Meet Lukas Krajicek, Your Newest Flyer Defenseman
by Travis Hughes on Jan 31, 2010 4:07 PM EST
in Philadelphia Flyers Commentary
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I had a chance to get some reaction from our friends down in Tampa Bay, specifically John Fontana from SBN's Raw Charge. I asked him what exactly we should expect out of Lukas Krajicek, the defenseman signed by the Flyers on Saturday. Here's what John had to say in an email exchange...
Lukas Krajicek fell upwards with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was acquired in a deal from the Canucks in early 2008-09 and by way of injuries and other drama, found himself in the top pairing sin Tampa late last season.
He then linked me over to a Raw Charge post made last January, chronicling Krajicek's rise on the Tampa blueline. In that post, John compared Krajicek to former Bolt Cory Cross, another late first round draft pick who rose to prominence in Tampa but ultimately fell out of favor when he didn't meet exceeding expectations. From that post a year ago...
Krajicek can be looked at as a victim of circumstance (and of course, this is also his opportunity to shine) much like former Lightning defensiveman Cory Cross found himself a victim of circumstance and thrust into the limelight of Lightning defensive pairings in days gone by where Bolt teams weren't worthy of the IHL or AHL, let alone the NHL.
Cross' stats bottomed out in 1997-98 (-24) and 1998-99 (-25 / 22:38 Average time on ice) as much more was expected of him on a woeful defensive team that lacked solid goaltending with thanks to injuries and cash strapping (Darren Puppa, you are not forgotten)..
Unfortunately for both Krajicek and the Lightning, he met a fate much like Cross. Again, from my email exchange with John...
He's a lower pair defenseman who did play top-line minutes last season, but didn't thrive. This season, when he was playing regularly with the Bolts, he was becoming a liability on ice more than a steady player. We (the fans in general) didn't understand how he was re-signed by the Lightning with it's revamped defense to begin with. He's been the odd man out since before training camp had ever commenced.
So what should we expect out of Krajicek? Well, he does have some upside. He's a big guy but his biggest strength is his mobility, and he can move the puck very well. Basically, the Flyers only need him to be better than a terrible Ole-Kristian Tollefsen. The numbers aren't very reliable this season, thanks to a ridiculously small sample size; Tollefsen has only played in 18 NHL games this season while Krajicek has only seen action in 23.
At the very least, this gives the Flyers some flexibility on defense moving forward. It's pretty hard to be upset with that.
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Scouting Report says....
inconsistent puck-moving defenseman. that’s his career potential too.
i’ll be happy if he takes O-KTragedy’s spot
you callin me a know-nothin? sir, i'll have you know i happen to know very little.
Anyone is better than OKT at this point.
Some think too much, then come too soon
I just curse the sun, so I can howl at the moon
Besides for the fact that literally anyone is better than OKT, can’t forget what happened with Michael Leighton. He came onto the roster boasting terrible numbers, and somehow managed to turn this team around. Now my expectations are in no way similar to what happened with Leighton, but you just have to always remember there is a ‘chance’ he just wasn’t bolt material and now his potential and be found.
I don’t know anything about this guy, is he physical? The one thing I liked about OKT was his guts to stand up and shove people around when they got rowdy after calls, especially when it came to sticking up for other Flyers.
Is this guy of the same mold, when it comes to “spirit”?
Krajicek’s nothing like that, but he’s more mobile and moves the puck better than OKT. He’ll never be a franchise defenseman, but he’s a pretty solid third-pairing guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he keeps his spot in the lineup even after Syvret and Parent come back.
by memphisbrando on Jan 31, 2010 7:16 PM EST up reply actions
Much Preferred
Don’t we have enough guys with guts. Just about everyone one on the team except Briere looks like the can handle themselves in a rumble. A role player with more finese and mobility on defense works with Laviolette’s system.
The only problem I have with this deal is if Holmgren thinks its the deal he is going to make for a dman.
If this is the deal he makes to bump OKT back to the press box and have an insurance dman in case of injury before Syvret heals up, I’m fine with it.
