The Zetterberg Era
Ball Hockey Sucks
He looked very good on the big ice. Never really made enough strength or skating gains. I can't find the Hakan quote, I believe it was on RWC. But Hakan is always overly complimentary on prospects, basically the opposite of Tyler Wright in that regard.
According to Bob Duff of the Windsor Star, Detroit’s Development Coach Jiri Fischer had this to say about Jarnkrok’s potential just last month.
“He’s certainly one of our most talented, if not the most talented prospect,” Fischer said. “Not to take anything away from others like Anthony Mantha, but Calle, the stuff he can do – he is as good as anybody in terms of hand-eye coordination and skill in tight places.
Last April, Ansar Khan of MLive.com caught up with former Red Wing’s captain and current Red Wing’s European scout Nicklas Lidstrom, and Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to talk about Jarnkrok.
“He's a very shifty guy, he's quick, he's got quick hands, he sees the ice very well,'' Lidstrom said. “He's got real good hockey sense. He needs to get stronger and get used to playing on this ice surface, but he's got a lot of potential.''
Many have likened Jarnkrok's style to current Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg.
“You do see a lot of similarities to how Hank plays,'' Lidstrom said. “He's got that ability to hang onto the puck and not throw it away unless he has to. He can hold off guys and make that play when there's an opening and wait for that opening, too.
I really believed he would be a monster on the PP. Which is where he did a lot of damage as a younger player. He had a Backstrom light quality there where he just killed people once space opened up over in Europe. He seems to not have been able to make the adjustment to the tighter boxes run in NA. But that is where I thought Jarnkrok would make a living which is why Zetterberg and Backstrom as countrymen examples made sense. He was dependable two way but would rack up points on the PP. Maybe he will develop there as he does get run occasionally with the Preds but he just hasn't been as good on the PP as I expected.
Jarnkrok ultimately threatened to leave. His time in Detroit was over, we could have hung on to him and felt as good as we have about Dick Axelsson and Johan Ryno. Who for the record are both very good players in Sweden that is basically what we were left with. He was beaten out for a job by Riley Sheahan. He really was at the time, it is unfortunate but he wasn't ready. It is the same reason the Preds kept him down, but obviously he was willing to give them more leeway than the Wings where the relationship had gotten a little rocky in my opinion.
Jarnkrok went home and whined to anybody that would listen at the Christmas break and Holland did something this board complains he doesn't do very often. He sold when the writing was on the wall.
I think Nyquist is a great fit for Nashville and they have some D-man we could take a look at for sure. Removing one of Tatar or Nyquist from this team needs to happen before the draft is over.
Last edited: