Prospect Info: Sharks Select William Eklund at 7th Overall *Update* returned to Djurgarden
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one2gamble
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Levie
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Good, that's a stupid questions. Why would a player playing in the NHL be thinking about going back to Sweden.
Boy Hedican
Homer Jr, friends call me Ho-Ju
Ya theres no chance he goes back to Sweden. I could see him going down to the Cuda for a few games here and there, maybe. But he's not looking out of place. A few things to learn here and there, but the kid is playing great. Our forwards need to be ready for his needle threading (BONES!) and make those chances count. I have the feeling that once the flood gates open for him he's going to be insane.
YUPPY 2 7 10 11
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Yeah, the people in the camp of sending him back have only 1 thing on their agenda and it doesn't have anything with this guy's ability to play. It's ECHL Hockey Contracts length.
Look, Eklund is slowly getting better points per game stats than Joe Thornton in his first year in hockey. and Joe Thornton is a 1st Ballot Hall of Famer.
Joe Thornton
| 1997–98 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 55 games | 3 goals | 4 assists | 7 points |
| 2021-2022 San Jose Sharks | 7 games | 0 goals | 3 assists | 3 points |
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Not really a fair comparison. Thornton also only averaged 8 minutes per game that season and was on the 4th line.
Jargon
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Yeah, I think if he gets a sniper on his line who can finish his ridiculous passes, he’s going to rack up points like crazy. I already think the last two games he’s gotten way better.
YUPPY 2 7 10 11
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Eklund averages 14 mins per game so you go ahead and double that to 14 points. He still would beat Thornton by the 55 games.
That's not how that sort of hypothetical would work.
- Jun 23, 2020
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Eklund-Thornton comparisons using rookie-season statistics are basically numerical garbage for a variety of reasons - small sample sizes (Eklund), league environment, quality of teammates and competition, and the fact that you can't use a single data point to infer anything meaningful.
If Eklund winds up being as good as Thornton, that would be amazing. It's not likely (Thornton was a monster at his peak) and that's ok - no one should expect that anymore than they should expect some prospect to be as good as Gretzky or Orr. Eklund will still be an incredible success if he winds up being a long-term 60-70 point guy.
If Eklund winds up being as good as Thornton, that would be amazing. It's not likely (Thornton was a monster at his peak) and that's ok - no one should expect that anymore than they should expect some prospect to be as good as Gretzky or Orr. Eklund will still be an incredible success if he winds up being a long-term 60-70 point guy.
Yeah cuz while Thornton played with legendary offensive threats in Rob DiMaio and Ken Baumgartner, Eklund has so far played with noted goons Tomas Hertl, Rudolfs Balcers, Kevin Labanc and Nick Bonino.
Totally the same situation.
Doubling thorntons ice time also means we are giving him better linemates and not being asked to be a strictly shutdown player.
Better linemates means he has a better chance of putting points on the board.
Every one points to thornton and his 7 points in 55 games as every rookie that does have a rough season could turn it around. But then ignore that most of the new rookies they talk about play 18 minutes a game and struggle and are given every opportunity to succeed. Thornton started at a time that rookies were barely given the chance unless they had the defensive side already figured out.
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As long as Dahlen is out, it would be really good idea to put Eklund with Couture and Meier.
I think we know Meier and Couture are both on fire, and to add a great playmaking with Eklund could really do something to look forward to.
After Dahlen comes back you go back to Dahlen - Couture - Meier and spread the depth by keeping Eklund with Hertl and Barbie or Labanc (Balcers should play 3rd line for now)
I think we know Meier and Couture are both on fire, and to add a great playmaking with Eklund could really do something to look forward to.
After Dahlen comes back you go back to Dahlen - Couture - Meier and spread the depth by keeping Eklund with Hertl and Barbie or Labanc (Balcers should play 3rd line for now)
one2gamble
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God I hope so. He's a fun player to watch, and he's able to execute passes at this level already without the added benefit of
A) having played on this ice surface...ever in his career
B) the size of a 14 year old boy
The NHL is the best development league in the world. You want him to develop here, so develop him here. If he scores 20 points this year, who cares. Focus on what he does well.
A) having played on this ice surface...ever in his career
B) the size of a 14 year old boy
The NHL is the best development league in the world. You want him to develop here, so develop him here. If he scores 20 points this year, who cares. Focus on what he does well.
OrrNumber4
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Bingo.
IMHO a team that deploys a player in a sub-standard league for the purposes of managing his contract is an organization that lacks a winning culture.
Even when they're doing it with the idea in mind that they're going to start winning at a certain point and would like to plan for it as best they can? Yeah, that's not lacking a winning culture. It's taking the first steps from bottoming out to winning again.
Boy Hedican
Homer Jr, friends call me Ho-Ju
Im sure this is tongue and cheek, cuz Ek does look very young in his face, but you can tell in post game that his frame is not as youthful. He's certainly not jacked, but he's got definition and strength. Thats very evident, especially seeing how this "boy" has been handling pro men in the best league in the world. Meanwhile, Pavelski had the body of a 15 year old up until his mid 20's*. Lol. I was shoulder to shoulder with him at a well knowned Willow Glen deli and I was surprised how small he was. He sure did hit the weights a few years later.
Edit: *not really, but he was small. Very small.
That’s fair. He’s not horribly small. Just a little imbalanced on his feet sometimes when he gets hit.
hohosaregood
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