Logan Stanley has almost slipped out of the conscience of Winnipeg Jets fans.
For a defenseman about to enter his first year of professional hockey, that may
 not be such a bad thing.

By far the Jets most controversial first round pick, Stanley has been the
subject of heated debate among those who observe Jets prospects. His merits and
 flaws are almost immediately apparent with one glance at his stat line.

On the upside, Stanley is a towering, physical blueliner, standing 6-foot-7 and
 with more weight still to add to his already-imposing 235 pounds. On the
downside, it took Stanley a far longer time than expected of a first-round pick
 to start putting up points.Logan Stanley made great strides with the Kitchener
 Rangers but has a lot more ground to cover to be a solid NHLer. (Photo by
Aaron Bell/OHL Images)

Stanley';s footspeed, and in particular his ability to turn in a hurry, were
concerns through much of his junior career. He was particularly exposed at
times in the World Junior Summer Showcase last year, where, after a terrific
game against Sweden, he was victimized several times against the United States.

Stanley has made some good strides. His 15 goals this year were tied for fifth
among OHL defensemen, and he showed a better sense of when to jump into the
rush and how to get his heavy shot through traffic. It was a major step in the
right direction.

WATCH THIS: @loganstanley_17 cannon fires twice in 2️⃣1️⃣
seconds.@NHLJets prospect unloads in third period picking up an ≡ƒÄΓ₧ò≡ƒÜ¿ as
@OHLRangers strike first in 2nd rd #OHLPlayoffs #KITvsSAR 🔵🔴⚪️
pic.twitter.com/DzQso4qasK

- OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) April 7, 2018

Now, Stanley needs to make another step, this time more of a leap, to the pros.
 If recent history is any indication, this step might include a stumble or
two.Stanley and Josh Morrissey

To be crystal clear, Josh Morrissey and Stanley are not the same player, nor
do they have the same upside. Morrissey was a two-time World Junior member for
Canada in his junior career, and if Stanley turns out anything like him, the
Jets will be thrilled.

What provokes the comparison is that Stanley and Morrissey are the only two
defensemen from the CHL on whom the Jets have ever expended a first-round pick.
 They will also be two of just three Jets first rounders to play two years of
junior after their draft year, and the only two (barring a crazy training camp)
 to start off in the AHL after that second year.These days Josh Morrissey is
one of the Jets best defensemen, but his pro career had a bumpy start in the
AHL. (Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)

Nobody really remembers now as Morrissey has been stellar in his two years in
the NHL, but he really struggled in his first few months in the AHL. It came as
 quite a surprise, and Morrissey grew in confidence as the year progressed, but
 he started poorly.

In time, if the Jets are fortunate, Stanley will be the same as Morrissey. No
one remembers the rough start thanks to the terrific end result. And who knows?
 The ultra-physical Stanley may take to the AHL like a fish to water. His
rookie lumps aren';t assured.

Past history indicates there is turbulence ahead for Stanley, however. Very few
 CHLers make the jump to the AHL unscathed. In fact, the Jets rookies who have
dominated or exceeded expectations in the AHL have almost all come out of
college.

What it is about the college game that produces more pro-ready players, who can
 say. The age of the competition and the schedule are both factors, no doubt.
The fact is, in recent history CHL grads don';t, on the whole, transition to
the AHL as easily as their NCAA colleagues.

For a player whose footspeed has long been a concern, the adjustment to the pro
 game is going to be a massive one. Morrissey had the advantage of being a
terrific skater. Stanley';s skating has improved, but he doesn';t have that
same tool in his kit.

So Jets fans are going to have to be something they haven';t been very good at
where Stanley is concerned - patient. Here Stanley has one advantage over
Morrissey in that expectations are lower.What is Success for Stanley?

Logan Stanley is not going to do as Sami Niku did and be a stud in the AHL
right away. They';re not the same player, they don';t come from the same
background, and they don';t have the same skillset. Even Niku';s success was a
bit of a surprise, so it';s unreasonable to expect Stanley to have that kind of
 year.

On the other hand, take a look at the kind of year Morrissey had in his first
AHL season. While even that may be a bit much offensively (22 points in 57
games would be a great rookie campaign for Stanley) the growth he saw is within
 reach.

Stanley doesn';t have to come to Manitoba and set the world on fire. He just
has to do what Morrissey did in one sense: endure the bumps in the road, keep
playing his game, and get a little better at it every day.

The difference between Morrissey at the start of his first AHL campaign and the
 end was massive. If Stanley can achieve even a similar growth rate, his year
is a success.

Stanley just needs to play the way that got him on the radar in the first
place. He likely won';t be a first power play guy right away. He needs to be
mean, hard to play against, and simple with his decision making. He needs to
play the physical brand of hockey he';s known for.

IN-GAME VIDEO presented by @WindMobile: Let's mix in a big knock with all those
 goals. Logan Stanley provides the wallop on this occasion.
pic.twitter.com/tKkzCg82io

- Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) October 13, 2016

Stanley should expect small improvements of himself every game. Jets fans,
hopefully, will be patient enough to expect the same. Neither will be
disappointed if they let the occasional hiccup go.

After all, there';s still a darn good hockey player in Stanley. He';s taking a
little longer to emerge than the Jets are used to from their first round picks,
 but he';s still in there. His year in Kitchener proved it. With any luck, his
coming year will prove it again.

The post Turbulence Ahead for Jets Prospect Logan Stanley appeared first on The
 Hockey Writers.

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