Player Discussion Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson - II - Signing in the Swedish Hockey League

[Ratty]

McAvoy, a college jock, should never have gotten a free pass to the NHL while Tommy Cross, who was toiling in the minors for years, had to wait. Not fair. No way.

Oh, I forgot, Tommy spent a few years in college, too.

 

[22Brad Park]

What about Bjork? Comes out of college straight to the Bergeron line over other players. JFK leaves college and gets action right away against Washington in a game he had no business being in. Meanwhile Senyshyn has to work his way off the 4th line in Providence.

Sweeney plays favs with US college players .Look at how many he drafts.

 

[Ratty]

We have to stop signing GMs with Ivy League degrees. They tend to recruit and sign like minded people.

Give me an executive who is a hard nosed tough guy who learned all he needs to know in high school and favors lunch pail athletes. He/she shouldn’t try to analyze or overthink on ice strategy.

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

Did I ever suggest I was looking for that kind of career? All I can give is my opinion, and my opinion of JFK right now is that he's not good enough to be on an NHL roster. You disagree, why not say why you feel he's good enough? You know, rather than not adding anything to the discussion but nonsense and bull****?

Not my fight but since this is a JFK thread, and this pains me bc you and I agree 99% of the time but, and I can’t really articulate why, gut feeling I guess from watching him, I have to say that I like JFKs game and I think he’s going to develop into a neat little player for us.

 

[TaroTsujimoto]

Not my fight but since this is a JFK thread, and this pains me bc you and I agree 99% of the time but, and I can’t really articulate why, gut feeling I guess from watching him, I have to say that I like JFKs game and I think he’s going to develop into a neat little player for us.

Chances are JFK won't develop into even a Soderberg/Spooner level player. His AHL numbers are mediocre. He probably has 3C upside, but then again, not the type of 3C we're looking for.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

McAvoy, a college jock, should never have gotten a free pass to the NHL while Tommy Cross, who was toiling in the minors for years, had to wait. Not fair. No way.

Oh, I forgot, Tommy spent a few years in college, too.

Imagine if we had the balls to play Grizz vs Ottawa that year over Cross

East was wide open that year Toronto wasn't good yet and Tampa hadn't reloaded.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

If he can be upgraded, they shouldn’t hesitate. I don’t understand why JFK is called up after not doing much offensively in Providence over someone like Senyshyn who is actually scoring goals. There’s a college-privilege going on. Cehlarik is another example of this, has a great preseason but Donato is handed the spot because he’s one of the college kids.

You aren’t serious with this are you?

 

[Mainehockey33]

You aren’t serious with this are you?

He’s been ok, but if the goal is a deep playoff run, should they rely on a rookie to center the 3rd line? I think he has a future in the NHL but I’d still look at getting a vet rental because we’re thin at center anyway.

And I am serious that there is a bias towards certain guys that I mentioned. How else do you explain some Bjork and Donato’s route to the NHL? Both players passed guys with more experience that were more deserving. JFK was a center and they needed one so it’s a little more understandable.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

He’s been ok, but if the goal is a deep playoff run, should they rely on a rookie to center the 3rd line? I think he has a future in the NHL but I’d still look at getting a vet rental because we’re thin at center anyway.

And I am serious that there is a bias towards certain guys that I mentioned. How else do you explain some Bjork and Donato’s route to the NHL? Both players passed guys with more experience that were more deserving. JFK was a center and they needed one so it’s a little more understandable.

I was referring to your “college bias” comment.

Do you really think that Sweeney cares where a player comes from if he feels he can help the team? As a general rule of thumb, the college guys are older and often more mature when they are signed, hence ready to contribute faster.

As far as Donato and Bjork go, I agree that they were given an advantage in the process, but I don’t think it had anything to do with them being “college guys”. I think it stemmed from the FO believing they were more ready to contribute than some of the other prospects (which I disagree with). Imo, both Bjork and Donato would have been better off with a full year in the AHL to prep them.

JFK spent all last season in the AHL (when he wasn’t hurt) and has a different skill set than the other C’s with Bergeron hurt. That’s he got the call, no other reason.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I was referring to your “college bias” comment.

Do you really think that Sweeney cares where a player comes from if he feels he can help the team? As a general rule of thumb, the college guys are older and often more mature when they are signed, hence ready to contribute faster.

As far as Donato and Bjork go, I agree that they were given an advantage in the process, but I don’t think it had anything to do with them being “college guys”. I think it stemmed from the FO believing they were more ready to contribute than some of the other prospects (which I disagree with). Imo, both Bjork and Donato would have been better off with a full year in the AHL to prep them.

JFK spent all last season in the AHL (when he wasn’t hurt) and has a different skill set than the other C’s with Bergeron hurt. That’s he got the call, no other reason.

It could be a coincidence and because they’re older. Why was JFK able to play a game right after signing with the Bruins instead of playing in the playoffs for Providence? It made no sense, were they so high on him they made this kind of deal with him to get him to sign?

 

[Ratty]

It could be a coincidence and because they’re older. Why was JFK able to play a game right after signing with the Bruins instead of playing in the playoffs for Providence? It made no sense, were they so high on him they made this kind of deal with him to get him to sign?

He played one game, and one game only in order to expend one year from his ELC. That was part of the incentive to leave B.U.early. He didn’t displace any non-college player by doing so.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

It could be a coincidence and because they’re older. Why was JFK able to play a game right after signing with the Bruins instead of playing in the playoffs for Providence? It made no sense, were they so high on him they made this kind of deal with him to get him to sign?

I thought that was pretty obvious? That kind of thing, (signing a player and then giving them a game to burn a year off the deal) is pretty commonplace now. It’s just a “sweetener” to get the player to come out, and nearly every team has done it.

 

[Mainehockey33]

He played one game, and one game only in order to expend one year from his ELC. That was part of the incentive to leave B.U.early. He didn’t displace any non-college player by doing so.

I thought that was pretty obvious? That kind of thing, (signing a player and then giving them a game to burn a year off the deal) is pretty commonplace now. It’s just a “sweetener” to get the player to come out, and nearly every team has done it.

I thought it was something done for blue chip prospects.

Back on subject, hopefully JFK continues to get better. I think if he can consistently produce offense they should keep him up. If not then think about trading for someone.

 

[Ratty]

I thought it was something done for blue chip prospects.

Back on subject, hopefully JFK continues to get better. I think if he can consistently produce offense they should keep him up. If not then think about trading for someone.

Glad you see the value in the player and management’s strategy in his development.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I thought it was something done for blue chip prospects.

Back on subject, hopefully JFK continues to get better. I think if he can consistently produce offense they should keep him up. If not then think about trading for someone.

Off the top of my head, I know CHI did it for Hayden, ANA for Terry, neither of whom were “blue chippers” imo.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Off the top of my head, I know CHI did it for Hayden, ANA for Terry, neither of whom were “blue chippers” imo.

I just thought at the time it was a bad move for his development, I didn’t know it was that widely used outside of players putting up big numbers in lower levels that a team would really want to turn pro.

It’s crazy how far JFK has come, I really didn’t see much in him in prospect games and preseason. He’d make a nice pass and that would be about it. It looks like he could develop a decent offensive game.

 

[GloryDaze4877]

I just thought at the time it was a bad move for his development, I didn’t know it was that widely used outside of players putting up big numbers in lower levels that a team would really want to turn pro.

It’s crazy how far JFK has come, I really didn’t see much in him in prospect games and preseason. He’d make a nice pass and that would be about it. It looks like he could develop a decent offensive game.

I watched him play some in the WJC’s and at BU. He was on the PK, played point on the PP. His upside is a guy that can do it all, but he has to get stronger and stay healthy.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I watched him play some in the WJC’s and at BU. He was on the PK, played point on the PP. His upside is a guy that can do it all, but he has to get stronger and stay healthy.

But he never really put up numbers in college or the AHL. It looks like he can make some pretty nice plays so I’m surprised he hasn’t put up more points.

 

[LSCII]

Not my fight but since this is a JFK thread, and this pains me bc you and I agree 99% of the time but, and I can’t really articulate why, gut feeling I guess from watching him, I have to say that I like JFKs game and I think he’s going to develop into a neat little player for us.

I certainly hope so. And I'll be happy to eat crow if he does.

 

[HustleB]

I'm excited to see him playing with Krejci and Debrusk. I'd like to see what he can do with a more regular shift. I don't think he has changed his development curve drastically yet but he has been playing well and he has an opportunity to make an impact with his vision and willingness to go to the net. Like Heinen he is responsible and has a good stick.

Not looking at this as a longterm solution but I would love to see JFK cement himself as the best short term solution.

 

[GoBs]

We have to stop signing GMs with Ivy League degrees. They tend to recruit and sign like minded people.

Give me an executive who is a hard nosed tough guy who learned all he needs to know in high school and favors lunch pail athletes. He/she shouldn’t try to analyze or overthink on ice strategy.

You have one Cam Neely

 

[Ratty]

I'm excited to see him playing with Krejci and Debrusk. I'd like to see what he can do with a more regular shift. I don't think he has changed his development curve drastically yet but he has been playing well and he has an opportunity to make an impact with his vision and willingness to go to the net. Like Heinen he is responsible and has a good stick.

Not looking at this as a longterm solution but I would love to see JFK cement himself as the best short term solution.

But Karlsson and Krejci play the same position. Who takes the face offs? Who covers down low in the defenseive zone?

Unless, of course, you want to put him
at RW, a position he has not played, to my knowledge.

 

[wintersej]

I was referring to your “college bias” comment.

Do you really think that Sweeney cares where a player comes from if he feels he can help the team? As a general rule of thumb, the college guys are older and often more mature when they are signed, hence ready to contribute faster.

As far as Donato and Bjork go, I agree that they were given an advantage in the process, but I don’t think it had anything to do with them being “college guys”. I think it stemmed from the FO believing they were more ready to contribute than some of the other prospects (which I disagree with). Imo, both Bjork and Donato would have been better off with a full year in the AHL to prep them.

JFK spent all last season in the AHL (when he wasn’t hurt) and has a different skill set than the other C’s with Bergeron hurt. That’s he got the call, no other reason.

DeBrusk (not college) and Bjork (college) were both handed spots over Heinen (college) and Cehlarik (not college) last year.

 

[wintersej]

We have to stop signing GMs with Ivy League degrees. They tend to recruit and sign like minded people.

Give me an executive who is a hard nosed tough guy who learned all he needs to know in high school and favors lunch pail athletes. He/she shouldn’t try to analyze or overthink on ice strategy.

You DO need diversity of thought. You need some nerds, some knuckle draggers, some offensive minded, some defensive minded, some euro, some north american. Not hiring Ivy Leaguers is ridiculous, but I agree that people tend to hire people like themselves and that is a bad mistake.

 

[HustleB]

But Karlsson and Krejci play the same position. Who takes the face offs? Who covers down low in the defenseive zone?

Unless, of course, you want to put him
at RW, a position he has not played, to my knowledge.

Given their relative experience Krejci retains his expected role and we determine if JFK has the versatility to contribute at wing.