TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
He looks like the lovechild of Dany Heatley and Evgeni Malkin
Where's the "hair" and the turtle neck?
Prospect Info: Joel Eriksson Ek (C) - 20th Overall, 2015
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Where's the "hair" and the turtle neck?
Merkley still isn't a center.
White and Eriksson Ek seem very similar to me, that's why you pay scouts to watch these guys all year. The fact that there were other quality centers available, says a lot to me. This wasn't a reach or grabbing the last available center. They had options and still picked this kid. Either you trust Fletcher and his staff or you don't I guess.
nickschultzfan
Registered User
- Jan 7, 2009
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So excited about this pick. This guy could easily be the 3rd best center in this draft (not sold on Strome). Offensive numbers suppressed by playing in a men's league. Put up big numbers when he played with his peers. Give him time, allow him to develop his game and his body, and this guy is a legit #1 center. Maybe not a super electric offensive guy, but +70 points in range.
TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
That's why I'm not mad about the pick, even though the player I wanted was there and we passed on him.
Sure, this kid wasn't MY first choice, but Fletcher has given me no reason to not trust him thus far when it comes to making this decision.
So... like last year when we passed on Pastrnak (the guy I wanted) and took Tuch instead... I'll just go into wait and see mode. Tuch has really proven me wrong on my thoughts of him being a product of his linemates going into that draft. Now he's one of my favorite prospects (though Pastrnak is doing a pretty damn good job in Boston).
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
I see JEE and White having the same upside (50-60 points); Konecny maybe a touch more, but I get the feeling that a lot of people still wouldn't be too happy having 5'10'' Granlund and 5'9" Konecny as our top 2 centers, even with production. After all, how are we going to handle the Strome's and the Toews' and the Monohan's?
TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
With big wingers and defenders, you can survive being slightly undersized at center. As long as they are able to produce and defend... you'd just be sure that the 3rd center is of the large variety to help balance things.
Cuma shouldn't be in the same category as Thelen... Thelen was an absolute bust for sure... Cuma was the result of repeated knee injuries derailing him in the minors.
Before the injuries, he was absolutely on track to make it to the NHL... such a smooth skater and puck handler. He played an effortless style. The repeated knee injuries robbed him of his greatest strength, his skating.
- Dec 10, 2012
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I suggest contacting them in search of a job then, if you think you're much better than they are.
The All Tomato
Yeo, Yeo, Yeeeoooo
I personally love the pick!
Eriksson Ek is a big shoot first center, that many of us have been asking for!
I like the comparison of Kopitar, but for some reason Kesler, minus the agitator, came to mind.
I think that at 20, even in this deep of a draft, is a steal!
I think the bolded above is extremely important to consider. I think that Mgmt., as well as Yeo, tend to stress 2-way responsibility from our centers, while expecting our offense to rely upon the skill of our wingers.
I could be just making unfounded assumptions off of the lack of production over the past couple of years down the middle; However, I think the fact that is starting to become a trend, regarding the lack of production with our somewhat skilled centers, proves that a 200 ft. game is expected, and even rewarded, when compared to an offensive dynamo.
See Yeo's idea of Koivu > Granlund
The above being considered, I think our centers production will be a beneficiary of our wingers, no matter how fair that may be.
Eriksson Ek is a big shoot first center, that many of us have been asking for!
I like the comparison of Kopitar, but for some reason Kesler, minus the agitator, came to mind.
I think that at 20, even in this deep of a draft, is a steal!
I think the bolded above is extremely important to consider. I think that Mgmt., as well as Yeo, tend to stress 2-way responsibility from our centers, while expecting our offense to rely upon the skill of our wingers.
I could be just making unfounded assumptions off of the lack of production over the past couple of years down the middle; However, I think the fact that is starting to become a trend, regarding the lack of production with our somewhat skilled centers, proves that a 200 ft. game is expected, and even rewarded, when compared to an offensive dynamo.
See Yeo's idea of Koivu > Granlund
The above being considered, I think our centers production will be a beneficiary of our wingers, no matter how fair that may be.
Spurgeon
Registered User
TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
The same scouting staff that pulled Brent Burns out of a hat? They do well... it's what the decision makers do with the work they provide that makes the difference. DR usually made all that work go to waste... other than a few here and there.
Fletcher and Flahr have done a rather good job with the information the scouting staff has provided.
And followed that Burns pick the next year with A. J. Thelen and then Benoit Pouliot and then James Sheppard and then Colton Gillies and then Tyler Cuma.
TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
Again, it was the decision makers ahead of that staff...
(still say Cuma wasn't a "bad pick", the only "bad" part was trading up to get him, the injuries turned a good player into nothing)
That same staff then has gone on to pick Leddy, Granlund, Brodin, Dumba, Tuch and now Eriksson Ek.
Leddy through Dumba are turning out great already (Fletcher made a rookie GM mistake of a trade after getting Leddy, but we're past that now).
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nickschultzfan
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TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
The staff can only gather information and present that information and their feelings to the GM and his Assistant.
DR and his assistant were a disaster in determining what to do with the information provided by the staff.
Fletcher and Flahr understand that information very well themselves, and thus are able to apply it to the franchise needs etc.
Thus a staff that was mostly miss with a few hits under DR has turned around and shown it can find some hidden gems, and can consistently churn out quality picks out of the first through 3rd rounds and even find some gems later on.
DR and his assistant were a disaster in determining what to do with the information provided by the staff.
Fletcher and Flahr understand that information very well themselves, and thus are able to apply it to the franchise needs etc.
Thus a staff that was mostly miss with a few hits under DR has turned around and shown it can find some hidden gems, and can consistently churn out quality picks out of the first through 3rd rounds and even find some gems later on.
Dr Jan Itor
Registered User
TaLoN
Red 5 standing by
We already know not every pick pans out... that's a given for every GM on every team. To get the quality he has in the amount he has though is pretty good track record-wise vs his peers thus far.
tomgilbertfan
#WhyBother
Solid pick. Nothing surprising. If lucky he could be a Koivu replacement. One of the 2 biggest weaknesses in terms of overall depth, though that shouldn't be taken into too much consideration into building a draft board in this league where needs change and players take years to make an impact.
forthewild
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- Aug 17, 2009
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Isn't Flahr our head scout now? He wasn't here when DR was making the picks.
Also in regards to getting bigger, there is two ways that can go, the guys we are picking are also skilled and have more than just size to their name.
Joel Eriksson Ek earned a spot on a pro team, and earned increased ice time on a pro team, remember Brodin. People ripped on him for not scoring but what he did was very very rare as a 17 year old.
Give Eriksson Ek some time to grow, some time to develop
Also in regards to getting bigger, there is two ways that can go, the guys we are picking are also skilled and have more than just size to their name.
Joel Eriksson Ek earned a spot on a pro team, and earned increased ice time on a pro team, remember Brodin. People ripped on him for not scoring but what he did was very very rare as a 17 year old.
Give Eriksson Ek some time to grow, some time to develop
Since Fletcher has taken over the Wilds 1st round picks are Granlund,Brodin,Phillips,Dumba and Tuch.
The Granlund pick does not look that great when you consider some of the players taken after him;Tarasanko,Scwartz and Fowler to name a few.I know a lot of people are still pretty high on him but in my opinion he has not lived up to the expectations.
Brodin was a great pick.
Phillips was not.
Dumba looks like he could be another good one.
Tuch hasn't played even an ahl game yet so it is really to early to say how good this pick will turn out.
Obviously this is an improvement from the preceding years but outside of Brodin and hopefully Dumba there is nothing extraordinary here.
The Granlund pick does not look that great when you consider some of the players taken after him;Tarasanko,Scwartz and Fowler to name a few.I know a lot of people are still pretty high on him but in my opinion he has not lived up to the expectations.
Brodin was a great pick.
Phillips was not.
Dumba looks like he could be another good one.
Tuch hasn't played even an ahl game yet so it is really to early to say how good this pick will turn out.
Obviously this is an improvement from the preceding years but outside of Brodin and hopefully Dumba there is nothing extraordinary here.
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