Diversification
Registered User
- Jun 21, 2019
- 3,002
- 3,733
I guess that depends on your outlook for OEL. I'm not bullish on his return to form because injuries that hamper turning and mobility don't suddenly get better in an aging player.
Confirmed with Link: Canucks sign D Akito Hirose to 1-Year ELC
- Thread starter Mr. Canucklehead
- Start date
Numba9
Registered User
So what's the deal with Hirose? He's only played 13 games for Abbotsford. I can't find any injury information or anything.
Hirose falling off is not what I expected this season given his performance late last season.
Cancuks
Former Exalted Ruler
Seems like the kind of player who is in pouting mode because he didn't make the NHL this season.
StickShift
In a pickle 🥒
I remember reading or hearing somewhere that he did not come to camp in professional shape.
Sad to see this year being a write off for Hirose. He destroyed the Young Stars tournament and then flushed out of training camp fairly early on, IIRC. He's a smaller guy to begin with so conditioning will be extra important if he's going to survive the NHL.
HIrose took a pounding throughout the early part of the season leading to an injury (like many of the other younger players ) which has restricted the number of games he has played.
I think the question was always is he too small. So far have to say he likely is.
I think the question was always is he too small. So far have to say he likely is.
Bankerguy
Registered User
- Apr 28, 2013
- 3,819
- 1,957
he got a sniff at the NHL, looked okay and had a summer to prep.
At the time.. u know, this was his future, why the fk didnt he spend 6 days a week on the ice, in the gym , dryland training.
Come into camp super ripped , stronger, heavier, more explosive, faster.
Nutrition, personal trainer.. go ALL OUT.. impress for another year and snag a 3 x 2M contract. ur almost set for life...
no. instead he came into camp looking like a COD gamer coming off a 8 hr redbull fueled online marathon
At the time.. u know, this was his future, why the fk didnt he spend 6 days a week on the ice, in the gym , dryland training.
Come into camp super ripped , stronger, heavier, more explosive, faster.
Nutrition, personal trainer.. go ALL OUT.. impress for another year and snag a 3 x 2M contract. ur almost set for life...
no. instead he came into camp looking like a COD gamer coming off a 8 hr redbull fueled online marathon
lawrence
Registered User
- May 19, 2012
- 16,014
- 6,834
Nona Di Giuseppe
Registered User
Weird timing for the bump on this thread considering he's been injured for 2 months.
But he was poor in Abbotsford before getting hurt, didn't look anything like the same player who finished the season here last year. I don't think he'd be getting into the lineup down there right now with everyone healthy.
He's cooked as a prospect but his one-way deal next year is a bit of a problem.
But he was poor in Abbotsford before getting hurt, didn't look anything like the same player who finished the season here last year. I don't think he'd be getting into the lineup down there right now with everyone healthy.
He's cooked as a prospect but his one-way deal next year is a bit of a problem.
HairyKneel
Registered User
- Jun 5, 2023
- 1,084
- 960
canuckking1
Registered User
- Feb 8, 2015
- 12,750
- 13,719
Diversification
Registered User
- Jun 21, 2019
- 3,002
- 3,733
Yep. Probably time to stick a fork in him unfortunately. Looks like the AHL exposed the weaknesses in his game, namely his inability to contend with the physical aspects of being a dman in a professional league. It's sucks because he can make reads at both ends of the rink and has some passing skills but if you can't anchor a pairing in the AHL, that's probably the death knell.
The weird thing in the AHL this year was that it was like his talent totally disappeared.
It wasn't like his defense was some huge problem, it was that he turned into a vanilla nothing offensively. Based on what we saw last year, I expected him to legitimately pop at the AHL level this year in terms of skating and puck movement and that just didn't happen at all. He looked worse offensively than Chad Nychuk when Nychuk got into the lineup.
Diversification
Registered User
- Jun 21, 2019
- 3,002
- 3,733
I mentioned this before but perhaps he has to play second fiddle to be effective? So when he’s tasked with being the guy to create space and make plays, he’s lost but he’s smart enough to know what to do with what a stronger partner can create for him? I I dunno. Agree with your take in that every time I watched an Abby game, he was just sort of there.
I don't know. He looked great in the prospect tourney and then it's like his confidence just died after that 10-0 game in the preseason and then being cut.
Just a tentative nothingburger out there and with his 25th birthday coming up he's now a write-off.
Shaping up as a lost season for Hirose......they haven't said what his injury is, but 'an upper body injury' is often a euphemism for 'concussion related'.
He actually looked good in his few games in Vancouver at the tail-end of last season. But struggled mightily in his own zone in Abbotsford. He basically had the same problem as Rathbone, It's so tough as an undersized d-man to survive in the pro game, unless you have close to elite-level offensive talent.
Hirose is signed through the 2024-25 season so I guess he'll be back in Abbotsford next year for another go at it. But with the impending arrival of guys like D-Petey and Kudryavtsev, along with some of the returnees, he's going to be hard pressed to get ice-time.
Still, he was high sought after coming our the NCAA last season and along with McWard was worth the risk.
He actually looked good in his few games in Vancouver at the tail-end of last season. But struggled mightily in his own zone in Abbotsford. He basically had the same problem as Rathbone, It's so tough as an undersized d-man to survive in the pro game, unless you have close to elite-level offensive talent.
Hirose is signed through the 2024-25 season so I guess he'll be back in Abbotsford next year for another go at it. But with the impending arrival of guys like D-Petey and Kudryavtsev, along with some of the returnees, he's going to be hard pressed to get ice-time.
Still, he was high sought after coming our the NCAA last season and along with McWard was worth the risk.
He's been back for the last few Abbotsford games ... and continued to look like the same ECHL filler as before he was hurt, 0 points in 16 games now.
