Player Discussion: Slater Koekkoek

[Stammer Time*]

Is it time to start calling this guy a bust? Man, how tragic to think of how close they were to still having Jacob Trouba on the board. Of course organizations develop players differently so no guarantee that Trouba would be as awesome as he is now, but wow, just imagine having Trouba on the lightning instead of koekkoek.?

21 games into a 20 year old defensemen's pro career and you're asking if he's a bust?

 

[CupsOverCash]

Is it time to start calling this guy a bust? Man, how tragic to think of how close they were to still having Jacob Trouba on the board. Of course organizations develop players differently so no guarantee that Trouba would be as awesome as he is now, but wow, just imagine having Trouba on the lightning instead of koekkoek.?

Still way early for Koekkoek. He could still be a great player for us. As we know Yzerman likes to take the patient route when it comes to our prospects. He's a defenseman too. They can take a little longer.

 

[Werewolf]

Is it time to start calling this guy a bust? Man, how tragic to think of how close they were to still having Jacob Trouba on the board. Of course organizations develop players differently so no guarantee that Trouba would be as awesome as he is now, but wow, just imagine having Trouba on the lightning instead of koekkoek.?

A bust as a 20 yr old playing top line PK/PP and first line D as first year pro in AHL? He missed significant time with injuries...would hardly call that a bust.

 

[EA Sports GM]

His sister goes to my school! I don't know her though so it'd be awkward if I went and talked to her.

I'd say he'll be knocking on the door within the next 2 years.

 

[HoseEmDown]

I think another reason we acquired Garrison was so we didn't have to rush Slater. Our top 3 LD are locked up for 3 or 4 more years. I don't expect him to take that long to make it but gives him plenty of time to polish his game. As it looks now Carle will be the one to go but that contract won't be easy to move. Hopefully the cap goes up so we can retain some to get a better deal.

 

[Mikeaveli]

I'm not even sure how the thought of him being a bust even entered your head, to be honest. He's missed so much development time that it's obvious he'll need a year or two in the A.

 

[Cigar City]

Certainly hasn't had the impact I thought he would thus far, but the skills and brain are there. Give it a couple of years.

 

[HoseEmDown]

A bust as a 20 yr old playing top line PK/PP and first line D as first year pro in AHL? He missed significant time with injuries...would hardly call that a bust.

Is he playing top PP? Thought Nesterov was the QB of the 1st unit?

 

[chasespace]

Is he playing top PP? Thought Nesterov was the QB of the 1st unit?

Does Syracuse run 4F-1D on the PP? I honestly don't know. If they don't then I imagine it's Nesterov and KooKoo out there. He may QB the second unit

 

[Callum]

Does Syracuse run 4F-1D on the PP? I honestly don't know. If they don't then I imagine it's Nesterov and KooKoo out there. He may QB the second unit

Nesterov QB's the 1st unit and Slater the 2nd.

Talking to the guys from bolt-prospects who watch most of the Syracuse games, he should be on the first pp unit already and that they can see him getting called up later in the year that's how much he's improving.

This kid has lost well over a year in development already, if we're patient with him he will likely turn out to be a solid force on our blue-line for years to come.

 

[Sky04]

Forsberg-Stamkos-Callahan

Jus sayin

 

[The Macho King]

Forsberg-Stamkos-Callahan

Jus sayin

Way too early to judge that pick. I'll be the first to whinge about drafting Connolly, but Koekkoek was always going to be the guy that paid more dividends down the road than short term.

We draft Forsberg, maybe we don't draft Drouin. Gonna trust Murray on this one.

 

[Sky04]

Way too early to judge that pick. I'll be the first to whinge about drafting Connolly, but Koekkoek was always going to be the guy that paid more dividends down the road than short term.

We draft Forsberg, maybe we don't draft Drouin. Gonna trust Murray on this one.

Maybe we don't, but then we'd have Seth Jones instead.

Forsberg/Jones or KoekKoek/Drouin, lets see how this one ends up for us down the road, funny how Nashville has both of them too.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

Is it time to start calling this guy a bust? Man, how tragic to think of how close they were to still having Jacob Trouba on the board. Of course organizations develop players differently so no guarantee that Trouba would be as awesome as he is now, but wow, just imagine having Trouba on the lightning instead of koekkoek.?

say whaaa??

 

[Werewolf]

Does Syracuse run 4F-1D on the PP? I honestly don't know. If they don't then I imagine it's Nesterov and KooKoo out there. He may QB the second unit

Saw the last couple of games and it was actually Koekkoek running point and Blujus on left dot. Earlier this year it was Nesterov running the #1 PP...but then we gave up a league leading amount of SH goals a d Nesterov demoted to #2 PP. I'll be watching the replay of last night's game later today so I'll add who was with who.

