Nathan Moon Update
Zach Boslett | Penguin Prospects
Jan 13, 07:08 AM | Hype this story!
Nathan Moon, the Penguins 1st pick in the 2008 draft (4th round), has developed into something much more than the Penguins expected when they took a chance on a pretty much unknown prospect on a bad team.
He responded by leading his team in scoring for 3 straight years, beating out New York Rangers 2nd round pick Ethan Werek two straight years (he is 1 year older however).
This season, while playing as a 20 year old, he is putting up some big numbers for a 4th round pick, or any pick for that matter, and currently stands at 11th in the OHL in scoring.
He is ahead of Atlanta Thrashers’ prospect Jeremy Morin (2nd Round), and Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospect Nazem Kadri (1st round, 7th overall).
He has scored 21 goals and 31 assists for 51 points in 41 games and he has done so in many different ways. He is driving the net with the puck and creating dirty goals but is also using his right handed shot to blow the puck past opposing goalies as well. He is also making tape to tape passes to his teammates and also wears an A for Kingston.
One of his most exciting attributes as well as his scoring is the edge he brings to his game. He can score a highlight reel goal one minute and then get in a players face causing them to take a penalty later. He has had his fare share of controversy that has been well documented here by Jesse.
He has the most PIM of any player in the top 38 scorers in the OHL and is second in the top 50. He often uses his stick behind the play on opponents, not to injure them (he always gets them in the shins or legs where the padding is thickest) but to goad them into penalties or into a fight.
FF’s own Eric Politowski compiled a highlight video of Moon from some of his goals and fights this season, including a fight of his from the preseason against Toronto’s Nazem Kadri that he wins handily.
Moon said to Eric Politowski he hopes to play with Wilkes-Barre next season and it seems likely Shero will sign the versatile and talented Moon to a contract, not only to add a gritty scoring forward to the team but also a right handed shot that can play any position.
Plus his fist pump after each goal is pretty awesome as well.
Comments
bag o' pucks
Jan 13, 01:26 PM
I can’t see the Pens passing on signing Moon, he’s a very intriguing prospect and I expect him to be in WB/S in the fall (or maybe sooner, on an ATO if his junior season ends). Although he’s not played the full season as a 20-yr old overager, he just turned 20 last week.
The kid who’s a “maybe” is Pat Killeen, also in his senior season. A big (6’4, 200lbs) goalie who’s been a bit up and down this season. I think the Pens will probably sign him, as long as they’re confident Curry can back-up Flower next season, perhaps Killeen partners with Thiessen in WB/S season (as well as getting starts in Wheeling).
Pechurski is still in Russia and the Pens are under no pressure to sign him this summer, as his rights remain Pittsburgh’s indefinitely with no transfer agreement.
Zach Boslett
Jan 13, 02:59 PM
Actually Pucks Pechurski is playing in the WHL with the Tri-City Americans. He’s playing pretty well from what I have read (1.80 GAA and .934 SV%). I haven’t followed up on him because I haven’t seen him play either live or on youtube but here’s a link to his stats and such: http://whl.ca/stats/player.php?id=25530
Here’s the story about his release from Russia
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1012/story/841149.html
He seemed to be a case of a player wanting to play in N. America but being unable to. He turns 20 in either June or August (depending on the website… you’d think some of these Russian prospects were still locked behind the Iron Curtain…
bag o' pucks
Jan 13, 03:28 PM
Wow, I remember he wasn’t granted a release and dropped the story from there. I didn’t know he’d finally made it over. I remember Pens mgmt was uncertain about how him coming over would affect their rights. Not to mention, Pechurski’s only played five games and Owsley’s (the starter) only 19, he has another year of junior in him. What to do with Pechurski, he’ll be 20 in June. I’d sure like to see him get more work. If the Pens sign him, maybe a full year starting in the E. He’s not getting much time, but at least he’s getting a little more familiar with NA rinks.
Zach Boslett
Jan 13, 04:59 PM
I also don’t know how his English is. He hasn’t been over here very long so he is likely getting practice time in and trying to learn Tri-City’s system midseason while trying to learn English as well. Perhaps a season in the ECHL on an ECHL deal or something to see how he progresses might be a good idea. From what I’ve heard he has potential though.
bag o' pucks
Jan 13, 05:36 PM
At this point we can no longer assume that the Pens will have his rights indefinitely because of no transfer agreement with Russia. Pens mgmt themselves considered it a grey area, so I don’t know if they’re certain. If he goes back to Russia in the off-season, do the Pens retain his rights or are they forfeit because he played in NA until he was 20 and it’s been two years since his draft?
If the Pens want to keep his rights they may have to sign him this summer (if they decide he’s worthy of a contract). Then, they’ll be free to assign him to Wheeling and let him get 55 or 60 starts. Certainly, they’re hoping next season Curry can back-up Flower and Thiessen can be the #1 in WB/S, so maybe they sign both Killeen and Pechurski and move the latter two between WB/S and Wheeling to have exposure to higher competition and plenty of time between the pipes.
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