Shane Prince demonstrates plenty of raw talent and potential, but like rookie Anthony Beauvillier, he needs more time to develop, possibly in a different league.
Shane Prince proved some key facts this season. For one, he’s very talented and was a steal for a 3rd round draft pick at the 2016 trade deadline. Additionally, with raw talent comes inexperience, and being that he still has not come to fruition, he should be considered for the AHL, if possible.
For a brief moment in the beginning of the 2016-2017 season Prince seemed to have found some game. He was even in the midst of a mild streak after coming back from injury, but it was just a brief spell for the young forward.
Prince is still very much young talent at only 24, but his size at 185 lbs leaves something to be desired. He is not often outworked to a puck, but he is often out-sized. Prince will go for the gritty battles in the corner as former head coach Jack Capuano always requested. Not necessarily an Anders Lee in terms of physicality, but likes to skate in close with the puck.
It would be unfair to keep him in the AHL all year, but if he started the season with the Bridgeport SoundTigers (along with teammate Alan Quine, who’s very similar to Prince but with a bigger frame) it would be optimal.
In addition to not having a large frame, Prince tends to cough up the puck easily in result of pure lack of experience. Naturally this is nobody’s fault but sheer development.
Prince scored 18 points in the span of 50 games with the Islanders. He was often left off the roster as a healthy scratch and head coach Doug Weight often cited it as “simply just not producing”.
The rest will have to be growing pains for the Islanders, but ultimately, it will most likely pay off for them and at the low cost of a third rounder. Last season, the Islanders secondary scoring suffered hits when Ryan Strome and Anders Lee (for the first half of the season) couldn’t score. The Islanders are hungry for help they can get on their 2nd and 3rd lines.
Prince needs to step up and help contribute to a troubled secondary offense.