If Holmgren thinks he no longer has a gaping void on the blue line, it is yet another in a string of awful talent evaluations and strategic decisions.
No one seems to know the terms of the Kraijcek deal. I just spent 20 minutes searching for them to no avail.
Well I think you need to see how this pans out before you say we need another upgrade at D’man. I can’t see us getting a wing to be honest. Personally I think Giroux needs to move back to wing, I understand that he loves center but we have a million centers.
by You don't have to be sweet, to be good on Jan 31, 2010 8:28 PM EST up reply actions
Just read this sentence from the Tampa writer again:
This season… he was becoming a liability on ice more than a steady player
If he can get out of his on zone and play more than 5 minutes without getting hurt it will be an upgrade over OKT who can do neither. For a 3rd pairing guy you can’t expect a difference maker, still would like a move for a rental 2nd pairing guy for playoffs and target 2nd pairing in off season unexpected that Coburn will have shit the bed like he did and Parent’s injury really thinned out the D. Coburn is playing better recently hopefully that up trend would continue.
by chrislanci on Jan 31, 2010 8:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Also Tampa doesn’t know much about Dmen remember they traded Carle for Eminger and Downie.
by chrislanci on Jan 31, 2010 8:52 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not saying he is going to be good, because even I am not blindly optimistic enough for that. At the same time Lavvy’s system kinda favors good skating defensemen with some offensive skill, which should help him and like I said in the other thread… If all he does is be a clear upgrade over OKT then this is still a good move. We gave up nothing to get him but cap space right?
by You don't have to be sweet, to be good on Jan 31, 2010 8:58 PM EST up reply actions
You have got to be kidding me.
Let’s see how Kraicek plays, rather than take his enormous 20 game sample size…
To bash the guy.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Jan 31, 2010 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
Well he has played in 301 games in his career, I don’t know his average time on the ice but is that an adequate sample size for hockey…I don’t know. I don’t know how hockey players typically progress year to year to know what is the best range for assessing their skill is.
I was responding to “Just read this sentence from the Tampa writer again: This season… he was becoming a liability on ice more than a steady player”
301 games should be fine, but a lot goes into that. Who was he playing with, who was he playing against, what was being asked of him, how did he his numbers look relative to the team he was on, how much ice time was he getting, how was he being used by his coach, etc.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Jan 31, 2010 9:35 PM EST up reply actions
Three franchises have given up on him, and his play deteriorated to the point that “he was a liability” this season.
Who was he playing with? Tampa decided it would be best for him to play with AHL talent.
I love how you use “sample size” as a defense in one post, but completely ignore it in another thread.
If 20 games isn’t enough before, how is it an accurate depiction now? Oh, that’s right. It HELPS you this time.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Jan 31, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
No.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 1, 2010 9:27 AM EST up reply actions
Also, read the articles Travis linked. In March 2009 this was their assessment:
Limited time on ice (as well as playing with goaltender Roberto Luongo) kept his plus minus from bottoming out during his years in Florida and Vancouver as well.
This season, all of that has been turned on it’s head. The last ten games alone have seen Krajicek averaging 23 minutes on ice per game and he’s averaging -1 per game during that span (-11 for the season).
That’s from last season. And his play got worse this year.
I don’t trust any Tampa sports writers after the World Series in 2008.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luuko
Why what'd they say?
Other than having to explain the game to bandwagoneers during the WS, what else was said? You might of thought I spent a week in an opium den by just how much I was wrapped up in the euphoria of it all.
I mean that, and subsequent articles on the Series itself. Most of their focus was on the Philly fans in many of them, which I guess is to be expected by a city that rarely writes about pennant runs and playoff baseball.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luuko
That was amazing, wasn’t it? Granted, it became clear pretty quickly that 2008 was a fluke, but that’s in no way an excuse for being 23rd in MLB attendance the year after your first ever playoff appearance and first ever pennant.
by Ben Feldman on Jan 31, 2010 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
Not excusing the St. Pete fans, but have you ever been to the Trop? It’s an absolutely horrendous stadium. It’s what used to be the Thunderdome when the Lightning first started.
