Your updated Prospect Rankings

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Two people ranking Jarnkrok at #6, and one at #7 so far.

Very interesting to see. I had to force myself to put him at #4, but I always thought he was a little overhyped. That was one of the things I really wanted to gauge as a board.

I think the rumor that he could head back home has tanked his value. The lack of production isn't helping either.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I think the rumor that he could head back home has tanked his value. The lack of production isn't helping either.

Yeah I am concerned about that as well, not the rumor you want to hear when a part of the reason we have always been so high on him is our dire need for him in the future. If he pulls the plug on us that is a big problem.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Yeah I am concerned about that as well, not the rumor you want to hear when a part of the reason we have always been so high on him is our dire need for him in the future. If he pulls the plug on us that is a big problem.

The thing that gets me is the lack of assists. I'm starting to wonder if his big ice game is entirely different from his small ice game. I mean, he's spending quality time with good players, so the puck should be going in the net somehow. and I've seen him play, and I've seen how smart he is with the puck.

Which brings me back to the central question: where are the assists? It's like a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

Does anyone have any links to these rumors? Haven't heard a thing about them till now and would love to know more.

 

[WesNichols14]

Does anyone have any links to these rumors? Haven't heard a thing about them till now and would love to know more.

from what I remember reading about it. he was drunk at home and said something like he doesn't like the AHL but it was all hear say

 

[Pavels Dog]

People are giving up on Jarnkrok too soon. Give him some time. I'd like to see him with Mantha next season. He could be what Silfverberg was to him in the SHL.

Can't make a top 10 as I don't know enough about most of them, but Mrazek, Jurco, Oullet and Jarnkrok would be my top 4 in some order.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

A lot of people giving up on Calle, here. Jarnkrok has been damn impressive at essentially level he's played at so far. Remember Jurco this time last year? People were saying similar things. Give the kid time. And even though the points aren't there, I've heard nothing bad about his play from Blashill who says he utilizes him in every situation.

That said:
1. Mrazek
2. Jarnkrok
3. Mantha
4. Ouellet
5. Jurco
6. Marchenko
7. Sheahan
8. Sproul
9. Backman
10.Janmark

It's a very talented group. I think the top 5 is mostly interchangeable. It'd be nice to add a blue chip center prospect like Jared McCann this summer though. Unlikely as it may be.

 

[Anchor Town*]

Gotta laugh at the people that are writing off Jarnkrok already. They clearly have not watched him play this year and are only looking at stats. He has been damn impressive this season, in all three zones. He does all the little things right. As he continues to adjust the points will come.

 

[probertrules24]

I know almost everybody won't agree with my rankings with having Mantha so low but I don't like ranking players to high until they reach the pro levels. You never know if a guy tearing up juniors will make the same impact at a higher level.

I also favor guys who are playing in a pro league (AHL more so) even if they will only end up being 4th line guys. They are still valued.

This doesn't mean Mantha isn't one of my favorite prospects and I believe once he reaches GR he will sky rocket up the list.

1. Jurco (top 6 future)
2. Mrazek (starter future)
3. Jarnkrok (2nd line center - 200 ft player)
4. Ouellet (top 4 - all around)
5. Sproul (top 4 - PP stud)
6. Marchenko (top 4 - all around)
7. Sheahan (3rd line center - sound defensive)
8. Glendening (4th line center or winger - hard forechecker)
9. Pulkkinen (3rd line winger - possible 2nd - PP specialist)
10. Mantha (1st line future - PP specialist)
11. Almquist (bottom pairing D - positioning and smarts)
12. Ferraro (4th line energy)
13. Callahan (4th line energy)
14. Backman (# 4 upside)
15. Janmark (2nd line center upside)
16. Jensen (4-6 upside)
17. Frk (2nd-4th line upside)
18. Tvrdon (2nd-4th line upside - Think he will suprise after a full year in GR)
19. Nedomlel (#6 dman - like Tvrdon I think he will suprise many after a year in GR)
20. Athanasiou (2nd-4th line upside - great wheels)

This is my list I through together. Ask me again tomorrow and I'm sure it will change.

 

[FabricDetails]

Gotta laugh at the people that are writing off Jarnkrok already. They clearly have not watched him play this year and are only looking at stats. He has been damn impressive this season, in all three zones. He does all the little things right. As he continues to adjust the points will come.

True. Wings fans remember too well the cases of Johan Ryno and Dick Axelsson. If we hear even the slightest bit of complaints about homesickness from a highly hyped Swedish prospect we might think to ourselves, "Here we go again..."

