Prospect Info: Filip Mesar

[ReHabs]

I don't think Mesar will ever be a 90 pts player (unless the scoring get back to mid 80's level). However, I think we should be thrilled if Mesar get to Erat level. He was an offensively gifted player, in his prime he had 321 pts in 424 gp for a 0.76 PPG. The last 3 season of his prime was in a very defensive system, on a team that had few offensive weapons. He was a good two-way player and was seen as a good asset (Nashville got Forsberg for him !!!).

That's fine. It would lead to a pretty good and nuanced discussion if were to compare Mesar to players like Martin Erat.

 

[danyhabsfan]

If we trade Mesar down the road (like Erat) and get a young 1st rounder like Fillip Forsberg I'd be happy

 

[Tetragrammaton]

Slafkovsky - Dach - Mesar

This could be a very good line

 

[Habsrule]

Since Kitchener had fired their coach they are 6-5-2 under the new coach. Over those 13 games Mesar has 3 goals and 14 assists. That is 1.31 PPG. I swear if he had a good shot he would have another 10 goals on the year. Now I will say that he is always skating with the puck in the offensive zone so he does a lot of shots while skating with speed which is a lot more difficult to do.

What I really came here to say is that the Kitchener Rangers have had open practices this week with it being March Break. I took my son to get autographs from the players but also to watch them closer. Mesar can stick handle in a phone booth. That guy has some sweet hands. He was the last player off the ice today along with a teammate and they were just working on their shots. We stayed 10 minutes or so to watch and they were still going strong. Nice to see that he is putting in the work on it.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Since Kitchener had fired their coach they are 6-5-2 under the new coach. Over those 13 games Mesar has 3 goals and 14 assists. That is 1.31 PPG. I swear if he had a good shot he would have another 10 goals on the year. Now I will say that he is always skating with the puck in the offensive zone so he does a lot of shots while skating with speed which is a lot more difficult to do.

What I really came here to say is that the Kitchener Rangers have had open practices this week with it being March Break. I took my son to get autographs from the players but also to watch them closer. Mesar can stick handle in a phone booth. That guy has some sweet hands. He was the last player off the ice today along with a teammate and they were just working on their shots. We stayed 10 minutes or so to watch and they were still going strong. Nice to see that he is putting in the work on it.

He can shoot, he just needs to shoot a lot more as he is pass first to a fault. I will say that I have noticed that his linemates are often too dense to realize that he is looking for a give-and-go and they just take the shot instead of giving it back. He tends to be the main puck carrier and distributor when he is on the ice and because he is rarely looking to set up for his own shot his production is too reliant on linemates doing something positive after he gives it to them.

I think Mesar will be fine when paired with linemates who can think the game at his level. I would be more concerned about his production if he was a local kid as opposed to an 18 year old in a new country who is accustomed to playing a different game with more experienced linemates who see the game on a higher level.

 

[Bombshell11]

Since Kitchener had fired their coach they are 6-5-2 under the new coach. Over those 13 games Mesar has 3 goals and 14 assists. That is 1.31 PPG. I swear if he had a good shot he would have another 10 goals on the year. Now I will say that he is always skating with the puck in the offensive zone so he does a lot of shots while skating with speed which is a lot more difficult to do.

What I really came here to say is that the Kitchener Rangers have had open practices this week with it being March Break. I took my son to get autographs from the players but also to watch them closer. Mesar can stick handle in a phone booth. That guy has some sweet hands. He was the last player off the ice today along with a teammate and they were just working on their shots. We stayed 10 minutes or so to watch and they were still going strong. Nice to see that he is putting in the work on it.

Amen, some people here would tell you he's been disappointing.

He can shoot, he just needs to shoot a lot more as he is pass first to a fault. I will say that I have noticed that his linemates are often too dense to realize that he is looking for a give-and-go and they just take the shot instead of giving it back. He tends to be the main puck carrier and distributor when he is on the ice and because he is rarely looking to set up for his own shot his production is too reliant on linemates doing something positive after he gives it to them.

I think Mesar will be fine when paired with linemates who can think the game at his level. I would be more concerned about his production if he was a local kid as opposed to an 18 year old in a new country who is accustomed to playing a different game with more experienced linemates who see the game on a higher level.

Just one thing, I don't think you're correct about his shot. It needs more weight to it.

 

[Wats]

Kinda reminds me of Martin Reway pre-career being ruined by heart condition.

 

[montreal]

Kinda reminds me of Martin Reway pre-career being ruined by heart condition.

