Toggle sidebar

2013-2014 Hartford Wolf Pack/Greenville Road Warriors Thread Part II

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
Beacon said:
Here's a question: what's wrong with Fast? It's a serious question.

Let's just say you had to argue that he's still a minor leaguer, what flaws would you point out? What does he have to improve to be at least a third liner in the NHL?

I get that he still has ways to go before he can become a 20-25 goal scorer at the NHL level. But what makes him a minor leaguer? I can't figure this one out. I think he looks fully ready for NHL duty. Any thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

slipknottin said:
My concern with fast is how he will handle the physical side. He is very capable in the ahl now of going into traffic areas. I'm not sure if he can take that another level and do it with guys even bigger and stronger

Perhaps he can. Maybe he still needs more time to continue to develop that side of his game and add strength.

It took Zucc awhile to really physically prepare himself to play in traffic areas in the nhl. Might be a similar sort of thing with Fast.
Click to expand...

Essentially what SK is saying was the only negative thought I had on Fast tonight during the game. He's 6'0 but isn't terribly strong for his size. Miller is stronger by far. He's 1" taller and 20 lbs heavier. That's a big difference. Fast needs to either put on some muscle or play a little bigger.

Honestly that is the only knock on him I can think of right now and his game could easily over look that. Again, to me he looks like how Zucc is playing in the NHL right now the only difference is Zucc is playing bigger than he actually is. He is strong for his size. Fast needs to do exactly that.

That aside he is NHL ready, or at least ready for an extended look.

Edit: For the record I agree that he could fill the role on 3rd RW Callahan's going to leave. Thinking about it now, wow, wasn't Fast playing on the PK during his few games here at the beginning of the season? Was Sather telling AV to see if Fast could handle that 3rd line RW duty AND possibly Callahan's minutes on the PK? Is that another possible clue that Sather knew over the summer Callahan was probably not going to be a Ranger post this current season?

Makes you wonder.
 
Also, Fasts shooting percentage is fluky high right now. That is going to drop significantly with a larger sample size. With a more reasonable shooting percentage of 15% or so, he would have roughly 5 goals this season.

Not really a knock on him, just pointing out that his goal scoring is a bit inflated right now
 
Despite winning yesterday and posting decent hockey recently, the Pack still has the least amount of points in the AHL.

The Pack needs to make up 15 points to make the playoffs, which will be awfully tough. But Hensick and the goalies were big additions.

Without Hen sick and with Missiaen in the net, the Pack would've lost 5-1, maybe even 7-0.
 
Beacon, it's a numbers thing with Fast now. Same with Miller.

At RW you have Nash/Cally/Zuc/Carcillo.

At C you have Stepan/Richards/Brassard/Boyle-Moore.

Team has been playing very well since the Carcillo trade. Dorsett is the depth winger now.

After that Miller=callup #1 (he can also play RW) and Fast would=callup #2.

Depending on what happens with Cally and what the return is, we'll see where the roster is.

I believe both Fast and Miller get cracks again this year, but not until at least March. Hartford isn't making the playoffs so if the Rangers make the playoffs (if they keep on their current pace they will) then Miller, Fast, and Lindberg are all on the taxi squad.
 
I attended the WP vs Devils game last night in Hartford. I dont typically follow the Pack due to lack of funds to afford AHL streams. What I noticed is the D is pretty good(they allowed 16 shots through 3+OT). Other than the goals most shots were off angle shots and dump ins at the goalie. Most noticeable forwards were Powe and Fast. By far the most noticeably bad forward was Miller. Every shift he was out there for he messed up something and was directly responsible for the first goal. I dont know too much about the team but know that Miller is supposed to be part of the future of this team, but last night this guy looked like a guy that wouldnt even be a career AHLer. He did tighten up during the 3rd and had a slick move during the shootout, but he really should have been benched for some frame of time. The goalie seemed ok, didnt face a lot of shots and was left for dead on his goals against.

The crowd was surprisingly large(10k+) for them being the worst team in the league.Much better attendance than out in Albany(my buddy that works for them says 2-7k min/max) where I am.Fun time overall and exciting SO win.
 
CDiablo said:
I attended the WP vs Devils game last night in Hartford. I dont typically follow the Pack due to lack of funds to afford AHL streams. What I noticed is the D is pretty good(they allowed 16 shots through 3+OT). Other than the goals most shots were off angle shots and dump ins at the goalie. Most noticeable forwards were Powe and Fast. By far the most noticeably bad forward was Miller. Every shift he was out there for he messed up something and was directly responsible for the first goal. I dont know too much about the team but know that Miller is supposed to be part of the future of this team, but last night this guy looked like a guy that wouldnt even be a career AHLer. He did tighten up during the 3rd and had a slick move during the shootout, but he really should have been benched for some frame of time. The goalie seemed ok, didnt face a lot of shots and was left for dead on his goals against.

The crowd was surprisingly large(10k+) for them being the worst team in the league.Much better attendance than out in Albany(my buddy that works for them says 2-7k min/max) where I am.Fun time overall and exciting SO win.
Click to expand...

I think you attended a bad game. Everyone here's been raving about Miller's play.
 
SnowblindNYR said:
I think you attended a bad game. Everyone here's been raving about Miller's play.
Click to expand...

Miller had a few gaffs last night, he did give Albany the first goal and had the puck turned over/poke-checked a few times from his stick. With that being said he was still noticeably dominant on just about every shift.

It was one of those best player/worst player nights. They still gave him first star.
 
Beacon said:
Despite winning yesterday and posting decent hockey recently, the Pack still has the least amount of points in the AHL.

The Pack needs to make up 15 points to make the playoffs, which will be awfully tough. But Hensick and the goalies were big additions.

Without Hen sick and with Missiaen in the net, the Pack would've lost 5-1, maybe even 7-0.
Click to expand...

Hensick is a hell of an AHL player. Always has been. I hope we can keep him around for the kids.
 
My contract thoughts about the Packers at the end of their contract:

Danny Kristo (RFA): definitely re-sign.

Stu Bickel (UFA): consider re-signing to a reasonable two-way deal. Useful in the AHL, and could be an emergency call up for a couple of games if injuries hit us badly. I know nobody wants him, but what if it's someone even worse we are foced to call up if we get 3 defensemen who are simultaneously out? No tragedy if he goes, but I would see what he wants. His replacement won't be superior to him, we aren't getting Doughty to play in the AHL, you know...

Kyle Jean (RFA): maybe an AHL deal, definitely not a two-way contract.

Jason Missiaen (RFA): useless ECHLer.

Ryan Bourque (RFA): definitely re-sign. He's a good player who inspires the whole Pack lineup and we shouldn't give up on the idea that he might make the NHL.

Scott Stajcer (RFA): useless ECHLer.

Aaron Johnson (UFA): good AHLer and can fill in as an NHLer for a few games. Either him or Bickel needs to be signed for NHL depth in case of a bad injury bug. He's a good guy to influence our prospects in the AHL.

Haley (UFA): hates being in Hartfod, will definitely leave.

Jason Wilson (RFA): Not even that good at the ECHL level. Our worst prospect. Dump him.

Danny Syvret (UFA): give him an AHL deal, but not a two-way contract. If he doesn't want that, he can move elsewhere.

Kyle Beach (RFA): garbage, dump him.

David Leneveu (UFA): either he or another quality AHLer needs to be signed. I think a combination of Leneveu and Dov would be good going into the next season.

Powe (UFA) and Asham (UFA): doubt they would want to stay, likely will move on.

Hensick: should be signed to a two way deal. Great AHLer.


