Player Discussion Tyler Kleven (D) at 44th Overall (Sens traded up)

[coladin]

I just love the poise he is showing with the puck, deep in his zone even

 

[Bileur]

Looking for him to K-Train somebody. Like, 30 page thread on the main board kind of K-Train.

I’m not going to lie I was hoping for a Volchenkov-like coming out party.

 

[Micklebot]

I think Zub and Jensen move the puck under control well. They just are not as offensive

Both guys seem to have their moments though, feels like if you don't respect their offense they have just enough to make you pay for it.

 

[PlayersLtd]

Anybody think Kleven could end up being a lot like Alex Vlasic in terms of development curve and skill set?

 

[KnuckChuckinTkachuk]

Anybody think Kleven could end up being a lot like Alex Vlasic in terms of development curve and skill set?

Honestly pretty decent comp and I didn't even realize A. Vlasic is 6'6" and 215+ lbs too..

I could see Kleven's stats last season in the AHL eventually becoming his career best in the NHL (5G, 16A) while also blocking shots, throwing the occasional big hit and being a decent passer.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

No complaints. Bert may have beat me on this one. Kleven looks very very good.

 

[GCK]

Honestly pretty decent comp and I didn't even realize A. Vlasic is 6'6" and 215+ lbs too..

I could see Kleven's stats last season in the AHL eventually becoming his career best in the NHL (5G, 16A) while also blocking shots, throwing the occasional big hit and being a decent passer.

I don’t see anyway his max point total is 21. Far more skill than given credit for.

 

[Micklebot]

I don’t see anyway his max point total is 21. Far more skill than given credit for.

He's so good at protecting the puck in a one on one situation with the forecheck, can make a clean exit pass, and he's got a great shot, both wrist and slapper. He'll never get the PP time to put up big numbers though, so I could see him spending a lot of his career in the 25-35 pts range.

 

[PlayersLtd]

Honestly pretty decent comp and I didn't even realize A. Vlasic is 6'6" and 215+ lbs too..

I could see Kleven's stats last season in the AHL eventually becoming his career best in the NHL (5G, 16A) while also blocking shots, throwing the occasional big hit and being a decent passer.

More points than that especially when you consider his potential to crack the top 4 once Chabot has moved on.

Alex Vlasic caught my interest last year and he is stepping it up again this year. He and Kleven play a very similar game imo. Big bodies that they use well to shield the puck, good skaters, they win battles and have good gap control thanks to range and an active stick, good first pass and both physical. Vlasic historically was less offensive but that aspect of his game is emerging.

I think Vlasic is exploding right before people's eyes and it will be amazing for the Sens if Kleven experiences a similar development curve.

 

[BondraTime]

35 points for a D is pretty high, don't think Kleven will be getting there.

Only guys to do it for the Sens in the past 15 years are:
Karlsson
Chabot
Gonchar
Sanderson

And all are strong offensive guys with PP1 time

 

[Hale The Villain]

Only 20 D had 35 even strength points last season and only around 50-60 had 25 even strength points.

Kleven is beyond Sanderson and Chabot as PP options right now, and he's about to be behind Yakemchuk too in a year or two, so he'll likely get very little PP points.

I've been very impressed with his puck moving ability so far, particularly his poise and patience in the defensive zone, but he'll probably stuggle to put up over 20-25 points unless he's getting PP time.

 

[aragorn]

I’m not going to lie I was hoping for a Volchenkov-like coming out party.

In todays NHL he would be fighting after every hit.

IMO Kleven is turning out exactly as I expected as a solid defensive defender who takes his man out & gets the puck out. He has made some miscues but I expect that from a rookie defender but he doesn't make many & doesn't take many penalties either. In fact, I think both JBD & Kleven have done fairly well together as a tandem, Chabot is the one that worries me the most on D.

Next yr Hamonic will be off the books & I expect that Zub will play with Sanderson & that they keep the other two tandems together ( Jensen & Chabot - Kleven & JBD). While I'm a big fan of Yakemchuk it's likely he will start in Belleville & could be an injury callup all yr & probably get a decent amount of NHL games in the NHL due to injuries.