Sooooo...
Since the playoffs are over now, I think it's time to round up the seasons of our boys
I'll give it a try...
ANAHEIM
Jonas Hiller:
Struggled heavily until 2012 (the Ducks had a collective-meltdown this season... And Hiller was a BIG part of that), but was actually very solid after the All-Star break. The main reason is, most likely, that he still suffered from his vertigo issues. I think he is on a good way to get back to his All-Star form. Played 73 games this season and set a new franchise record in consecutive starts.
Conclusion: +/-
Luca Sbisa:
Also struggled in the first part of the season and had, as it seems, some differences with ex-coach Carlyle... Since they signed Boudreau he truly flourished! He often gets overlooked because of Cam Fowler, but I think: In this season, they almost played on the same level offensively and Sbisa being superior when it comes to physicality and Defense. He once again made a big step in direction #2 D, what I see as his ceiling.
Conclusion: +
CALGARY
Sven Bärtschi:
Wow... That's all we can say about such a tremendous season. He dominated the WHL, had a 2PPG average in the regular season and was the playoff topscorer, while only his linemate Ty Rattie even came close to his stats (probably with Bärtschi as the main reason). (At least) one coach named him as the best player currently playing in the dub with guys like Emerson Etem playing in the same league. And in the finishing minutes of the playoff-races he got called up and scored 3 goals in 5 games for the Flames. It's a shame that he suffered from a minor concussion, it would have been a perfect season for him (And he probably would have been flat out dominating the scoring lists of the CHL).
As great as all this sounds and as hard it is to not get too excited about him: It still was "only" the CHL. We don't know how he will translate to the NHL. But the small sample we have shows us a bright future for this incredibly talented, young forward.
Conclusion: ++ (With extra-
)
MONTREAL
Raphael Diaz:
Well, there wasn't really more to be expected from him. He played good, when he had the chance to and came into injury issues at the end of the season. He looked reliable on both ends of the ice, what really is kind of surprising, since he was a rookie who never played on the small surface before and was expected to stay in the AHL for a while. If he completely recovers from his injury, I see him as a permanent #5-#6 D in MTL with some shifts in the top 4.
Conclusion: +
Yannick Weber:
Oh boy... And he started so well... Had some great games on the begin of the season, but fell apart after that. Even with his shot he is a permanent risk on the PP, let alone on even strength. Is fighting with Raphael Diaz for the spot (They make each other redundant), and it seems like he's loosing it. Will most likely be traded until next season or will be sent to the AHL. Sad, MTL gave him enough chances to succeed.
Conclusion: -
NASHVILLE
Roman Josi:
Very, very solid rookie season by Josi, who won the hearts of Nashville's fans without any troubles. Some of them are even talking about him as their top prospect with D-men Jonathon Blum and Ryan Ellis as competitors. He played an impressive season since he was called up. For a short time, he even had to play 1st-line minutes and did his job in a surprising good manner! He still has some flaws, but that's nothing that couldn't be corrected in the upcoming years. Let's see, how his sophomore season will be... I'm looking forward to it.
Conclusion: ++
NY ISLANDERS:
Nino Niederreiter:
Poor Nino. After having probably one of the worst rookie seasons ever by a Top 10 pick, his self esteem is crushed. And the worst thing: It even isn't only his fault! Without any doubts, he played awful. But I think we should blame the Islanders for calling him up WAY to early. They basicly wasted one year of his development (Hey, he knows now how to play defensive, since he played around 9 minutes per game on the 4th line for one season
). Let's hope for him that they send him down to the AHL where he can get top line minutes and regain some confidence. Because after all, he's still a top prospect.
Conclusion: -- (With extra-
)
Mark Streit:
This season began very good for Streit, as he got the C as the first swiss of all times! After that, he immediately began to score, as we know it from him. But as soon as we took a look on his +/- - stat: Yikes! Something went terribly wrong with his defensive game. He struggled in this aspect, most likely because of his injury last season, because as longer the season went, as steadier became his +/- - stat. A ok season when it comes to offense, but we need to see an improvement in the defense.
Conclusion: +/-
OVERALL CONCLUSION: +/-
And sorry for the long post *cough*
Thoughts?
