Following up on the Jiricek trade, a couple of interesting articles about it over at the Athletic. It's interesting to read how other GM's think.

Seems as if Waddell the CBJ GM, initially was looking for a young player for young player swap. Since Minnesota's Rossi is supposedly on the market, I'm surprised a Jiricek-Rossi trade didn't happen. Maybe Rossi isn't Waddell's type of player. After Waddell couldn't find a one for one trade, he began asking for a depth defenseman and a 1st round pick in return. Supposedly another team beside the Wild was in the mix, and Minnesota sweetened the pot with a few extra lower picks.

Another story said since Waddell didn't draft Jiricek (Jarmo did, the pick before Korchinski as a matter of fact) he could evaluate him without "wearing the blinders" of a GM that needed his first round picks to succeed. CBJ wasn't happy with Jiricek's skating skills and other D-men passed him in the depth chart. Awkward and clumsy were words used in the story about his skating. Waddell was also quoted "And after a couple of years, you have to forget where guys were drafted and just evaluate them.”

From Minnesota's view point GM Guerin felt that Jiricek was worth a 1st round pick, saying that it would be hard to get a similar propsect with a pick in the 20's.

And yet X is filled with people agreeing he needs to hang out in the AHL because he needs to "marinate" whatever that means.
I know I'm a broken record,but not all prospects have the same linear progression. A prospect is ready when he is ready. Frank is ready,bring him up. Hayes needs time,leave him in the AHL. Why is this so hard to understand?

I see the Dach comments- they brought up Kirby too soon and look at him now. Is it possible that Dach just isn't very good??

Bring up Frank and put him on a line with Bedard. See if they can cook together.
- captainserious

I'd probably stick him with Foligno and maybe Donato (cause he'll shoot) and see what happens there.

I think they need to see if he can play center or not. If he produces it'll help Bedard just because he won't think he will have to do everything.

He got to that point again yesterday where he played passy a few times, guys blew chances, and then stopped and just started taking guys on and skating 80 second shifts again.

I’m not only talking fatty who is not only looking for Nazar to come up but is looking to fire the coach, maybe GM, start trading for older players and known injury prone players, start bringing guys up and in allot of cases just bypass the AHL altogether. But he and many other posters are in full blown panic. We knew this season would offer incremental improvement and so far the results haven’t been there. However we are seeing improvement, take Bedard as a huge example. He’s no longer cherry picking at center ice but positionally he's improved dramatically and he’s picking up his check on occasion, now he has to add consistency. And last year in your wildest dreams did you ever expect to see him drop down in the slot to block a shot? And the improvement of other young guys Vlasic, Allan and Kaiser. However small Reichel has made strides this season. Kurashev is what he is. As for the older players they’re there as mercenaries, as place holders, most don’t really care about anything but their paycheque. Right now it’s about the younger guys and the process, if the process works the results will come.


As for Nazar, we don’t know what the GM is looking for. If we did, we could all quit our daytime jobs flipping burgers and become NHL or even AHL, CHL or College GMs. Maybe, just maybe, KD knows more than us or Nazar hasn’t shown he’s ready in certain areas? Or perhaps KD is ready to promote him?
- paulr

I'm not sure anyone is getting better at the NHL level this season. Bedard is certainly not. He's not playing better D, he's getting pinned in the Hawks zone for whole shifts. Different. Yesterday in crunch time, Martinez was on the point not Vlasic. Allen was scratched. Kaiser plays hard but is no match physically for even the Columbus forwards let alone the best forwards in the game. Reichel and Kurashev could easily be waived through the league and end up in Rockford. Yesterday, it was clear from the opening minutes Mrazek, the teams MVP through 2 seasons, didn't look good. Why he wasn't pulled would be a head scratcher for 31 other coaches but the patient guy here just kept him in and the game slipped away on several bad goals. There is no identity. There is no fire. There will be another top 3 pick.

I’m not only talking fatty who is not only looking for Nazar to come up but is looking to fire the coach, maybe GM, start trading for older players and known injury prone players, start bringing guys up and in allot of cases just bypass the AHL altogether. But he and many other posters are in full blown panic. We knew this season would offer incremental improvement and so far the results haven’t been there. However we are seeing improvement, take Bedard as a huge example. He’s no longer cherry picking at center ice but positionally he's improved dramatically and he’s picking up his check on occasion, now he has to add consistency. And last year in your wildest dreams did you ever expect to see him drop down in the slot to block a shot? And the improvement of other young guys Vlasic, Allan and Kaiser. However small Reichel has made strides this season. Kurashev is what he is. As for the older players they’re there as mercenaries, as place holders, most don’t really care about anything but their paycheque. Right now it’s about the younger guys and the process, if the process works the results will come.


As for Nazar, we don’t know what the GM is looking for. If we did, we could all quit our daytime jobs flipping burgers and become NHL or even AHL, CHL or College GMs. Maybe, just maybe, KD knows more than us or Nazar hasn’t shown he’s ready in certain areas? Or perhaps KD is ready to promote him?
- paulr

This has been reported on a few times. They want him to keep his feet moving since he skates so well, and they don't want him to be caught flat footed. They also want him to be more active without the puck on his blade.

Hey jhawk. Your post reminded me, and I wanted to chime in about what I've seen thus far with the Hogs.

Commesso: He's fighting it a bit now. You can tell he's "trying to make the save" instead of playing the position right now. I don't think it's too big of an issue especially given his age. I think he will have a similar road as Soda in that he just starts to "get it" at some point and he'll be really good.

Hayes: I think he just needs time to figure out how his skills translate. He was hyped for his shot and goal scoring, but he actually is an above average passer. He had a really nice dish to Dach at the goal mouth I think against the Wolves, that was impressive. His skating and positioning need work.

EDM: This guy is probably my version of everyone's Crevier or Phillips. Others point out that his doesn't skate well (which I think is a bit overblown from what I've seen), but I see the total package. He's really strong and kills plays well. When he does engage offensively, which seems less often these days, he is not at all out of place. Good passer, and gets his shot on net. He reminds me of a defense version of Handzus. Looks kinda slow, but is almost always in the right spot and makes very few mistakes.

Dach: I still don't know what this kid is. It's the consistency thing. When he is on, I really think he's a difference maker. When he's off, you can barely tell he dressed. He could be similar to Bickell. Rarely makes any noise in the regular season, but could be a PO guy.

KK: Generating shots and offense more/better than last year. Much more active overall instead of just trying to survive. Defensively, still needs to clean things up and someone really needs to teach him how to play a 2-on-1... still.

Levshunov: Several times he's show why he was the 2OA. Separates guys from the puck, drives offense and takes a lot of shots. There are a few head scratcher moments, but those seem fewer and further between recently. Again, I'll warn that he looks/plays like it's very low effort, but he is making the plays. Don't fall into the "he doesn't care" crowd. He's just really calm out there.

Savoie/Slaggert: Personally, I think either or both could replace guys on the NHL roster and be just as good if not better (Maroon, Kurashev, Anderson, Mikheyev). Both always going toward the opponents' nets and can get under their skin.
- Chunk

Thanks. I guess with Korchinski if he's producing going forward how much are you willing to live with on the other end?

Levshunov, in one of the Powers articles I was reading, did not like school (think he also probably wanted to start getting paid since he showed up here with just a duffel bag) but he was getting really good grades at Michigan State and picked up the language quickly so it seems like he's got a brain to go with the athletic stuff.

Saw this on NHLRumors.com and had to laugh.

Joel Quenneville could be the top candidate in Detroit and New York
Marco D’Amico of RG.org: The Detroit Red Wings are not having the season they envisioned and GM Steve Yzerman may look to make a move behind the bench.

A source said that Joel Quenneville could be the top candidate to replace Derek Lalonde if they decide to make a move.

As the losses mount in New York, the Rangers are another team that could look at making a coaching change in order to spark their team.

“Laviolette doesn’t have long there,” a trusted NHL source told RG. “I’m hearing Quenneville could be the guy there if that’s the route goes.”
- Chunk

Laviolette always had a shelf life. Though he was in Nashville for a long time.

I'd think Q would prefer New York. Not sure how much the Detroit job appeals to someone established.

This has been reported on a few times. They want him to keep his feet moving since he skates so well, and they don't want him to be caught flat footed. They also want him to be more active without the puck on his blade.
- Chunk

Maybe there are other things they are looking for?

I’m not only talking fatty who is not only looking for Nazar to come up but is looking to fire the coach, maybe GM, start trading for older players and known injury prone players, start bringing guys up and in allot of cases just bypass the AHL altogether. But he and many other posters are in full blown panic. We knew this season would offer incremental improvement and so far the results haven’t been there. However we are seeing improvement, take Bedard as a huge example. He’s no longer cherry picking at center ice but positionally he's improved dramatically and he’s picking up his check on occasion, now he has to add consistency. And last year in your wildest dreams did you ever expect to see him drop down in the slot to block a shot? And the improvement of other young guys Vlasic, Allan and Kaiser. However small Reichel has made strides this season. Kurashev is what he is. As for the older players they’re there as mercenaries, as place holders, most don’t really care about anything but their paycheque. Right now it’s about the younger guys and the process, if the process works the results will come.


As for Nazar, we don’t know what the GM is looking for. If we did, we could all quit our daytime jobs flipping burgers and become NHL or even AHL, CHL or College GMs. Maybe, just maybe, KD knows more than us or Nazar hasn’t shown he’s ready in certain areas? Or perhaps KD is ready to promote him?
- paulr

There could be a couple things they want Nazar to work on and demonstrate over a longer period of time. It seems like they want to make sure once they call him up, he stays up vs call him up, he shows flashes but is incomplete and needs to go back down to get his confidence again. Right or wrong, that could be a debate but that seems to be the thought process.

Thanks. I guess with Korchinski if he's producing going forward how much are you willing to live with on the other end?

Levshunov, in one of the Powers articles I was reading, did not like school (think he also probably wanted to start getting paid since he showed up here with just a duffel bag) but he was getting really good grades at Michigan State and picked up the language quickly so it seems like he's got a brain to go with the athletic stuff.
- fattybeef

If you go to the Icehogs website, they have a game recap video.

https://icehogs.com/news/...k-powers-hogs-past-wolves

Scroll to the bottom for the Youtube vid. Nazar is all over the place (especially later in the game on the PK. He's so much faster than most in the AHL). Savoie kicks off the scoring with a nice move to the net. KK shows up all over the screen and scoresheet. Lev has a couple really nice rushes (and a beauty set up for Guttman who barely missed) as well as nice goal on a shot from the high slot.

Maybe there are other things they are looking for?
- paulr

Certainly could be the case, but they haven't been shy about voicing what they want prospects to work on.

Personally, I think they just need to move out some bodies before they call him up so they don't have to worry about sitting too many guys. I'm interested to see if KD starts to move guys out far before the deadline. Seems to be a rather high number of injuries this year (or maybe just my perception). Maybe teams get desperate?

There could be a couple things they want Nazar to work on and demonstrate over a longer period of time. It seems like they want to make sure once they call him up, he stays up vs call him up, he shows flashes but is incomplete and needs to go back down to get his confidence again. Right or wrong, that could be a debate but that seems to be the thought process.
- breadbag

Exactly, we have no idea what the GM is looking for? Maybe there’s concern about his size or his ability to compete against men? I haven’t seen him play much at any level and at all in Rockford so I can’t comment on how he’s playing. I defer to the GM, that all I, we, can do.

Exactly, we have no idea what the GM is looking for? Maybe there’s concern about his size or his ability to compete against men? I haven’t seen him play much at any level and at all in Rockford so I can’t comment on how he’s playing. I defer to the GM, that all I, we, can do.
- paulr

Since you've seen Lardis and followed him a bit more, where do you think his game is? I know that he's dome more in front of the net and it's been reported he is a bit better defensively, but are there any major holes in his game? I'm sure it's a bit hard to judge considering he is playing against kind of inferior competition.

My thing with Nazar, is that in every viewing I've had of him (I missed watching yesterday as I was at the Hawks game), he's been easily the best player on the ice. Some of his teammates compete as much, but don't have the talent. Others may have similar traits, but missing the compete. He's always puck hunting and most of the time he gets it.

And yet X is filled with people agreeing he needs to hang out in the AHL because he needs to "marinate" whatever that means.
I know I'm a broken record,but not all prospects have the same linear progression. A prospect is ready when he is ready. Frank is ready,bring him up. Hayes needs time,leave him in the AHL. Why is this so hard to understand?

I see the Dach comments- they brought up Kirby too soon and look at him now. Is it possible that Dach just isn't very good??

Dach's ability to shoot the puck is NHL calibre and looked like a feisty kid who could with over all improvement could occupy a team's bottom six. His shooting abilty is there.
As I said from the get go his draft year, it is the skating that hasn't.
He is now less bent over. (I know there is a constant mention in IceDog articles on him that he is working on his skating.)
I think he still stuggles with find space from the neutral zone on in. Is it a lack of IQ/decision making or his inabilty to slow, delay, re-set and he will a) continue in a straight-line, then shoot and he is a quick skating move to a higher quality value play to a teammate---a direct result of his sktaing issues....with his weight over his toes, doesn't push the kness over the toes, with a high center of gravity with that hip rotation, so he tends to reach many times instead of adding that next stride. Would better skating make him a better shooter/more playmaking or is his decision-making struggles going to copntimue, even if he radically improves the skating stride? His feet presently don't allow him to generate along the boards.
So much is based on execution when he cannot get away.

I have actually giving up on my expectations he is an NHLer; if he cannot leverage his abilties and so much is tied to his feet, the fact that he is a candidate as a power winger...you gotta have wheels like Matthew Knies to look like a budding power wing, not a wing whose still unable to create opitions for himself offensively for teammates.

(Hey he is ok on the Power Play where skating/movement isn't quite the issue.)




- captainserious[quote=captainserious]Bring up Frank and put him on a line with Bedard. See if they can cook together.

We have time to anticipate this; right now I would much rather know why Nolan Allan is ridfing the bench...the 2 penalties in his last game when he wass losing his cool?

I'm not sure anyone is getting better at the NHL level this season. Bedard is certainly not. He's not playing better D, he's getting pinned in the Hawks zone for whole shifts. Different. Yesterday in crunch time, Martinez was on the point not Vlasic. Allen was scratched. Kaiser plays hard but is no match physically for even the Columbus forwards let alone the best forwards in the game. Reichel and Kurashev could easily be waived through the league and end up in Rockford. Yesterday, it was clear from the opening minutes Mrazek, the teams MVP through 2 seasons, didn't look good. Why he wasn't pulled would be a head scratcher for 31 other coaches but the patient guy here just kept him in and the game slipped away on several bad goals. There is no identity. There is no fire. There will be another top 3 pick.
- stevefrmglencoe

I would argue that Bedard is getting better at physical aspects of the game, he isn't shoved around as hard/often. He is playing a little bit better defensively, but the team is still underwater at 5v5, so he can't use his offensive skill very effectively at even strength.

Allan, I still think was scratched because of the penalties he took and the timing of them against Philly, but he is slowly progressing in his first NHL season. He will benefit from the experience playing in the NHL this season.

I think Kurashev would likely survive going through waivers, but Reichel being younger with some upside and a very low cap hit would probably get scooped up.

I do think Mrazek looked off yesterday, he seemed a bit jumpy or not fully comfortable, despite the couple really strong saves he made, it wasn't a good outing. I don't think it was all him though, when CBJ needed offense, they outworked the Hawks and started to generate chances way too easy. They moved the puck around quickly and got chances and the Hawks didn't block many shot attempts in this one.

Exactly, we have no idea what the GM is looking for? Maybe there’s concern about his size or his ability to compete against men? I haven’t seen him play much at any level and at all in Rockford so I can’t comment on how he’s playing. I defer to the GM, that all I, we, can do.
- paulr

Yes, they could be just letting him physically mature more at the AHL level rather than having him get hammered in the NHL.

In his audition Nazar got good marks for how well he did without the puck.

In Rockford, he started cheating.

I don't think l'il Frankie's size is a concern; I know it isn't on his mind as in the attack zone,he always goes to the middle, fearless aginst two defenders, trying to dominate with the puck, challenging them to take it, and always thinking offensive set up.

We would be crazy to think a large concern has not been placed on Bedard's "well being" as he grows, and I am sure finding a player who can excute the shot after bedard places it, or who sees the devloping attcak and gets it to Bedard...so far NONE of the UFAs willing to play for the nin playoff club have shown enough intuition but it is only 25 games in.
The idea of a top offensive drafted player IS to give him as many positive support, and I don't think he is in a bad place now...but a better place will helphim also.

I'm not sure anyone is getting better at the NHL level this season. Bedard is certainly not. He's not playing better D, he's getting pinned in the Hawks zone for whole shifts. Different. Yesterday in crunch time, Martinez was on the point not Vlasic. Allen was scratched. Kaiser plays hard but is no match physically for even the Columbus forwards let alone the best forwards in the game. Reichel and Kurashev could easily be waived through the league and end up in Rockford. Yesterday, it was clear from the opening minutes Mrazek, the teams MVP through 2 seasons, didn't look good. Why he wasn't pulled would be a head scratcher for 31 other coaches but the patient guy here just kept him in and the game slipped away on several bad goals. There is no identity. There is no fire. There will be another top 3 pick.
- stevefrmglencoe

I think the benching had the opposite effect on Kaiser than they intended. Some guys you can send a message to, some guys you just gotta let them work through it. I think in his case they should just let him figure it out or send him back down but in and out of the line up is going to have him playing manic or afraid neither are good.

Richardson has resorted to benching guys and line blending. I think they're out of ideas behind the bench. Seeing Bedard out there with Brodie on one of the points is a head scratcher.

Mrazek was going to regress to the mean at some point. I don't think he was bad yesterday he just wasn't spectacular and there are going to be stretches where that happens.

The bolded is what happens when you ice a bad team that was assembled without any type of identity other than they were Foligno's buddies or a throwback to the Bowman era of running back another guy (though I do think the TT pick up was a good one and will pay off when the roster evens out).

It's a team of place holders that they didn't intend to win with just be better than last year - whatever that means. Kyle just said "this can't happen again". We don't know the definition of that. We assumed not last place but here we are. When your head scout says "where the goals going to come from" and the team's biggest issue is scoring goals - I dunno what we're supposed to expect. At least they can identify problems?

Assuming they go on a bit of a heater 220 goals and they bring up Nazar for a bump it is going to have them towards the bottom regardless of their blue line. Maybe not completely last. I think they could jump Montreal who is even more of a dumpster fire. I also think San Jose will outscore the very bottom spots.

Exactly, we have no idea what the GM is looking for? Maybe there’s concern about his size or his ability to compete against men? I haven’t seen him play much at any level and at all in Rockford so I can’t comment on how he’s playing. I defer to the GM, that all I, we, can do.
- paulr

Size is going to be as much of an issue for him as it was for Debrincat or Patrick Kane or Brayden Point.

In his audition Nazar got good marks for how well he did without the puck.

In Rockford, he started cheating.

I don't think l'il Frankie's size is a concern; I know it isn't on his mind as in the attack zone,he always goes to the middle, fearless aginst two defenders, trying to dominate with the puck, challenging them to take it, and always thinking offensive set up.

We would be crazy to think a large concern has not been placed on Bedard's "well being" as he grows, and I am sure finding a player who can excute the shot after bedard places it, or who sees the devloping attcak and gets it to Bedard...so far NONE of the UFAs willing to play for the nin playoff club have shown enough intuition but it is only 25 games in.
The idea of a top offensive drafted player IS to give him as many positive support, and I don't think he is in a bad place now...but a better place will helphim also.
- wiz1901

That is the problem with him being so much better athletically and talent wise than the rest of the league.

Following up on the Jiricek trade, a couple of interesting articles about it over at the Athletic. It's interesting to read how other GM's think.

Seems as if Waddell the CBJ GM, initially was looking for a young player for young player swap. Since Minnesota's Rossi is supposedly on the market, I'm surprised a Jiricek-Rossi trade didn't happen. Maybe Rossi isn't Waddell's type of player. After Waddell couldn't find a one for one trade, he began asking for a depth defenseman and a 1st round pick in return. Supposedly another team beside the Wild was in the mix, and Minnesota sweetened the pot with a few extra lower picks.

Another story said since Waddell didn't draft Jiricek (Jarmo did, the pick before Korchinski as a matter of fact) he could evaluate him without "wearing the blinders" of a GM that needed his first round picks to succeed. CBJ wasn't happy with Jiricek's skating skills and other D-men passed him in the depth chart. Awkward and clumsy were words used in the story about his skating. Waddell was also quoted "And after a couple of years, you have to forget where guys were drafted and just evaluate them.”

