mossey3535
Registered User
- Feb 7, 2011
- 13,425
- 9,959
The last 20 games of the season Jake looked like the same Jake in that Junior video, other than he was snakebitten around the net. I don't assume a player has no hockey IQ (when he struggles early in his career) given my experience in the NCAA and europe, and knowing what it takes to score at that level (and junior).
He knows how to score. He has a high hockey IQ, he was immature and not ready to handle what it took mentally day to day to be a pro, and had to learn to be defensively responsible. I have seen many young players experience what he did, confusion because he's told too many things, and is overloaded.
Result, you start 'thinking the game' rather than playing your game, and letting it come to you. Green had to force feed this into him because he was immature professionally. Not all kids are as mature as Bo.
That being said, if you saw the last 20 games, the fact Green gave him PK, PP, OT time that should tell you what he thought of Jakes progression, and what did we then see with a little confidence? Flashes of why he was drafted, a kid driving the net, creating turovers, creating odd man chances, breakaways, the way he did in junior.
Alot of people on this site are going to pretend they never bashed this kid in 2 years. I am sure we're going to see alot of 'revisionist' history from some of team troll jake at that time.
I appreciate your skepticism, your view is honest and well articulated, and a fair concern and thankfully not part of the troll Jake brigade.
That being said, I have said this prior as well, next season is a big one for him. He needs to take the next step professionally, and that is earning the trust of Green as a key player. Once he gets that, he gets consistent ice. Once he gets consistent ice, he gets more confidence, once he gets more confidence, you will see more of the Hockey IQ come out. That's how it works, and that's coming from someoe who's played the game.
For sure, and I am on his side.
Honestly, he needs a steady line, with the same center all the time. The coaches should have a couple of set plays for him and/or he should work it out with his linemates. Driving the net is a start - they should have the other winger trail him as soon as he sees Jake go to the net to collect the loose change. They should tell Jake to pull the goalie wide all the time, and hold it unless he actually sees the 5-hole open.
Drive. If no 5-hole, then hold. If winger trailing, then pass to slot. If no winger, start cycle. At this stage of his development he is the type of player that needs an "A or B" gameplan at all times. Despite all this hype about Green helping him, I think both coaching staffs haven't done their job in developing him.
I get the feeling that they tell him in general terms what to do. Green has reportedly spent a lot of time reviewing tape with him. But it has to be boiled down into some simple decision trees first. In my mind there is no way what I described in the previous paragraph has been given to this player. Like he is not a freaking dummy. But this is the state of coaching in the NHL in general.
Also, I doubt Green is coaching any offence whatsoever. Why? Because almost no NHL coaches or hockey coaches in general coach offence. But that is Jakey's greatest strength! So essentially they have left him directionless on both ends and he hasn't been able to do what has made him successful in his hockey career so far.