JJ Watt believes he could be serviceable player with 1 year training

[bsu]

Depends on his history of ice skating

he may be big but if he doesnt have good balance on skates, a bantam player could knock him over

 

[TT1]

clownin

 

[Senor Catface]

I think most people get it, but man, some people do not understand the vast gap in skating between everyone else in the world and the NHL.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think the thing that would keep Watt from being a top-level player (assuming he had the skills) would be his top-heaviness.

That body type is an asset in the NFL, but it doesn't do a lot of good to have all that upper body muscle in the NHL. Obviously he'd truck a lot of guys through sheer body mass, but imagine how hard he'd hit the ice every time someone got underneath him (which would be often in a league where the average player is 4 inches shorter).

He'd have to do more than just learn the skills... he'd have to do a bunch of body work to get his center of gravity lower. That might or might not actually be possible for him, without losing a bunch of the athleticism that makes him a star athlete.

 

[Habsfunk]

Sounds like a reality show in the making. Sign him up for a year of elite coaching, stick him on an ECHL roster for 21-22 so he can practice/play against some pro, then have him show up to training camp in 22-23 and see how he does. I wouldn't watch it, but I'm sure some people would.

 

[Wanderson]

Henrik Larsson started to play floorball after his career. It’s a small sport, but he never became any “serviceable player” even though he was an outstanding football player. He was some kind of a joke, a media gimmick.

Hockey is way more complicated than floorball. This guy would just embarrass himself, nothing more, and he would never come close to even ECHL level.

 

[4thline]

I think the thing that would keep Watt from being a top-level player (assuming he had the skills) would be his top-heaviness.

That body type is an asset in the NFL, but it doesn't do a lot of good to have all that upper body muscle in the NHL. Obviously he'd truck a lot of guys through sheer body mass, but imagine how hard he'd hit the ice every time someone got underneath him (which would be often in a league where the average player is 4 inches shorter).

He'd have to do more than just learn the skills... he'd have to do a bunch of body work to get his center of gravity lower. That might or might not actually be possible for him, without losing a bunch of the athleticism that makes him a star athlete.

Eh, guys like Rod, Lindros, maybe Stevens were built like that as well, if he's got the core and quads to support it he'd be fine.

 

[4thline]

Depends on your definition of serviceable. A year of intense skill development with AHL games sprinkled in he might be a goon level place holder that can take a shift. But definitely below replacement level.

 

[iamjs]

Maybe HBO could create a documentary about something like this…

Find an NFL player willing to spend a year intensively training for the NHL, and an NHL player willing to do the same for the NFL - and see how they do. Follow both all year long, and at the end of that year, have each one suit up and play full-time in a game. That could be the season finale.

I’m sure they could find at least one team in each league that would want the exposure.

Why not? I’d watch it.

Remember the show "Pros Vs Joes"? Similar concept, except call it "Pros Vs Pros".

You can probably do a full season on Chad Johnson (NFL type, not NHL backup type) by himself.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Eh, guys like Rod, Lindros, maybe Stevens were built like that as well, if he's got the core and quads to support it he'd be fine.

Brind'Amour and Stevens were about average NHL height, meaning several inches shorter than Watt. The muscle made sense for them in terms of center-of-gravity. Lindros was also slightly shorter than Watt.

More importantly, all three of these guys were HOF'ers (or really close) on the skill side of the ledger. If they'd had replacement-level skills they likely wouldn't have had NHL careers. It was the combination of skill and athleticism that made them effective, especially in an obstruction-heavy era where upper body muscle really mattered.

Players have actually gotten smaller since the early 2000s. Physical training has shifted away from "get jacked" and more toward core training and flexibility, more of a lean-muscle body type. We don't see a lot of players in that heavy-muscle mold any more.... it's a faster league, which makes those extra pounds a liability.

The modern player that jumps to mind is Raitis Ivanans, who was born about 10 years too late. He'd have been a terror in the 90s, but in the 2000s he was mostly just there to fight. In today's league he likely doesn't make an NHL roster.

 

[Zach716]

Sounds like a reality show in the making. Sign him up for a year of elite coaching, stick him on an ECHL roster for 21-22 so he can practice/play against some pro, then have him show up to training camp in 22-23 and see how he does. I wouldn't watch it, but I'm sure some people would.

Honestly would be really cool to see a documentary on this type of situation. I know Crosby was insane at baseball young. It would probably never happen because someone is giving up way too much to risk it all during prime (even late prime years) from their respective sport to make the transfer. Not to mention all the hate they would get from their peers/fans of their respective league and possibly complete embarressment.

 

[EXTRAS]

I'm sure Michael Jordan thought he would be a great baseball player too.

Maybe if he was doing this in the 80s or early 90s but guys today train their entire lives for hockey as if millions depend on it. Shifting sports is harder now.

 

[Marotte Marauder]

I wonder if Bo knows hockey?