Larsson/Rundblad/Erixon
- Thread starter Kearns
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I think Rundblad will be a good offensive, powerplay quarterback, capable of atleast 45+ points.
Larsson will be the best of the 3. He might not get as many points as Rundblad, but I think he'll be good for 40+ in his prime, while also being a great defensive player.
Erixon should be good for about 35-50 points in his prime, and he'll be an alright defensive player.
Larsson will be the best of the 3. He might not get as many points as Rundblad, but I think he'll be good for 40+ in his prime, while also being a great defensive player.
Erixon should be good for about 35-50 points in his prime, and he'll be an alright defensive player.
As have been mentioned, Rundblad will probably be a power play specialist first and foremost. He is very good at moving the puck and that will be useful at even strenght, too, but he's got well-documented issues with defensvie play and being too risky with the puck which will make - at least some - coaches a bit careful to put him out there. Still, his skill and power play abilities will make him a big-time producer, it's just about Rundblad working enough on other parts of his game to be a great defenseman, or if he doesn't, basically be a tad more useful version of Marc-André Bergeron.
With Larsson, he's the safest of the three, no doubt. Not in terms of production, but in terms of being a very good NHL defenceman. Others will disagree, but I don't think he's PPQB material at all, which will hurt his point production severely, obviously. However, he's smart enough defensively and with the passing in the first two zones of the ice to be a top-4 defenseman, probably his entire career, but my opinion is that he's missing, what should we call it, the "explosive offense" that would push him from being a good defender with good transitional tools, to being a #1 or a franchise D-man as many are expecting, or at least hoping.
With Tim, he's developed his shot a lot over the past year, making him more likely to be a PP mainstay at the next level. Some Skellefteå fans have said that Erixon was the all-around best one out of the three last season, despite Rundblad being more productive. Erixon's "a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that"-quality will make him useful but the question is if he can contribute enough to become a top-4-regular.
With Larsson, he's the safest of the three, no doubt. Not in terms of production, but in terms of being a very good NHL defenceman. Others will disagree, but I don't think he's PPQB material at all, which will hurt his point production severely, obviously. However, he's smart enough defensively and with the passing in the first two zones of the ice to be a top-4 defenseman, probably his entire career, but my opinion is that he's missing, what should we call it, the "explosive offense" that would push him from being a good defender with good transitional tools, to being a #1 or a franchise D-man as many are expecting, or at least hoping.
With Tim, he's developed his shot a lot over the past year, making him more likely to be a PP mainstay at the next level. Some Skellefteå fans have said that Erixon was the all-around best one out of the three last season, despite Rundblad being more productive. Erixon's "a-little-of-this-a-little-of-that"-quality will make him useful but the question is if he can contribute enough to become a top-4-regular.
Rundblad is the best now but Larsson has two years of development to catch up to him and he's much better than Rundblad was two years ago. Erixon doesn't have the skills the other two has and there are now questions about his character due to how he orchestrated a trade to the Rangers.
SpezDispenser
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God, do the Sens ever need a lethal PP QB to go with Karlsson. I hope his game translates to the NHL, I assume it will.
ReginKarlssonLehner
Let's Win It All
Asquaredx2
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- Mar 10, 2008
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Rundblad will probably play first PP with Karlsson long-term so even though he'll probably never usurp Karlsson as go-to offensive d-man he won't have a lack of opportunities.
His long-term projection depends quite a bit on how the rest of the rebuild unfolds for Ottawa. If, say, Ottawa drafts Yakupov, and then their other young forwards like Zibanejad, Silfverberg, Puempel, Noesen, etc. etc. all pan out reasonably well then I think both Karlsson and Rundblad could be regularly putting up 55-60+ point seasons. The ability is certainly there on their part.
His long-term projection depends quite a bit on how the rest of the rebuild unfolds for Ottawa. If, say, Ottawa drafts Yakupov, and then their other young forwards like Zibanejad, Silfverberg, Puempel, Noesen, etc. etc. all pan out reasonably well then I think both Karlsson and Rundblad could be regularly putting up 55-60+ point seasons. The ability is certainly there on their part.
I'll make a bold prediction that Erixon will be on the Rangers top pairing by the end of the year.
That is all.
That is all.
Kearns
Too good to be true, no?
Lots of good replies to my questions about these players, mostly confirming what I have read over the past couple months. Thanks.
A couple follow up questions that I hope can help me project a bit: Who was on the #1 pp pairing on Skellefteå AIK last year? Did the pairing evolve throughout the year, and if so who finished up on it in the playoffs? Who was on the #2 pairing?
For the first pairing I guess it would be Rundblad and who else...judging from the numbers.
A couple follow up questions that I hope can help me project a bit: Who was on the #1 pp pairing on Skellefteå AIK last year? Did the pairing evolve throughout the year, and if so who finished up on it in the playoffs? Who was on the #2 pairing?
For the first pairing I guess it would be Rundblad and who else...judging from the numbers.
If I recall correctly, it was Lehtonen-Warg-Lindström with Rundblad and Erixon on the first unit for the most part of the spring. The first four was certainly there all year, but Erixon might not have been a full-timer, I remember Ville Koistinen had at least a period of time on that unit as well.
The bottom line is you have to factor in the NHL teams they play for. Ottawa and NJ have had a terrible track record developing defenseman the past 5-6 years. The Rangers with Staal, Girardi, McDonagh and Sauer are now one of the best in hockey at developing defenseman. Having that powerful young core also is going to make it a ton easier for young defenseman to develop on that team. The Devils basically have nothing other than Larsson. He's essentially going to have the pressure of carrying that defense. Ottawa has nobody that can play any defense. Karlsson doesn't know where the defensive zone is.
