I guess Jost scored 5 seconds into the game and I missed it, oh well.
Tolvanen with the assist
Great for Tyson but Finland might want to rethink their starting goaltender for the WJC. Because they are gonna get slaughtered if their current one does not step up his play.
EDIT:
A scaled down version of Jonathan Toews?
Oh Bob...
Tolvanen with the assist
Great for Tyson but Finland might want to rethink their starting goaltender for the WJC. Because they are gonna get slaughtered if their current one does not step up his play.
EDIT:
A scaled down version of Jonathan Toews?
Oh Bob...
Jost POG!! He really was the best player on the ice.
To me isn't isn't just on Jost with regards to his size, it is the role that will be expected of him traditionally requires size. MacK right now isn't that two way center and he isn't the biggest guy in the world (he is about average for a NHL forward). Jost is supposed to be that two way guy, but he has a smaller frame than MacK has (height and weight). It becomes more and more difficult for these smaller centers to compete with the Kopitars of the world as the levels move up and the competition gets better. If the Avs had that bigger two way center in the top 6 already, then I wouldn't mention Jost's size. He'd be a great compliment. The problem is that it means MacK HAS to become that 2 way guy and it is a lot of risk... or the Avs are drafting center again and Jost/MacK becomes a winger. In other words, it shows a lack of a plan at two of the most important spots in the lineup.
I personally don't think Keller will be a center in the NHL. He is a dynamic talent though.
Being bigger is helpful but it isn't a deal breaker. Having the right body structure in terms of a low center of gravity, and a dedication to fitness and strength training can make up for this. Jost has both of these things.
Look at someone like Datsyuk who was one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He's about the same size as Jost at 5-11 195 lbs but was incredibly strong. Pavelski is one of the better two way forwards in the league, and he also is built the same. Henrique is a solid two way guy and he's not much bigger than Jost. Crosby is the same 5-11 but he's extremely strong and has a lot of muscle at 200 lbs, and he's also one of the better two way guys in the league.
Even if you look back in history, a lot of the best defensive forwards were under 6 feet and 200 lbs. Guys like Draper, Lehtonen, Peca, John Madden, Doug Gilmour. These guys were all about the same size as Jost, and they all had to battle big forwards.
Having that big #1 center is more about having a guy that is great in all areas of the game, and in all situations. Offensively, defensively, driving the net, not being able to be moved from the front of the net, defensively against bigger forwards, PK, PP, ends of periods and games, etc. If were talking just the shutdown defensive role, it can be done by someone smaller. The skilled big center idea is more about having that horse that can just drive to the net with or without the puck and not be stopped, than it is about the shutdown role IMO.
Jost is still 18 for another few months. 2-3 years down the road and he will have put on a lot more muscle on his frame, and with his tenacity, and instincts, I think he'll be better suited than you think for the defensive role asked of him.
I've been through this debate a great number of times over the past few years, finding my thoughts and reasoning on this is a search away. I've said a number of times on this that Datsyuk was an exception... that team was an exception and expecting Jost to become Datsyuk defensively is a wild expectation.
FTR I hope to be wrong.
I don't recall seeing those debates so forgive me. I understand if you don't want to get back into them, but I don't think Datsyuk is the lone exception when Pavelski, Henrique, Crosby, Draper, Peca, Lehtonen, Madden, and Gilmour were all about the same size, and all very good defensive shutdown players. Chris Drury is another guy in that category.
If you are very smart and tenacious on the ice, and have a lot of dedication off the ice to add muscle to your frame, you can play that role well. Many sub 6' 200lb players don't have both those traits. Jost does.
Being bigger is helpful but it isn't a deal breaker. Having the right body structure in terms of a low center of gravity, and a dedication to fitness and strength training can make up for this. Jost has both of these things.
Look at someone like Datsyuk who was one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He's about the same size as Jost at 5-11 195 lbs but was incredibly strong. Pavelski is one of the better two way forwards in the league, and he also is built the same. Henrique is a solid two way guy and he's not much bigger than Jost. Crosby is the same 5-11 but he's extremely strong and has a lot of muscle at 200 lbs, and he's also one of the better two way guys in the league.
Even if you look back in history, a lot of the best defensive forwards were under 6 feet and 200 lbs. Guys like Draper, Lehtonen, Peca, John Madden, Doug Gilmour. These guys were all about the same size as Jost, and they all had to battle big forwards.
Having that big #1 center is more about having a guy that is great in all areas of the game, and in all situations. Offensively, defensively, driving the net, not being able to be moved from the front of the net, defensively against bigger forwards, PK, PP, ends of periods and games, etc. If were talking just the shutdown defensive role, it can be done by someone smaller. The skilled big center idea is more about having that horse that can just drive to the net with or without the puck and not be stopped, than it is about the shutdown role IMO.
Jost is still 18 for another few months. 2-3 years down the road and he will have put on a lot more muscle on his frame, and with his tenacity, and instincts, I think he'll be better suited than you think for the defensive role asked of him.
The thing with Datsyuk is he's built alot differently than those other guys. He along with guys like Tarasenko and Claude Lemiuex have the "perfect" hockey body. Body that was built for hockey. Datsyuk like Forsberg was insanely strong and it definitely helped both guys win those board battles. Jost will have no issues holding his own in the NHL but I dont know if I would compare him to Pasha because they are about the same height. Would love to see it. If Jost becomes half the player Pasha was than we got a gooder.
Jost sets up Gauthier for a goal!
What a blast though that was. Just a ridiculous shot.
Gauthier is a bit of an enigma to me but man he's got a great frame and shot. Interesting that Jost is playing with two 6'-4" Carolina Hurricane prospects. Roy is an underrated prospect as well. That could be 2/3 of a quite an interesting line some day in Raleigh.