Zach Jarom: Putting out the Flames and Game Day: Hawks vs McDavids..I mean Oilers

For sake of comparison, Edm dmen rookies: Edm vs ours

They play a high octane offense. Two #1 round drafts
Bouchard is an important member of their blueline crew while Broberg is breaking in gradually with TOI and controlled match ups

Our candidates Mitchell, Phillips, Regula

Forget about Regula. His feet is an issue. He might eventually have a role one day on someone's third pair. Scorer, good shot yet skating is meh

Bouchard is not having a good year. He misses Keith as his partner badly.

I thought Colin Blackwell really stood out in the game against the flames. I think it is the best game he has played all season.

Toews returns tonight and he’ll centre the 3rd line with Lafferty and Blackwell on his wings. Smart move to showcase how effective Toews can be on the 3rd line vs. Failing in the top 6.

via GIPHY

Bouchard is not having a good year. He misses Keith as his partner badly.
- LAHawk

Like some of the BOD here, Edmonton fans couldn’t run Keith out of town fast enough.

Toews returns tonight and he’ll centre the 3rd line with Lafferty and Blackwell on his wings. Smart move to showcase how effective Toews can be on the 3rd line vs. Failing in the top 6.

via GIPHY

- DarthKane

A request from the team trading for him/

I dunno that Bouchard is doing that poorly. Certainly it can be difficult to play with someone else after having played with a hall of famer but points wise - he isn't egregiously off from last year (which was his first full year), shooting % down which doesn't help the goal totals.

I think next year is a more important year as it'll be year 3 and thats about when guys start to figure it out in the NHL.

Definitely has the toolset just needs minutes IMO. Someone like a Jake McCabe probably would help settle him down. My guess would be that he's trying to do too much and still figuring out how to be a pro.

Which I will Segway that into why you'd want K2 in the NHL sooner rather than later. You want him to do all his adjusting and being inconsistent and hard slumps before they are good again which takes about three years and if its a 5 year plan that they are one year into then thats gotta happen kinda soon.

Same for Reichel. There's a point where the AHL is diminishing returns and the dude will need to figure out how to play 82 games in the NHL - not flash in a pan 2 or 3 and typically that takes experience.

I dunno that Bouchard is doing that poorly. Certainly it can be difficult to play with someone else after having played with a hall of famer but points wise - he isn't egregiously off from last year (which was his first full year), shooting % down which doesn't help the goal totals.

I think next year is a more important year as it'll be year 3 and thats about when guys start to figure it out in the NHL.

Definitely has the toolset just needs minutes IMO. Someone like a Jake McCabe probably would help settle him down. My guess would be that he's trying to do too much and still figuring out how to be a pro.

Which I will Segway that into why you'd want K2 in the NHL sooner rather than later. You want him to do all his adjusting and being inconsistent and hard slumps before they are good again which takes about three years and if its a 5 year plan that they are one year into then thats gotta happen kinda soon.

Same for Reichel. There's a point where the AHL is diminishing returns and the dude will need to figure out how to play 82 games in the NHL - not flash in a pan 2 or 3 and typically that takes experience.
- fattybeef

It is not the offense, he gets lost defensively. I guess him and Broberg being paired together the last few games has worked, but Bouchard still needs a lot of work in the defensive end.

I dunno that Bouchard is doing that poorly. Certainly it can be difficult to play with someone else after having played with a hall of famer but points wise - he isn't egregiously off from last year (which was his first full year), shooting % down which doesn't help the goal totals.

I think next year is a more important year as it'll be year 3 and thats about when guys start to figure it out in the NHL.

Definitely has the toolset just needs minutes IMO. Someone like a Jake McCabe probably would help settle him down. My guess would be that he's trying to do too much and still figuring out how to be a pro.

Which I will Segway that into why you'd want K2 in the NHL sooner rather than later. You want him to do all his adjusting and being inconsistent and hard slumps before they are good again which takes about three years and if its a 5 year plan that they are one year into then thats gotta happen kinda soon.

Same for Reichel. There's a point where the AHL is diminishing returns and the dude will need to figure out how to play 82 games in the NHL - not flash in a pan 2 or 3 and typically that takes experience.
- fattybeef

I just don't understand the rush, to me there is nothing wrong about Reichel learning how to be a pro at the AHL level. It helps with his confidence and routine. I think those are 2 very important aspects to being a pro. Now he's one of the best at that level so let him stew on his desire to play in the NHL

I just don't understand the rush, to me there is nothing wrong about Reichel learning how to be a pro at the AHL level. It helps with his confidence and routine. I think those are 2 very important aspects to being a pro. Now he's one of the best at that level so let him stew on his desire to play in the NHL
- BetweenTheDots

Depends on the player, but I agree with fatty that leaving KK in the CHL next year does nothing for his development. He is already a dominating player, is NHL size, unless you want him to work on his Michigan move.

Depends on the player, but I agree with fatty that leaving KK in the CHL next year does nothing for his development. He is already a dominating player, is NHL size, unless you want him to work on his Michigan move.
- LAHawk

You guys may think so, but what does the staff think? Maybe they pair him with a very weak partner next year to see what happens and how he handles it

You guys may think so, but what does the staff think? Maybe they pair him with a very weak partner next year to see what happens and how he handles it
- BetweenTheDots

.

