Prospect Info: Jets Prospects

[None]

Too bad about the Ice but great for Lambert.

 

[Whileee]

No points for Lambert tonight, but I really liked his game. He played a very involved game, made good decisions, and created a lot of offense.

If you like 2 minute shifts, Guenther is your kind of player. He loves to extend every shift, often staying on right through the next line's shift.

On another point, Benson is the real deal. Best skater tonight, and likely in the entire series. He plays a very smart game, but at a high pace. Very good mobility and he's sturdy, despite his size.

 

[superdeluxe]

It was an amazing night for us.

Post game interview with Lambert



Lambert with the cup



And photo with us and Jordan Gustafson and Dylan Guenther

 

[snowkiddin]

It was an amazing night for us.

Post game interview with Lambert



Lambert with the cup



And photo with us and Jordan Gustafson and Dylan Guenther

Happy for Lambert. Hope he has a great Memorial Cup and wins it. That, and Cockell getting fired would be the two redeeming parts of this series for me.

 

[GJF]

Jetting off to Finland? Is Lambert joining the WC Finland roster? The Memorial Cup starts in six days? I'm confused

On Gawanke:
watched two games at the World Cup now, vs Denmark and vs Austria. Germany won both games but in both games, Gawanke wasn't standing out. Obviously Seider was the main attraction on Germany's D-lineup but besides him not Gawanke was the one player catching attention but Kai Wissmann, 26 years old Bruins prospect who made the jump over to NA last summer and played for Providence in the AHL.

Ehlers looked dangerous in the game vs Germany but couldn't score. Had one assist I think. Denmark's game seems to live and die by him producing goals. When he scored, they won. When he did not, they lost. He's playing vs USA right now (0-0 as I type).

Random info: Denmark's goaltender Frederik Dichow, Habs prospect, looked awful vs Germany. One of the worst performances of rebound control I ever saw

Quick look on the scoring table over there after 4/5 games. Samberg has 2 assists in 4 games and is a +7.

 

[Albatros]

Not losing any sleep over Gawanke. By most accounts his defensive game was never good enough and he passed through waivers. I aa more upset about Kovacevic who was a promising prospect with size.

Then they never should have signed (or drafted) him if they weren't prepared to give a player with his set of skills a singular chance. Now other lesser prospects and agents will look at his case with some concern.

 

[ps241]

I have been wrong, and I have been right at times but I did get the “send Lambert to the T Birds” rant right. I was at the light my hair on fire to make it happen level. He is a kid still and scorers need to score. Here’s hoping he has a good memorial cup.

He needed confidence and he needed to fill the net. Stretches like this and playing experiences like this can change the trajectory of a 19 year old prospect.

 

[Whileee]

Then they never should have signed (or drafted) him if they weren't prepared to give a player with his set of skills a singular chance. Now other lesser prospects and agents will look at his case with some concern.

He was drafted in the 5th round, after 135 other prospects. Very few late picks ever make the NHL.

As with any drafted prospect, especially late picks, the hope is that they make huge leaps forward in their skills and performance. Gawanke improved more than many, but his lack of mobility and defensive competency never improved enough, so he was behind several others that were drafted earlier than him.

 

[Albatros]

He was drafted in the 5th round, after 135 other prospects. Very few late picks ever make the NHL.

As with any drafted prospect, especially late picks, the hope is that they make huge leaps forward in their skills and performance. Gawanke improved more than many, but his lack of mobility and defensive competency never improved enough, so he was behind several others that were drafted earlier than him.

Being drafted with a less valuable pick doesn't mean they should sign the player for four years and never give a singular chance. It's not bad just for the player involved but everyone that could end up in the same situation. Usually these are still guys that can have very legit pro careers elsewhere and don't need to waste their time with an organization that doesn't even want them.

 

[Romang67]

Then they never should have signed (or drafted) him if they weren't prepared to give a player with his set of skills a singular chance. Now other lesser prospects and agents will look at his case with some concern.

Not drafting or signing young players because they have areas where they need to improve seens very shortsighted.

 

[Albatros]

Not drafting or signing young players because they have areas where they need to improve seens very shortsighted.

Either you sign them and give a plausible path to what they came for playing the hockey they're capable of, or better don't bother at all. Especially European players have absolutely no interest in coming over for just AHL hockey.

 

[Romang67]

Either you sign them and give a plausible path to what they came for playing the hockey they're capable of, or better don't bother at all. Especially European players have absolutely no interest in coming over for just AHL hockey.

Does improving in certain areas constitute a plausible path? Or should they only sign NHL ready players to ELCs?

 

[Albatros]

Does improving in certain areas constitute a plausible path? Or should they only sign NHL ready players to ELCs?

You don't need to be NHL ready to get at least a singular opportunity over four years. If you don't want to give that opportunity then better just focus on the rights and let the player further his actual career elsewhere. Sign him only when you're comfortable about giving that chance. It's better for the organization and player alike.

 

[Whileee]

Being drafted with a less valuable pick doesn't mean they should sign the player for four years and never give a singular chance. It's not bad just for the player involved but everyone that could end up in the same situation. Usually these are still guys that can have very legit pro careers elsewhere and don't need to waste their time with an organization that doesn't even want them.

Teams draft 5-7 players every year, sometimes more. There aren't enough NHL positions to give every drafted player an opportunity. That's just the reality of the NHL.

Gawanke was waived by the Jets last October, and no other NHL team claimed him, even though he was "free". So it's not just the Jets that didn't see much potential.

