Todd Cordell: Vancouver Canucks: Opportunity Knocking For Nicklas Jensen

When Booth gets traded, waived or gets hurt again. Possible.

When Booth gets traded, waived or gets hurt again. Possible.
- VanHockeyGuy

Hunting mishap with the Aquillinis.

I'm not sure that Jensen's development has really been that peachy - there was virtually no improvement from his draft year while in the OHL, and in spite of scoring some goals for a very average team in Sweden his debut in the AHL was mediocre at best. In fact, his late-season call-up was considered by many to be wholly undeserved, and maybe even more of a trade showcase than a legitimately earned taste of the NHL.

That said, opportunity often breeds success - and the team obviously wants to put Jensen in a position to succeed. But with just 4 career AHL points in 20 games to go along with an abysmal +/- ranking, I think Jensen still has a lot to prove before he gets his chance at a regular spot.

I'm not sure that Jensen's development has really been that peachy - there was virtually no improvement from his draft year while in the OHL, and in spite of scoring some goals for a very average team in Sweden his debut in the AHL was mediocre at best. In fact, his late-season call-up was considered by many to be wholly undeserved, and maybe even more of a trade showcase than a legitimately earned taste of the NHL.

That said, opportunity often breeds success - and the team obviously wants to put Jensen in a position to succeed. But with just 4 career AHL points in 20 games to go along with an abysmal +/- ranking, I think Jensen still has a lot to prove before he gets his chance at a regular spot.
- khawk

This should get a few replies

Todd Cordell: Vancouver Canucks: Opportunity Knocking For Nicklas Jensen
- ToddCordellVAN

Burrows Kesler Jensen

Kes and Burr can teach him defensive positioning and Jensen's speed would work well with them.

I'm not sure that Jensen's development has really been that peachy - there was virtually no improvement from his draft year while in the OHL, and in spite of scoring some goals for a very average team in Sweden his debut in the AHL was mediocre at best. In fact, his late-season call-up was considered by many to be wholly undeserved, and maybe even more of a trade showcase than a legitimately earned taste of the NHL.

That said, opportunity often breeds success - and the team obviously wants to put Jensen in a position to succeed. But with just 4 career AHL points in 20 games to go along with an abysmal +/- ranking, I think Jensen still has a lot to prove before he gets his chance at a regular spot.
- khawk

Saying "scoring some goals for a very average team in Sweden" is a very pessimistic way of saying he lead his team in scoring.

Hunting mishap with the Aquillinis.
- VANTEL

Aquillinis are Italian right?

They have lots of 'hunting' accidents...

I'm not sure that Jensen's development has really been that peachy - there was virtually no improvement from his draft year while in the OHL, and in spite of scoring some goals for a very average team in Sweden his debut in the AHL was mediocre at best. In fact, his late-season call-up was considered by many to be wholly undeserved, and maybe even more of a trade showcase than a legitimately earned taste of the NHL.

That said, opportunity often breeds success - and the team obviously wants to put Jensen in a position to succeed. But with just 4 career AHL points in 20 games to go along with an abysmal +/- ranking, I think Jensen still has a lot to prove before he gets his chance at a regular spot.
- khawk

I didn't realize 20 AHL games count as a 'career'. Prospects need time to develop.

You obviously need time to become smarter. Please use your time wisely. You got a lot of work ahead of you.

Hunting mishap with the Aquillinis.
- VANTEL

Would that count as cap circumvention?

This should get a few replies
- VANTEL

I'm sure I'll hear about the late-season AHL stint where he scored 6 goals... but I'd rather hear some accounts for why his development has twice shown regression (2nd OHL season, 2nd AHL season), and he's coming off of a year where he had near-team worst +/- rankings in both the SEL and AHL.

Don't get me wrong - I'd love to see some new blood in the Canucks' lineup, but not at the expense of game-ready secondary scoring in a year when they can still lay some claim to 'Stanley Cup contender' status. I just don't see what Jensen's done to this point to merit such an important role.

The biggest opportunity that Booth's injury will provide Jensen is the opportunity to showcase his talent in the top 6 during training camp. Booth will be healthy before the season starts so Jensen has 2 weeks to prove he belongs, otherwise it's a long flight to Utica.

