RD David Spacek - Sherbrooke Phoenix, QMJHL (2022, 153rd, MIN)

[57special]

So I will assume you have watched a lot of Iowa games. Your posts seem to generally be negative towards him looking up on your posts.

So how many Iowa games have you seen this season and what have you seen out of Spacek?

I am not negative towards Spacek, just not blindly positive because he is CZE, though funny enough, i have found out that some of my distant ancestors were Boehemians. Spacek has a nice shot(probably his best asset), and decent offensive instincts. Size and strength are average- he will need to get stronger to play in the NHL. Skating needs to be better, also, though it's decent. Consistency defensively needs to be worked on, as will his ability to win puck battles.

At this point, it's 50/50 that he will have much of a NHL career. Will probably play some games for sure.
I find that D prospects who good, not great offensive games in lower levels of hockey, and have mediocre physical and defensive games tend not to be in demand, though at least he has being a RHS going for him. There's usually room on a NHL roster for one "offense only" Dman, and two to three PMD who can play sound defense. After that, they want size, length, physicality - guys who win puck battles, make decent decisions defensively, can move guys in the crease.and not make giveaways under pressure. At this point, I don't know that Spacek fits into any of those camps. That can always change, but it's too early to predict success or failure for him.

 

[Czechboy]

I am not negative towards Spacek, just not blindly positive because he is CZE, though funny enough, i have found out that some of my distant ancestors were Boehemians. Spacek has a nice shot(probably his best asset), and decent offensive instincts. Size and strength are average- he will need to get stronger to play in the NHL. Skating needs to be better, also, though it's decent. Consistency defensively needs to be worked on, as will his ability to win puck battles.

At this point, it's 50/50 that he will have much of a NHL career. Will probably play some games for sure.
I find that D prospects who good, not great offensive games in lower levels of hockey, and have mediocre physical and defensive games tend not to be in demand, though at least he has being a RHS going for him. There's usually room on a NHL roster for one "offense only" Dman, and two to three PMD who can play sound defense. After that, they want size, length, physicality - guys who win puck battles, make decent decisions defensively, and can move guys in the crease. At this point, I don't know that Spacek fits into any of those camps. That can always change, but it's too early to predict success or failure for him.

I agree with all this to be honest. Except that you think Czech posters are 'blindly positive'. Come on over to international some time and see how much we argue.lol

He's neither here nor there. To be honest, so was his Dad. So was Frank Musil. So was Rostislav Klesla. So was NHL Jiri Slegr. So was Karel Rachunek. He seems to project to that classic Czech D mold of 'jack of all trades, master of none'. Our last decade we only had defensive dman coming up. Stay at home types and that sucked as a fan.lol

Using Czechs.

He doesn't defend like a Gudas or Polak.

He won't score like a Jiricek or Svozil.

Using my Oiler's.. he may be a Brett Kulak. Solid NHLer who sticks for awhile.

it's funny because the Rulik comments that started all this.. a lot of Czech posters chimed in saying he didn't defend well at the World's as well.

That 6th dman that gets offensive minutes is peak Tyson Barrie for me (again with my Oil) and he doesn't have those chops. I think Svozil could end up that way but it seems like the NHL does not have much love for those types anymore. Ghost, barrie and TDL were all readily available in offseason and they are all great examples of that type of player.

Put another way... his peak is the guy beside the 'guy'. If he makes it of course. I am encouraged by the AHL, Q, Jrs and Skoda Cup results for a 21 year old. He's building a hell of a resume.

 

[57special]

I agree with all this to be honest. Except that you think Czech posters are 'blindly positive'. Come on over to international some time and see how much we argue.lol

He's neither here nor there. To be honest, so was his Dad. So was Frank Musil. So was Rostislav Klesla. So was NHL Jiri Slegr. So was Karel Rachunek. He seems to project to that classic Czech D mold of 'jack of all trades, master of none'. Our last decade we only had defensive dman coming up. Stay at home types and that sucked as a fan.lol

Using Czechs.

He doesn't defend like a Gudas or Polak.

He won't score like a Jiricek or Svozil.

Using my Oiler's.. he may be a Brett Kulak. Solid NHLer who sticks for awhile.

it's funny because the Rulik comments that started all this.. a lot of Czech posters chimed in saying he didn't defend well at the World's as well.

That 6th dman that gets offensive minutes is peak Tyson Barrie for me (again with my Oil) and he doesn't have those chops. I think Svozil could end up that way but it seems like the NHL does not have much love for those types anymore. Ghost, barrie and TDL were all readily available in offseason and they are all great examples of that type of player.

Put another way... his peak is the guy beside the 'guy'. If he makes it of course. I am encouraged by the AHL, Q, Jrs and Skoda Cup results for a 21 year old. He's building a hell of a resume.

Kulak is bigger than Spacek... I've actually liked Kulak, as a bottom of the lineup guy. I do think the EDM's style of play doesn't do Dmen any favors, as they are often left on islands.

Spacek does have a very nice shot. Would look nice on a PP, but i don't see him getting PP TOI in the NHL on a team that has Faber, Buium as soon as this spring?, Spurgeon, Chisholm, and maybe Jiricek? So that means Spacek will be one of "the other guys". He doesn't have the size and toughness of a Middleton or Bogosian, skating and defensive brilliance of Brodin, etc..

As @AKL stated, there is a path to the NHL for Spacek, but it won't be anytime soon unless there are injuries, and/or Jiricek flames out. I was kind of surprised that CBJ didn't take him over Hunt. Hunt is the better player right now, but CBJ has Mateychuk and Svozil in their system at LD, and Spacek would partially fill the void left by Jiricek, though there would lower expectations for him.

 

[Czechboy]

Kulak is bigger than Spacek... I've actually liked Kulak, as a bottom of the lineup guy. I do think the EDM's style of play doesn't do Dmen any favors, as they are often left on islands.

Spacek does have a very nice shot. Would look nice on a PP, but i don't see him getting PP TOI in the NHL on a team that has Faber, Buium as soon as this spring?, Spurgeon, Chisholm, and maybe Jiricek? So that means Spacek will be one of "the other guys". He doesn't have the size and toughness of a Middleton or Bogosian, skating and defensive brilliance of Brodin, etc..

As @AKL stated, there is a path to the NHL for Spacek, but it won't be anytime soon unless there are injuries, and/or Jiricek flames out. I was kind of surprised that CBJ didn't take him over Hunt. Hunt is the better player right now, but CBJ has Mateychuk and Svozil in their system at LD, and Spacek would partially fill the void left by Jiricek, though there would lower expectations for him.

Kulak is a little taller 6-0 vs 6-2 and they way the same (190 vs 192). I'm guessing Spacek will be bigger when he's 30 like Kulak weight wise, not height wise. I don't think the Spacek's skip many meals.

 

[Voodoozz]

I finally had time to put together some of Spacek's tape from 2024 Worlds in Prague ->>>



He was rock solid for the most part, got more confident with each game. Ran the top PP for the Czechs all the way to the gold medal game. Tough luck for him in Minnesota with their RD depth.

 

[57special]

I finally had time to put together some of Spacek's tape from 2024 Worlds in Prague ->>>



He was rock solid for the most part, got more confident with each game. Ran the top PP for the Czechs all the way to the gold medal game. Tough luck for him in Minnesota with their RD depth.

Not really. Spurgeon is 35 yo, and keeps getting getting injured. Bogosian has one more year left, is 34yo, and has a history of being injured. They have Faber(out with an injury), and Jiricek as young RHD. There are opportunities for a RHD, but they have to be seized. Jiricek got the 1st chance, and he's done ok so far. Spacek has to play his ass off down in Iowa and earn a shot in the NHL. I think he has done pretty well, but his moderate size, strength, and defensive play are obstacles he will have to overcome.