Well...this is also why what happens in the preseason should be taken with something of a grain of salt. Hajek looked better in the preseason slate than he has in the AHL. If you evaluate Hajek based on his AHL play, he definitely needs to spend some more time there refining his game. And that's not really different than the stuff with Keane--Hajek was a stud last year in the WHL, at both ends. I haven't watched Keane, but assuming he's close to or on par with Hajek, that just reinforces that his CHL performance isn't necessarily indicative of a guy ready to take the leap to the NHL.McDonagh clearly needed more time, ask did Skjei (though he was also breaking into the league at a time where they were very competitive) and Hajek should have made it over Staal but Staal is Elliot Ness in these parts for what ever reason.
Its hard to say until you see the player in a full camp and what they'll look like 10 months from now. The coaching staff loves him though so it's possible.
Well...this is also why what happens in the preseason should be taken with something of a grain of salt. Hajek looked better in the preseason slate than he has in the AHL. If you evaluate Hajek based on his AHL play, he definitely needs to spend some more time there refining his game. And that's not really different than the stuff with Keane--Hajek was a stud last year in the WHL, at both ends. I haven't watched Keane, but assuming he's close to or on par with Hajek, that just reinforces that his CHL performance isn't necessarily indicative of a guy ready to take the leap to the NHL.
The preseason is not the best way to evaluate guys. Which is tough, because it's really all you have. Lettieri looked like a stud this preseason. Boo Nieves had a nice camp a couple years back. Matt Gilroy looked like a stud. And dozens more. Until guys get into real NHL games, we don't really know where they're at.
That's absolutely true.The other thing to note, which has been discussed before though is that the AHL can be a bit more difficult to play in than the NHL for some players. McDonagh looked worse in the AHL than he did in the NHL.
Well...this is also why what happens in the preseason should be taken with something of a grain of salt. Hajek looked better in the preseason slate than he has in the AHL. If you evaluate Hajek based on his AHL play, he definitely needs to spend some more time there refining his game. And that's not really different than the stuff with Keane--Hajek was a stud last year in the WHL, at both ends. I haven't watched Keane, but assuming he's close to or on par with Hajek, that just reinforces that his CHL performance isn't necessarily indicative of a guy ready to take the leap to the NHL.
The preseason is not the best way to evaluate guys. Which is tough, because it's really all you have. Lettieri looked like a stud this preseason. Boo Nieves had a nice camp a couple years back. Matt Gilroy looked like a stud. And dozens more. Until guys get into real NHL games, we don't really know where they're at.
Lakatos, who generally sucks but is also better than the 4C he's played as all year, is rumored to be heading to Zlin. He's not in the lineup for Liberec today.
I don't know that "so many" have done that. I mean McDonagh is the example we always cite, but who else? And to my point, see my other post. I don't know that the preseason provides any better of an indicator of a player's readiness than the AHL.The AHL Style of game is different.
So many of our guys have looked meh in the A and then come up and beasted out.
I don't know that "so many" have done that. I mean McDonagh is the example we always cite, but who else? And to my point, see my other post. I don't know that the preseason provides any better of an indicator of a player's readiness than the AHL.
I thought Zlin was supposed to be in the middle of nowhere. Weren't people implying that Chytil was underscouted because scouts didn't want to make the trip out there?That might make it worth a trip. Zlin is basically next door unlike Liberec
Huh? Pionk was great last year with the Wolf Pack. His production wasn't where it is right now, but that's due to usage, the fact that Hartford was shit, and probably a lot of luck. But if you watched a decent bit of the Pack last year, you knew he was their best all-around defenseman last year. And honestly, it's really just the points that picked up in the NHL--he's definitely a worse defender, and depending on who you believe he's a train wreck.Pionk and Skjei have both blown away what they were doing in the A
I thought Zlin was supposed to be in the middle of nowhere. Weren't people implying that Chytil was underscouted because scouts didn't want to make the trip out there?
Lakatos, who generally sucks but is also better than the 4C he's played as all year, is rumored to be heading to Zlin. He's not in the lineup for Liberec today.
Zlin is 2 hours by car, Liberec 6 hours. As much as I enjoyed my drive up to Liberec, it required me to book a hotel and drive back the next morning, whereas a game in Zlin can be a 1-day event for me
That's what I love about Europe. You jump in the car and you can drive for as little as an hour and you are in another country.
Budapest: 2 hours
Bratislava: 40 minutes
Hodonin: 90 minutes (Top-3 hockey trip ever for sure haha)
Prague: 3 hours
Brno: 1 hour
Pardubice: 2 hours
Zlin: 2 hours
Hockey heaven!
In Australia you can drive for 2 days and still be in the same province
The other thing to note, which has been discussed before though is that the AHL can be a bit more difficult to play in than the NHL for some players. McDonagh looked worse in the AHL than he did in the NHL.
Budapest: 2 hours
Bratislava: 40 minutes
Hodonin: 90 minutes (Top-3 hockey trip ever for sure haha)
Prague: 3 hours
Brno: 1 hour
Pardubice: 2 hours
Zlin: 2 hours
Hockey heaven!
In Australia you can drive for 2 days and still be in the same province
Honestly as amazing as it sounds to travel and watch these guys play and then meet these guys and have videos made for you, I don't know if I could make it through so many games in lower leagues. I was bored 5 minutes into a Wisconsin game.
Honestly as amazing as it sounds to travel and watch these guys play and then meet these guys and have videos made for you, I don't know if I could make it through so many games in lower leagues. I was bored 5 minutes into a Wisconsin game.
It's easy to love the top talents and be excited by what you see, but lower leagues are not everyone's cup of tea.
I couldn't even begin to guess how many players outside the NHL I've seen in my life. But for every "probably" and "maybe" there are 6 guys who you couldn't remember if your life depended on it.
Agreed. It's a personal thing. A lot of people are calling me crazy for flying all the way to Dallas to attend the draft. But as someone who follows prospects very closely, I had a blast going to Dallas and being there to experience the whole thing. I loved it so much that I am already planning on going again in 2019 when the draft is held in Vancouver.
Agreed. It's a personal thing. A lot of people are calling me crazy for flying all the way to Dallas to attend the draft. But as someone who follows prospects very closely, I had a blast going to Dallas and being there to experience the whole thing. I loved it so much that I am already planning on going again in 2019 when the draft is held in Vancouver.