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Abdeezy · 01-13-2016, 02:55 AM

The next big thing in between the pipes since John McBride has just been drafted to the Prince George Firebirds. Michael McFadden went 3rd overall in the SMJHL draft a couple days ago and were here today to tell you about him, so you can get your draft picks ready to pick the legend in the making!

Michael McFadden was born in Manchester, England 19 years ago. McFadden is very proud of his UK origins and will be representing the United Kingdom IHF team for many years to come. Standing at 6'4" and weighing 217 pounds, he is already taking a ton of room in the goal as a teenager. He basis his game around his butterfly style and that just helps cover even more net.

His strength are most definitely based around his cat like reflexes, he was born with fast hands and very good reaction time and has learnt to improve these attributes to get them as high as any goalie his age in the world. Add his great attention to detail when it comes to his rebound control and you've got one sick looking prospect.

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McFadden making a great glove save

SZ = Size: 70
AG = Agility: 61

Some areas that are improving and fast for Michael, is his size and his agility. Since finishing his last season in the UK last year, Michael has learnt to use his size to his advantage like never before. He has also been hitting the gym in Prince George in a whole new fashion than he did in the UK, and some people have seem him taking crossfit like classes, which has been aiding his agility greatly.

Now for a goaltender of his age, it's pretty impressive to already be nearing the 200TPE mark before he's even played a game in the SMJHL. He's already in the top 5 of the Prince George roster in TPE and he currently leads all SMJHL rookies in that department as well.

He has around 40 Million in the bank which is 2nd highest among any SMJHL draftee, only Jackson Cartier has more.

However, despite all these positives, the kid has holes in his game and he will be working on these before he starts in the big leagues. Let's take a look at them now;

SK = Skating: 50
EN = Endurance: 52
PH = Puck Handling: 50
PS = Penalty Shot: 50

Here we can see that his biggest weakness has to be his Endurance. He may have a large workload in Prince George if Lemieux stays up in the SHL, however the Birds do have a reliable back up goalie in case that McFadden gets too tired to be playing all those SMJHL games. However, with age McFadden will improve his endurance greatly.

Another weakness of McFadden's is his skating. He doesn't venture out of his goal too often, and with good reason. When he does take a skate to the corner, we can clearly see that if his team were to lose the puck, there isn't much the large goaltender can do to save a softy from going in. To make matters worse, his puck handling is dreadful and he would probably cause many turn overs anyway. Luckily for Prince George, he likes to stay in his net and focus on preventing the opponents from scoring.

His final notable weakness, is his performances in the shootouts. He doesn't seem to get the extra point for his team too often, maybe he hasn't grasped the strategy yet, and maybe his endurance lets him down that late in games.

So it's clear he's not perfect, but when you look at his upside, it's hard to argue that he's got the qualities of being a goaltender to be remembered.

RB = Rebound Control: 81
SC = Style Control: 80
HS = Hand Speed: 80
RT = Reaction Time: 81

As we mentioned earlier, he basis his game around 3 very important strengths. His hand speed is very fast, and only getting faster. His reflexes and reaction time are tough to beat and his rebound control is very on point for this point in his career.

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McFadden showing off his great style control

One thing we didn't mention, is his ability to be so disciplined in regards to his style. Its very rare to see McFadden out of position, flopping on the ice or trying to make a diving save. He keeps his positioning and style tight, and it's almost like he's rehearsed every step of the game like a dance concert.

Michael McFadden is being managed by a new agent, who spent 20 years in the SHL and recently announced that he will be lacing up the skates for one final season, veteran center man Armin Brovalchuk. We managed to get some words from the newly signed North Star;

Armin, thank you so much for taking the time for this interview

Armin: It's my pleasure, anything for Michael and getting his name known

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Brovy here to talk about his first client, Michael McFadden

Interview

The experts are obviously raving about McFadden's potential, but you know him personally, and you've worked with him on the ice as well, what are your thoughts on him and his future in the business?

Armin Well I think the experts have every right to be raving about him. I've seen many different goaltenders in the SHL, some better than others, but it's a rare feat to see one as hard working and dedicated as Michael is. His god-given skill is undeniable, but what really impresses me is his maturity and his knowledge of the game despite his young age. I honestly believe he has no ceiling, if John McBride is the ceiling, then he might just...you know.. right threw man.

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Armin trying to explain how high McFadden's ceiling is

Interview

I see, and so do you think Michael McFadden is this year's Krysztof Kowalski, as the man to go 1st overall?

Armin: Well, if you take a look at Kowalski's stats, he's just a bit over 100 TPE from Michael right now, and Michael hasn't even played a game in the SMJHL yet. So there's no reason to think Michael can't reach his level at the end of the season. But to say he will go first overall might be a bit of a stretch, since goaltenders are in a much smaller demand than skaters, and you only need so many goalies in your system. So if a team with 1 or 2 young promising goaltenders in their system wins the lottery, you can count Michael's chances out for 1st overall. However, I know its a goal for Michael, he aims for the top in everything he does.

We saw your interview before the SMJHL draft, and how you had a favourable destination or 2 for Michael to be heading to this season. Do you have any this time around?

Armin: I have extreme ties to the Montreal Impacts, which is the only real team that I would put ahead of another in any league. Take that and combine with the importance of a good GMing duo, coaching staff and team taking these kids into their system, and there is your reason for me favouring certain teams for Michael in the juniors. I don't feel the same importance in the SHL, seeing as the kids are older when they actually start playing and practising with their SHL teams, and their habits are pretty much solid by that age. So no, for the SHL I don't favour any team for him. There are some team's I enjoyed playing for more than others, but every team can bring a different element to a prospects career, and the teams can change so much from the time he is drafted, to when he plays his rookie season.

In the UK, McFadden won the David Beckham trophy for most valuable player in the league 2 years in a row, he won the Joe Hart trophy for top goaltender all 3 years that he was in the league, even in his rookie year where he won the Wayne Rooney award for the best rookie of the league. He lead his team to a championship in his 3rd year, despite his team being in the basement year before they drafted the kid.

"He turned that team around in a blink of an eye" said Armin Brovalchuk "they were in a worry of trouble, the coach was fired 2 seasons in a row and the GMs were about to be next. Until they drafted Michael, and it was clear the difference he was making."

"He was unreal in his time with us, in his last season I think he should have been nominated for the top defender award" head coach Michael Owen joked.

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Head Coach Michael Owen talking about his wonder kid goaltender

"That kid playing in BC, I can tell he has what it takes. The Canucks should have jumped all over that, but they never see a good goalie when they got one anyway" Roberto Luongo commented.

Finally, we got to sit down with the man himself, Michael McFadden for an exclusive interview!

Hello Michael, welcome, and thank you for being here with us

McFadden: It's my pleasure, this is all very exciting and I'm really happy to be here, so thank you.

Interview

So what do you think about all this talk about you being the next legend in the SHL's goaltending collection?

McFadden: I think it's all a bit crazy, I'm nowhere near the level that it takes to be called the things I've been called haha.

Interview

Well, the experts are saying things like Jesster, Honcho, McBride. Crazy or not, it must feel great

McFadden: Sure, it feels amazing to be mentioned in the same sentence as those fantastic goalies, but like I said it's a bit over reached, and I'm going to have to give Connor McDavid a call to find out how he dealt with all this

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McDavid went through exaclty what McFadden is going through this year

Interview

So tell me a bit about your personality, what do you bring to your locker room?

McFadden: I'm a pretty easy going guy, I like to laugh and fool around, even on the ice, I love to have fun and sometimes people can take it as me not being serious about my performance, but that's not true. I play better when I'm having fun with the game, and I put in the most work out of anyone I've met. I like to do almost anything, as long as it's with good company, and doesn't involve nasty shit or scary movies!

Interview

How about music, what are you into?

McFadden: I'm into a lot of different stuff, it really depends what my mood is. My go to music is Trance, I love the euphoric feelings you get from the melodies and the love and art put into the lyrics. I listen to Trance when I'm pretty much in any mood, before the game, after the games, when I'm feeling hyped, sad, relaxed, anything really.

Other than Trance, I like to listen to hip hop before the games, I like the feeling the beat and quick lyrics put you in. It's a good pump up, and it's a good way to get your body moving and start having fun. After the games, I turn to deep house. I like the mellow beats and the relaxing vibes that are generated from it, especially late at night. Then when I'm home, just laying back, I often turn on some slow music, some pop or rap or trance, but with a very low beat and soft lyrics.