In contrast, Kovacevic and Eyssimont were both claimed by other teams on waivers and now have NHL roles. NHL teams make mistakes in assessing some players, but they usually marginal players that can be replaced by other marginal players.

Maybe Gawanke will get a chance at some point, but his sense of entitlement makes it seem that he doesn't have a full appreciation of his limitations.

You don't need to be NHL ready to get at least a singular opportunity over four years. If you don't want to give that opportunity then better just focus on the rights and let the player further his actual career elsewhere. Sign him only when you're comfortable about giving that chance. It's better for the organization and player alike.

He was waived. None of the other 31 teams claimed him. That's the reality of how NHL teams have assessed his potential.

 

[RabidOne]

It was an amazing night for us.

Post game interview with Lambert



Lambert with the cup



And photo with us and Jordan Gustafson and Dylan Guenther

Awesome pics. Thanks for all of your reports during this run. Very much appreciated.

 

[Romang67]

You don't need to be NHL ready to get at least a singular opportunity over four years. If you don't want to give that opportunity then better just focus on the rights and let the player further his actual career elsewhere. Sign him only when you're comfortable about giving that chance. It's better for the organization and player alike.

I'm not sure I understand your proposed path for European players here. Are you saying they shouldn't sign contracts with NHL teams unless they're either close to NHL ready or near first in the pecking order of the players who aren't on the NHL roster?

 

[Albatros]

Teams draft 5-7 players every year, sometimes more. There aren't enough NHL positions to give every drafted player an opportunity. That's just the reality of the NHL.

Gawanke was waived by the Jets last October, and no other NHL team claimed him, even though he was "free". So it's not just the Jets that didn't see much potential.

In contrast, Kovacevic and Eyssimont were both claimed by other teams on waivers and now have NHL roles. NHL teams make mistakes in assessing some players, but they usually marginal players that can be replaced by other marginal players.

Maybe Gawanke will get a chance at some point, but his sense of entitlement makes it seem that he doesn't have a full appreciation of his limitations.


He was waived. None of the other 31 teams claimed him. That's the reality of how NHL teams have assessed his potential.

He was not only the defenseman of the year with the Moose, but also had the best goal scoring season by a young defenseman in the AHL in more than 20 years. I don't think it's entitlement if he felt like he's earned at least one chance in four very good seasons. And again, if the Jets didn't have any use for him they shouldn't have signed him to start with. Especially by the time they extended him that must have been abundantly clear already.

 

[Albatros]

I'm not sure I understand your proposed path for European players here. Are you saying they shouldn't sign contracts with NHL teams unless they're either close to NHL ready or near first in the pecking order of the players who aren't on the NHL roster?

They shouldn't sign contracts that don't come with a clear NHL path, as nothing they can achieve in the minors will be worthwhile in itself when they can also have a pro career in Europe.

 

[Romang67]

They shouldn't sign contracts that don't come with a clear NHL path, as nothing they can achieve in the minors will be worthwhile in itself when they can also have a pro career in Europe.

Still not sure what you're saying here. Should players like Gawanke not sign ELC contracts at all unless they are close to NHL ready at the time they sign their contracts? Or does the path include drastically improving defensively?

 

[gojetsgo]

He was not only the defenseman of the year with the Moose, but also had the best goal scoring season by a young defenseman in the AHL in more than 20 years. I don't think it's entitlement if he felt like he's earned at least one chance in four very good seasons. And again, if the Jets didn't have any use for him they shouldn't have signed him to start with. Especially by the time they extended him that must have been abundantly clear already.

if heinola played another 20 games he could very well have that award, ahl awards don't matter much at all.. sami niku won the award for defensemen of the year in the ahl for the entire league and couldn't make it in the nhl. you may find it unfair to gawanke not getting a chance but did you stop to think about the entire jets roster? how is it fair for them who are battling for their playoff lives to put someone in who is not ready and can hurt their chances just to pat them on the back and say good job

 

[Albatros]

if heinola played another 20 games he could very well have that award, ahl awards don't matter much at all.. sami niku won the award for defensemen of the year in the ahl for the entire league and couldn't make it in the nhl. you may find it unfair to gawanke not getting a chance but did you stop to think about the entire jets roster? how is it fair for them who are battling for their playoff lives to put someone in who is not ready and can hurt their chances just to pat them on the back and say good job

Calling up a prospect once in four years isn't going to destroy anyone's playoff chances, that's just ridiculous.

 

[gojetsgo]

Calling up a prospect once in four years isn't going to destroy anyone's playoff chances, that's just ridiculous.

putting a prospect in the pressbox once in four years is not going to keep him happy, that's just ridiculous...

 

[Albatros]

putting a prospect in the pressbox once in four years is not going to keep him happy, that's just ridiculous...

Also that is already better than denying him even that one press box experience. No one in the AHL will view training with the major league team and getting proper salary for a bit negatively, even if it doesn't come to dressing for a game.

 

[larmex99]

It can be tough to digest issues like Gawanke’s when you are fan/supporter of a player rather than the team he plays for. Laine followers had similar issues with his treatment. Bottom line is that the team does what they perceive to be in their best interest and often players don’t agree with their choices.

 

[gojetsgo]

Also that is already better than denying him even that one press box experience. No one in the AHL will view training with the major league team and getting proper salary for a bit negatively, even if it doesn't come to dressing for a game.

I really don't see how sitting in the pressbox for a game was going to make him happy.. he wanted a chance to play not have a chance to get paid more to watch a game...

fyi he actually did get called up to the jets twice when we ran the taxi squad....