Prospect Info: CBJ Prospect Thread XI

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[DoingItCoolKiwi]

 

[CBJx614]

Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Jiricek's development is right on track

Some of the important bits. I really think we have something special in him. I wouldn't be surprised to see a letter on his chest within the next 3-5 seasons.

Mike Haviland was coaching in the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization when some of the best defensemen of their generation came under his tutelage. A few of the names: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Dustin Byfuglien. Now Haviland is an assistant coach with the Blue Jackets’ top affiliate, AHL Cleveland, and he’s working with a player he believes is part of the next wave.

Jiricek, with 5-15-20 in 23 games, was named an AHL All-Star — only the fourth time in league history a teenage defenseman has played in the midseason classic.

“Of the guys I’ve worked with, he reminds me most of Byfuglien,” Haviland said. “Byfuglien was a bigger, thicker man than Jiri, but they certainly have the same offensive ability and a mind for the game, and that competitiveness.

“I had Dusty when he first came into the AHL. He was a bigger man, but that’s all. Skill-wise, they’re very similar.”
“We gotta keep working with his details and his habits and what it takes to be a pro,” Haviland said.

There’s so much to like about the player and his game already, coach Trent Vogelhuber said after Wednesday’s overtime loss to Lehigh Valley. It did not take Jiricek long to acclimate either, on and off the ice.

“He’s a very emotional guy, a real gamer,” Vogelhuber said. “I remember our first road trip, so it would have been our fourth or fifth game, he was standing up on the bench rallying the troops in a tight game.

“I wouldn’t have done that at 23 years old as (an AHL) rookie, let alone at 18. He’s just confident in himself, and he’s very passionate.”

There already has been enormous growth in Jiricek’s game, Vogelhuber and Haviland said. When he first arrived, he was overly aggressive, both in defending and his attempts to be creative offensively.


“You can’t just go nose-to-nose with guys on the rush all the time,” Vogelhuber said, with a smile. “I mean, he kills it sometimes. Sometimes it works. But you have to let the game come to you in certain situations, and he’s getting that feel better now.”

Haviland said there are three aspects of Jiricek’s game to watch the rest of the season.

• So far, the power play has been Jiricek’s special teams forte. He quarterbacks the top unit and had a booming shot. But in the second half of the season, the Monsters plan to start working him into the penalty kill rotation, too.

• Jiricek’s defensive zone play needs a lot of work, but it’s getting better with repetition. “Stopping the cycle down low is something we’re really working on,” Haviland said. “Simple, direct and hard plays … those are the three things I’ve preached to him.”

• At 6 feet 3, 189 pounds, Jiricek is still growing into his frame. His straight-line skating is quite good for a tall player, but when the play changes direction quickly or unpredictably he can look awkward. That, Haviland said, will improve with time.

• Jiricek does not shy away from contact, but he doesn’t regularly dictate it, either. When he fills out, he’ll be a physical force. “I’ve seen a lot of guys like this and over the course of the next two or three years, they grow into their bodies,” Haviland said. “They’re stronger. The game never gets easy, but you start winning those one-on-one battles instead of getting pushed off the puck.”

 

[tunnelvision]

Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering: Jiricek's development is right on track

Some of the important bits. I really think we have something special in him. I wouldn't be surprised to see a letter on his chest within the next 3-5 seasons.

Thanks. I want more of these type player analyses with quotes from coaches.

Jiricek’s defensive zone play needs a lot of work, but it’s getting better with repetition. “Stopping the cycle down low is something we’re really working on,” Haviland said. “Simple, direct and hard plays … those are the three things I’ve preached to him.”

I think Svozil needs help in this aspect of dzone play even more. Hopefully they can start working on it as soon as he arrives from Regina.

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

Thanks. I want more of these type player analyses with quotes from coaches.

Now that a professional coach has said we should expect him to be as good as Byfuglien, I'm sure that will do nothing but help the kid develop and the fans expectations won't go crazy. This is honestly one of the dumbest things I've ever heard from a coach. Let the 19 year old grow and develop without putting crazy expectations on him.

 

[CBJx614]

Now that a professional coach has said we should expect him to be as good as Byfuglien, I'm sure that will do nothing but help the kid develop and the fans expectations won't go crazy. This is honestly one of the dumbest things I've ever heard from a coach. Let the 19 year old grow and develop without putting crazy expectations on him.

I really don't think it's going to impact Jiricek either way. I don't think he's reading American newspaper's and articles nor do I think he cares.

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

I really don't think it's going to impact Jiricek either way. I don't think he's reading American newspaper's and articles nor do I think he cares.

There's no doubt Jiricek is going to hear it from teammates or opposing players. I'll bet that coach got a call directly from Jarmo ripping his ass.

 

[tunnelvision]

Now that a professional coach has said we should expect him to be as good as Byfuglien

Except he never said it, that's just your interpretation.

But yeah I bet he's assessed the development of Hjalmarsson, Keith, Seabrook and Byfuglien (with NHL player comparisons) for local media at some point during their early years in Chicago that eventually ruined their careers.

 

[ColumbusTrill]

There's no doubt Jiricek is going to hear it from teammates or opposing players. I'll bet that coach got a call directly from Jarmo ripping his ass.

If his game is negatively effected by players chirping him off who an ahl assistant compared him to then we have a big problem on our hands. Something tells me he’s not that thin skinned tho

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

Except he never said it, that's just your interpretation.

But yeah I bet he's assessed the development of Hjalmarsson, Keith, Seabrook and Byfuglien (with NHL player comparisons) for local media at some point during their early years in Chicago that eventually ruined their careers.

Ok good to know that's not what he actually said. I'm sure in this age of social media, no one will make this into a bigger deal.

There is no way CBJ org wanted him to say anything like this and I'd bet real money he got a call that was uncomfortable for him.

If his game is negatively effected by players chirping him off who an ahl assistant compared him to then we have a big problem on our hands. Something tells me he’s not that thin skinned tho

My point is not about Jiricek. My point is about coaches saying dumb shit in public that doesn't help the kid or the org.

 

[majormajor]

Ok good to know that's not what he actually said. I'm sure in this age of social media, no one will make this into a bigger deal.

I'm perplexed by your interpretation. How would this be made into something bad. "Haha your coach said you were like Buff and you're actually more like not Enuff". Something like that?

 

[tunnelvision]

I'd bet real money he got a call that was uncomfortable for him.

From a guy who's known for overhyping his prospects? I'm guessing you either haven't followed this team for a very long time or you're just having fun trolling.

 

[ColumbusTrill]

Ok good to know that's not what he actually said. I'm sure in this age of social media, no one will make this into a bigger deal.

There is no way CBJ org wanted him to say anything like this and I'd bet real money he got a call that was uncomfortable for him.


My point is not about Jiricek. My point is about coaches saying dumb shit in public that doesn't help the kid or the org.

If his game is negatively affected by fans expecting him to be a carbon copy of Buff and him not doing so then we have a big problem on our hands

 

[5th Line Fanatic]

I'm perplexed by your interpretation. How would this be made into something bad. "Haha your coach said you were like Buff and you're actually more like not Enuff". Something like that?

It's an unforced PR error by a coach. Is it the end of the world? No. But, it does nothing good for the kid to be compared with a great player at 19 years old. It does nothing good for the fanbase to have that expectation laid out by a coach in the know. It does nothing good for the organization. That's 3 strikes! It's actually surprising that this all needs explained. There is a reason you don't often hear professional coaches compare young players to other great players. It serves no good purpose. This coach should have never been talking to the media if he can't stay on message. My guess is you won't see him quoted again anytime soon. If you do, it means the org isn't watching the details.

 

[Monstershockey]

• So far, the power play has been Jiricek’s special teams forte. He quarterbacks the top unit and had a booming shot. But in the second half of the season, the Monsters plan to start working him into the penalty kill rotation, too.

He has been good on the PP this year, but as the Monsters have lost players to Columbus, the PP is struggling. Just like anything else, you need to have the personnel that can run a PP and make it effective. Their PP, is falling fast, like 0 for the last 19. He really doesn't have too much to work with. Plus Knazko, who was also good on the PP, hasn't played since his poor effort against Laval on the 14th. Don't know if he is hurt, or was benched.

 

[ColumbusTrill]

It's an unforced PR error by a coach. Is it the end of the world? No. But, it does nothing good for the kid to be compared with a great player at 19 years old. It does nothing good for the fanbase to have that expectation laid out by a coach in the know. It does nothing good for the organization. That's 3 strikes! It's actually surprising that this all needs explained. There is a reason you don't often hear professional coaches compare young players to other great players. It serves no good purpose. This coach should have never been talking to the media if he can't stay on message. My guess is you won't see him quoted again anytime soon. If you do, it means the org isn't watching the details.

There is a difference between a coach saying "he's the next Byfuglien" and "he has similar traits/skillset to Byfuglien but could use some work in certain areas to reach that potential". I think you are making a big deal about nothing. Thought it was refreshing hearing an experienced coach go into such detail about Jiri's game

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Now that a professional coach has said we should expect him to be as good as Byfuglien, I'm sure that will do nothing but help the kid develop and the fans expectations won't go crazy. This is honestly one of the dumbest things I've ever heard from a coach. Let the 19 year old grow and develop without putting crazy expectations on him.

Haviland has been coaching for 25 years-from the ECHL to the NHL and D1 college. I have this strange suspicion that he knows what he's doing when evaluating and describing player potential.

Would you prefer he said that he's got Bayreuther or Bean potential? Letting a kid know that he can be a great player and making bold comparisons to other great players is not a bad strategy for a coach. It's sets a high bar for the player and isn't that a good thing?

 

[ThirdPeriodTurtle]

DFO continues their sudden Blue Jackets coverage: From ‘population: 319’ to ‘population: 900,000’: Blue Jacket Denton Mateychuk’s journey to NHL first-rounder.

 

[majormajor]

Big 3-2 OT win for the Monsters.

Jiricek continues his pointless drought but he led all skaters in shots with 6. I imagine underlying play is good.

 

[Monstershockey]

Jiricek played fine. Got a crap tripping penalty called on him, he was pretty animated on the call. He did make a real nice pass to an open TFW in OT that Trey just couldn't put in. Real nice vision to spot the open guy.

 

[I3LI3]

LDBB still has yet to score a goal with his new team.

 

[stevo61]

LDBB still has yet to score a goal with his new team.

Right on queue, gets his 1st.

 

[Fro]

 

[barriers]

 

[AndBoomGoesTheCannon]

Looks shorthanded?