He was not drafted to be a shutdown defenseman. Do you think if he is back in Seattle, the coach is going to say we are putting you with a shlep rock, and we want you to cover for him, and not do what he does best ? My guess is he breaks camp with the Hawks and they will evaluate after 9 games whether to ship him back.

They will ease him in like the Islanders did with Noah Dobson,

I just don't understand the rush, to me there is nothing wrong about Reichel learning how to be a pro at the AHL level. It helps with his confidence and routine. I think those are 2 very important aspects to being a pro. Now he's one of the best at that level so let him stew on his desire to play in the NHL
- BetweenTheDots

I'd keep him there until he's 30. He'll really be stewed by then. Win-win.

.

He was not drafted to be a shutdown defenseman. Do you think if he is back in Seattle, the coach is going to say we are putting you with a shlep rock, and we want you to cover for him, and not do what he does best ? My guess is he breaks camp with the Hawks and they will evaluate after 9 games whether to ship him back.

They will ease him in like the Islanders did with Noah Dobson,
- LAHawk

Maybe, maybe not, but with this crew i would let him be the best that he is in whatever league he can be in. Instead of getting pounded by men in the NHL. Boqvist took an awful beating in the NHL so i guess let's repeat the same mistake

Besides we aren't going anywhere anytime soon, why take the chance on damaging a promising hockey player. They say Jiricek is a top 25 player in the A yet the Blue Jackets are keeping him in the A

Maybe, maybe not, but with this crew i would let him be the best that he is in whatever league he can be in. Instead of getting pounded by men in the NHL. Boqvist took an awful beating in the NHL so i guess let's repeat the same mistake
- BetweenTheDots

KK has a totally different body type than Bobquist. KK is bigger now than Novquist even after Bovquist has buffed up. Bovquist also had concussion issues before he was even drafted. Should we make KK wear a mask while he is playing also?

KK has a totally different body type than Bobquist. KK is bigger now than Novquist even after Bovquist has buffed up. Bovquist also had concussion issues before he was even drafted. Should we make KK wear a mask while he is playing also?
- LAHawk

Personally i think they are fools for not protecting their teeth and facial bones, something they can regret when they get older for sure

I just don't understand the rush, to me there is nothing wrong about Reichel learning how to be a pro at the AHL level. It helps with his confidence and routine. I think those are 2 very important aspects to being a pro. Now he's one of the best at that level so let him stew on his desire to play in the NHL
- BetweenTheDots

Meh, shouldn't need a confidence boost at this stage - players need to have some kind of mental fortitude. The routine and stuff, not really. Playing on the weekends is not really comparable to playing and traveling across the country throughout the week.

Maybe, maybe not, but with this crew i would let him be the best that he is in whatever league he can be in. Instead of getting pounded by men in the NHL. Boqvist took an awful beating in the NHL so i guess let's repeat the same mistake

Besides we aren't going anywhere anytime soon, why take the chance on damaging a promising hockey player. They say Jiricek is a top 25 player in the A yet the Blue Jackets are keeping him in the A
- BetweenTheDots

Unfortunately it is jrs or the Hawks for KK, the A is not an option like it is with verse as players.

Unfortunately it is jrs or the Hawks for KK, the A is not an option like it is with verse as players.
- LAHawk

I keep him in jrs. Let him be 19 and train and grow then the following year to the AHL and continue down that path

I mean unless he comes out and performs like Heiskanen at 19 and shows he belongs then maybe probably but if he doesn't and seems overwhelmed then it's back to Seattle

Meh, shouldn't need a confidence boost at this stage - players need to have some kind of mental fortitude. The routine and stuff, not really. Playing on the weekends is not really comparable to playing and traveling across the country throughout the week.
- fattybeef

You really do a good job of minimizing things when it comes to being a pro.

Maybe, maybe not, but with this crew i would let him be the best that he is in whatever league he can be in. Instead of getting pounded by men in the NHL. Boqvist took an awful beating in the NHL so i guess let's repeat the same mistake

Besides we aren't going anywhere anytime soon, why take the chance on damaging a promising hockey player. They say Jiricek is a top 25 player in the A yet the Blue Jackets are keeping him in the A
- BetweenTheDots

Not really the same type of player. Boqvist was certainly a reach and could have stayed in the OHL for one more year based on the fact that he was still adjusting to the small ice. This group also had an obsession with clever little defenders who didn't have a 5th gear.

Byram is more of a comparable comparable based on the league they played in and stats though K2 seems to be less injury prone, a bit taller anyway and a better skater. And when healthy Byram is a very good NHL player.

Mitchell is getting no favors being paired with Caleb. He’s forced to spend a lot of time covering for Caleb’s f’ups. I believe it was early in the Calgary game when C. Jones fell down while switching from skating forward to backward, leaving Mitchell to defend a 2 on 1.

I haven’t seen all af this FLA v BOS game, but the 3rd period has been damn entertaining. Looks like playoff intensity. And the play by play guy is a refreshing change from Vosters.

Boston scores with 49 seconds left to go up 3-2, Florida ties it with 2.5 seconds left. On to OT, it’s on NHL Network.