Since the playoffs are over now, I think it's time to round up the seasons of our boys
I'll give it a try...
ANAHEIM
Jonas Hiller:
Struggled heavily until 2012 (the Ducks had a collective-meltdown this season... And Hiller was a BIG part of that), but was actually very solid after the All-Star break. The main reason is, most likely, that he still suffered from his vertigo issues. I think he is on a good way to get back to his All-Star form. Played 73 games this season and set a new franchise record in consecutive starts.
Conclusion: +/-
Luca Sbisa:
Also struggled in the first part of the season and had, as it seems, some differences with ex-coach Carlyle... Since they signed Boudreau he truly flourished! He often gets overlooked because of Cam Fowler, but I think: In this season, they almost played on the same level offensively and Sbisa being superior when it comes to physicality and Defense. He once again made a big step in direction #2 D, what I see as his ceiling.
Conclusion: +
CALGARY
Sven Bärtschi:
Wow... That's all we can say about such a tremendous season. He dominated the WHL, had a 2PPG average in the regular season and was the playoff topscorer, while only his linemate Ty Rattie even came close to his stats (probably with Bärtschi as the main reason). (At least) one coach named him as the best player currently playing in the dub with guys like Emerson Etem playing in the same league. And in the finishing minutes of the playoff-races he got called up and scored 3 goals in 5 games for the Flames. It's a shame that he suffered from a minor concussion, it would have been a perfect season for him (And he probably would have been flat out dominating the scoring lists of the CHL).
As great as all this sounds and as hard it is to not get too excited about him: It still was "only" the CHL. We don't know how he will translate to the NHL. But the small sample we have shows us a bright future for this incredibly talented, young forward.
Conclusion: ++ (With extra-
)MONTREAL
Raphael Diaz:
Well, there wasn't really more to be expected from him. He played good, when he had the chance to and came into injury issues at the end of the season. He looked reliable on both ends of the ice, what really is kind of surprising, since he was a rookie who never played on the small surface before and was expected to stay in the AHL for a while. If he completely recovers from his injury, I see him as a permanent #5-#6 D in MTL with some shifts in the top 4.
Conclusion: +
Yannick Weber:
Oh boy... And he started so well... Had some great games on the begin of the season, but fell apart after that. Even with his shot he is a permanent risk on the PP, let alone on even strength. Is fighting with Raphael Diaz for the spot (They make each other redundant), and it seems like he's loosing it. Will most likely be traded until next season or will be sent to the AHL. Sad, MTL gave him enough chances to succeed.
Conclusion: -
NASHVILLE
Roman Josi:
Very, very solid rookie season by Josi, who won the hearts of Nashville's fans without any troubles. Some of them are even talking about him as their top prospect with D-men Jonathon Blum and Ryan Ellis as competitors. He played an impressive season since he was called up. For a short time, he even had to play 1st-line minutes and did his job in a surprising good manner! He still has some flaws, but that's nothing that couldn't be corrected in the upcoming years. Let's see, how his sophomore season will be... I'm looking forward to it.
Conclusion: ++
NY ISLANDERS:
Nino Niederreiter:
Poor Nino. After having probably one of the worst rookie seasons ever by a Top 10 pick, his self esteem is crushed. And the worst thing: It even isn't only his fault! Without any doubts, he played awful. But I think we should blame the Islanders for calling him up WAY to early. They basicly wasted one year of his development (Hey, he knows now how to play defensive, since he played around 9 minutes per game on the 4th line for one season
). Let's hope for him that they send him down to the AHL where he can get top line minutes and regain some confidence. Because after all, he's still a top prospect.Conclusion: -- (With extra-
)Mark Streit:
This season began very good for Streit, as he got the C as the first swiss of all times! After that, he immediately began to score, as we know it from him. But as soon as we took a look on his +/- - stat: Yikes! Something went terribly wrong with his defensive game. He struggled in this aspect, most likely because of his injury last season, because as longer the season went, as steadier became his +/- - stat. A ok season when it comes to offense, but we need to see an improvement in the defense.
Conclusion: +/-
OVERALL CONCLUSION: +/-
And sorry for the long post *cough*
Thoughts?
