Confirmed with Link: Nils Lundkvist Requests Trade

[Ola]

Can anyone explain why this hasn't triggered everyone like when Kravtsov left, only difference is that Kravtsov actually showed up at camp and then left, by the sounds of it this kid isn't even gonna attempt to make the team and doesn't want to report to Hartford so he's looking for a trade. There is a spot open on the left side if he wants to compete for that spot, and maybe if he shows them he is the next best dman they might even move Schneider to the left side who knows?

I think this sums it up by Brooks:
“Lundkvist has no issues with management. He just sees an unyielding roadblock ahead.”

And you can’t move a left D to right or vice versa. Any D playing on the wrong side is giving up a huge handicap. That someone like Nils that is a border line NHLer could make it on the wrong side with all the disadvantages that mean, it’s just not happening.

From my POV, however, if Nils holds out from camp it’s another thing. That is just dumb.

 

[Crease]

Can anyone explain why this hasn't triggered everyone like when Kravtsov left, only difference is that Kravtsov actually showed up at camp and then left, by the sounds of it this kid isn't even gonna attempt to make the team and doesn't want to report to Hartford so he's looking for a trade. There is a spot open on the left side if he wants to compete for that spot, and maybe if he shows them he is the next best dman they might even move Schneider to the left side who knows?

Lundkvist is a year older (at the time) with virtually no shot of making the opening night roster. Harder to say “be patient your time will come.”

 

[Rempe73]

Nils is still so overrated around here. He is a physically small defenseman that has shown no substantial offensive game in na although he has put up points in Europe. If he was 3" taller and 30lbs stronger then you look past the offensive translation stalling but he isn't. If you are the size Nils is you need to be exceptional offensively to survive in this league because while the elite skaters can get away with being undersized physical stature still generally matters on the back end in this league and teams know that.

If Nils wasn't an nyr pick people here would be calling him David Runblad 2.0 although Nils is much better than him defensively. His size will just hold him back unless the offense comes to justify his place somewhat within a lineup

Agreed. He’s not as dynamic with his skill or skating as I thought he would be.

 

[RGY]

Agreed. He’s not as dynamic with his skill or skating as I thought he would be.

Wait. You have come to this conclusion based on a sample size of 25 NHL Games as a 21 year old, during his 1st year coming to North America? Really?

Some of you… smh.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Wait. You have come to this conclusion based on a sample size of 25 NHL Games as a 21 year old, during his 1st year coming to North America? Really?

Some of you… smh.

It's pretty ridiculous.

 

[egelband]

Can anyone explain why this hasn't triggered everyone like when Kravtsov left, only difference is that Kravtsov actually showed up at camp and then left, by the sounds of it this kid isn't even gonna attempt to make the team and doesn't want to report to Hartford so he's looking for a trade. There is a spot open on the left side if he wants to compete for that spot, and maybe if he shows them he is the next best dman they might even move Schneider to the left side who knows?

Nils hasn’t actually done anything yet. At the moment it’s just posturing. If he actually holds out I’m sure there will be plenty of ruffled feathers. Not to worry.

 

[effen]

It's pretty ridiculous.

It's not that ridiculous. It just happened in front of us like 9 months ago.

 

[nyr2k2]

Well, not everyone was completely sold on Lundkvist being an absolute stud. I was always very vocal about Miller, specifically, being a better prospect than Lundkvist. Part of that was just loving Miller, but part of it was not thinking that Lundkvist's offensive abilities were as dynamic as his numbers in the SHL would suggest. I still thought of him as an excellent two-way defensive prospect, and I still do, but I was also underwhelmed by his body of work last season between the NHL and AHL.

Going into last season, I was fairly certain he'd be a very good top-four, two-way defenseman in the league for many years. Now I'd say I'm more like 50-50 on that happening.

 

[Synergy27]

Wait. You have come to this conclusion based on a sample size of 25 NHL Games as a 21 year old, during his 1st year coming to North America? Really?

Some of you… smh.

I don’t understand this argument. It is so easy to just say “the kid is young and just needs time and you are stupid if you don’t see that”.

What you are saying is true of course, but even if these kids don’t come in and set the world on fire, it is reasonable to expect to see something impressive if there is high end upside in a player.

Lundkvist, to me, looks like an undersized, somewhat mobile (not mobile enough to overcome the undersized thing), vanilla player with a very good shot. He does not project to be anything more than an average defenseman to my eyes.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

It's not that ridiculous. It just happened in front of us like 9 months ago.

Completely different circumstances and players.

Well, not everyone was completely sold on Lundkvist being an absolute stud. I was always very vocal about Miller, specifically, being a better prospect than Lundkvist. Part of that was just loving Miller, but part of it was not thinking that Lundkvist's offensive abilities were as dynamic as his numbers in the SHL would suggest. I still thought of him as an excellent two-way defensive prospect, and I still do, but I was also underwhelmed by his body of work last season between the NHL and AHL.

Going into last season, I was fairly certain he'd be a very good top-four, two-way defenseman in the league for many years. Now I'd say I'm more like 50-50 on that happening.

Just curious what has changed for you?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Lundkvist is a year older (at the time) with virtually no shot of making the opening night roster. Harder to say “be patient your time will come.”

There's one roster spot on d, he either has to play on the left side or force himself into the lineup with his play and make them shift someome else. He basically has to be better than Jones or Robertson on LD to play or play well enough they need him in the lineup and make someone else switch sides.

 

[Tob]

@The Crypto Guy fighting the good fight on the main board Nils thread. Every summer when we're being trashed on the main boards, that's when the real heroes are made.

 

[Chalfdiggity3]

I don’t understand this argument. It is so easy to just say “the kid is young and just needs time and you are stupid if you don’t see that”.

What you are saying is true of course, but even if these kids don’t come in and set the world on fire, it is reasonable to expect to see something impressive if there is high end upside in a player.

Lundkvist, to me, looks like an undersized, somewhat mobile (not mobile enough to overcome the undersized thing), vanilla player with a very good shot. He does not project to be anything more than an average defenseman to my eyes.

Its not your stupid if you dont see that type of thing that @RGY is saying. I believe he is talking about knowing the prospect and his track record. If you look back it took time for Nils to get acclimated to the top SHL league as well. 1st year was a learning curve, 2nd year he was a very solid peice that just did all the little things right, 3rd year was when he starting to show that he can implement his skill into the game. If im wrong here @RGY let me know..

So the point here is that. Its patience for a the kid bc his track record shows that he improves as he gets used to the ice, the new surrounds, the new teammates, the speed and skill and so on. It all takes time. So yes, to me this is a big year for him. I believe this year though he will really become a very solid piece on the blueline and the year after i think he will start to make some waves. By that time he is still just 23 years old.

Your analysis is fair and understandable based on a terrible sample size of the kid and i do get that. But id like to see how he handles this season. Yet it really doesnt matter since he asked for a trade. GMs of other teams and our own have their own values on players and they surely are different that what most on here throw at the wall for players.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

@The Crypto Guy fighting the good fight on the main board Nils thread. Every summer when we're being trashed on the main boards, that's when the real heroes are made.

It’s a disaster. You have posters saying we would be lucky to get a 3rd, that there will multiple good young players like Nils on the waiver market, that he broke his leg last year and has never been the same(never broke his leg though), bringing up the buch trade even though the circumstances are completely different, among other things. Could use some backup in that thread from around here

 

[savebyrichter94]

It’s a disaster. You have posters saying we would be lucky to get a 3rd, that there will multiple good young players like Nils on the waiver market, that he broke his leg last year and has never been the same(never broke his leg though), bringing up the buch trade even though the circumstances are completely different, among other things. Could use some backup in that thread from around here

I was gonna jump in but then I remembered how much I dislike having my account suspended by morons

 

[IronBloodedLion]

This was bound to happen. There’s a real logjam at RHD, and at LHD you have Lindgren on a good contract, Miller has emerged, more prospects on the way like Robertson and Jones. I think if anything we might be guilty of holding onto some of them too long.

 

[nyr2k2]

Completely different circumstances and players.


Just curious what has changed for you?

I knew there would be an adjustment period for him and wasn't surprised that he didn't set the world on fire out of the gate. But I was a bit surprised and disappointed that by the end of the AHL season he still looked...vanilla, and like he was adapting to the speed of the game (which is of course slower in the AHL than the NHL). I do believe he will adapt and show some more dynamic attributes, I'm just less certain of it today than I was a year ago.

I took a lot of flack a couple years ago for saying I thought Kravtsov was probably a 45-point guy in the NHL. With that projection, I was pretty certain he'd make it to that level. I still think that's the projection, but with him, now I have no idea if he'll reach that upside.

It's that type of thing. I know some posters downplay the transition to North America but for me it's very real, and it's not something that every player can make so easily, even if they're highly talented.

 

[eco's bones]

I knew there would be an adjustment period for him and wasn't surprised that he didn't set the world on fire out of the gate. But I was a bit surprised and disappointed that by the end of the AHL season he still looked...vanilla, and like he was adapting to the speed of the game (which is of course slower in the AHL than the NHL). I do believe he will adapt and show some more dynamic attributes, I'm just less certain of it today than I was a year ago.

I took a lot of flack a couple years ago for saying I thought Kravtsov was probably a 45-point guy in the NHL. With that projection, I was pretty certain he'd make it to that level. I still think that's the projection, but with him, now I have no idea if he'll reach that upside.

It's that type of thing. I know some posters downplay the transition to North America but for me it's very real, and it's not something that every player can make so easily, even if they're highly talented.

There's a lot that goes into being an NHL player even bottom line and bottom pairing roles. Everybody can skate.....anyone who lasts knows where he should be on the back check. To me Nils was a bit of deer caught in the headlights last year which is something that's been an issue for Hajek who as a WHL player was use to NHL size rinks and more than less over cultural adjustments. Nils may have had the off ice issues of coming to North America and adapting to rink size which can be an issue for players in their first season in North America.

I expect Nils to eventually become a very good NHL player but he's not the second coming of Adam Fox and he's clearly behind Schneider at this point and Braden for our purposes fits third pairing D much better than he does.

 

[Kovalev27]

IMO is the rangers spent some high picks on guys that couldn’t really skate at an elite level that even includes kakko. So nils lias kravtsov all guys that look like world beaters in the European minor leagues which are NOT remotely close to nhl level of tight quarters skating first step speed. And when those kids got here they couldn’t keep up with their own egos. Kravtsov is the one of them all that I think has improved his skating a lot and I think that will show. Lias couldn’t keep up with ahl fourth liners. That’s how bad he was a skater. And nils for the size he has he’s not elusive at all. He’s not a great skater to make up for it he’s just completely overmatched. Be surprised if he sticks anywhere.

Kakko is too talented not to be a top 9 NHLer but his skating and specifically his lack of first step separation ability is what will hold him back from ever being a star player. He can’t buy himself much time ever and when he does it’s almost a shock to him

 

[bleedblue94]

Agreed. He’s not as dynamic with his skill or skating as I thought he would be.

I'm not even judging him on that since I do believe defenseman generally need 100 games in the league to establish themselves, but most of them you can see early on the role that they can/will eventually play on an NHL roster. I just don't see it with Nils bc he doesn't have the offense to justify his lack of size, and really who are the 10 defenseman of the past 5 years that were under 5 10 and 170lbs that carved out quality careers as defensive players? That isn't really a thing in the NHL. Without the offense his size isn't something he can escape. Fox's size is an issue in front of the net and in battles but his brain is so good he overcomes it most of the time and you love with him occasionally getting out muscled in front of the net for a ga bc he is such a dynamic transition and offensive player. Nils is not that which is okay bc most player aren't, but with his lack of size it's a compounding problem.

 

[Beer League Sniper]

I think this sums it up by Brooks:
“Lundkvist has no issues with management. He just sees an unyielding roadblock ahead.”

And you can’t move a left D to right or vice versa. Any D playing on the wrong side is giving up a huge handicap. That someone like Nils that is a border line NHLer could make it on the wrong side with all the disadvantages that mean, it’s just not happening.

From my POV, however, if Nils holds out from camp it’s another thing. That is just dumb.

If he truly believes that he can't possibly beat out Schneider, that says something very unflattering about his compete level.

While I think most of us believe Schneider will be the 3RD, that spot is by no means guaranteed.

 

[Raspewtin]

If he truly believes that he can't possibly beat out Schneider, that says something very unflattering about his compete level.

While I think most of us believe Schneider will be the 3RD, that spot is by no means guaranteed.

it is 100% guaranteed unless Schneider either breaks both his legs or has an epic collapse as a hockey player at camp.

he played every playoff game as a rookie. Nils got sent down when he wasn't even playing poorly. I find this take extremely naive.

 

[cwede]

If he truly believes that he can't possibly beat out Schneider, that says something very unflattering about his compete level.
While I think most of us believe Schneider will be the 3RD, that spot is by no means guaranteed.

we dont know how much of this is also agitated by Claude Lemieux

but also there will be injuries, suspensions, personal leaves, etc,
opportunities will arise
NYR have depth with Jones and Robertson and Hajek but Nils could definitely find icetime

not in a hurry to resolve,
but of course if they get a good hockey trade offer, they also have the depth to move on

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I already didn't like his game, but skipping out on camp to try to force a trade pretty much makes him my least favorite prospect ever.

Might as well just stay in Sweden, it's where he will inevitably end up playing the bulk of his career anyway.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

I already didn't like his game, but skipping out on camp to try to force a trade pretty much makes him my least favorite prospect ever.

Might as well just stay in Sweden, it's where he will inevitably end up playing the bulk of his career anyway.

Except, for the 50th time, there has not been even the slightest bit of confirmation he isn't coming to camp. Lets wait and see where he is when camp starts before shitting on him.