretty good that his house has a good gym setup, and he has a good mentor in Mark to show him what he needs to do to prepare for pro hockey physically and mentally. Really, all he needs is some weight. If he has a great offseason, he may only be a year away from playing in the NHL, and he could have a monstrous WHL season. He’ll be their go-to guy offensively.
Jake Neighbours – RW/LW Edmonton WHL 2002-03-29 5-11.5 195
2019-20 Stats – 64 23 47 70 39 Shoots Left
NHL scout February 2020 – I like him but I think he’s a bottom-six guy. He’s strong, he’s smart, he makes plays. I just don’t know if he’s got the pace. Maybe more of a penalty killer than a power play guy. I love him in the second, but I just don’t know if I’d do it in the first. He is 5-11.5 and not the most agile skater. I think he needs to get in better shape, tone his muscle down…it may improve his agility. I really liked him in the second half. Smart, uses his frame. He has grown on me the last few viewings. He plays with an edge, he plays heavy, he has touch. His skating has to come a little bit.
NHL scout April 2020 – He’s solid. He’s a good kid. He knows how to play, and he’s strong for a guy under 6-0. Needs to get leaner perhaps, but not from being lazy, he’s just a heavy-set guy.
NHL scout April 2020 – I like him but he’s probably just a third-line guy. He needs to work on some things. His quickness and agility are just average. He’s a strong, strong kid. He’s a good two-way player. How much upside does he have? That is what you are going to have to try to figure out. Do you pick a player who is less safe, but might have more offensive upside? Maybe this guy helps you win a Cup, and maybe the other guy never becomes a regular. He could go at the end of the first, or early in the second round.