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
Oh, yes, I’ve been there. It is horrendous, but not worse than the Vet or Shea was in their end days.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luuko
I was never to Shea, but the Trop wasn’t as bad as the Vet. Then again, the Vet was 27 or 28 years old the last time I was there. The Trop’s only 20 this year, and it was a $200 million stadium ($130 originally, $70 in 1998 as part of the baseball renovation). Plus, it’s not in Tampa – St. Petersburg is 23 miles away. That’s 4 miles further than King of Prussia is from downtown Philadelphia.
"When you make your final stand
I'll be right there
I'll never leave
And all I ask of you is
Believe"
Well, to be fair, they are the Tampa Bay Rays, not Tampa Rays. St. Pete is considered part of Tampa Bay, but the location really is in the middle of nowhere.
It was not a well thought out stadium, considering it’s only 20 years old. It feels much older than that with the lack of amenities. However, it is super cheap to see a game there and you can get primo seats just walking up to the gate on game day.
"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luuko
I think the contract was for a pro-rated $700,000, which pays him like half that over the remainder of the season. And since Tampa released him, they pay nothing. Heck, even if he’s a small upgrade of OKT, this looks like a decent signing. I believe that Holmgren is 100% serious about not shaking up the team – the management placed all the cards on the table and they all said “Richards”, and that’s how they’ll roll this season.
by MaximumTalbot on Feb 1, 2010 9:06 AM EST up reply actions
the third pairing can’t be much worse, so it’s a good signing to me.
Managing Editor - HockeyOutsiders.com
by HockeyOutsiders on Feb 1, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
This is about as an anonymous move as dry white toast. All I care about is that we just signed a guy that can’t even play for the mighty Tampa Bay Lightning. He has been passed on by the Panthers, the Canucks and the Lightning, sheesh. Is there anything else that needs to be said? Man it is getting depressing around here. Wake me up after the trade deadline to see if anyone in that front office has the brains to acknowledge the team’s shortcomings, assess the team’s needs and has the balls and savvy to make the necessary moves. I am not holding my breath.
so what about this Kotalik from the Rangers? He’s a winger. Too much? Not good enough? Bad fit? Or would the Rangers be unwilling to trade in their division? I just got out of Hockey Kindergarten so I’m still pretty hockey illiterate.
He’s on a $3m a season contract this year and each of the next two. For that reason alone, the Flyers can’t be involved.
From a skill analysis:
Run far far away. He plays okay defense at best and before this season was a relatively consistent 20 goal scorer. He’s 31 years old and has been in the league eight years now. He’s most likely hit his apex and no longer really has the allure of potential. For $1.5 – $2m a year, maybe. Not for $3m.
Thanks
well that sucks dead baby pandas. so, if there really isn’t anything out there that will yield dividends, would it be better to not lose cap space and do the best with what we have now or are their any cheap, “ride ’em into the post season till they break” reclaimination projects…or is that what we just got
And Brandon Prust. Olli Jokinen in the same locker room as Sean Avery and John Tortorella? Words cannot describe how awesome this could be.
by Ben Feldman on Jan 31, 2010 10:46 PM EST up reply actions
Meanwhile our GM is nicely tucked away in his bed for a quiet nights rest. Sleep well Paul, all is well, all is well.
“We like our hockey team and think they can compete with any team in the league.”
(As long as you don’t mean teams that will make the playoffs.)
Did the math, the Flyers record in the East against teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today:
Washington 1-3
Buffalo 1-2
New Jersey 2-1
Pittsburgh 1-4 (1 shooutout loss)
Ottawa 1-2
Boston 2-1 (1 shootout win)
Atlanta 0-2
8-15
Rumor has it : Kovie going to the Kings for Jack Johnson, Wayne Simmonds and the Kings 1st Rounder in 2011.
Some think too much, then come too soon
I just curse the sun, so I can howl at the moon
I really hope the Kings don’t give up a 1st rounder and Johnson for Kovi. If they do they are retarded. Johnson and Doughty can be one hell of a defensive duo for years to come. To trade that away for a rental is not good business IMO.