Interesting that Shinkaruk was playing with Kesler and Burrows today in camp.

I didn't realize 20 AHL games count as a 'career'. Prospects need time to develop.
You obviously need time to become smarter. Please use your time wisely. You got a lot of work ahead of you.
- bloatedmosquito

The strange thing is that we're actually saying the same thing: Jensen needs time to develop. I'm really not sure how that turned into me being an imbecile.

And also Torts said that if it's close between two players in camp that they're going with the younger guy. Seems like the anti-AV.

Interesting that Shinkaruk was playing with Kesler and Burrows today in camp.
- Nucker101

Like it

I'm sure I'll hear about the late-season AHL stint where he scored 6 goals... but I'd rather hear some accounts for why his development has twice shown regression (2nd OHL season, 2nd AHL season), and he's coming off of a year where he had near-team worst +/- rankings in both the SEL and AHL.

Don't get me wrong - I'd love to see some new blood in the Canucks' lineup, but not at the expense of game-ready secondary scoring in a year when they can still lay some claim to 'Stanley Cup contender' status. I just don't see what Jensen's done to this point to merit such an important role.
- khawk

Realistically, nothing he has done to this point matters at all. It's a fresh start whether he had a great year last year or a horrible one. All that matters is what he produces and shows this year. Stop living in the past.

If he had a phenomenal year in the AHL it would be, great, show us you can do it at this level. If he had an awful year last year it's, too bad, show us you learned from it and what you can do now.

Bottom line is that if he wants a job he's going to have to take it from someone at camp. If he does then the job's his.

Interesting that Shinkaruk was playing with Kesler and Burrows today in camp.
- Nucker101

Love it. Put the kids in a position to succeed and see what they can do.

With all the talk of Jensen, Horvat, and Shinkaruk, where does it leave Schroeder? Do we see him back in the farm, or will he be traded?

Love it. Put the kids in a position to succeed and see what they can do.
- KB3Point0

I like Tort's philosophy when it comes to the less experienced.

-Pair rookie with established veterans
-Let the rookie make some mistakes
-Coach said rookie into making the right decisions

He knows that giving any newbie the right amount of support and constructive criticism will lead to success. Obviously the rookie has to impress him first, but he's willing to look past the negatives if you have the right amount of motivation and talent.

I haven't been this excited for Canucks hockey in a few years.

Would that count as cap circumvention?
- KB3Point0

Not if they told Bettman if he applies it against the cap then he too will be on a hunting trip.

Not if they told Bettman if he applies it against the cap then he too will be on a hunting trip.
- VANTEL

I'm surprised Bettman wasn't invited to a hunting trip after implementing recapture.

Realistically, nothing he has done to this point matters at all. It's a fresh start whether he had a great year last year or a horrible one. All that matters is what he produces and shows this year. Stop living in the past.
- KB3Point0

I was really just taking a contrary position to one of the establishing statements of this blog entry, which was a relatively unsubstantiated claim about how positive Jensen's development has been. I agree completely that you have to get it done it training camp if you want to make the team - my opposition is really just with the idea that Jensen has in any way demonstrated that he's ready to take this step. I'm not even saying he won't perform well - I'm just saying that he's most likely going to have to perform a whole lot better than he's shown to-date if he wants to carve a role for himself on this team going into 2013/14.

I was really just taking a contrary position to one of the establishing statements of this blog entry, which was a relatively unsubstantiated claim about how positive Jensen's development has been. I agree completely that you have to get it done it training camp if you want to make the team - my opposition is really just with the idea that Jensen has in any way demonstrated that he's ready to take this step. I'm not even saying he won't perform well - I'm just saying that he's most likely going to have to perform a whole lot better than he's shown to-date if he wants to carve a role for himself on this team going into 2013/14.
- khawk

I think the claim that he's taken a big step was based on the rookie tournament, where (like he should) he dominated and showed that he was a step above the rest.

I'm surprised Bettman wasn't invited to a hunting trip after implementing recapture.
- KB3Point0

Amen Brotha