This team will need to sign a few vets like Haley, Asham and Powe or else it will be downright horrendous. It doesn't look like we'll get any rookies joining Hartford next season because in 2012 we got two college kids and two Europeans. Fogarty from 2011 is not ready to leave college, and all the other 2011 (or earlier) draftees are either already in Hartford or refused contracts.

Maybe St. Croix will provide quality play next season. He got another assist on Saturday night and has 29 points in 29 games in the ECHL.
 
Beacon said:
My contract thoughts about the Packers at the end of their contract:

Danny Kristo (RFA): definitely re-sign.

Stu Bickel (UFA): consider re-signing to a reasonable two-way deal. Useful in the AHL, and could be an emergency call up for a couple of games if injuries hit us badly. I know nobody wants him, but what if it's someone even worse we are foced to call up if we get 3 defensemen who are simultaneously out? No tragedy if he goes, but I would see what he wants. His replacement won't be superior to him, we aren't getting Doughty to play in the AHL, you know...

Kyle Jean (RFA): maybe an AHL deal, definitely not a two-way contract.

Jason Missiaen (RFA): useless ECHLer.

Ryan Bourque (RFA): definitely re-sign. He's a good player who inspires the whole Pack lineup and we shouldn't give up on the idea that he might make the NHL.

Scott Stajcer (RFA): useless ECHLer.

Aaron Johnson (UFA): good AHLer and can fill in as an NHLer for a few games. Either him or Bickel needs to be signed for NHL depth in case of a bad injury bug. He's a good guy to influence our prospects in the AHL.

Haley (UFA): hates being in Hartfod, will definitely leave.

Jason Wilson (RFA): Not even that good at the ECHL level. Our worst prospect. Dump him.

Danny Syvret (UFA): give him an AHL deal, but not a two-way contract. If he doesn't want that, he can move elsewhere.

Kyle Beach (RFA): garbage, dump him.

David Leneveu (UFA): either he or another quality AHLer needs to be signed. I think a combination of Leneveu and Dov would be good going into the next season.

Powe (UFA) and Asham (UFA): doubt they would want to stay, likely will move on.

Hensick: should be signed to a two way deal. Great AHLer.


This team will need to sign a few vets like Haley, Asham and Powe or else it will be downright horrendous. It doesn't look like we'll get any rookies joining Hartford next season because in 2012 we got two college kids and two Europeans. Fogarty from 2011 is not ready to leave college, and all the other 2011 (or earlier) draftees are either already in Hartford or refused contracts.

Maybe St. Croix will provide quality play next season. He got another assist on Saturday night and has 29 points in 29 games in the ECHL.
Click to expand...

Jean is done--he sucks. Syvret will get an NHL deal from someone. Other than that I agree with it all. Bourque has been better this year--he probably will never play in the NHL but there's still a chance. Bickel is good at that level. Need a vet forward to lead the offense--another vet or two to lead the D and at least one legit AHL level vet goalie.

With no prospects graduating the Rangers should target free agent College and CHL players they think can graduate to the AHL level relatively smoothly.
 
Revelation said:
Fast's upside is that of a Loui Eriksson type player. Miller's upside is a Ryan Kesler/Mike Richards type player. I think those players are very close value-wise.
Click to expand...

Fast does not have Loui Eriksson upside. He's not even in the same ballpark. It's a reach to think he could be a 20 goal scorer. Never mind a 35+ goal scorer.
 
slipknottin said:
Fast does not have Loui Eriksson upside. He's not even in the same ballpark. It's a reach to think he could be a 20 goal scorer. Never mind a 35+ goal scorer.
Click to expand...

I agree that it's premature to state that he has Loui Eriksson upside. However, to scoff at him being a 20 goal scorer is pretty silly. The kid showed in the SEL that he has the shot and the grit to score both pretty goals and dirty goals. His IQ appears to be very high as does his abilities on his skates. I expect him to be a defensively responsible 50 point scorer which I think will be Miller's path as well. Miller is more physical obviously but Fast has a better hockey head than Miller. Love them both right now.
 
