Warriors hero in Game 2 of WHL finals
F Jagger Firkus - Moose Jaw Warriors, WHL (2022, 35th, SEA)
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Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
Can't wait to see this kid in the AHL next season. Really hoping he can make it to the next level.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
You don't think he can make it from the Seattle camps and preseason to the NHL?
he has all summer to improve his physique and what ever his game lacks at pro level
George is there any 130 pt player in junior who you don't think should be in the NHL as soon as possible?
Firkus has some quickness that Dumais lacks, so I'm more confident in him, but he's not as sturdy as say, Logan Stankoven. And Stankoven probably benefited tremendously from taking the ramp up through the AHL. I don't see why we would take a different approach from Stankoven with Firkus.
Even if Firkus is one of the best twelve forwards for the Kraken in training camp, is it worth it for his development to put him in the NHL right away? We want him to dominate pros in the AHL first. Take the ramp up!
Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
I would be very surprised if he is NHL ready by the beginning of the 2024-25 season. He will be given every chance to earn that spot because the Kraken desperately need to add offense to the team, but it is a long shot. There is no need to rush him either, so if he needs AHL time, let him marinate in the AHL.
I am not sure if he has put on much muscle and weight since he was drafted. He looked slightly "bigger" in the last few viewings I have seen of him but that was against other junior players, so does not tell me as much.
Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
When I was watching the highlights of his last played game, I noticed the same. He was skinny but he looked taller to me as well.
If people were confident Firkus could fill out he would have been a consensus first rounder. Maybe top half of the first. My guess has always been that he's putting on maybe ten lbs tops.
That said, 5'11 170 is almost Bjorkstrand size, a player he does remind me of a lot. He has that crazy shot release. Bjorkstrand has this wild ability to lever his core strength to win battles. I'm not sure I ever see Firkus figuring that part out. But he has the shot, and maybe even better scoring instincts.
AHL would be great for a couple more reasons - he gets to learn how to protect himself vs pros in a more controlled environment. And most importantly they can have Jagger in the gym during the week. The AHL schedule allows for it. I actually love it when teams take it a step further and cut back on games played to let players focus on training.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
Dead Coyote
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2017
- 2,954
- 3,480
Firkus has looked extremely impressive and dangerous in the Memorial Cup. Overall he might have been Moose Jaw's most dangerous player during the tournament, even though Mateychuk and Yager had more points. His playmaking and vision stood out a lot to me but I thought he showed great IQ at being in the right place at the right time and he never really struck me as playing small. His skating looked solid to me and his main flaw, his top speed, didn't seem that bad- he separated away from guys a pretty good amount and while I wouldn't say it's amazing he has the acceleration and hands in tight to blow past guys anyways. He doesn't seem like the kind of player who needs his shot to score either. He obviously has a great one but he consistently approaches the game from great angles and seems to have a great offensive nose for the net.
I didn't watch him much this year, only probably 10-20 games, but he seemed to improve on everything that was holding him back in rankings before. I watched him a bunch in 2023 and thought he looked like a solid NHL prospect, could certainly serve to put on weight and become more like Jagr or Crosby in his legs to both improve skating and power and to improve his puck handling in the NHL, but his game mostly seemed very translatable.
I didn't watch him much this year, only probably 10-20 games, but he seemed to improve on everything that was holding him back in rankings before. I watched him a bunch in 2023 and thought he looked like a solid NHL prospect, could certainly serve to put on weight and become more like Jagr or Crosby in his legs to both improve skating and power and to improve his puck handling in the NHL, but his game mostly seemed very translatable.
I'd say at least among the forwards Firkus looked more dangerous than Yager and Savoie. I was mildly surprised that Yager had more points in the mem cup games because Firkus appeared to be driving more of the offense.
Hockeyfrilla
Swe prospect fanatic
Mickey Marner
Registered User
I believe he was a late injury replacement at the 2024 world juniors, but he never played. Certainly could've used his offensive play-driving.
Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
Don't be too hard on yourself. I did not grow up in NA, and didn't start watching hockey till about 2010, so dont get a lot of the references ..
It wasn’t a hockey reference. It was a Rollong Stones reference.Don't be too hard on yourself. I did not grow up in NA, and didn't start watching hockey till about 2010, so dont get a lot of the references ..
- Apr 27, 2005
- 36,103
- 35,938
I had Firkus 23rd in my final 2022 rankings, so I've been higher on him than most. But he hasn't progressed as I'd hoped, despite the gaudy numbers.
My biggest concern with Firkus is that his skating hasn't improved as much as I would have hoped in the last 2 years. The eye test suggests that he's grown a fair amount in the last 2 years, which is supported by his listed size (about 1 inch and 10 lbs higher vs his combine results). That could help explain some of the stagnation with his technical skating abilities.
A couple years in the AHL working on his power and skating stride should do wonders. He's got the IQ and hands to be a dangerous complimentary offensive weapon if he can add a more powerful stride.
My biggest concern with Firkus is that his skating hasn't improved as much as I would have hoped in the last 2 years. The eye test suggests that he's grown a fair amount in the last 2 years, which is supported by his listed size (about 1 inch and 10 lbs higher vs his combine results). That could help explain some of the stagnation with his technical skating abilities.
A couple years in the AHL working on his power and skating stride should do wonders. He's got the IQ and hands to be a dangerous complimentary offensive weapon if he can add a more powerful stride.
Bubbles
Die Hard for Bedard 2023
Weird no one mentioned that he just won the CHL player of the year award.
You make a fair number of Stones puns for a guy w/ Abbey Road as his profile pic. I do realize this is the Jagger thread so I won't get all doom and gloom about it.
Very Stable Genius
#WeLostOurKarlssons
I’m a fan of most classic rock. I’ve seen thr Stones three or four times and plenty of the other old timey rock groups. I was lucky enough to see Rober Plant once from about five feet away and I’ve seen Waters a couple of times and of course Paul. I’m going to see Gilmour in the fall.