From Minnesota's view point GM Guerin felt that Jiricek was worth a 1st round pick, saying that it would be hard to get a similar propsect with a pick in the 20's.
- boilermaker100

If you look at Carolina - Waddell doesn't suffer bad skaters regardless of talent level.

It'll be interesting to see how things progress there. Monohan was an excellent pick up for them and I think he has a little more top end talent (potential anyway) in Johnson, Fantilli and the Russians than he had in Carolina to build around.

Since you've seen Lardis and followed him a bit more, where do you think his game is? I know that he's dome more in front of the net and it's been reported he is a bit better defensively, but are there any major holes in his game? I'm sure it's a bit hard to judge considering he is playing against kind of inferior competition.

My thing with Nazar, is that in every viewing I've had of him (I missed watching yesterday as I was at the Hawks game), he's been easily the best player on the ice. Some of his teammates compete as much, but don't have the talent. Others may have similar traits, but missing the compete. He's always puck hunting and most of the time he gets it.
- Chunk

Lardis has really stepped up his game beyond a sniper into a better two way forward and yet his offensive game is getting better, maybe as a result. But that isn’t to say he’s great defensively. He’s improved that aspect but he can get better. I’d like to see him emulate Marner’s game, a very good defensive player with lots of offense. But I’d want to see him engage more in tough areas that Marner has no interest in being.

Lardis, like Nazar isn’t a big guy. He’s going to need some Rockford time to get used to playing against men and hopefully get stronger. I suspect he’s a year and half years away from NHL duty. Like Nazar he’s got exceptional skating ability, in fact he may be the fastest Blackhawk prospect. Be interesting to see who of him and Moore is faster.

Years ago I played summer pick up hockey against then Bruin Dave Reid. He told us that the step from youth hockey to junior or college was huge but the step to minor pro was bigger and the stepping to the NHL was ten times the step. Reid was a big scorer in junior but, like Dave Bolland, carved out his niche in the NHL as a checker. So to forecast where Lardis, Moore or even Nazar will wind up is difficult.

Levshunov should have stayed in the NCAA another year.
- fattybeef

He would have if he didn't have to go to class.

Lardis has really stepped up his game beyond a sniper into a better two way forward and yet his offensive game is getting better, maybe as a result. But that isn’t to say he’s great defensively. He’s improved that aspect but he can get better. I’d like to see him emulate Marner’s game, a very good defensive player with lots of offense. But I’d want to see him engage more in tough areas that Marner has no interest in being.

Lardis, like Nazar isn’t a big guy. He’s going to need some Rockford time to get used to playing against men and hopefully get stronger. I suspect he’s a year and half years away from NHL duty. Like Nazar he’s got exceptional skating ability, in fact he may be the fastest Blackhawk prospect. Be interesting to see who of him and Moore is faster.

Years ago I played summer pick up hockey against then Bruin Dave Reid. He told us that the step from youth hockey to junior or college was huge but the step to minor pro was bigger and the stepping to the NHL was ten times the step. Reid was a big scorer in junior but, like Dave Bolland, carved out his niche in the NHL as a checker. So to forecast where Lardis, Moore or even Nazar will wind up is difficult.
- paulr

I'm sure. Just look at Hayes. He was a goal scoring machine for two years and now is barely getting shots off (less than two per game).

My current favorite stat is that Marcel Marcel has a 100% shooting percentage on his only shot this year.

Puis Suter just scored his 9th of the season to tie DeBrusk for the team lead in goals for Vancouver.
- Mr Ricochet

Imagine if we had him with Gaudette and Alex Nylander...

I'm sure. Just look at Hayes. He was a goal scoring machine for two years and now is barely getting shots off (less than two per game).

My current favorite stat is that Marcel Marcel has a 100% shooting percentage on his only shot this year.

- Chunk

You just never know because each player is different. A good example was Andrew Shaw, never a big time scorer, but he chipped in his secondary offense at every level and just played his game.

I think AJ Spellacy, while much larger of stature might be a similar type of guy who might have a game that just translates well to the AHL and later the NHL.