Fast's shot? I saw a few HV71 games during the lockout and it didn't look very NHL like impressive.
 
I would take Miller over Fast right now, in part because Miller is almost 1.5 years younger, but it is pretty close. Fast should be a 20 goal scorer. I don't see how he is a worse prospect than Hagelin was at the same age. If anything, he has more offensive potential while the rest of his game is about the same. At a minimum he is going to be a third liner, but he definitely has the potential to be a 25-25 two-way player.
 
slipknottin said:
Fast does not have Loui Eriksson upside. He's not even in the same ballpark. It's a reach to think he could be a 20 goal scorer. Never mind a 35+ goal scorer.
Click to expand...

Blurt Vision said:
Fast's shot? I saw a few HV71 games during the lockout and it didn't look very NHL like impressive.
Click to expand...

Not sure where you guys are getting this. Fast was one of the most impressive young scorers in the SEL. Then he was impressive in TC. Then he made the team out of camp and was only sent back down when Cally returned from injury, leaving no room on the RW.

He had a bit of a setback with an injury not long after his demotion, but has been on fire recently, scoring at 7-2-9 over his last seven games. In each case, he's taken a little while to get going, especially off of his injuries, but has finished strong offensively - and clearly has superior offensive upside, based on IQ, skating, shiftiness, passing and a nose for the net. I would say his shot is good, but not great. For anyone who caught the Caps/Red Wings game yesterday afternoon, he reminds me a lot of Gustav Nyquist, perhaps just a little more of a playmaker and just a little less of a finisher.

Bardof425 said:
I agree that it's premature to state that he has Loui Eriksson upside. However, to scoff at him being a 20 goal scorer is pretty silly. The kid showed in the SEL that he has the shot and the grit to score both pretty goals and dirty goals. His IQ appears to be very high as does his abilities on his skates. I expect him to be a defensively responsible 50 point scorer which I think will be Miller's path as well. Miller is more physical obviously but Fast has a better hockey head than Miller. Love them both right now.
Click to expand...

If we're talking true upside, as in the absolute best they could become, I think they both have great ceilings. Miller I see as a guy who could be a high-energy, physical 2C that plays at 25-35-60. Whereas Fast could be a 30-30-60 winger who is elite defensively. Again, that is UPSIDE, I'm not predicting that for either of them.

As Bardof says, I love them both right now.
 
I think Miller is ahead of Fast, but for any player it's essential to keep developing so nothing is really written in stone (and I mean, who I knows, Fast could score 35 and Miller could still end up being more valuble than him).

With Fast, from my point of view he is almost as good now as he was two and half years ago. All the injuries have maybe not set him back, but has kept him at somewhat of a standstill.

The key for him is to start moving forward again.
 
slipknottin said:
Fast does not have Loui Eriksson upside. He's not even in the same ballpark. It's a reach to think he could be a 20 goal scorer. Never mind a 35+ goal scorer.
Click to expand...

Eriksson didn't become a 35g scorer until 5 years after he was drafted. Fast is sitting at 3 years right now. Fast put up much better numbers in the SEL, and is posting similar AHL numbers to Eriksson in their 3rd year post draft. Is he likely to be as good as Eriksson? Of course not, but to say that he doesn't have that upside is preposterous and shows you have no clue what you're talking about.
 
Revelation said:
Eriksson didn't become a 35g scorer until 5 years after he was drafted. Fast is sitting at 3 years right now. Fast put up much better numbers in the SEL, and is posting similar AHL numbers to Eriksson in their 3rd year post draft. Is he likely to be as good as Eriksson? Of course not, but to say that he doesn't have that upside is preposterous and shows you have no clue what you're talking about.
Click to expand...

Right. I have no clue what I'm talking about. Fast is clearly one of the best prospects in the league and is as good as Eriksson.

My mistake. Let me go watch those 9 goals of his again
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom