Did Askarov peak too young?
#bustwrittenalloverhim
- Ogilthorpe2
Some thoughts after watching the World Juniors Under-20s
Michael Krutil blocked lots of shots, was strong on the man in the defensive zone, and was quick to diagnose and be in the proper place to defend.
He’s big bodied, and fluid. I thought there were instances where he should have been stronger on the puck along the wall, he shouldn’t have lost any but, he did.
He knows his role and plays within the confines of the abilities he displays and isn’t looking to out skill, out run, or be a postman with the biscuit when he has choices for it’s forward advancement.
Michel Teply’ is strong and tall and will North to South long stride to stay with the flow, but don’t confuse him with a dipsy-doodlin’ lateral agility attacker. He is basically a kid with shot. (Again showing my age,…) He skates and waits very similar to how Eric Nesterenko did, in my opinion. He lingers, he will go after pucks, use his reach with the guy next to him is trying to handle the just received puck. He can line up as an off-handed left winger on the power play, his regular position, or play the point as he did a little. There seems to be a need to add mastery of a few more facets before we start thinking he can be a major leaguer.
I came into the tourney thinking
Landon Slaggert would be in a checking line role but probably relegated to the wing. He was not. He centered the checking line, through more than his share of hard hits and killed penalties. There is upside to the 200 foot package, I think.
No matter if they scored often or not, I don't think my opinions have changed on what I wrote on the kids who got drafted in 2020. No big revelations, and for the most part kids that will have to get stronger to excel as eventual NHLers.
Anton Lundell is ready to play as a centre sooner than later. (You didn’t like him ‘cause what they wrote about him?" "They" were wrong.)
Tim Stuetzle is a wing from the get-go and maybe always. It just makes sense to unburden him so he can get space to create.
I am pretty sure
Trevor Zegras is going back to college, but I bet he could make the Ducks now. Yeah, I know he cheats a bit as a defender, but it’s because he is so keen at setting up looks. And although this is a giant leap of an opinion, he is an
America version of Vancouver’s Elias Petterson. I think he is more than a piece of the puzzle...more an offensive keystone.
And
Dylan Cozen will never see another game outside of the NHL. You can line him up anywhere and he’ll use his speed to stay in the game, or put him on the point on the power play.
I think because the lack of depth
Marco Rossi will every opportunity to stick around the Wild. I still don’t know how he lasted that late and is ahead of most the 2020 picks in terms of readiness. Maybe they don't rush him, but I’d see if he can play and not hurt the team, and then decide.
I honestly think the rest of the kids will be given the time they need, including Caufield. I keep hearing how ready he is but I don’t think so.
I do know I am starting to be envious of the depth teams like the Kings, Avs, and Detroit have coming. Colorado has arguably four solid defenseman prospects arriving in the next two-three yrs. LA and Detroit a nice mix of deepen and forwards. (How can you not root for Kings defensive prospect
Jordan Spence an Australian born Japanese Canadian?????)
On to the Elephant in my room, my long time opinions of
Bowen Byram.
I have a very strong feeling that after the Canada camp and initial dress rehearsal WJ rounds that the Canada staff took him aside and asked how committed he could be to winning, and would he be willing to harness his strong inclinations to go rover, for the team's sake?
I never doubted Byram’s size, skill, feet, or his ability to close tight gaps and, most of all, loved that he basically could move up like a centre and walk the entire attack zone, size up his options, and then decide whether they WERE the best options or him just holding the biscuit to try and take the shot.
Sure every NHL game has instances where we see defenders take this route and their teams make sure they cover that point and all is usually well.
But Byram just seemed so inclined to abandon his positioning in junior, it was beyond a Cole Makar jump up, it was reckless and there were continual bad reads that hurt his team. He didn’t fare better while in Colorado camp again, seeming to be lacking the hockey IQ and sense that can kill a career and/or NHL dee-man’s ice time. I thought that was why he was sent packing last preseason.
I heard the World Junior telecast team saying, “…wait until he teamed with Makar!”
I just figured that it would have to take a lot of need for his offensive game to warrant him sticking with this Cup challenging Colorado team, that the river boat aspect and the necessary growth of how he reads his end of the ice was gonna have to start showing the Avs staff that he should be there now.
I never doubted his offensive abilities.
But what we have begun to see on Team Canada is he is staying home more and just taking what’s given, and not trying to take the scoring on his shoulders with abandonment of his position.
If this continues, Colorado might reach his expectations all around.
I haven’t mention
Yaroslav Askarov - another shaky World Junior where he simply didn’t make the saves, spent far too much time over handling the bucks and despite the speed of a cheetah, again evoked more questions than answers to them.
Despite all the things that he will have to rectify in his continued development, Askarov has reflexes and reaction times quicker than the average bear, and that is what has placed him on the current plane as an elite level prospect.
I liked what I saw in the small views of this years top goalie prospect,
Jesper Wallstedt, a very different kind of goalie who limits his movements, reactions and is a polar opposite of the quick twitch Askarov. Not enough to solidify a top ten section, but already in consideration, despite a conservative showings of his athleticism.
It’s nice to project after this tournament, but for most the road is a bit longer until they are NHLers. Burt there really as much to like the players on display.