I don’t think they view it as a rental. The Kings have been wanting a marquee player for a while now and they want this guy to centerpiece the franchise. And there has been a lot of mud slinging out west about Johnson. Lombardi actually said he wasn’t sure if anyone at Michigan knew how to coach defense.
Yeah I did remember hearing that rip about Johnson, I guess if there is that tension then go ahead and move him. If the Kings can resign Kovi then it is worth it, they have the cap space but I don’t know that Kovi will sign an extension there. I hope he does. Let him go out west and torture the western conference. Fine with me.
I think he wants to be in the NHL, in a large market and would be in line with salary if it is with a real team. He is just tired of being with Atlanta and wasting his career there. Asking for 10 million is ridiculous and he knows it but it was the only way to force their hands
Yeah I can understand that. LA is a real market…maybe not a real hockey market but if g NHL market. But if they can put a consistently good product on the ice for the next few years then LA could development into a big market. The west coast doesn’t really have any big market teams in the NHL outside of Vancouver and I don’t know if you would consider them West Coast.
Adjusted for today:
Florida 1-2
NY Rangers 2-1
replace Boston and Atlanta Record changes from 8-15 to 9-15 no real improvement. Especially when you look at the teams we would likely play in the first round, only team we a have winning record against is NJD.
Kind of, but looking at the standings, if playoffs started today, we’d play buffalo. If we pass Ottawa, all other things equal we play Pittsburgh. Even then if we did play NJ in the first round (NJ falls to 3rd seed buffalo to second) we would probably end up playing Washington in the second round. Yes beating NJ would be a good thing, but not something to rest on. This team needs to beat washington, and pittsburgh and buffalo and ottawa.
I was more referring to just measuring ourselves against the Devils as a legitimate team. We now have to go from playoff contender to playoff contender for the rest of the season and measure where we are. And that means as a total franchise not just for a playoff match up. Unfortunately we can’t just play the Hurricanes and the Islanders the rest of the year.
Well, of teams in or seriously contending for a playoff spot, (WSH, NJ, PIT, FLA, BOS, SJ, BUF, OTT, LAK, PHX, COL, ATL, VAN) whom we have played 32 games so far, we have won only 10. Certainly a number that needs to be improved upon as far as win % vs. teams we would face in post season play.
If you mean as to me including them in this group, i did so because they have 2 and 3 games respectively in hand over the Rangers being 1 and 2 points behind respectively.
The 3 points that separate 6th from 13th in the east made it a little difficult to boil down to 16 teams for the playoffs, and I included those who statistically as it stands have the best chance to finish in the top 8 in the conferences.
Souray
I have read on another page that Sheldon Souray has waived his no trade from Edmonton and we are going to be there this week. Anyone think he should be coming home with the Flyers instead of the a Lightning Cast-off? Maybe GM extraordinaire could make the trip seeing as there seems to be a league wide trade climate.
Before this goes to far I know he has a 5 million cap hit but I am tired of talking about why it can’t work rather than coming up with ways it can. Because really anything is possible if you work for an answer. Would you swap him for Timmonen? Coburn and Parent? Just throwing out there.
You’re right, but still.
I’m all for shaking up the team if you get someone decent in return. The Flames did just that. They took a big risk in ditching Phaneuf, but they got help up front which they desperately needed.
I would never swap Souray for Timonen in a million years. I like my defensemen to play defense.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Souray has a fractured wrist and is off the market.
Besides, do you REALLY want another defenseman who can’t play defense? No thanks.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
Though we already had defensive defensmen (Pronger) and that isn’t working out that well. This system requires mobil defensemen and really the league plays at a faster pace than old slow defensmen allow.
What?
Pronger is not part of the problem.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
He is still chasing Evander Kane. Kane and Jurevicius are still running around Philly. ;-) Not that Pronger is the only problem but he hasn’t been the solution seeing as our stats haven’t gotten better in the defensive department. I am tired of everyone telling me how fabulous he is and we are a loss away from being out of the playoffs. Also this column is about player personnel decisions and the Pronger trade is not ranking up there with the most successful ones right now.
