Dan Spiegel: Aleksander Barkov: A Beast In The Making

Dan Spiegel: Aleksander Barkov: A Beast In The Making
- spiegs13

Have him in a keeper league.

Its great to see Mackinnon Barkov and Jones already having success in the league this year, makes the future even more exciting in today's game.

Its great to see Mackinnon Barkov and Jones already having success in the league this year, makes the future even more exciting in today's game.
- greekdude4567

Calder trophy will be tight this year.

I remember watching the draft with my friends and I said watch Barkov go in the top two. All my buddies called me crazy and then laughed at me and Florida (I said if the oilers had no.1 I'd take him) and now he's having a great year. Good to see I wasn't wrong

I was wrong too. The genius of Dale Tallon.

A beast, far from it but good

I saw his numbers before being drafted. I didn't doubt the pick for a minute.

He has Jagr-like superstar potential.

I wish he had gone to the World Juniors, though... that would have built his character a little more.

I think TB should have taken Jones over Drouin, however. Drouin is a very good player, but Jones is probably going to be better among d-men than Drouin among forwards. Then Nashville would have gotten Drouin and both teams would have been better for it.

I saw his numbers before being drafted. I didn't doubt the pick for a minute.

He has Jagr-like superstar potential.

I wish he had gone to the World Juniors, though... that would have built his character a little more.

I think TB should have taken Jones over Drouin, however. Drouin is a very good player, but Jones is probably going to be better among d-men than Drouin among forwards. Then Nashville would have gotten Drouin and both teams would have been better for it.
- archromat

jäger like, PLEASE

I saw his numbers before being drafted. I didn't doubt the pick for a minute.

He has Jagr-like superstar potential.
I wish he had gone to the World Juniors, though... that would have built his character a little more.

I think TB should have taken Jones over Drouin, however. Drouin is a very good player, but Jones is probably going to be better among d-men than Drouin among forwards. Then Nashville would have gotten Drouin and both teams would have been better for it.
- archromat

Easy now, Jagr is one of the ten or fifteen best players to ever suit up, even if he doesn't look like it today.

Barkov is great, but he's no Jagr.

Easy now, Jagr is one of the ten or fifteen best players to ever suit up, even if he doesn't look like it today.

Barkov is great, but he's no Jagr.
- TommyDeVito

Let's just say he has alot to prove before he's mentionned as a future Jagr.

But the Kid is very, very good. Great player for Florida to have for years to come.

Maybe Barkov is a beast in the making. Along with Bjugstaf, two big and talented players. Then too, is the more pure skill type in Huberdeau.

Two players not going to become key contributors are Hayes and Olsen. Maybe ok, maybe if they do actually develop.

Not that moving Versteeg was a bad move. Going no where with him. Versteeg may be an injury prone player in the following years. He is better when he is on a secondary or third line. In his place are two friendly contracts to wedge around players Tallon could go after this summer. This assumes he really does have a green light to do so from the owner.

Back to the two who blew into town from the Windy City.

Hayes improved his skating over last summer. Still needs to get better. He really needs most to learn how to better implant his big, heavy frame when checking...as in weight distribution. And then the key will be if a coach can motivate him to be nasty and more willing to check than to be goal hungry. Hayes could score enough if he would become a boards player. He has skill, he can play. Even though his skating could be better and his checking is below par.

Olsen too saw improvement come over the summer. Here is another player with nice NHL size yet he is not often the physical hard hitter you hope to see at least a tad more when he has the size and weight that he does. Olsen probably needs repitition insofar as ordinary plays a dman makes and unfortunately it comes quicker to him when he skates in the NHL and not in the AHL.

Yes, Olsen decision making and quick reaction as plays unfold, is a weakness. I personally think he might become a descent bottom pair dman. But missing a whole year in development (because he did not play major junior but instead college) hurts his development. It is said that dmen need a lot,of gp, seasons before they become the reality of their projection. Back in the old six team NHL rookies came up sometimes at age 28. They had to be able to handle all situations, not grow much in certain arras like,many do nowadays.

That is Olsen for you.

With the age of Campbell and Robocop, their wear and tear: let me just suggest having as many dmen around is not a bad thing. Olsen is not too bad (at least you hope so) as he has around 15 TOI per game in last while before his injury.

Keeping Hayes is not such a bad idea, either. He has some ability and he has size. Sometimes a strategy can be to just have a lot more size than your opponent's line up. Hayes might do some damage there. His next step is the NHL. His stats if he plays AHL really is meaningless. He showed in his second year AHL he could garner 30 goals. He needs to work on the things aforementioned.

Watching him play a few times I'd have to say he is going to turn out to be the player they build the core around, a couple of nice draft picks the last few years for the Cats

Maybe Barkov is a beast in the making. Along with Bjugstaf, two big and talented players. Then too, is the more pure skill type in Huberdeau.

Two players not going to become key contributors are Hayes and Olsen. Maybe ok, maybe if they do actually develop.

Not that moving Versteeg was a bad move. Going no where with him. Versteeg may be an injury prone player in the following years. He is better when he is on a secondary or third line. In his place are two friendly contracts to wedge around players Tallon could go after this summer. This assumes he really does have a green light to do so from the owner.

Back to the two who blew into town from the Windy City.

Hayes improved his skating over last summer. Still needs to get better. He really needs most to learn how to better implant his big, heavy frame when checking...as in weight distribution. And then the key will be if a coach can motivate him to be nasty and more willing to check than to be goal hungry. Hayes could score enough if he would become a boards player. He has skill, he can play. Even though his skating could be better and his checking is below par.

