Wings sign MSU’s Taro Hirose

[Steve Yzerlland]

So who is sitting once they come aboard?????

 

[Hockeyfannnn91]

Nice Grand Rapids depth signings today

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

So who is sitting once they come aboard?????

Honestly...who cares?

Send Zadina down, and Ehn. Let them get ready for the playoffs.

Let the new guys show what they got...then go to the AHL playoffs.

 

[Sparty]

Hondo Carpenter, lol

 

[Filppula]

This is all a bit crazy.

Excited to see him and intrigued if he can amount to anything .

 

[RedWingzz]

Love this. I just remember hearing the name over and over at the prospects tournament last year and I was impressed. Pretty cool how things come full circle here and we sign him. I think he's an NHL player.

 

[Henkka]

Both Hirose and Kuffner are Larkin's age class. Less than month age difference.

Just try them like this:

Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha
Hirose - Nielsen - Zadina
Vanek - AA - Kuffner
Kader - Helm - Glendy

 

[lhsgolf19]

Both Hirose and Kuffner are Larkin's age class. Less than month age difference.

Just try them like this:

Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha
Hirose - Nielsen - Zadina
Vanek - AA - Kuffner
Kader - Helm - Glendy

Zadina will be gone by the time they start to play in a couple games

 

[LastWordArmy]

Our look at Hirose is here

Top 2019 College Hockey Free Agents - Last Word on Hockey

 

[NickH8]

When Larkin gets back:
Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha
Hirose - Athanasiou - Helm
Vanek - Nielsen - Rasmussen
Kuffner - Glendening - Abdelkader

 

[NickH8]

Next year is looking fun, going to be good competition. Kids vs. kids instead of kids vs. vets.

 

[NickH8]

Unless Kenny signs a vet.

 

[RabidBadger]

I follow college hockey pretty closely and I've learned to curb my enthusiasm re: college free agents.

I'm sensing Bobby Butler 2.0 (at best) with this signing. I hope I'm wrong, but there aren't many guys in the NCAA that make it past NHL scouts and become meaningful players in the show.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I follow college hockey pretty closely and I've learned to curb my enthusiasm re: college free agents.

I'm sensing Bobby Butler 2.0 (at best) with this signing. I hope I'm wrong, but there aren't many guys in the NCAA that make it past NHL scouts and become meaningful players in the show.

I think the fact he is a playmaker should help him a little in my opinion. I am higher on this one that the other one for that reason too. It says something about his vision and hands and I think it will hopefully translate. Time will tell but I like the high hockey IQ players from college. Often the big shot guys (I thought that was Butler's strength) do find out the goalies are just too good at the NHL level for them. But the shooters exist there, so the playmaker for me has better odds because most UFA college guys do have some significant flaws.

 

[NickH8]

I think the fact he is a playmaker should help him a little in my opinion. I am higher on this one that the other one for that reason too. It says something about his vision and hands and I think it will hopefully translate. Time will tell but I like the high hockey IQ players from college. Often the big shot guys (I thought that was Butler's strength) do find out the goalies are just too good at the NHL level for them. But the shooters exist there, so the playmaker for me has better odds because most UFA college guys do have some significant flaws.

If he can end up being a player who can put up 30 points on the 3rd line and be decent in his own end that's a massive win. If he busts then oh well, we lose nothing.

 

[Larkin1578]

It'd be awesome if the Wings could have gotten Troy Loggins from NMU. Not only because it'd be a homer signing for me..but he's pretty damn good.

 

[RabidBadger]

I think the fact he is a playmaker should help him a little in my opinion. I am higher on this one that the other one for that reason too. It says something about his vision and hands and I think it will hopefully translate. Time will tell but I like the high hockey IQ players from college. Often the big shot guys (I thought that was Butler's strength) do find out the goalies are just too good at the NHL level for them. But the shooters exist there, so the playmaker for me has better odds because most UFA college guys do have some significant flaws.

I didn't specify, but the comparison to Butler was more about ability to stay in the NHL than style of play. I'd actually be surprised if Hirose sees as much NHL action as Butler, but we may be pleasantly surprised.

I know he'll rep MSU better than Abby

 

[Flowah]

Assigning both directly to the NHL is one of the most pro-tank things I’ve seen this franchise do to date (no disrespect to these kids).

In one sense, you're right.

In another sense, if you're already losing every game what difference does this make?

 

[Go Wings]

In one sense, you're right.

In another sense, if you're already losing every game what difference does this make?

Well I heard during the Wings game that if they both play this year they automatically burn a year of their entry deal. They will both be RFAs then at the end of next season. So yah it does make a difference.

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

If he can end up being a player who can put up 30 points on the 3rd line and be decent in his own end that's a massive win. If he busts then oh well, we lose nothing.

One way or another you need players for GR at the end of the day. Your options for acquiring those guys are signing: (i) AHL vets, (ii) CHL free agents, (iii) NCAA free agents or (iv) undrafted Euros. (i) you know will never be able to contribute long-term in the NHL, (ii) most often is not physically ready for the AHL at 20, (iv) is a tough sell without any semblance of a big-club guarantee. Only (iii) provides any real possibility (albeit remote) of making any contribution at the NHL level apart from your drafted prospects.

As far as undrafted NCAA kids go, Hirose is a really nice get in terms of comparative skill. That does not guarantee him NHL success, but in terms of what all was out there in the undrafted NCAA pool, he is towards the top.

Oh, and lets face it, our forward prospect pool outside of the NHL is looking pretty ugly at the moment. He certainly isn't taking any spots from meaningful prospects.

 

[Oddbob]

Well I heard during the Wings game that if they both play this year they automatically burn a year of their entry deal. They will both be RFAs then at the end of next season. So yah it does make a difference.

Any significant college UFA wants to play in the NHL immediately, and teams have to offer that up to win the contract. Lots of examples of guys signing, and burning the 1st year of the deal on a handful of games.

 

[Flowah]

Well I heard during the Wings game that if they both play this year they automatically burn a year of their entry deal. They will both be RFAs then at the end of next season. So yah it does make a difference.

It makes a difference on their deals. It doesn't make a difference in the team's end results.

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Low risk, high reward. Weren't a bunch of teams trying to get this guy?

Some of the Twitter responses are ridiculous. What possibly do we have to lose in bringing them up and giving them a shot? These potentially extraordinary signings.

 

[newfy]

I feel like I remember good things about Hirose from development camp or the prospects tourney this year. I would try giving him some minutes similar to Zadina got at first. 3rd line plus a little PP.

I dont get excited about NCAA signings really but this guy could maybe be a Tyler Ennis type of player. Third lline and 40-50 points would be some nice depth, we'll see what happens

 

[Goalie guy]

So who is sitting once they come aboard?????

I think Larks might be done for the season.