 

[FabricDetails]

I haven't given up on Jarnkrok. But I'm definitely not afraid to include him in my trade proposals. If he can be a part of a trade package that can fetch a high quality dman then I wouldn't hesitate for a second to pull the trigger.

 

[19 for president]

I think the problem with Jarnkrok is the fact that he was a bit over hyped when he was in Sweden. The constant comparisons to Z and the fact that he did really well over in the SEL had people thinking he'd come here and immediately jump into the NHL lineup.

Just because he had a slow start to his first pro NA campaign doesn't mean he is a poor prospect. It took Jurco a solid half season to get it going, and he had prior NA experience and is a much bigger player. Jarnkrok is going to have to adjust physically and to the small ice. It may take him a full season. He is a very smart player, but he could use a full NA conditioning off season. I still think he could end up as a pretty good #2 center.

1. Jurco (I think this kid has star written all over him and has the body to make it happen)
2. Mrzaek (I think he is going to be an elite starter when all is said and done. He is the first goalie I've seen in quite awhile that has that Roy/Hasek/Broduer swagger to him.)
3. XO (solid all around dman, that could be in the NHL as early as next season)
4. Sproul (Still needs time to round out his defensive game, but its encouraging to see his offensive game translating so well)
5. Mantha (As good of raw skills as anyone in this system since Zetterberg)
6. Jarnkrok (A bit of a slow transition to the NA game, but I think he'll pick it up in the 2nd half/ playoffs)
7. Sheahan (Looks to have the makings of a beast of a 3rd line center that can truly shut down the opposition. It'll be nice to have someone to match up against guys like Getzlaf and Perry)
8. Marchenko (Another solid all around dman that is a righty to boot. Nice to see him finally healthy)
9. Pulu (Doing everything that is asked of him in GR, and doing well. Heck of a shot and proving to have an NA style game)
10. Backman (Not doing quite as well in the SEL this year, but he is very steady. Hope he makes it to NA next year)

HM: Cally (Putting up points, and getting tons of PK time), Almquist (Great vision, but I don't think he has a Red Wing future), AA (starting to put up points again in the CHL), Janmark (slowing a bit in the SEL after a crazy start), Ferraro (Needs to have a strong 2nd half to cement his chance at an NHL spot next season).

 

[Vatican Roulette]

I'll give it a try, always love these threads...

1. Mrazek- future #1 goalie
2. Jurco- top line winger
3. Mantha- top line winger
4. Sproul- PP QB who needs a good dman with him.
5. Jarnkrok- will be an NHL player, in what role, it's up to him
6. Backman- top 4 dman
7. Ouellet- top 4 dman
8. Sheahan- 3rd line center
9. Pulkkinen- trade bait at this point of the depth, but top 6 winger or bust
10. Marchenko- bottom pairing dman
11. Nick Jensen- wild card. If he can show what he did in college in the AHL, top 4 dman.
12. Nastasiuk- will make the NHL, probably a 3rd liner, but one you wouldn't trade.
13. Janmark- top 6 or bust, wait for AHL
14. Ferraro- will play in NHL, maybe not with Detroit, but I'd like to see it.
15. Nedomlel- will play in the NHL. Bottom pairing, decent puck mover and mean.
16. Athanasiou- odd ball prospect. Can he play bottom 6? If yes, a lock for NHL
17. Paterson-not convinced yet on potential. AHL should be telling
18. Tvrdon- rough go of things, hope he can crack GR next year
19. Callahan- good production this year, will fight, maybe trade fodder
20. Bertuzzi- injuries a concern at this point
21. McNutly- large dman, needs weight, good year so far
22. Wheaton- large dman, not mean but will be physical, up'd his points
23. Pope- wild card, top 6 potential
24. Frk- top 6 potential, bad year, trade fodder IMO
25. Almquist- small, probably ends up in Europe after
26. De Haas- potential bottom 4 dman. We shall see if he ups his game even more
27. Marshall- small, can skate like the wind, but really small
28. McKee- could probably take over an enforcers job in the NHL right now, everything else is below par
29. Melen- wild card, injured most of season
30. Aubry- big, can skate.

Ok, I'll stop there.

 

[Mount Suribachi]

People are giving up on Jarnkrok too soon. Give him some time. I'd like to see him with Mantha next season. He could be what Silfverberg was to him in the SHL.

I don't think anyone is giving up on him, but with our top-5 prospects so strong (even after promoting Tats and Nyquist), after all the hype surrounding him the last few years he hasn't stood out like the others.

You look at youtube clips of Mantha dominating, of Sproul's holy slapper, of Jurco's mad skillz, and you go "wow". You then look at their stat line and you grin like a chesire cat.