Think about what it would be like without Pronger. we probably still wouldnt have resigned Knuble, we would instead have Lupul and Sbisa. Our defense would have been Timonen, Coburn, Carle, Parent, OKT, Bartulis, Syvret, Jones maybe. Given what has happened with Parent’s injuries and the charlie foxtrot at 3rd pairings would you rather have 2 good lines and a crapper or 1 good line an average line and a crapper?
I kind of agree that we gave up too much, but given how things have gone this season you can’t say that we made out better on the deal as it stands today. (Lupul hurt, Sbisa in minors, and a first) for who has been our strongest defenseman this season.
But we would have had two first round picks to use as trade bait, Timonen playing the minutes he needs to be effective and less one Captain controversy. The defense you mentioned got the Flyers to the ECF and in the playoffs without question last year. I am not blaming him for the position we are in but he has not been the nastiest player in the NHL yet this season and it seems as if he is chasing faster forwards around the ice.
to trade for whom? would you have kept the pick and drafted last year or traded at the draft as was done?
And the offense last year scored a little bit more than this one too. To compare last year’s defense (GA/G average) with this year’s offense through 53 games (GF/G Average) is 2.90 GA to 3.01 GF. Not a very wide margin for error. Last year’s offense managed a 3.22 GF/G. This year’s defense is at 2.81 GA/G through 53 games.
So maybe keeping Lupul would have helped. I hated that guy but whatever. Obviously they would have picked last year and that prospect could have been bait for defensive help. Maybe a forward prospect and a player could have gotten you Kaberle. You would still have Sbisa and a #1 for trading this year. Pronger is going to end up being Hatcher and Rathje I am afraid and we will be regretting it.
Pronger ending up being hatcher/rathje is a different issue entirely. The contract extension has nothing to do with the trade. I am saying Lupul is hurt, Sbisa is AHL. Pronger is a quality Dman, granted he is past his prime, he is still a top pair.
And honestly I think picking and using the prospect as bait is the same as trading the pick.
Looking forward, yes we may be regretting how the players end up performing in the next few years, but that is second guessing the extension more than the deal. If they didnt deal they would probably be in the same or worse shape, because without Pronger, Carle in all likelyhood would not be having as good a year, and with the decrease in goals per game our offense has provided this year compared to last, we could be on the outside looking in.
Yea, why did they have to sign him up for that money for that long? That is like the Rangers turning around and signing Jokinen for an extended large contract instead of waiving good bye and keeping the money after this year.
Im not quite sure I understand. I am saying they already had him for this year, the could have looked at his play over the course of the season and decided to resign or let him go after the season.
I kind of understand that with what they gave up they have to have something to show for it for the next couple years so he gets a deal, but if he doesnt work out you trade him or his rights to replace what you gave up instead of having to sit on your hands because you have neither draft picks or cap room to make any moves.
No we are saying the same thing, why not see how the season goes before you lock him up to a long non tradable contract? I think I would be happier with the ability to let him walk and have that money on the cap instead of an aging player that I don’t feel evolves this team into the new generation of game speed.
I think the 2010 pick should have been conditional on getting to the SCF, because that is apparently why we made the deal, and if it didn’t work out we would still have the draft or compensation for more trades. But that isn’t how it worked out.
Pronger is the team MVP to this point as voted on by this site and still rather have Lupul’s giant contract and two picks really now
There are so many issues with this team Homer is never going to be able to fix them all before the deadline.
The Flyers are exactly like this year’s Eagles…started off slow, got hot and then will make the playoffs only to get blasted in the first round. The Flyers, just like the Eagles beat the bad teams but could not beat the good/playoff teams.
Homer needs to realize that just making the playoffs is not enough and try and salvage the roster by trading a guy or two for some cap space so they can address the multitude of problems they have over the off season. Defensive depth is part of it, so is their inability to score consistently.
I’d rather they scrap this year and build for the future then treat us to another beating in the first round.
