I wasn't even limiting it to EU players. I'm saying most, of not all players should get some time playing against adults in some pro league before getting to the NHL unless there is a clear demonstration of their ability to handle it mentally and physically.

Your comment on Forsling is why I'm anxious to see how they handle Mitchell. I personally see why they liked him enough to draft. I just think they need to give him the time to get his game up to the required level. Forsling is just now 25 years old.
- Chunk

All the more reason we need to trade players like Dach and Kurashev now! (red font)

Reportedly Kurashev has performed better since he returned from the AHL. I know what wiz feels so I am just watching to see how he performs the remainder of season. One useful part of his game I do like though beside some skill: sometimes it is subtle things he does that leads to a scoring opportunity.

As for the players King has coached in Rockford being Barret and Altybarmaken, I believe Theo has opined that they are getting closer to NHL deserved look as their development continues. I mention those two because I can see a niche they could carve due to their style of play. Furthermore the irritating mouth on Barret is an asset to get opposing players off their game and to commit penalties.

You and I despise Strome although he has shown better lately. The sooner his address changes the happier we shall become.
- jhawk59

I'm a big fan!

I know it was just one game, against a not very good team, but Reichel to me has that "it" factor. The way he skates, handles the puck, sees the play, he has that certain flair. Hope he ends up being like another mid-round #1 pick Barzal.
- LAHawk

When they drafted Reichel like most I only knew the name from reading up on the draft. Locating some video on him he was playing vs men and a couple shifts in I'm thinking this guy reminds me of someone.

Couple shifts later, yep, kid reminds me of TT. Not as explosive, not freakish quick twitch but the kid was really quick, had a very high cruising speed/motor, leans back on his heals when at cruising speed without the puck to better able change direction, has multiple gears, perpetual motion.

One thing that impressed me last night was the kid used his speed wisely. Just cuz he could zoom around he didn't, didn't skate himself out of plays. That tells me something for a 19 yr old's first NHL game. ....... Another mid 1st rd pick that is a comparable, not the same style though, is OTT's Josh Norris who went 19th overall in the 2017 draft and has played well as a 20 and 21 yr old 1C.

You, or anyone, see any TT in Reichel?

When they drafted Reichel like most I only knew the name from reading up on the draft. Locating some video on him he was playing vs men and a couple shifts in I'm thinking this guy reminds me of someone.

Couple shifts later, yep, kid reminds me of TT. Not as explosive, not freakish quick twitch but the kid was really quick, had a very high cruising speed/motor, leans back on his heals when at cruising speed without the puck to better able change direction, has multiple gears, perpetual motion.

One thing that impressed me last night was the kid used his speed wisely. Just cuz he could zoom around he didn't, didn't skate himself out of plays. That tells me something for a 19 yr old's first NHL game. ....... Another mid 1st rd pick that is a comparable, not the same style though, is OTT's Josh Norris who went 19th overall in the 2017 draft and has played well as a 20 and 21 yr old 1C.

You, or anyone, see any TT in Reichel?
- Mr Ricochet

Interesting that Bowman recognized talent in TT, Boqvist, and Reichel

I will omit Dach for now. I think Bowman and Kelly thought Dach was a two way player and they wanted to add size. Back around that time or earlier, Bowman remarked about reacquainted Saad. He said there is a need for north south player with size. Or something along those lines.

Anyway, both TT and Boqvist needed to develop additional strength. Both are better players and able to contribute more now than when drafted due to their additional strength.

Now I am not going to say that Reichel needs to get stronger. But he probably will as he grows into a man from a teenager.

If I have one concern about Reichel, though, it is not his strength. Hockey is a rough game and players do get concussed. Reichel was banged up last year for a bit and again this year. Both TT and Boqvist have experienced concussion issues and they were not short term as in just missing a few games. I just wonder what is ahead for our latest skill kid, our latest #1. We are excited about him too.

You know that we Canadians never do anything bad.
- paulr

Is that what Bob told you?

Is that what Bob told you?
- mohel

No Bob gave us bullpoop trade proposals to give to JJ to see if he, JJ, would post them on his blog. And JJ did, without verification, within minutes of being provided the bogus trade rumours. And not once, or twice or ten times.

When they drafted Reichel like most I only knew the name from reading up on the draft. Locating some video on him he was playing vs men and a couple shifts in I'm thinking this guy reminds me of someone.

Couple shifts later, yep, kid reminds me of TT. Not as explosive, not freakish quick twitch but the kid was really quick, had a very high cruising speed/motor, leans back on his heals when at cruising speed without the puck to better able change direction, has multiple gears, perpetual motion.

One thing that impressed me last night was the kid used his speed wisely. Just cuz he could zoom around he didn't, didn't skate himself out of plays. That tells me something for a 19 yr old's first NHL game. ....... Another mid 1st rd pick that is a comparable, not the same style though, is OTT's Josh Norris who went 19th overall in the 2017 draft and has played well as a 20 and 21 yr old 1C.

You, or anyone, see any TT in Reichel?
- Mr Ricochet

I agree. When he was covering someone he used his stride to keep pace, not just stand there and wiggle his twig at the guy.

I agree. When he was covering someone he used his stride to keep pace, not just stand there and wiggle his twig at the guy.
- 6628

Pretty sure you will get arrested for that.

Interesting that Bowman recognized talent in TT, Boqvist, and Reichel

I will omit Dach for now. I think Bowman and Kelly thought Dach was a two way player and they wanted to add size. Back around that time or earlier, Bowman remarked about reacquainted Saad. He said there is a need for north south player with size. Or something along those lines.

Anyway, both TT and Boqvist needed to develop additional strength. Both are better players and able to contribute more now than when drafted due to their additional strength.

Now I am not going to say that Reichel needs to get stronger. But he probably will as he grows into a man from a teenager.

If I have one concern about Reichel, though, it is not his strength. Hockey is a rough game and players do get concussed. Reichel was banged up last year for a bit and again this year. Both TT and Boqvist have experienced concussion issues and they were not short term as in just missing a few games. I just wonder what is ahead for our latest skill kid, our latest #1. We are excited about him too.
- jhawk59

Despite his rumored aversion to working out in the offseason, TT has held up quite well. He's developed the ability to not put himself in bad positions and, like Kane, learned to rarely take a hard hit. Reichel seems a bit more willing to engage along the boards and get his nose dirty, but I'm less concerned about him holding up. Like others have mentioned, he seems to have very good spatial recognition and can actually read a play.

Despite his rumored aversion to working out in the offseason, TT has held up quite well. He's developed the ability to not put himself in bad positions and, like Kane, learned to rarely take a hard hit. Reichel seems a bit more willing to engage along the boards and get his nose dirty, but I'm less concerned about him holding up. Like others have mentioned, he seems to have very good spatial recognition and can actually read a play.
- Chunk

I know who started that rumour, and it wasn’t Bob.

I know who started that rumour, and it wasn’t Bob.
- paulr

Something about puke buckets and pickle juice?

Something about puke buckets and pickle juice?
- Chunk

And diets guaranteed to pack on 20 lbs of muscle in a weekend.

I just watched that episode!

When they drafted Reichel like most I only knew the name from reading up on the draft. Locating some video on him he was playing vs men and a couple shifts in I'm thinking this guy reminds me of someone.

Couple shifts later, yep, kid reminds me of TT. Not as explosive, not freakish quick twitch but the kid was really quick, had a very high cruising speed/motor, leans back on his heals when at cruising speed without the puck to better able change direction, has multiple gears, perpetual motion.

One thing that impressed me last night was the kid used his speed wisely. Just cuz he could zoom around he didn't, didn't skate himself out of plays. That tells me something for a 19 yr old's first NHL game. ....... Another mid 1st rd pick that is a comparable, not the same style though, is OTT's Josh Norris who went 19th overall in the 2017 draft and has played well as a 20 and 21 yr old 1C.

You, or anyone, see any TT in Reichel?
- Mr Ricochet

No. TT was a strictly perimeter player in Europe who would sneak in. Took him some time to adjust.

The German goes to the middle of the ice so playing with less time and space isn't as much of a transition.

I also think Reichel has more of a killer instinct to him and tenacity.

I wasn't even limiting it to EU players. I'm saying most, of not all players should get some time playing against adults in some pro league before getting to the NHL unless there is a clear demonstration of their ability to handle it mentally and physically.

Your comment on Forsling is why I'm anxious to see how they handle Mitchell. I personally see why they liked him enough to draft. I just think they need to give him the time to get his game up to the required level. Forsling is just now 25 years old.
- Chunk

Hopefully not, but a young 20 year old kid like Bowen Byram (same age as Kirby Dach) might get forced out of the game for an extended period of time or even permanently after already suffering 3 concussions. He tells his father that he can't go on playing while he is feeling like he does every day.

So is he a case of being genetically prone to concussions or the victim of being placed in the NHL at too young an age, inexperienced at defending himself in the fastest league in the world and not physically ready to handle it over a 82 game schedule?

This league can and is brutal, especially so when a young Dman has to deal with guys like Milan Lucic, Mathew Tkachuk, Getzlaf, Ovi and a long list of more mature forwards looking to make names for themselves with physical play on defenceman, especially undersized, inexperienced ones.

I'm all for waiting and being patient with a young player. The man's league takes no prisoners.

Hopefully not, but a young 20 year old kid like Bowen Byram (same age as Kirby Dach) might get forced out of the game for an extended period of time or even permanently after already suffering 3 concussions. He tells his father that he can't go on playing while he is feeling like he does every day.

So is he a case of being genetically prone to concussions or the victim of being placed in the NHL at too young an age, inexperienced at defending himself in the fastest league in the world and not physically ready to handle it over a 82 game schedule?

This league can and is brutal, especially so when a young Dman has to deal with guys like Milan Lucic, Mathew Tkachuk, Getzlaf, Ovi and a long list of more mature forwards looking to make names for themselves with physical play on defenceman, especially undersized, inexperienced ones.

I'm all for waiting and being patient with a young player. The man's league takes no prisoners.
- RickJ

Wouldn't Byram and Boqvist have been just as susceptible to their concussions playing in the AHL?

Despite his rumored aversion to working out in the offseason, TT has held up quite well. He's developed the ability to not put himself in bad positions and, like Kane, learned to rarely take a hard hit. Reichel seems a bit more willing to engage along the boards and get his nose dirty, but I'm less concerned about him holding up. Like others have mentioned, he seems to have very good spatial recognition and can actually read a play.
- Chunk

Sounds more like Sharp to me? Sharp was very fast and bigger than TT and I believe Reichel is bigger as well? Sharp also played Center and Wing.

Interesting that Bowman recognized talent in TT, Boqvist, and Reichel

I will omit Dach for now. I think Bowman and Kelly thought Dach was a two way player and they wanted to add size. Back around that time or earlier, Bowman remarked about reacquainted Saad. He said there is a need for north south player with size. Or something along those lines.

Anyway, both TT and Boqvist needed to develop additional strength. Both are better players and able to contribute more now than when drafted due to their additional strength.

Now I am not going to say that Reichel needs to get stronger. But he probably will as he grows into a man from a teenager.

If I have one concern about Reichel, though, it is not his strength. Hockey is a rough game and players do get concussed. Reichel was banged up last year for a bit and again this year. Both TT and Boqvist have experienced concussion issues and they were not short term as in just missing a few games. I just wonder what is ahead for our latest skill kid, our latest #1. We are excited about him too.
- jhawk59

Maybe they should make "head hits" illegal? Just a thought...

New blog! Updates on veteran Calvin de Haan and D prospect Louis Crevier.

Game vs Ducks tonight.

Plus, a summary of the IceHogs vs Monsters game with capsules on Wyatt Kalynuk, Dylan McLaughlin, Michal Teply, and Andrei Altybarmakian.

https://bit.ly/3IbWVXf