Erixon is going into a dream situation. There is no pressure for him to log big minutes and develop quickly. The same is not the case for the other two defensman.
As far as Erixon not having the skills of the other 2. Nothing but nonsense. His skills are just spread out more. He's not top heavy on offense or defense. He's well rounded but his skill level is right there with those other two.
There are also no character concerns with Erixon. IMO, Feaster is a terrible GM, the Flames have a terrible farm, are low on talent at the NHL level and I question the commitment the organization has to winning. They have great fans. However, I'm sure if you ask their fans to be honest, they don't believe that organization is committed to winning. I wouldn't want to play there as a player right now.
Erixon is going into a dream situation. There is no pressure for him to log big minutes and develop quickly. The same is not the case for the other two defensman.
As far as Erixon not having the skills of the other 2. Nothing but nonsense. His skills are just spread out more. He's not top heavy on offense or defense. He's well rounded but his skill level is right there with those other two.
There are also no character concerns with Erixon. IMO, Feaster is a terrible GM, the Flames have a terrible farm, are low on talent at the NHL level and I question the commitment the organization has to winning. They have great fans. However, I'm sure if you ask their fans to be honest, they don't believe that organization is committed to winning. I wouldn't want to play there as a player right now.
Vasilevskiy
The cat will be back
I see Rundblad as a offensive defense-man playing as QB PP and in general top-4 defense-man.
Larsson will be a superstar in this league in a few years IMO.
Erixon will be a good two-way d-man, top-4 is his upside.
Larsson will be a superstar in this league in a few years IMO.
Erixon will be a good two-way d-man, top-4 is his upside.
I also don't put anything into what other fans think about Rangers prospects. The hockey media hates NY as well as other fans. I can honestly say I basically heard nothing good about Girardi, Staal, Dubinsky, McDonagh, Callahan, Stepan, Anisimov and Sauer before they made the NHL.
I heard Staal was overrated. McDonagh was garbage, that's why Montreal got rid of him. Callahan was too small to be a good NHL player. Dubinsky was lazy. Anisimov was too skinny. Sauer simply wasn't any good. Stepan was too slow. Girardi was a nobody.
So forgive me if I don't listen to fans about Rangers prospects.
I heard Staal was overrated. McDonagh was garbage, that's why Montreal got rid of him. Callahan was too small to be a good NHL player. Dubinsky was lazy. Anisimov was too skinny. Sauer simply wasn't any good. Stepan was too slow. Girardi was a nobody.
So forgive me if I don't listen to fans about Rangers prospects.
Yeah right Devils have nothing beside Larsson, I guess Merill and Urbom are nothing but scraps. Your comments on Karlsson are asinine at best, sure he isn't good defensivly but he can improve without a doubt unless you think that players (especially defensman) peak when they're 21 years old. Erixon showed his great character when he played Flames and forced them to trade him to NYR who are aciddently
the team his dad played for, I lost a lot of respect for that kid when he did that. Erixon definitely has the lowest potential of those three. For the record I have no bias in this case, in fact I don't care much for either one of those three teams that Larsson, Rundblad and Erixon play for.Cry me a river, I feel so sorry for you.
You don't want to listen to other peoples opinion because in your mind they all hate Rags, when in fact those people had good arguments for the things they've said and they know what they are talking which based on your posts can't be said about you, you know like that asinine comment that McIlrath is more valuable than Cowen or Siemens because he can be used as teams enforcer, I guess that sitting 5min in the box is more valuable to the team than having your top4 D-man on the ice.
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ya no one thought Staal would be decent
get the hell off your high horse and if you think Erixon has as much pure talent as Rundblad you are out to lunch
Erixon may be a little underrated because he had to act clean-up crew for Rundblad all year.
Which one played all games in the WC? That's right, Erixon.
Which one played all games in the WC? That's right, Erixon.
PP1 games 1-30 Rundblad - Lindgren
PP2 games 1-30 Larsson - Erixon (Skrbek)
Koistinen both PP1 PP2 the games he played (10-12)
PP1 30-PO Rundblad Erixon
PP2 30-PO Larsson - Lindgren (Bellmare(F)
This is how i remember it.
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DuckshaveaRPG
Registered User
i think people are making out Rundblad is some kinda defensive liability which is just not true the only things he does wrong is SOMETIMES it may try to overplay certain things instead of the easy option and he does not use his body as much as some would like but with his skating and skill why should he be made to hit everything instead of gong up ice or playing a great outlet pass, and his overplaying is not problem it can easily be coached out and shows that kid dose not panic under pressure and is confident in his ability which is a good thing for a kid coming to NA
richardsequalscup said:
I agree that Merill and Urbom are good prospects (and I don't agree with his point), but in fairness, I took the original post to be referencing what the Devils have developed recently as far as defensemen go -- ie: the recent Devils' prospects that turned into NHL players -- not a critique of their current defensive prospect pool outside Larsson.
Baemon Severson*
N1CO!!!
I hate to say it, but I kinda feel bad for Rangers fans. Richardsequalscup is embarrassing himself
Baemon Severson*
N1CO!!!
yeah, its pretty tough to develop a lot of star power when you're picking late in the first round every year (besides this year of course). The Rangers have been pretty mediocre the last 5-6 years giving them picks in the 10-16 range most drafts
Saugus
Ecrasez l'infame!
The Devils also really haven't focused on drafting and developing defencemen recently. For a long time, they drafted mostly forwards, and the only two defensive prospects worth mentioning in the system were Corrente and Eckford. Neither looks like he will ever be an impact performer at the NHL level.
In recent years, however, the Devils have begun to focus on drafting big and mobile defencemen, and now they have a very good pool of defensive prospects.
Doubting the Devils' ability to produce defencemen is silly. They'll get some good players out of their current group, and Larsson will probably be one of them.
