- Feb 24, 2012
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How the heck did this turn into a Jost thread?!
Jost and Kamenev should be judged very differently on their skating. Kamenev doesn't need to be better than average to be effective at his size. To be an elite player, yeah he needs a lot better skating. To be a good player, get to average and his other skills can likely compensate. Plenty of average skating 6'2" centers out there (though I think Kamenev should bulk up). Jost... in today's NHL and how much quicker it is tending to get, to be a center at his size, his skating is going to have to dramatically improve. I hope Jost proves to be an exception like Point, but counting on it just because he works hard seems misguided. To me, Jost doesn't have a fundamental flaw in his stride like Point did... but I hope to be wrong. That doesn't mean Jost can't be a good player, because he can be. I've stated over and over that I think Jost can be a mid 50 point winger with good 2 way ability and is as hard of worker on the ice as you could want. That is a damn good player and valuable. I just think he has a significant uphill battle at center. My biggest fear with Jost is that there will be such an emphasis on bulking up and getting stronger that he ends up a 5'11" 205 guy that loses a step or two on his skating. To me Jost should be 100% focused on improving his skating and balance even if he sheds a few pounds. I'd rather see him in the 180-185 level with an extra skating gear than him at 200. He's never going to be a bulldog or physically overpowering player. He needs to get his advantage with tenacity and skating. Since the skating is lacking, he needs to find every tweak he can there.
TLDR... Kamenev can be an average skater and get away with it at center. A blessing of being 6'2"
To me, the best shot the Avs have at the #2C spot long-term is Bowers... size, skill, skating, two way ability, physicality... he has it all, just needs refinement. I doubt he is a 60 point guy, but he should be a solid offensive contributor. I'd put Kamenev right behind him as the next shot. Shvy after that.
Jost and Kamenev should be judged very differently on their skating. Kamenev doesn't need to be better than average to be effective at his size. To be an elite player, yeah he needs a lot better skating. To be a good player, get to average and his other skills can likely compensate. Plenty of average skating 6'2" centers out there (though I think Kamenev should bulk up). Jost... in today's NHL and how much quicker it is tending to get, to be a center at his size, his skating is going to have to dramatically improve. I hope Jost proves to be an exception like Point, but counting on it just because he works hard seems misguided. To me, Jost doesn't have a fundamental flaw in his stride like Point did... but I hope to be wrong. That doesn't mean Jost can't be a good player, because he can be. I've stated over and over that I think Jost can be a mid 50 point winger with good 2 way ability and is as hard of worker on the ice as you could want. That is a damn good player and valuable. I just think he has a significant uphill battle at center. My biggest fear with Jost is that there will be such an emphasis on bulking up and getting stronger that he ends up a 5'11" 205 guy that loses a step or two on his skating. To me Jost should be 100% focused on improving his skating and balance even if he sheds a few pounds. I'd rather see him in the 180-185 level with an extra skating gear than him at 200. He's never going to be a bulldog or physically overpowering player. He needs to get his advantage with tenacity and skating. Since the skating is lacking, he needs to find every tweak he can there.
TLDR... Kamenev can be an average skater and get away with it at center. A blessing of being 6'2"
To me, the best shot the Avs have at the #2C spot long-term is Bowers... size, skill, skating, two way ability, physicality... he has it all, just needs refinement. I doubt he is a 60 point guy, but he should be a solid offensive contributor. I'd put Kamenev right behind him as the next shot. Shvy after that.