Oh yea the rumours are true, I'm very into Justin Bieber, so if you hating, you can go love yourself Wink

What do you expect from your first season in Prince George?

McFadden: From what I've been told, our team is rather young. The Firebirds don't have too many assets that were already on the team, and they really are depending on their rookies, along with a few others to carry them this season. So I think it will be difficult to make some noise this year, but I think once were done at the end of the year, our rookies will have left a mark, and we will be ready for the next season, and we will be able to make some real noise there.

Interview

So you think that in two seasons, you and the Firebirds will be a contender?

McFadden: If our rookies pan out this season, yes I think next year we will be a top team. I have no reason to believe that once these guys get a season under their belts and learn the ropes of the SMJHL, that we won't be able to beat any team that gets in our way. We've got a great group of guys joining the team, and together we can bring the success back to Prince George like it once was many seasons ago.

Interview

What do you think you can bring to the team?

McFadden: Stellar goaltending of course, I'm confident in my abilities in my first season to give my team a chance to win on most nights. However I will struggle at times too, im aware of that, and I think that it will be a great learning experience for me to learn to struggle and rise from that.

I will also be bringing a lot of commitment and leadership to the Birds. I plan on being a leader in the locker room, and I know I will be one of the most committed players on the team. I never back away from a challenge, and I never stop working to be even better than I was last night.

Also, I am in no rush to make it to the SHL, I wanna take my time in the SMJHL and really learn all I can here, before suiting up for an SHL team. So I guess you can say I plan on bringing longevity in goal for Prince George. Basically someone they can count on to be their goaltender for many seasons to come.

Interview

We spoke to Armin earlier about the possibility of going 1st overall in the upcoming SHL draft, do you think that's an appropriate expectation to set for youself?

McFadden: I don't think it should be an expectation, it's definitely a goal that I have set for myself though. I want to be the best prospect available, and maybe the first overall selecting team will be completely set in goaltenders, and so it could easily not happen despite all my best efforts, but it is my goal and I will put in the work to make it happen. Armin did it, and so did Abdalla before him, and so I want to be the 3rd to do it from our legacy, and I want to make them proud.

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McFadden talking about his expectations and goals for the upcoming season.

Interview

Do you have any preferences on which team you would be drafted by?

McFadden: Right now no, and when draft time comes the only preference I'll have is whoever has the number 1 pick. I want to go as high as possible, I don't mind who drafts me, I will give my all to them.

Interview

In that case, do you have a preference on which team gets the 1st overall?

McFadden: A team that needs a goalie haha. Whoever's got an aging goalie and they want to draft the replacement, thinking of their future, I want them to get that #1 pick, and I want to reward them for their faith in me.

Interview

Speaking of faith, there has been a lot of lack of faith in your loyalty, with Armin Brovalchuk as an agent, who played for 13 teams in 20 seasons, playing in Toronto twice, everyone has to be wondering if you're going to be following that path?

McFadden: I plan on doing the exact opposite. I want to spend my entire career with the team that drafts me. Thru thick and thin, I want to be the face of a franchise, or better yet, the mask of a franchise.

Interview

Michael, thank you again for a time, it's been wonderful and best of luck to you

McFadden: It has been wonderful, thank you for having me!

Well there you have it SHL GMs, players and fans, the biggest goaltending prospect this season, there always seems to be one, from Broadway a few years ago, to Lewis-Flood last season. McFadden could be the biggest one yet, so make sure to keep that lottery pick if you need a goaltender, or trade over to a team that needs one, and make sure you get a great return for it! We believe this kid will be worth it, and could be worth a whole lot more if the hockey gods love him as much as we do.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read, and best of luck to all the S27 SMJHL draftees this year!
See you next season SHL.

ORIGINSZ · 01-13-2016, 02:56 AM

If he's anything like Deezy last two players nobody wants him what a bust they both were :ph34r:

Abdeezy · 01-13-2016, 02:59 AM

Quote:Originally posted by ORIGINSZ@Jan 13 2016, 02:56 AM
If he's anything like Deezy last two players nobody wants him what a bust they both were :ph34r:

Haha yeahhh for sure. :lol: