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Prospect Info: Cernak

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Fat Elvis

El Guapo
Dec 25, 2003
7,120
2,016
On Lebowski's rug
Not sure it needs it's own thread, but it's player specific.

Curious what's going on with Cernak. Haven't seen his name on any roster and wonder where he'll play this season. Being LA's 1st pick in 2015, it's kind of important for him to play.
Click to read more...
 
He was sent to Erie, but apparently he refused to report and is now being sent to Ontario (or something like that). Seems like a bit of a mess
 
He is an absolute beast. Personally I think the AHL will be much better for him than the CHL.

He is physically dominant and would just run wild against kids in the CHL. This way he can learn something about using his size and the speed of the pro game.
 
I don't see how playing a limited amount of minutes in the AHL is going to "develop his game" like playing major minutes in the OHL.
 
I don't see him on a roster anywhere (Erie, Reign, Monarchs, Kosice), I don't think he's decided where to play yet.

This is the only think I could find, it looks like they haven't signed him yet:

http://www.goerie.com/otters-try-to-sell-cernak-on-erie#


There's a quick question on top to read the article, but its free. Here's a short blurb:

Erie Otters general manager Dave Brown and Michael Futa, Los Angeles Kings' vice president of hockey operations and director of player personnel, are ironing out details in hopes of getting Kings prospect and CHL first-round pick Erik Cernak signed with the Otters.

Brown indicated Cernak and his family haven't ruled out playing in Erie.

The OHL "probably wasn't something in their mind," Brown said, since the Slovakian-born defenseman signed with the Kings in July.
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Ahhh, Jason Lewis, I doubt that he would be THAT dominant in the OHL. Kurtis McDermind, Darnell Nurse, and some pretty good, tough, defensemen played last year in the OHL. Having seen AHL hockey (Hershey Bears) and having season tickets for the Otters, I can assure you that Cernak will be playing against and with some players that will never play in the AHL because they are too good. He will get knocked on his a-- more than a few times, particularly since he is a Pean. They generally don't play physical hockey. Maybe the Kings need to read him the prima donna memo...
 
Sounds like he has been officially assigned to Ontario.

Disappointing attitude to see from a player, refusing assignment to the OHL. Good luck with this guy, don't want him in Erie anymore.
 
damacles1156 said:
Boy Ontario is crowded.
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Guessing Schultz is on his way there now too. That makes 9 defensemen. With the new schedule they play, there's fewer games and 3 games in 3 nights. Even if they play Raine at F, there's too many dmen.
LA probably isn't happy this is how Cernak's season has started. They talked at the draft how they'd have more "control" over his development.
 
I'm excited for Cernak if he develops into the player they say but good let Dean get ****ed. Because his drafting even though produces NHL talent through development, they do not take best player available contrary to what they say. We needed Centers more and they took Cernak, while Harkins and Chlapik were still there. Like years in the past they pass on talent for character. Where's his character ? Lol
 
Kingsfan1 said:
I'm excited for Cernak if he develops into the player they say but good let Dean get ****ed. Because his drafting even though produces NHL talent through development, they do not take best player available contrary to what they say. We needed Centers more and they took Cernak, while Harkins and Chlapik were still there. Like years in the past they pass on talent for character. Where's his character ? Lol
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They didn't pick Cernak because of character. They picked him because he is extremely talented, and has tremendous size/skating/hockey IQ.
 
Jason Lewis said:
He is an absolute beast. Personally I think the AHL will be much better for him than the CHL.

He is physically dominant and would just run wild against kids in the CHL. This way he can learn something about using his size and the speed of the pro game.
Click to expand...

I agree, he should be playing against Men in the AHL. I don't think Cernak would learn much from the CHL.

His skating is tremendous, Size/reach is really good. Hockey IQ is good.
 
buzzworthy said:
Ahhh, Jason Lewis, I doubt that he would be THAT dominant in the OHL. Kurtis McDermind, Darnell Nurse, and some pretty good, tough, defensemen played last year in the OHL. Having seen AHL hockey (Hershey Bears) and having season tickets for the Otters, I can assure you that Cernak will be playing against and with some players that will never play in the AHL because they are too good. He will get knocked on his a-- more than a few times, particularly since he is a Pean. They generally don't play physical hockey. Maybe the Kings need to read him the prima donna memo...
Click to expand...

Apparently, you have never seen Cernak play, at all.
 
damacles1156 said:
I agree, he should be playing against Men in the AHL. I don't think Cernak would learn much from the CHL.

His skating is tremendous, Size/reach is really good. Hockey IQ is good.
Click to expand...

Perhaps it's a small sample size, but when I attended the two rookie games, my perception of Cernak's hockey IQ was anything but good. Bad pinches and penalties left and right. He's a young guy so these mistakes aren't that alarming, but his physical abilities far outweigh his hockey IQ imo.
 
goosh said:
Perhaps it's a small sample size, but when I attended the two rookie games, my perception of Cernak's hockey IQ was anything but good. Bad pinches and penalties left and right. He's a young guy so these mistakes aren't that alarming, but his physical abilities far outweigh his hockey IQ imo.
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You described every single Defender at every level, Doughty makes bad pinches, and takes penalties.

What's important is: Does the Defender understand his options for first outlet passes ?, can he read plays ?, is positioning good ?, how fast does said player digest and assess all the above qualities.

Cernak is good in these areas(for the AHL, in my opinion), and can improve(to NHL quality).
 
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damacles1156 said:
Apparently, you have never seen Cernak play, at all.
Click to expand...

I believe this ^ to be true. Cernak is capable of being a solid AHL Dman today but I still think he should spend one more season in the CHL. If he were to go to Ontario early it would suit me just fine because of my being a STH there but for his development I think he would be best getting 1 more dominant year. He was an absolute beast last season and I like many pro scouts thought he would go in the 1st round. Lucky for us he was still available. He will end up being one of those kids that everyone else regrets not drafting when they had the chance.
 
damacles1156 said:
You described every single Defender at every level, Doughty makes bad pinches, and takes penalties.

What's important is: Does the Defender understand his options for first outlet passes ?, can he read plays ?, is positioning good ?, how fast does said player digest and assess all the above qualities.

Cernak is good in these areas, and can improve.
Click to expand...

Of course every defender makes mistakes. But elite defensemen like Doughty make them far less frequently than the average one. Cernak, on the other hand (again, small sample size), makes bad pinches and reads frequently. It's not a big deal. He's a young guy.

I think Cernak's development (if it goes right) will be similar to Muzzin's. He won't make it off his hockey IQ, but by superior physical abilities coupled with instinctual reads that will come from practicing good habits with the development team.
 
417th said:
I believe this ^ to be true. Cernak is capable of being a solid AHL Dman today but I still think he should spend one more season in the CHL. If he were to go to Ontario early it would suit me just fine because of my being a STH there but for his development I think he would be best getting 1 more dominant year. He was an absolute beast last season and I like many pro scouts thought he would go in the 1st round. Lucky for us he was still available. He will end up being one of those kids that everyone else regrets not drafting when they had the chance.
Click to expand...

I don't think a year in the CHL would hurt him. But if he is not willing, I also wouldn't make a big deal out of it.
 
I am however a little ticked off that, Alex Lintuniemi has to play in the ECHL.

Not happy about that.
 
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