 

[Werewolf]

Against the Amerks on Sat, Koekkoek played #2PK w/Witkoski and did not play on PP at all. Mormina running point on PP#2 and Nesterov running point on PP#1. Blujus was on left hand dot on PP#2.

 

[Klutch86]

How do yall think he played? I missed the last 2 periods

 

[geoo9]

How do yall think he played? I missed the last 2 periods

i think like any other player. Was litle nervous. Next games he will get better

 

[snowden]

Thought he showed some flashes of his skill for sure. Some more seasoning and he'll be a solid player.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

How do yall think he played? I missed the last 2 periods

He looked a little nervous and in awe in the beginning, but settled in a little bit and had some good moments.

[NHL]796961[/NHL]

 

[The Macho King]

That kid can skate, holy crap. Liked his offensive instincts, too - seems to have REAL offense in his blood rather than the kind of limited Barberio type of sometimes getting in the play but nothing coming of it type. We've got a good one.

 

[TheDaysOf 04]

That kid can skate, holy crap. Liked his offensive instincts, too - seems to have REAL offense in his blood rather than the kind of limited Barberio type of sometimes getting in the play but nothing coming of it type. We've got a good one.

Yeah he can move. One moment that sticks out, I think in the 3rd, he had the puck by himself in the Dzone and Kessel was coming in hard on him. I was worried he might turn it over. Koekkoek retreated with the puck a few strides along the boards and then made a nice cut back up the ice and completely fooled Kessel.

 

[DFC]

Yeah he can move. One moment that sticks out, I think in the 3rd, he had the puck by himself in the Dzone and Kessel was coming in hard on him. I was worried he might turn it over. Koekkoek retreated with the puck a few strides along the boards and then made a nice cut back up the ice and completely fooled Kessel.

Yeah, I saw that too. It helped that once Kessel had blown by, he had 0 interest in any kind of pursuit. Overall, I think we saw some flashes of what Slater can be, but we also saw how/why some more time in the A will be good for him. Lots of raw skill (I was impressed by his wrister too; not a bad weapon for a Dman to have with us). Sort of the anti Sustr.

 

[Werewolf]

Sustr and Barberio's days are numbered here. Nesterov/Koekkoek/Witkowski/DeAngelo, etc. will pass them up quickly, if not already. They are just placeholders at this point...just depth in the transition to the younger players. Too bad too...we had high hopes for Sustr in the top 4 and Barberio running the PP like he did in Syracuse. Both have had a very disappointing year from a progression standpoint. Both were on one year contracts...wish they had made the decisions to bring them back harder for our Yzerjedi. Still cheap contracts though...

They might still be re-signed as they are both RFAs and pretty cheap contracts for #6/#7 healthy scratch options. Both signed last year for $874k slight raise to bring them back and play same role shouldn't be a problem. I still like a bit more seasoning on Nesterov (22) and Koekkoek (20). Witkowski made $205k and is also a RFA - might be bye bye to Sustr since Witko is much cheaper and can play that #6 defensive defenseman role and keep that seat warm until one of DeAngelo/Blujus/Dotchin is ready. MacCloud also a right handed shot...

 

[DFC]

Sustr and Barberio's days are numbered here. Nesterov/Koekkoek/Witkowski/DeAngelo, etc. will pass them up quickly, if not already. They are just placeholders at this point...just depth in the transition to the younger players. Too bad too...we had high hopes for Sustr in the top 4 and Barberio running the PP like he did in Syracuse. Both have had a very disappointing year from a progression standpoint. Both were on one year contracts...wish they had made the decisions to bring them back harder for our Yzerjedi. Still cheap contracts though...

They might still be re-signed as they are both RFAs and pretty cheap contracts for #6/#7 healthy scratch options. Both signed last year for $874k slight raise to bring them back and play same role shouldn't be a problem. I still like a bit more seasoning on Nesterov (22) and Koekkoek (20). Witkowski made $205k and is also a RFA - might be bye bye to Sustr since Witko is much cheaper and can play that #6 defensive defenseman role and keep that seat warm until one of DeAngelo/Blujus/Dotchin is ready. MacCloud also a right handed shot...

Witko seems like a better fit for a partner for Hedman, when need be, as well. I know we'd like to run Stralman there, but it's been Sustr there A LOT this year, and IMO that's why we've seen Hedman struggle at times. Sustr likes to jump into the play, whereas Witkowski plays a much simpler, more predictable game.