Homer needs to realize that just making the playoffs is not enough
I like your optimism.
This is exactly why I said they’ll miss the playoffs. The Rangers and Toronto so far have made big changes. The Flyers signed Luka Krajicek. Every other team around them has the opportunity to improve, and the Flyers don’t because Holmgren saved three quarters of a million dollars against the cap by downgrading Jones to Krajicek.
Make the full comparison, not the intellectually dishonest one:
JVR/Syvret/Pyorala/Krajicek = 7 GVT
Jones (3.9 GVT) = 4.1 GVT
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 1, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
No, I didn’t.
the Flyers don’t because Holmgren saved three quarters of a million dollars against the cap by downgrading Jones to Krajicek.
The “downgrade” wasn’t Jones to Krajicek. That’s intellectually dishonest.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 1, 2010 11:05 AM EST up reply actions
yes, it was. They downgraded the defense from Jones to Krajicek so they could save three quarters of a mil and fit JVR on the roster as a forward.
That was the downgrade.
You. Are. Incredible.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 1, 2010 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
How about for one day you stop trying to argue with me for no reason at all about things that you have no justifiable position whatsoever?
Your act is growing old.
And you say it without a hint of irony. When I quote you, you realize how much of a “douchebag” you are, but you attribute that to me.
Why do you think I quote your asshole comments so frequently? So you realize how much of a pompous jackass you are, when I use your words against you. Except you just continue blindly thinking everyone else is the “douchebag”, without noticing it’s your words and argument tactics that you’re pissed off about.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 1, 2010 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Dude. You’re still arguing that a non-existent picture exists.
You said the Red Wings are exceptional, then at the same time are still idiotically arguing that their draft record is the norm.
And you’ve really proven a wonderful point because everyone knows that mimicry is the height of intelligence.
You’re acting like a pre-teen desperate to find an argument you can win no matter how ridiculous or mundane.
if we have Jones on our roster would he be getting 18 minutes per game NO. He has 14 points JVR has 12 goals this year six of them game winners. You can turn you argument anyway you want but it is time to admit you were dead wrong about JVR. But now because Jones has hit some success you are going to assume he would have done the same here. Bottom line if Jones was on this team we would have lost at more games by the simple fact that we can’t score. And I don’t care how great Jones is playing his cap number is way way too high for the 5th DMan minutes. Plus he would also be gone at the end of the year and getting JVR in the NHL a year earlier is going to help his development. Jones points as 3rd pairing D-Man if he played all year for us would be in the 20 point range. JVR has 30 alone.
JVR since December 1:
29 games, 6 goals, 7 assists.
That pace would be 16 goals and 36 points. For $1.6m. That’s terrible.
I was actually dead right. He played well early in the season, hit a wall, and has sucked since then.
Shit, I should’ve read who the poster was. Just delete that. I’m not going to get into an argument with Paul Holmgren’s retarded alias today.
JVR since January 1:
14 games, 5 goals, 6 assists.
That pace would be 29 goals and 64 points. For $1.6m. That’s fantastic.
Moral: It’s all about context.
Broad Street Hockey - Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Geoff Detweiler on Feb 1, 2010 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
JVR since Jan28th
1 game 0 pts that would be pace for 0 pts this season for 1.6 million
0.56 pts per game for 1.6 million
More than
Stafford
Callahan
Torres
Kotalik
Setoguchi
Kariya
Avery
Blake
All of which make way more than JVR for less production he makes twice as your beloved Malhotra and will score twice as much.
And in this case, your context was “lets take a small sample size and prove my point”. Whereas my context was “let’s look at the time period in which I predicted his productivity and overall performance would beging tail off and suffer”.
Not quite dead right.
I was actually dead right. He played well early in the season, hit a wall, and has sucked since then.
It would be more accurate to say that he played well early in the season, hit a wall, and has bounced back nicely, at least for now.
As Geoff said:
14 games, 5 goals, 6 assists [since January 1].