For all the hype around Jarnok, he doesn't have the highlight reels in GR (so far) and he doesn't have the stat line either (so far). Hence why he has tumbled on most peoples rankings.

I dunno, maybe we need to re-adjust our expectations of him. Maybe he'll become a 2-way, middle-6, 40 point guy like Filpulla. Which isn't a bad thing, in fact, its pretty good, but if that is what he becomes, after all the hype, people will view him as a bust.

 

[DatsyukToZetterberg]

1. Jurco
2. Mrazek
3. Sproul
4. Mantha
5. Jarnkrok
6. Ouellet
7. Sheahan
8. Backman
9. Marchenko
10. Ferraro
11. Pulkkinen
12. Janmark
13. Athanaisou
14. Almqvist
15. Jensen
16. Frk
17. Gledening
18. Callahan
19. Paterson
20. McCollum

Big risers for me are Pulkkinen, Marchenko & McCollum. Big fallers are Frk, Jensen & Jarnkrok.

I'd like to have Jarnkrok at #4 but Mantha had a great WJC & it pushed him over Jarnkrok for me. Before I get completely down on Jarnkrok I'd like to see what his ful year of work is like in the AHL as he still has time to start to turn it around.

Jarnkrok was never projected to be a #1C so maybe we should have expected this adjustment period but it is still rather concerning. He still has that 50-60 point potential but it may be that he'll only be a 40 point guy if he makes it at all.

 

[odin1981]

I know almost everybody won't agree with my rankings with having Mantha so low but I don't like ranking players to high until they reach the pro levels. You never know if a guy tearing up juniors will make the same impact at a higher level.

I also favor guys who are playing in a pro league (AHL more so) even if they will only end up being 4th line guys. They are still valued.

This doesn't mean Mantha isn't one of my favorite prospects and I believe once he reaches GR he will sky rocket up the list.

1. Jurco (top 6 future)
2. Mrazek (starter future)
3. Jarnkrok (2nd line center - 200 ft player)
4. Ouellet (top 4 - all around)
5. Sproul (top 4 - PP stud)
6. Marchenko (top 4 - all around)
7. Sheahan (3rd line center - sound defensive)
8. Glendening (4th line center or winger - hard forechecker)
9. Pulkkinen (3rd line winger - possible 2nd - PP specialist)
10. Mantha (1st line future - PP specialist)
11. Almquist (bottom pairing D - positioning and smarts)
12. Ferraro (4th line energy)
13. Callahan (4th line energy)
14. Backman (# 4 upside)
15. Janmark (2nd line center upside)
16. Jensen (4-6 upside)
17. Frk (2nd-4th line upside)
18. Tvrdon (2nd-4th line upside - Think he will suprise after a full year in GR)
19. Nedomlel (#6 dman - like Tvrdon I think he will suprise many after a year in GR)
20. Athanasiou (2nd-4th line upside - great wheels)

This is my list I through together. Ask me again tomorrow and I'm sure it will change.

I actually like where you have put him. I know potential, potential, potential is what all his slappie groupies will say but the fact of the matter is he is still 6'5" 200+ playing against boys 19-20 or younger. This is not to say he can't rise but he has not proven anything against men.

I have high hopes for him but ranking him ahead of anyone who has time spent in ahl/sel/khl is ****ing madness. They are not the same player but for all we know he could be martin frk next year when he hits the "men's leagues".

To me you cannot put him any higher than 8th in a top ten because we have proven pro players in our ranks. This isn't to say he can't rise above them in 1-2 years but he has absolutely no pro experience to this point.

My top 10: (I value readiness over potential very significantly)

1. Jurco
2. XO
3. Mrazek (nothing against him but he is a goalie they can be hard to track)
4. Marchenko
5. Iron Hook
6. Sproul (people need to get ready for the fact that he will be honing defense in the ahl for the next 1-2 years)

7.Sheahan
8. Pulkinnen
9. Mantha
10. Glendening

HM: almquivst, ferraro

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Gotta laugh at the people that are writing off Jarnkrok already. They clearly have not watched him play this year and are only looking at stats. He has been damn impressive this season, in all three zones. He does all the little things right. As he continues to adjust the points will come.

I have watched him, actually. He's got the smarts and is good defensively, but you just don't see the dynamic playmaking as advertised. Considering that was supposed to be his strength, it's reasonable to be worried.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I have watched him, actually. He's got the smarts and is good defensively, but you just don't see the dynamic playmaking as advertised. Considering that was supposed to be his strength, it's reasonable to be worried.

I think he is definitely having problems creating time and space for himself. That being said, he does look comfortable with the puck on his stick. I think the second half of the season will be very, very telling in terms of what we have with Ironhook.

This is from an interview with Blashill that appeared in the Free Press:

“He had real good success in pro in Sweden. He’s an extremely accountable defensive player. He’s extremely smart. Faster than he looks. He works extremely hard. Always in the right spots. Very good give-and-go player. He’s right at the cusp of really starting to explode offensively. He’s got real good skill. He’s had good production for us, but I think ultimately he’s going to have great production. He’s so responsible defensively, he’s not willing to cheat offensively. He wants to do it the right way. That’s helped us been a vry good team.â€

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

I think he is definitely having problems creating time and space for himself. That being said, he does look comfortable with the puck on his stick. I think the second half of the season will be very, very telling in terms of what we have with Ironhook.

This is from an interview with Blashill that appeared in the Free Press:

“He had real good success in pro in Sweden. He’s an extremely accountable defensive player. He’s extremely smart. Faster than he looks. He works extremely hard. Always in the right spots. Very good give-and-go player. He’s right at the cusp of really starting to explode offensively. He’s got real good skill. He’s had good production for us, but I think ultimately he’s going to have great production. He’s so responsible defensively, he’s not willing to cheat offensively. He wants to do it the right way. That’s helped us been a very good team.â€

That's definitely some nice praise by Blashill. Although I'm starting to wonder if he overdoes it a little bit when asked about one of his players. He sure seems to talk them up a bit.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

That's definitely some nice praise by Blashill. Although I'm starting to wonder if he overdoes it a little bit when asked about one of his players. He sure seems to talk them up a bit.

No, you are very right. He was very complementary of all of the guys he discussed. I do, however, appreciate it when coaches make very specific statements about players. Lord knows we get enough clichés from Babs.

 

[Frk It]

I think he is definitely having problems creating time and space for himself. That being said, he does look comfortable with the puck on his stick. I think the second half of the season will be very, very telling in terms of what we have with Ironhook.

This is from an interview with Blashill that appeared in the Free Press:

“He had real good success in pro in Sweden. He’s an extremely accountable defensive player. He’s extremely smart. Faster than he looks. He works extremely hard. Always in the right spots. Very good give-and-go player. He’s right at the cusp of really starting to explode offensively. He’s got real good skill. He’s had good production for us, but I think ultimately he’s going to have great production. He’s so responsible defensively, he’s not willing to cheat offensively. He wants to do it the right way. That’s helped us been a very good team.â€

I really hope Blash is right and Jarnkrok is on the verge of exploding offensively. We really need one of these centers coming up in the system to take their game to a whole new level.

But I'm skeptical because Blash gave some really big praise to Frk before the season started,
and he hasn't been able to put anything together.

But I'll give Calle some time to get it together. I still have my reservations though.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

I really hope Blash is right and Jarnkrok is on the verge of exploding offensively. We really need one of these centers coming up in the system to take their game to a whole new level.

But I'm skeptical because Blash gave some really big praise to Frk before the season started,
and he hasn't been able to put anything together.

But I'll give Calle some time to get it together. I still have my reservations though.

God knows I'd love to be wrong. Although I suppose if Jurco has taught us anything, it's that we should wait for the second half of the rookie season.

 

[TatarTangle]

Guys to truly be excited for:

Mantha
Jurco
Mrazek
Sproul
Ouellet
Marchenko


HM to Pulkkinen and Jarnkrok

Find yourself a #1C and things aren't looking too bad.

 

[SimplySolace]

I really hope Blash is right and Jarnkrok is on the verge of exploding offensively. We really need one of these centers coming up in the system to take their game to a whole new level.

But I'm skeptical because Blash gave some really big praise to Frk before the season started,
and he hasn't been able to put anything together.

But I'll give Calle some time to get it together. I still have my reservations though.

Everyone was higher on Frk before the season started though. I definitely didn't expect him to be nearly as great, but that's beside the point.

I expected Pulkkinen to bust and Jarnkrok to do great and look how that has played out.. I hope for us that we all look dumb moving Ironhook so low, I'd love to be wrong.

 

[sarcastro]

Backman already has more points than Kronwall, Almquist and Ericsson have scored combined in their best seasons in Sweden and is leading the league in +/-

Backman is also way too skinny to play NHL hockey, from all reports.

Lots and lots and LOTS of skinny defensemen can pile up points and even play good defense in Europe. They get their lunches eaten and their heads knocked in when they play against NHLers.

Ericsson couldn't get on the ice in the SEL, which was the whole reason he came to GR. Almquist and Kronwall came to GR when they were Backman's age - if they had stayed, they probably would have boosted their scoring totals.

I like the scoring totals fine, but he needs to get a lot stronger before I will rank him anywhere near where you guys are putting him.