Billy Norcross #10 (F, R, 6’2″, 181, Islanders Hockey Club, 03/16/2003, NHL Grade — C)
(4 Star Amateur Rating, 2021 NHL Grade – C) Forward
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments: Just to be upfront, I think Billy’s best days are ahead of him. He can play wing and center, but he’s a player that I think is a center long term. And not just a center, but a 200′ center who is incredibly difficult to play against. Offensively, he’s got the puck skills to make plays coming through the neutral zone and he’s good around the net, especially attacking off of a cycle. Billy’s really good at creating space along the wall and spinning. Almost like a basketball player in the low post. He can protect the puck while feeling the pressure and then roll out the opposite way. That’s a big time skill to have in professional hockey. He’s got a good first touch that keeps improving and I think his stick quickness will improve as he matures. His motor doesn’t stop. He naturally maintains net side positioning in the defensive zone and he communicates well with his defensemen. It might not sound sexy, but those little things matter. There were games over the past 12 months where I thought Billy was the best NHL prospect on the ice. He just battles and competes. He willingly, almost naturally, does the little stuff that matters. He has strong hands and is good on draws. He blocks shots. Protects his teammates and goaltender. Plays stick on puck all over the ice and stops on turnovers. Again not overly sexy… they’re just the little details that help a team win. There were also times over the past 12 months where Billy looked like an awkward teenager who was still getting used to being 6’2″. Kind of stumbling and bumbling or getting out leveraged by a 5’8″ opponent and possibly getting knocked down, but you know what? I don’t care about that. At all. Not one little bit. I care about his intangibles. All those little things that don’t end up on the score sheet. That’s what makes Billy an NHL prospect for the 2021 Draft. Again, I’m a fan of Billy’s future. I don’t really know him or know who he trains with, but I do know that he does a lot of the little things that make a good NHL player and he does them well.
NCDC: IHC at Northern Cyclones, 11/1/2020: Billy was excellent while killing penalties, using his feet and tenacity to disrupt set plays and generate 200 foot clears. He forced plays up the ice and created two quality shorthanded scoring chances all through anticipation, work ethic and speed. On the forecheck he hunted pucks creating chaos as an F1 and was at his best when he attacked the blue paint from below the goal line. After not playing for the majority of the Fall, we feel Billy improved and looked more comfortable as the game went on, leaving little doubt that the more involved physically he got, the more impactful he was.
Johan Rosenquist #29 (F, R, 6’2″, 190, 10/28/2002, Islanders Hockey Club, NHL Grade — Free Agent)
(3.5 Star Amateur Rating, 2021 NHL Grade – Free Agent) Forward
Neutral Zone NHL’s Ian Moran’s comments: Johan’s size makes anyone in the rink instantly drawn to him. He’s big and a bit raw, but his athleticism and attention to detail make him very interesting. He stops on pucks. It seems simple and easy, but far too many prospects go for the loop and Johan does not loop. He’s also really strong and powerful along the walls, which is where professional games are won and lost. Defensively he does an excellent job of maintaining net side positioning and jumping into the open ice for quick transition after turnovers. Offensively Johan has the potential to be a beast below the goal line. He spins off contact with the intention of getting to the net and being disruptive. He likes to dig… and he’s strong and only getting stronger. I love that he’s playing for the Islanders this year. He’s going to get key minutes, receive good coaching and has a chance to really develop.
NCDC: IHC at Northern Cyclones, 11/1/2020: Johan played a responsible two way game in this one. He was strong on the puck, provided low close puck support in transition and consistently made good decisions at the lines. During the cycle he showed high level puck protection skills and we did not see him attempt any “hope’ plays to the slot. His size, athleticism and consistent ability to do the little things make him a very intriguing long term prospect.
Logan Morrell #27 (F, R, 6’2″, 180, Islanders Hockey Club, 08/02/2003)
(3.5 Star Amateur Rating, 2021 NHL Grade – Free Agent) Forward
NCDC: IHC at Northern Cyclones, 11/1/2020: Left game early due to LBI.