I think it would be interesting to know what the conversations have been with Jiricek and the new regime, but I'm also glad we haven't heard much. If we're hearing disagreement publicly between the player and the team, that's never a good thing.
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I think the fact Allan Walsh who is never quiet is actually quiet for a change says a lot. I'm guessing there is no lack of communication this time around
Either Walsh & Jiricek just wanted the paychecks (a big plus to being a 7/8 D compared to being in the AHL), or they've bought in on a development plan that involves a lot of training/practice in Columbus and less game time.
A third possibility came to mind, that Walsh realized that without Jarmo to blame, that any complaints at this point would ultimately hurt him and Jiricek.
koteka
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I don’t know that it is either/or. How about all 3 of your reasons being right?
more money / reasonable development plan / nothing to gain from complaining right now = all quiet on the Jiricek front
Evason just reiterated that they don't want Jiricek sitting. I'm leaning against this being a plan. It's more like all sides just don't have a lot of great options right now.
This is where it gets weird for me. I get the wanting to work with him off the ice thing, makes total sense but the major time between games meaning no rhythm or feel for things when everyone else is pretty settled is just asking for him to look out of place. Not unlike Voronkov last night who clearly and not surprisingly will need a bit of time to get up to speed. Atleast they are committing to him being 1 of the 6 defense and not running 7 again, that's probably the dumbest thing Evason has done in his short tenure in my mind.
I'm hopeful they've just realized they don't have much leverage for public demands with the level Jiricek's is at. That'd open the AHL door again.
Walsh has known that from day 1, you'd think he'd be a little more smart about having his clients longterm best interest in mind instead of just being a loud mouth trying to rush things
Yeah he surely knew Jiricek wasnt NHL ready but I think they still had some good leverage last season with the high draft status, decent camp, and fine AHL performances for a 19y/o.
But my point was that they kinda lost their leverage with Jiricek's lack of development during the summer and Mateychuk's strong showings. You have to at least be the organization's best D prospect available to make NHL ice time demands
But was it leverage? A good agent acts in the best interest of his client, sometimes that means you have to have the difficult conversation. Jiricek and Mateychuk aren't even in competition for a spot so I'm not sure what they have to do with each other, if anything the team can say look at Denton putting his head down and doing what's asked of him even if deep down he probably thinks hes done enough to get a look sooner. Jiricek needs people saying the uncomfortable thing and not just propping him up. His potential is sky high (in my mind its higher than Mateychuk's) bit until he physically catches up its just potential. I think the new regime has done a better job having that talk and that's why things have been more quiet this year
Feels like we've given up a lot of dangerous odd man rushes in the past 3 games and the games vs Minnesota. I think it's an expected result if the team intends to play aggressively but the puck management is inconsistent, and forwards aren't quick enough to 1) execute 2-man forecheck effectively to keep pucks in the zone and 2) get back on defending when play goes the other way.
Maybe Evason will try doing some adjustments to the structure but I doubt anything will help them much this year. If Waddell and rest of the FO want CBJ to play fast and aggressive hockey now and for foreseeable future, they better find quicker guys to replace some of the slower ones in their forward group. There's no hurry to make desperate moves today but there should be enough time between now and next offseason to evaluate them and make possibly tough but right decisions.
Marchenko, KJ, Voronkov and Monahan are probably all considered as potential long-term top-6 guys but if we're being honest, none of them are very quick in transition and maybe only 2 of them should have a spot in those lines. Speed is also required from the bottom-6 when the system is fast and aggressive but I guess it all could work even if only 3/6 of those forwards are above average skaters, but preferably not less than that.
I know other ingredients are needed too (skill, hockey sense, compete, checking ability etc.) to perform that system successfully but I don't think we're ever going very far with Evason's system if we won't demand more speed from our forwards.
Maybe Evason will try doing some adjustments to the structure but I doubt anything will help them much this year. If Waddell and rest of the FO want CBJ to play fast and aggressive hockey now and for foreseeable future, they better find quicker guys to replace some of the slower ones in their forward group. There's no hurry to make desperate moves today but there should be enough time between now and next offseason to evaluate them and make possibly tough but right decisions.
Marchenko, KJ, Voronkov and Monahan are probably all considered as potential long-term top-6 guys but if we're being honest, none of them are very quick in transition and maybe only 2 of them should have a spot in those lines. Speed is also required from the bottom-6 when the system is fast and aggressive but I guess it all could work even if only 3/6 of those forwards are above average skaters, but preferably not less than that.
I know other ingredients are needed too (skill, hockey sense, compete, checking ability etc.) to perform that system successfully but I don't think we're ever going very far with Evason's system if we won't demand more speed from our forwards.
Jiricek needs Mateychuk with him to help him out, or else he's kinda set up to fail given the options we have. He is nowhere near good enough to make it work playing with Johnson. The west coast trip would be a good handful of games to introduce Mateychuk - I hope that's being considered.
CBJWerenski8
Rest in Peace Johnny
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I actually think Jiricek could work on a pair with Harris. However JJ plays a decent role on the PK and seems stapled into his spot. So that’s why it’s just Harris and Jiricek rotating
Cowumbus
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I know of a very fast player with high hockey IQ, and even played with Fantilli before!
He should be right in line with thinking of a return to playing assuming there were no setbacks. Have there been many reports on his recovery?
Porty in his latest Sunday gathering
- Kent Johnson is no longer wearing a sling on his injured left shoulder, indicating his progress since being injured on Oct. 17 vs. Buffalo. The club has not announced a targeted return date, but he’ll be back before Jenner or Gudbranson. “He’s in the gym, which is a good sign,” Waddell said. “Now it’s just a time thing. He’s not going to be back in two weeks, but it’s not going to be two months, either.”
Well that's excellent news I didn't see so thanks for that. I was meaning Brindley in my post
Aaaarrgghh
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Cowumbus
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CBJWerenski8
Rest in Peace Johnny
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One of these days I'd like them to give up on having Jack Johnson next to Jiricek. Maybe the teaching role is valuable here though?
ZAR just had a couple really rough games by my eye. A big drop off from him. Personally I'd want him back with Danforth and Olivier.
Voronkov hasn't looked good either. So we could rotate him with JVR until he gets up to speed. But I'm also a believe in him as a player. If that Fantilli line doesn't work (they've had one good game so far), then I'd like to try having Voronkov work with Fantilli. That could be in place of either winger.
The Sillinger Voronkov comparison is interesting. Cole has take a step in his skating. But it comes and goes. And his passing game comes and goes as well. The last two games his passes have been off by five+ feet. Maybe a brain oxygen thing. Voronkov isn't the fastest guy either but I think he has more natural ease in his passing and processing. Obviously he is more of a handful because of his size. At the same time Cole has a great battle level. I'm still of the opinion that Voronkov is the much better center but leaving that aside Cole has narrowed the gap, in some of his games.
CBJWerenski8
Rest in Peace Johnny
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Double-Shift Lasse
Just post better
I know we had a nice high early last week and the weekend was a downer, but it is kind of remarkable what Evason is doing with this group, given the roster heading into the season and then with KJ, Jenner, Vronk and Guddy all out.
