Rotislav Klelsa

[Zett']

Rotislav Klesla

What do you think about Klesla? Will he be a 1st defenseman, a top 2 or just a top 4. I know he's just 21, but he don't seems to improve and confirm the high expectations on him. I remenber that HF placed him 2nd best propect ( 2 or 3 yers ago) just between Kovalchuk and Heatley...when you see the impact of these two players today, you can be a little disapointed about Klesla! Do you think he was overrated?

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[n00dles]

he still has a high upside and is also very very young. he plays as the top defender for an awful franchise (now that Sydor is gone) so that surely doesn't inflate his stats.
give him some time, defensemen take longer to develop to their full potential (e.g. Lidstrom, Redden, Pronger, just to name a few...) so there's still hope.

I see him as a top 1 guy, but I doubt that he will join the club of absolute elite defenders of the league.

 

[Jovavic]

He could have had his breakthru year this season if not for some freak injuries. He sprains his MCL racing down an icing with Semin and is out for awhile. Injuried his wrist when Parker checks him into the boards oddly. And then there is the Maltby incident.

MacLean is doing the right thing, IMO, about being openly critical of him in the media. He keeps saying that Klesla has to stay in a weight room the entire summer, and it's true. He isn't as big or as strong as he should be, and that's hindering his performance and development. But, despite playing in 25 fewer games than last season, he was only 3 assists shy of his career high.

I doubt he'll turn into the all powerful Pronger type, but maybe like a Hamerlik or Niinnama. Top 2 on most teams.

 

["G"]

He is very strong and skate well. It's true that defensemen takes longer to develop. Personnally, I think he'll be in top 10 defensemen in the NHL... Maybe in 4 years. Not in points range but in importance to his team. The toughness of Pronger with less offensive.

 

[CRAZY_FAN]

Jovo fisrt 6 years where not that great....

1995-96 Florida Panthers NHL 70 10 11 21 137 22 1 8 9 52
1996-97 Florida Panthers NHL 61 7 16 23 172 5 0 0 0 4
1997-98 Florida Panthers NHL 81 9 14 23 158 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Florida Panthers NHL 41 3 13 16 82 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Vancouver Canucks NHL 31 2 9 11 44 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Vancouver Canucks NHL 75 5 21 26 54 -- -- -- -- --


Give the kid some time....!