NHL Rookies

[D]

I was just reading the thread about Crosby getting his A and thought I might see what you guys think about some of the other rookies in the league. Besides Ovechkin (or how ever the fuck its spelled) and Crosby, what do you guys think about guys like Marek Svatos, the kid with Carolina, Keith Ballard, etc. Personally, I think Svatos is a stud. He leads the Avs in goals. That's quite a statement considering he's playing with guys like Milan Hejduk and Joe Sakic.

[636ryder]

I would add on this but im not supposed to talk bout hockey anymore. :D I'll chime in after ryanB does.

[RyanB]

Svatos played in "only 4" NHL games before this year....but that doesn't include the playoffs where he had performed very well for Colorado and that was before the lockout. The kid got very seasoned over the lockout and his speed/skill and the opened up game make him very deadly. The Stars have a player in the same boat, named Trevor Daley. Although he is a defenseman he too had some games under his belt and is a real threat on offense with his speed/quickness leadint he rush on the PP. What surprised me most about Daley is his defense. Playing with Jon Klemm he has looked great the last month or so. Speaking of defensemen, Dion Phaneuf impressed me so much in his first NHL game (against Dallas) that I immediately picked him up on my fantasy team. He has been one of Calgary's leading defensmen in most categories all year long in the absence od Robyn Regher, that the Flames traded away a good contributer of their Cup run in Steve Montador for more scoring (Kristian Huselieus). The lockout helped so many young players, the next crop of rookies will be unable to step right in like this class.

[636ryder]

Ok...wow...can't really follow up after the NHL sports announcer, ill let him handle this from now on. However i will still chime in from time to time on other hockey topics. :D

[RyanB]

Ok...wow...can't really follow up after the NHL sports announcer

How did you know that's what I do?

[D]

What do you think about Keith Ballard?? I was so pissed when Colorado traded him and Derrick Morris to Phoenix for Chris Gratton and Ossi Vanannen. I was back in Pheonix last month and went to a few Coyotes games. I was very, very impressed with Ballard. He plays a lot like JM Liles with Colorado...very smooth, fluid stride, great vision of the ice, GREAT hands for a defenseman, etc. You mentioned how Svatos blossomed during the lockout. I've read many articles in the Denver Post or The Rocky Mountain News about how disappointed all of the coaches were with him last year in Hershey, PA. He had a very subpar season. I think it's because he is just too good for the minors. If Svatos has a good setup man on the same line with him (like Turgeon) he'll be a 40+ goal scorer every year.

[RyanB]

What do you think about Keith Ballard?? I was so pissed when Colorado traded him and Derrick Morris to Phoenix for Chris Gratton and Ossi Vanannen. I was back in Pheonix last month and went to a few Coyotes games. I was very, very impressed with Ballard. He plays a lot like JM Liles with Colorado...very smooth, fluid stride, great vision of the ice, GREAT hands for a defenseman, etc. You mentioned how Svatos blossomed during the lockout. I've read many articles in the Denver Post or The Rocky Mountain News about how disappointed all of the coaches were with him last year in Hershey, PA. He had a very subpar season. I think it's because he is just too good for the minors. If Svatos has a good setup man on the same line with him (like Turgeon) he'll be a 40+ goal scorer every year.

It was his work ethic they werent pleased with. The fact that he got a full season under his belt is what I'm talking about. The full grind, the ups and downs..the experience of an entire season. When he was called up at the end of the year and played in the playoffs it was sensory overload. He's a streaky scorer and needs TOI to perform. And back to 40+ goal scorer, where are Hejduk and Tanguay this season, did Sakic forget how to pass ;)?

[D]

It was his work ethic they werent pleased with. The fact that he got a full season under his belt is what I'm talking about. The full grind, the ups and downs..the experience of an entire season. When he was called up at the end of the year and played in the playoffs it was sensory overload. He's a streaky scorer and needs TOI to perform. And back to 40+ goal scorer, where are Hejduk and Tanguay this season, did Sakic forget how to pass ;)?

Tanguay is having a good season, he's got 37 points and leads the team in scoring. Sakic is averaging a point per game, which for a 36 year old isn't bad. I think Hejduk is still hurt and not telling anyone. Either that or he's just not found his touch yet. Svatos is streaky, but that'll change with time.

[LannyN9NE]

What do you think about Keith Ballard?? I was so pissed when Colorado traded him and Derrick Morris to Phoenix for Chris Gratton and Ossi Vanannen. I was back in Pheonix last month and went to a few Coyotes games. I was very, very impressed with Ballard. He plays a lot like JM Liles with Colorado...very smooth, fluid stride, great vision of the ice, GREAT hands for a defenseman, etc. You mentioned how Svatos blossomed during the lockout. I've read many articles in the Denver Post or The Rocky Mountain News about how disappointed all of the coaches were with him last year in Hershey, PA. He had a very subpar season. I think it's because he is just too good for the minors. If Svatos has a good setup man on the same line with him (like Turgeon) he'll be a 40+ goal scorer every year.

Ballard gets worn down alot, this was his problem in college. As far as Svatos, he will be another in the list of great drafting by Lacrioux, great hands, will go into traffic with the puck and unlike most younger kids he knows where his defensive zone is. Some of the others you might want to take a look at are Zach Parise (played with him for 2 years at Shattuck St Marys) Patrick Eaves (also played with him at SSM) Kyle Wellwood, Ryan Whitney, and Brandon Bochenski.

[D]

Ballard gets worn down alot, this was his problem in college. As far as Svatos, he will be another in the list of great drafting by Lacrioux, great hands, will go into traffic with the puck and unlike most younger kids he knows where his defensive zone is. Some of the others you might want to take a look at are Zach Parise (played with him for 2 years at Shattuck St Marys) Patrick Eaves (also played with him at SSM) Kyle Wellwood, Ryan Whitney, and Brandon Bochenski.

I almost tried to go to Shattuck. I played with a kid in high school, Ryan Capps, that was going to go there, but I don't know if he ever did or not. I played with another guy in high school that did go there, but I can't remember his name. One thing you said about Svatos, knowing where the D-zone is...I disagree. Watching him play on TV you don't see it, but when I saw him play live against the Coyotes on Nov 16th he is a one way player. It'll change with experience. He isn't a cherry picker or anything, but he's not very aggressive in the D-zone like a lot of the great wingers are.

[LannyN9NE]

Shattuck had its pros and cons, unfortunately one major con for me was being away from home and then blowing my knee out (which I just did again about a month ago) As far as Svatos in the d-zone, i can see your point and you are right he isnt always agressive but he is normally in the passing lane as far as the point or high forward in his zone, so i gave him the benefit of the doubt on that one.

[D]

Instead of going to Shattuck I enlisted in the AF and went to a base with no hockey team. I was going to play Junior A, but the Junior B team I played for got little recognition. Svatos is super aggressive in the offensive zone. He'll go stand in front of the net like a big center and take a beating. I'm watching the Avs and Preds right now on OLN and he just clocked a guy...but he'll learn his position more in the D zone.