Let’s remember one thing: The kid is 20 years old. It’s hard to say he’s “terrible” just because he makes the kind of money he makes. If he were 28 and still at the pace you listed (from December 1), then you could say his performance was “terrible.”
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
I haven’t seen his play improve since the start of the season. He doesn’t seem to be developing from his NHL exerience. He only plays 13 minutes a night, he would be developing better with 20 TOI in the AHL.
While I understand your age argument, the point is that he could be replaced with someone older who actually can play defense, and get the same level of offensive production at the same if not a reduced cost. Meanwhile, JVR would be developing at a faster pace and available as a replacement call-up.
So (and this is just projected) you don’t think 19-20 goals, around 30 assists, and +/- of 10 for a rookie getting 13 minutes a night is showing he’s developing well?
Non of those numbers are what I’m talking about.
I’m talking about positioning on the ice, understanding his own limits, and defense. He still doesn’t forecheck well. He’s 6-3 205 and he just bumps into people along the boards instead of hitting them. None of this seems to be improving.
Just look at this stat page. Now, these are all inaccurate statistical categories, but we can compare within the team and assume that they are inaccurate relatively in proportion.
He’s blocked the fewest shots of anyone on the team (7). Even Danny Briere has blocked one more shot. Carcillo has blocked 13 shots. Pyorala blocked twice as many shots in 14 less (50 vs 36) games. He’s obviously not going to have as many blocks as guys who play the PK, thats why I’m not going to compare him to Powe or Lappy.
His hits are the same, last on the team with 16. Danny Briere has 27 hits. Simon Gagne has 18 hits in 20 fewer games. Giroux has 41 hits. These are not physical players, they’re just players who take the body on the forecheck. JVR isn’t doing that yet.
Its not because he’s a bad hockey player, its because he’s an undeveloped hockey player.
We learn by doing, no?
I agree that time on the Phantoms would have been beneficial for JVR, but the fact of the matter is that he isn’t going anywhere. These are all things he will learn as he gets older, and his vision/skill set is strong enough that he should be fine in these areas.
He probably should bulk up a bit if he’s going to start hitting people, though.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
1) You learn by doing, yes. And the more you do it, the more you learn. In the AHL, he’d be getting 5-8 minutes more ice time a night, and learning better.
2) If he were learning by doing in the AHL, the Flyers could have a player who already knows how to forecheck and block shots for a third of the cap hit. Then, when Gagne went down, JVR could’ve filled in for him as a one-dimensional sniper for 20 games.
I absolutely agree with your premise, but that said, if Krajicek is even marginally better (hopefully substantially better) than OKT, at least Homer didn’t completely upshall the team again this season by making a panic move to cover up him completely screwing up the cap. That’s all I’m hoping for.
Managing Editor - HockeyOutsiders.com
by HockeyOutsiders on Feb 1, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
A new verb!
“Upshall” is now a transitive verb which means “to ruin due to panic, lack of foresight, or otherwise clouded judgment.”
Ex: I was so hung over that I completely upshalled that job interview; I was so nervous I upshalled my chance at a second date with her; If Holmgren hadn’t upshalled the Flyers with his poor cap management then the 2008-09 team might have accomplished something.
Do you see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?
I would send JVR down, not have signed Krajicek, and had ~$3.8m to get a defenseman and a forward or two.
How is that not a better team? For instance, White and Stajan were in the Phaneuf deal, with a cap hit of $2.5m The Kotalik deal fell through…
Why not offer Gagne for White, Stajan, and Jokinen? Send JVR to the AHL to get the extra cap space.
Jokinen-Richards-Briere
Hartnell-Carter-Giroux
Stajan-Powe-Asham
Carcillo-Betts-Laperierre
Pronger-Carle
White-Timmonen
Coburn-Bartulis
Thats not a better hockey team?
Gagne’s contract ends a year sooner than Kotalik’s. The Flames solve their “too many players on the roster” problem. If they want another dman, toss in Syvret/Krajicek/OKT, their choice.
Its a win-win for everyone involved. All three players the Flyers get are FAs at the end of the year, with white an RFA who they could collect a 1st round pick for.
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