Adam Almqvist
- Thread starter Lenain22
- Start date
Unfriendly Ghost
Kasper
I don't think he'll be called up until he can show he's a #1 AHL defenseman. He still needs a bit more time to work on his overall physical tools, because he's got pretty much everything else.
Henkka
Registered User
Crymson
Fire Holland
- May 23, 2010
- 3,667
- 0
He's got more years of AHL eligibility. He needs to continue his offensive game and, even more importantly, he needs to get stronger.
The Zetterberg Era
Ball Hockey Sucks
Just so you know he has played top pair for a while now down there. He and Paetsch are the top pair.
I think he is going to need another year, hope this head injury doesn't impact his summer training. He actually is a guy that could have used the full summer instead of the four weeks the Griffins guys will get now.
Unfriendly Ghost
Kasper
I know he's been top pair, but he hasn't really been used like a #1. (and he hasn't really played like one for long stretches, either.) Billins ate up a ton of his PP minutes at the beginning of the season. Plus, GR doesn't play a dominant top pair for a ton of minutes like other teams do. They sort of rotate their pairings, which indicates to me more of a rounding-off of talent across them.
I think it'll be a bit of a battle for him next season, because the talent level will be much higher and there'll be the temptation to use some of the more physically talented defensemen over him. He also has to demonstrate that he can be the stable guy defensively on a pairing, which I haven't really seen him do yet. He could be in sort of a no-man's land, where he doesn't have the raw defensive ability, yet also doesn't get much of a chance offensively because he doesn't have a giant shot or skate like the wind. I guess that's been the question of his career: how far can monstrous hockey sense (and some good, but not great tools) take him?
PullHard
☂
- Jul 18, 2007
- 28,400
- 2,478
Kind of reminds me of Lidstrom.
Not huge, not overly physical, not "fast", doesn't have a Souray-like cannon, isn't a sniper.
But he was one of the best ever.
Almqvist = next Lidstrom
But seriously, hockey sense is huge, and can hopefully make him into an effective NHL dman for us.
The Zetterberg Era
Ball Hockey Sucks
Fine but Paetsch is the top guy and has been all season only really when Smith was down was that not the case. Kind of a hard standard then and it also means DeKeyser and Lashoff are flunking it as well at the moment. They might play some rounded minutes, but Paetsch for me is the clear cut guy down there.
Almqvist has been very impressive this year, he has been better than Lashoff the entire time both have been down in Grand Rapids. I mean that defensively not just offensively.
One of my only complaints with Blashill is Billins pea shooter over Almqvist on the point with our first unit, drives me absolutely nuts. Though it is part of the reason our second unit is so good on the PP, they have the better D-man with them.
Unfriendly Ghost
Kasper
joe89
#5
- Apr 30, 2009
- 20,313
- 174
I don't think we'll see anyone be that true #1 down there next season either, too much depth and you want all guys getting their development. I think AA being on the second PP unit is a tradeoff for playing in all situations. I don't think all are aware he plays a ton on the PK too, maybe that isn't his role at the next level but it's still a feather in his hat. I wasn't high at all on him when he played in Sweden(maybe cus he was being misused), but this season he's simply been very good and getting better along the way.
Frk It
Mo Seider Less Problems
- Jul 27, 2010
- 36,242
- 14,750
NHL forwards will eat him alive on the forecheck.
If we could keep the puck in the offensive zone the entire game then I'd say call him up and let him do work. Don't think he's going to be good enough in the other 2 zones to be an NHL player. His height, weight, reach, skating aren't in his favor either, and would have a tough time matching up against NHL forwards every night IMO.
At best I think he could maybe be a 3rd pairing guy and PP specialist. More likely I think he goes back to Europe or bounces between the AHL and NHL. Don't think he will be a part of the Red Wings future. I'm ok if I have to eat my words on this one, I like it when underdogs succeed. I just don't see his entire game translating well to the next level.
If we could keep the puck in the offensive zone the entire game then I'd say call him up and let him do work. Don't think he's going to be good enough in the other 2 zones to be an NHL player. His height, weight, reach, skating aren't in his favor either, and would have a tough time matching up against NHL forwards every night IMO.
At best I think he could maybe be a 3rd pairing guy and PP specialist. More likely I think he goes back to Europe or bounces between the AHL and NHL. Don't think he will be a part of the Red Wings future. I'm ok if I have to eat my words on this one, I like it when underdogs succeed. I just don't see his entire game translating well to the next level.
Almqvist really hasn't impressed me during the playoffs, his puck handling in his own zone leaves a lot to be desired and he pretty consistently gets pushed around on the boards. I do like what he brings on the offensive zone.
The Zetterberg Era
Ball Hockey Sucks
Was noticeably missed tonight as someone who watches a lot of Griffins hockey, I can say that much.
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