I saw a lot of Reway in the Czech league, he can only dream about having the speed/skating of Mesar but man could he dish the puck

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Mesar got the pine for much of the second half of the third period after a sloppy turnover and a lazy backcheck. Can't have that in playoffs. I'm just thanking heavens Kitchener is finally figuring out accountability. Several months too late.

It's been the issue with him all season, sadly. He never managed to fit himself into the team and it's system, he's been on an island on his own most of the time. Feels like he would have rather been in Laval and he just had the wrong attitude from the get-go.

 

[Tim Wallach]

It's been the issue with him all season, sadly. He never managed to fit himself into the team and it's system, he's been on an island on his own most of the time. Feels like he would have rather been in Laval and he just had the wrong attitude from the get-go.

Hard to say exactly as he's always smiling and happy and interacting with fans. But there is zero doubt that coaching was a disaster until they fired Dennis. The entire team managed the puck like a hand grenade and never made a stitch of improvement. In fact, last night is the first time I've seen any of their top guys held accountable for it. Maybe if they had tried this sooner, they wouldn't have been 8th.

I wish coaches would understand you're not helping your players develop if you don't hold them accountable. And I don't mean in an old school "don't try stuff" way, but rather help them snuff out the horrible decisions. Mesar clearly hasn't met a risky pass he didn't like to try, but his top gear skating only seems to work going one way. These are things he needs to clean up a lot to ever play in the NHL. And Chris Dennis as coach was a lost year in that regard for him. Maybe the playoffs will salvage some development.

 

[lillypad33]

It's been the issue with him all season, sadly. He never managed to fit himself into the team and it's system, he's been on an island on his own most of the time. Feels like he would have rather been in Laval and he just had the wrong attitude from the get-go.

Maybe it's because he doesn't know how to play hockey?
Just a thought, but coaches put players on the ice who they can trust will help the team each shift.
Nifty stickhandling doesn't win games.
Kitchener now have had 2 coaches who Mesar has not got on with.... At some point it's the player.

 

[WinterLion]

Maybe it's because he doesn't know how to play hockey?
Just a thought, but coaches put players on the ice who they can trust will help the team each shift.
Nifty stickhandling doesn't win games.
Kitchener now have had 2 coaches who Mesar has not got on with.... At some point it's the player.

Yeah we have had plenty of great storylines this year... but sadly Mesar isn't one of them..

 

[WeThreeKings]

Maybe it's because he doesn't know how to play hockey?
Just a thought, but coaches put players on the ice who they can trust will help the team each shift.
Nifty stickhandling doesn't win games.
Kitchener now have had 2 coaches who Mesar has not got on with.... At some point it's the player.

He knew how to play hockey in Slovakia.. he knew how to play hockey in training camp.. he knew how to play hockey in the WJC.

Suzuki literally had a turn-over that cost the team a goal last night. Sometimes skilled players make moves that cost them.

There's no reason to panic here, maybe it's just Kitchener?

 

[Hickflyer]

Beck and Mesar play great at camp, Slav underpreformed and stays with big club. I would have a attitude too.

 

[Wats]

Beck and Mesar play great at camp, Slav underpreformed and stays with big club. I would have a attitude too.

Then you will have a lot of trouble fighting through adversity if all it takes to get you 'attitude' is being sent down as a tiny 18 year old over the previous year's 1st overall pick.

 

[Hickflyer]

Then you will have a lot of trouble fighting through adversity if all it takes to get you 'attitude' is being sent down as a tiny 18 year old over the previous year's 1st overall pick.

Same draft year for all !

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He knew how to play hockey in Slovakia.. he knew how to play hockey in training camp.. he knew how to play hockey in the WJC.

Suzuki literally had a turn-over that cost the team a goal last night. Sometimes skilled players make moves that cost them.

There's no reason to panic here, maybe it's just Kitchener?

Panic? no. Worry? Sure a bit.

Next year's huge. He needs a big year with noticeable improvements.

Since Houle seems to be doing as a fine job at developing as anyone in this org in possibly decades, maybe the AHL wouldn't be a bad spot for him.

 

[WinterLion]

He knew how to play hockey in Slovakia.. he knew how to play hockey in training camp.. he knew how to play hockey in the WJC.

Suzuki literally had a turn-over that cost the team a goal last night. Sometimes skilled players make moves that cost them.

There's no reason to panic here, maybe it's just Kitchener?

It's true that he was very good in camp and I was really excited. I hope you are right, and they get him the hell out of there!

 

[lillypad33]

He knew how to play hockey in Slovakia.. he knew how to play hockey in training camp.. he knew how to play hockey in the WJC.

Suzuki literally had a turn-over that cost the team a goal last night. Sometimes skilled players make moves that cost them.

There's no reason to panic here, maybe it's just Kitchener?

I'm not panicking. Not at all. I think there are a few different thought processes.
1 is that the player is being treated unfairly.
Another is that that the player can't play.
I was playing Devil's advocate.
There is no black and white. Mesar is not living up to expectations. It's likely a combination of everything.
Also, don't forget about the fact that he's living in a new country just like Slafkovsky.
Judge him next year.

 

[Tim Wallach]

I'm not panicking. Not at all. I think there are a few different thought processes.
1 is that the player is being treated unfairly.
Another is that that the player can't play.
I was playing Devil's advocate.
There is no black and white. Mesar is not living up to expectations. It's likely a combination of everything.
Also, don't forget about the fact that he's living in a new country just like Slafkovsky.
Judge him next year.

Having watched all of his games this year, I would suggest it’s more the latter but not in a permanent, devastating way. He has most certainly been treated fairly. Probably too fairly for his own good. Like a kid whose parents don’t give a damn what he does or ever check in.

As for not knowing how to play, I think he has plenty of skill. He just has a very long way to go to understand how to apply it. Coaches need to help him with that. I haven’t watched the Slovakian league but the habits he brought with him are problematic. It’ll take time but easily another year in junior for me followed by some Laval time.

 

[TomKosto]

He knew how to play hockey in Slovakia.. he knew how to play hockey in training camp.. he knew how to play hockey in the WJC.

Suzuki literally had a turn-over that cost the team a goal last night. Sometimes skilled players make moves that cost them.

There's no reason to panic here, maybe it's just Kitchener?

Do Mesar get a free pass this year from some fans only because of his great camp? Each time I see people writing something "bad" about him, they get accused of panicking, have you watch all of his games, etc. I really think he had a great camp too, same with Beck. But, there's real concern this year with his level of play. We can't only blame the team. He seems to have some attitude problem and make lazy plays. I have not watch him all year long, but I think there's some concern.

Next year will tell us a lot about Beck and Mesar. Like an other poster said, a lot of great story this year but Mesar is not one of them. It's only a year, not that of a big deal, but still, you want more from first rounder. 51 pts in 52 games from a D+1 offensive minded prospect, is not good. He's not like Beck, a two way beast. I can live with a smaller production when you are a good all around player.

 

[jfm133]

Hey! We have Adam Nicolas, a genius to develop prospects. Why he was not sent to Kitchener with his magic wand? But seriously, it's too early with Mesar and Beck. Both will need to go back in the OHL next season and work hard. The message needs to be clear, there will be competition to earn a roster spot with the big team. Some can get there at a younger age, other need more time, RHP and Ylonen are good examples this year. They paid their dues and were ready to seize their opportunity this year. RHP is 24 and Ylonen 23. So Mesar and Beck just turned 19. With Heineman, Roy, Kidney, Farrell, Kapanen in front of them, and a top-7 and likely top-15 picks this year, it will be hard in the future to earn a roster spot with the Habs. The team is now in a position to be patient with young players.

 

[MtlSars]

Mesar should go to the AHL next year, seems like Beck can't yet...

We'll have an influx of young prospects and it's beneficial for the team that they build chemistry and grow together.

Roy, Kidney, Heinemen, Farell Mesar, Struble Mailloux.... some might get callups but it's about time we get to watch our future in Laval....

 

[montreal]

Mesar should go to the AHL next year, seems like Beck can't yet...

We'll have an influx of young prospects and it's beneficial for the team that they build chemistry and grow together.

Roy, Kidney, Heinemen, Farell Mesar, Struble Mailloux.... some might get callups but it's about time we get to watch our future in Laval....

no Beck can't go to Laval until the end of next season. Mesar that's a much tougher call, he's physical far from ready for the AHL but I do wonder if there was some sulking going on when he got sent to the OHL so how you handle that if true not saying it is or isn't but my hope would just be that the Habs would know and work with him on this if they are in fact improving a lot on development (as it's easy to say and harder to do)

I would lean towards lets see how his off-season goes (and playoffs now of course) and how he looks at camp and go from there.

 

[Bombshell11]

I don't feel keeping him in the OHL is part of a good development strategy for a euro player.

We have to see how well he does at camp, if he impresses as much as last year i think its mission accomplished and we send him to the AHL.

End of story