Olsen too saw improvement come over the summer. Here is another player with nice NHL size yet he is not often the physical hard hitter you hope to see at least a tad more when he has the size and weight that he does. Olsen probably needs repitition insofar as ordinary plays a dman makes and unfortunately it comes quicker to him when he skates in the NHL and not in the AHL.

Yes, Olsen decision making and quick reaction as plays unfold, is a weakness. I personally think he might become a descent bottom pair dman. But missing a whole year in development (because he did not play major junior but instead college) hurts his development. It is said that dmen need a lot,of gp, seasons before they become the reality of their projection. Back in the old six team NHL rookies came up sometimes at age 28. They had to be able to handle all situations, not grow much in certain arras like,many do nowadays.

That is Olsen for you.

With the age of Campbell and Robocop, their wear and tear: let me just suggest having as many dmen around is not a bad thing. Olsen is not too bad (at least you hope so) as he has around 15 TOI per game in last while before his injury.

Keeping Hayes is not such a bad idea, either. He has some ability and he has size. Sometimes a strategy can be to just have a lot more size than your opponent's line up. Hayes might do some damage there. His next step is the NHL. His stats if he plays AHL really is meaningless. He showed in his second year AHL he could garner 30 goals. He needs to work on the things aforementioned.
- jhawk59

Can you Chicago fans get over Olsen and Hayes? No one has ever said that either of them were anything special. But Olsen, when paired with Gudbranson, played out of his mind. He was scoring goals, getting assists, blocking shots, killing penalties.. that's what I wanted out of him. Move on.

After a few FA's are signed and a kid or two promoted, Hayes will probably be an AHLer unless something drastically changes. Olsen I want to see get more of a shot. We have a ton of defensemen in the wings, but that is a position that takes much more time to develop. I don't want to see Racine, Petro, Matheson, etc.. rushed.

Our D next year will look something like this.. and we aren't gonna get rid of Jovo. For one, he's actually playing damn good right now. He has a + ratings in all games since coming back, he's physical, taking shots.. he's a bit slow and out of position but the man hasn't played in 9 months, let him recover a bit. I am also assuming we don't trade Campbell and only going buy who is under contract for next season so I won't include Gilbert Weaver, or Kuli.. who I don't think comes back. I will include Guds and Olsen because I think both of them return:

Campbell FA
Gudbranson Olsen
FA Jovo

I was wrong too. The genius of Dale Tallon.
- PanthersGoal

you mean Adam French!

Maybe Barkov is a beast in the making. Along with Bjugstaf, two big and talented players. Then too, is the more pure skill type in Huberdeau.

Two players not going to become key contributors are Hayes and Olsen. Maybe ok, maybe if they do actually develop.

Not that moving Versteeg was a bad move. Going no where with him. Versteeg may be an injury prone player in the following years. He is better when he is on a secondary or third line. In his place are two friendly contracts to wedge around players Tallon could go after this summer. This assumes he really does have a green light to do so from the owner.

Back to the two who blew into town from the Windy City.

Hayes improved his skating over last summer. Still needs to get better. He really needs most to learn how to better implant his big, heavy frame when checking...as in weight distribution. And then the key will be if a coach can motivate him to be nasty and more willing to check than to be goal hungry. Hayes could score enough if he would become a boards player. He has skill, he can play. Even though his skating could be better and his checking is below par.

Olsen too saw improvement come over the summer. Here is another player with nice NHL size yet he is not often the physical hard hitter you hope to see at least a tad more when he has the size and weight that he does. Olsen probably needs repitition insofar as ordinary plays a dman makes and unfortunately it comes quicker to him when he skates in the NHL and not in the AHL.

Yes, Olsen decision making and quick reaction as plays unfold, is a weakness. I personally think he might become a descent bottom pair dman. But missing a whole year in development (because he did not play major junior but instead college) hurts his development. It is said that dmen need a lot,of gp, seasons before they become the reality of their projection. Back in the old six team NHL rookies came up sometimes at age 28. They had to be able to handle all situations, not grow much in certain arras like,many do nowadays.

That is Olsen for you.

With the age of Campbell and Robocop, their wear and tear: let me just suggest having as many dmen around is not a bad thing. Olsen is not too bad (at least you hope so) as he has around 15 TOI per game in last while before his injury.

Keeping Hayes is not such a bad idea, either. He has some ability and he has size. Sometimes a strategy can be to just have a lot more size than your opponent's line up. Hayes might do some damage there. His next step is the NHL. His stats if he plays AHL really is meaningless. He showed in his second year AHL he could garner 30 goals. He needs to work on the things aforementioned.
- jhawk59

You really have a boner for Olson and Hayes don't you?

You really have a boner for Olson and Hayes don't you?
- Cptmjl

Seriously right?!

You really have a boner for Olson and Hayes don't you?
- Cptmjl

I think he's hoping that neither of them blossom into anything.. and I can tell you right now that Olsen is going to be something special. Having Olsen here is going to allow us to trade away some other D prospects for other pieces. Mark my words.

you mean Adam French!
- Jaciems

He can be the first to say he knew what was coming!

You really have a boner for Olson and Hayes don't you?
- Cptmjl

Seriously, like where did this come from?

I get that some teams really feel like they got to make sure they didn't lose a trade, but it's like ever hear of a good hockey trade? You know win-win...

I was hoping Barkov would still be available at #4 and Calgary could try to trade up to get him. I had high hopes!! I did not expect Florida to grab him at #2.

I was hoping Barkov would still be available at #4 and Calgary could try to trade up to get him. I had high hopes!! I did not expect Florida to grab him at #2.
- j.henderson

I know I didn't!

Seriously, like where did this come from?

I get that some teams really feel like they got to make sure they didn't lose a trade, but it's like ever hear of a good hockey trade? You know win-win...
- Crazycaboose

Some people can't fathom the fact that Florida got the better end of it.