Prospect Info: Joel Eriksson Ek (C) - 20th Overall, 2015

[TaLoN]

Well, right now he has Zucker and Nino flanking him, so the linemates excuse isn't going to fly.

Though that was more due to both Nino and Zucker's struggles than JEE playing like he deserved to move up the lineup.

Coyle has been showing signs of life, and Greenway has looked really good since his confidence boosting Iowa trip, so that's why they were promoted to the 2nd line with Staal, who is also showing signs of life.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Well, right now he has Zucker and Nino flanking him, so the linemates excuse isn't going to fly.

right now yes, 2 guys trying to find their game and when they do if he leaves this as a line an Ek just blows put him down in iowa. Nino seems to be getting close. Zucker is shooting just cant finish. its a 3rd line that cant finish right now. hoping they all find their way.

 

[2Pair]

thanks captain obvious. i was stating that he already has a good shot just lacks confidence and then showed a clip of him using it when he was confident. the fact that he has that capability means its still in him to fire a lazor past the goalie no matter the goalies skill level. he can shoot the puck. does that make him ovi? no but that doesnt mean he is a terrible shooter. he is not a line driver he needs someone on his line that is offensive minded to drive the play and he will cash in. the linemates he has had dont do that so he will look as bad as coyle until then. thats my theory.

Love that you call me Captain Obvious, but then completely miss the point. Pretty much everything we know about Eriksson Ek to this point says that he is a terrible shooter. One nice wrist shot from more than 2 years ago, does nothing to dispel that. At this point of his career, he has done nothing to prove that he should even be in the NHL.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I think his shot is probably very nice. He might even be upper echelon on the team if you just saw them skating around and shooting during practice. What is lacking, at the moment, is his ability to get himself into a quality position to take that shot against NHL competition.

 

[TaLoN]

Love that you call me Captain Obvious, but then completely miss the point. Pretty much everything we know about Eriksson Ek to this point says that he is a terrible shooter. One nice wrist shot from more than 2 years ago, does nothing to dispel that. At this point of his career, he has done nothing to prove that he should even be in the NHL.

Meh, I don't know about that last sentence. I think he's shown he can be a bottom 6 player in the NHL, unfortunately he's supposed to develop into something better than that.

At this point if we want those top 6 skills to develop, maybe he has to spend time in Iowa playing in such a role there for a while. Otherwise just keeping on the current track, a bottom 6 player may be all that he ever is.

 

[2Pair]

Meh, I don't know about that last sentence. I think he's shown he can be a bottom 6 player in the NHL, unfortunately he's supposed to develop into something better than that.

At this point if we want those top 6 skills to develop, maybe he has to spend time in Iowa playing in such a role there for a while. Otherwise just keeping on the current track, a bottom 6 player may be all that he ever is.

The AHL is full of guys that can play mediocre defense and not score at the NHL level.

 

[TaLoN]

The AHL is full of guys that can play mediocre defense and not score at the NHL level.

So are the bottom 6 players of the NHL.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

Love that you call me Captain Obvious, but then completely miss the point. Pretty much everything we know about Eriksson Ek to this point says that he is a terrible shooter. One nice wrist shot from more than 2 years ago, does nothing to dispel that. At this point of his career, he has done nothing to prove that he should even be in the NHL.

I didnt miss your point, i actually responded to it. Just because we disagree on him being a good shooter or not does not mean youre magically correct or i am. just because he cant find the open ice to use his shot does not mean his shot is terrible and that he cant shoot.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Meaningful AHL development time has likely gone by the wayside. Now it's figure it out in the NHL or nothing, which sucks, but at this point it is what it is.

 

[Bruce Granville]

People used to say that about Granlund.

Granlund was PPG (HIFK, 127 GP, 41+86) over 3 seasons in Finland and Ek...well, not even close.

So should Ek move to the wing?

 

[TaLoN]

Granlund was PPG (HIFK, 127 GP, 41+86) over 3 seasons in Finland and Ek...well, not even close.

So should Ek move to the wing?

He's played both and looks equally not dangerous offensively at both.

 

[Bazeek]

He's played both and looks equally not dangerous offensively at both.

Which is damning with faint praise, unfortunately I agree that he hasn't really looked any better at the wing though. Leave him at center between Nino and Zucker and hopefully all three of them figure it out.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Can we trade him before his value gets as low as waiver-wire pick up? Maybe like for Josh Ho-Sang or something?

 

[57special]

Ek is worth twice what JHS is. Hell, Sokolov was scoring phenom in Jr. and is mediocre in the AHL(though it's very early). Let's let the Ek work his game out. If his ceiling is as a #3C, then it will be disappointing, but not a disaster.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Ek is worth twice what JHS is. Hell, Sokolov was scoring phenom in Jr. and is mediocre in the AHL(though it's very early). Let's let the Ek work his game out. If his ceiling is as a #3C, then it will be disappointing, but not a disaster.

On the other hand, Ek could flame out and be nothing more than a good player in Sweden. Apparently Ho-Sang is doing well in the AHL now he's on the top line. 8 points in 3 games.

 

[Bazeek]

Ek is worth twice what JHS is. Hell, Sokolov was scoring phenom in Jr. and is mediocre in the AHL(though it's very early). Let's let the Ek work his game out. If his ceiling is as a #3C, then it will be disappointing, but not a disaster.

Agreed. He's not worth much in trade and he's not really hurting the team any. Lines 1, 2 and 4 all make sense and are clicking pretty well right now. Leave Zucker, Nino and Eriksson-Ek together to figure things out; the consistency can't hurt, and Nino and Zucker have both been through this sort of thing before.

 

[2Pair]

Ek is worth twice what JHS is. Hell, Sokolov was scoring phenom in Jr. and is mediocre in the AHL(though it's very early). Let's let the Ek work his game out. If his ceiling is as a #3C, then it will be disappointing, but not a disaster.

I want zero to do with Ho-Sang, but Eriksson Ek isn't worth any more than him. Right now, 3C is a dream not an expectation.

 

[2Pair]

Agreed. He's not worth much in trade and he's not really hurting the team any. Lines 1, 2 and 4 all make sense and are clicking pretty well right now. Leave Zucker, Nino and Eriksson-Ek together to figure things out; the consistency can't hurt, and Nino and Zucker have both been through this sort of thing before.

Can't hurt Ek's game. Could do plenty of damage to a guy like Nino, who is already playing with zero confidence.

 

[Bazeek]

Can't hurt Ek's game. Could do plenty of damage to a guy like Nino, who is already playing with zero confidence.

I did mean more in regards to Eriksson-Ek. I'm pretty confident that Nino will pull himself out of his scoring funk regardless of linemates, and even if JEE can't figure it out he'll still have Zucker to work with.

 

[2Pair]

I did mean more in regards to Eriksson-Ek. I'm pretty confident that Nino will pull himself out of his scoring funk regardless of linemates, and even if JEE can't figure it out he'll still have Zucker to work with.

Yeah, I'm not sure they have a better option. It's still tough for Nino to try and get out of his slump while being handed this guy as his center.

 

[57special]

I did mean more in regards to Eriksson-Ek. I'm pretty confident that Nino will pull himself out of his scoring funk regardless of linemates, and even if JEE can't figure it out he'll still have Zucker to work with.

I sure hope you're right about Nino. Would be huge if he can pot 25-30 goals this year, and show up in the off season.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Yeah, I'm not sure they have a better option. It's still tough for Nino to try and get out of his slump while being handed this guy as his center.

I wouldn't be ultra opposed to seeing Fehr in that spot.

 

[2Pair]

I wouldn't be ultra opposed to seeing Fehr in that spot.

Wouldn't hate it, but then you destroy what you have going with him and Foligno. Probably worth it if Fehr looks like a legit 3C with those guys. Probably not worth it if it's only a marginal upgrade from Ek.

 

[TaLoN]

Please send him to Iowa now before it's too late and he becomes waiver eligible!

 

[2Pair]

Please send him to Iowa now before it's too late and he becomes waiver eligible!

He's got pretty much the rest of the season, but I wouldn't object to getting an early start on it after tonight.