What I liked about Zibane was his size & skill, what concerns me about Zibane is what always concerns me with European players, will they be able to handle the physical aspect of the game? What will he do if he is challenged to fight? What if they target him, face wash after every play, constantly hitting him, trying to get him to retaliate? Will he be frustrated, will he retaliate or will he turn into Yashin & disappear?
From what I have seen so far, he seems to have an edge to his game & I'm hoping it will make him play even harder. Personally, I would like him to spend another yr in the SEL to get a little bigger, get a little more hungry, develop a mean streak & learn to work even harder on his game. Given him a spot to early could spoil him, let him wait & get hungrier for it. It won't hurt the Sens but could strengthen him mentally.
What I liked about Zibane was his size & skill, what concerns me about Zibane is what always concerns me with European players, will they be able to handle the physical aspect of the game? What will he do if he is challenged to fight? What if they target him, face wash after every play, constantly hitting him, trying to get him to retaliate? Will he be frustrated, will he retaliate or will he turn into Yashin & disappear?
From what I have seen so far, he seems to have an edge to his game & I'm hoping it will make him play even harder. Personally, I would like him to spend another yr in the SEL to get a little bigger, get a little more hungry, develop a mean streak & learn to work even harder on his game. Given him a spot to early could spoil him, let him wait & get hungrier for it. It won't hurt the Sens but could strengthen him mentally.
I don't know Zibby seems like he would be more likely to be the harasser than the victim lol.
While the skill level of the SEL could arguably be higher than in he AHL, the SEL doesn't have the North American game that the AHL has. On top of this, Binghamton has shown that it is one of the best developmental teams in the AHL and it gives the NHL a more hands-on approach to how their prospect develops..
It is a good thing that Rundblad can play in the AHL though, I think he will see some time down here and take the Karlsson route to nirvana.
However his production shouldn't be minimized either, in 26 games in the SEL he scored 5 goals and added 4 assists for 9 points in 26 games. His point total was the most by an under-18 player in the league. He also played in 7 playoff games, scoring a goal and an assist. This is against men, in one of the premier leagues in the world.
I think I read somewhere that his point total was the third highest in the history of the Elitserien for his age.
Develop a mean streak? He could be entering the NHL at 18, he's got years to earn that right.
Fearing whether he can handle the physical game? He put a guy over the boards last year in the sel...physical is a big part of this guys game. Going to be a good one and very complete.
Most the high end forwards in the league aren't mean. I'll take one of those please.
EDIT: Whoops... That's for Djurgarden only... Anyway... Same idea.
Sundins numbers after h got drafted aren't even that godly. It's not easy to score in that league that early. He hopped right in and earned more and more ice. Was upward 18 minutes in the playoffs.
What I liked about Zibane was his size & skill, what concerns me about Zibane is what always concerns me with European players, will they be able to handle the physical aspect of the game? What will he do if he is challenged to fight? What if they target him, face wash after every play, constantly hitting him, trying to get him to retaliate? Will he be frustrated, will he retaliate or will he turn into Yashin & disappear?
From what I have seen so far, he seems to have an edge to his game & I'm hoping it will make him play even harder. Personally, I would like him to spend another yr in the SEL to get a little bigger, get a little more hungry, develop a mean streak & learn to work even harder on his game. Given him a spot to early could spoil him, let him wait & get hungrier for it. It won't hurt the Sens but could strengthen him mentally.
With the amount of toughness on the team this year I highly doubt anyone is gonna mess around with any of the top young players i.e. Karlsson, Filatov, Rundblad and that includes even 18 year old Zbad.
With his style I am sure he will piss some teams/players off and would like to send tough guys after him but it will be hard to do with Neil, Konopka, and Carkner in the line-up.
What I liked about Zibane was his size & skill, what concerns me about Zibane is what always concerns me with European players, will they be able to handle the physical aspect of the game? What will he do if he is challenged to fight? What if they target him, face wash after every play, constantly hitting him, trying to get him to retaliate? Will he be frustrated, will he retaliate or will he turn into Yashin & disappear?
From what I have seen so far, he seems to have an edge to his game & I'm hoping it will make him play even harder. Personally, I would like him to spend another yr in the SEL to get a little bigger, get a little more hungry, develop a mean streak & learn to work even harder on his game. Given him a spot to early could spoil him, let him wait & get hungrier for it. It won't hurt the Sens but could strengthen him mentally.
I wouldn't give him a spot but if he's clearly earning it (we'll wait and see) then it's hard to tell him no. "Sorry, you're obviously more than good enough to play in the NHL and on this team but we're going to cut you anyway. Guess that work in the off-season was for nothing, lol. See you next year!1"
I think that could have a negative effect on him mentally, personally.
I wouldn't give him a spot but if he's clearly earning it (we'll wait and see) then it's hard to tell him no. "Sorry, you're obviously more than good enough to play in the NHL and on this team but we're going to cut you anyway. Guess that work in the off-season was for nothing, lol. See you next year!1"
I think that could have a negative effect on him mentally, personally.
I see your argument and raise you a "you're good enough to be here this year but we think it'll be better for you on a long-term basis if you were not rushed into the league and spent a full year in the SEL".
Finally some love for Mika from Hockey's Future writers
Quote:
The 2011 crop of draftees were represented at both of these tournaments, with several turning in solid performances.
Perhaps the most notable of the 2011 performers was Ottawa Senators' top pick, Mika Zibanejad. Zibanejad was a player whose stock rose steadily leading up to Draft Day, where he was chosen sixth overall by the Senators. At the Leafs tournament in Oshawa, Ontario, Zibanejad provided ample evidence that the Senators made a wise selection in choosing the budding Swedish forward. Zibanejad displayed a sound offensive game, displaying a nose for the net while also showing that he isn't afraid to go into the corners. As Binghamton Senators and the Senators' prospect squad head coach Kurt Kleinendorst stated, Zibanejad already has few holes in his game, even at this early stage. Zibanejad led his team to the tournament title, something that Senators fans are hoping will be played out in a future Stanley Cup playoff when Zibanejad finally joins the Senators.
I don't know if this has been mentioned yet but I don't care because I'm drunk. But Mikko Koivu anyone? Maybe slightly more goals but a hard nosed two-way 60 point center?
I see your argument and raise you a "you're good enough to be here this year but we think it'll be better for you on a long-term basis if you were not rushed into the league and spent a full year in the SEL".
Hey if I had my druthers he'd spend another year in the SEL. But it depends on how ready he looks and how much better he is than the other players.
EDIT: All I'm really trying to say is that the principle of sending him back no matter what could backfire a bit.
Develop a mean streak? He could be entering the NHL at 18, he's got years to earn that right.
Fearing whether he can handle the physical game? He put a guy over the boards last year in the sel...physical is a big part of this guys game. Going to be a good one and very complete.
Most the high end forwards in the league aren't mean. I'll take one of those please.
Agreed, a ridiculous POV. Zibanejad has shown nothing to indicate this would be a problem, in fact he's shown the opposite. I can't believe a team that has had incredibly tough europeans like Alfredsson, Chara, Volchenkov etc. still has fans that believe in Cherry like BS.
I'm more worried about Puempel only being a typical hard nosed canadian grinder and not developing offensive skills.
One remote possibility, is that Z-Bad is convinced to head to the AHL for a short-period with the understanding that he will get called back up. I think the Sens would be reluctant to 'promise' this, in the event he struggles in the AHL, but if Z-bad thinks he is close and is very comfortable here in NA, he might opt (along with his agent) to not head back to the SEL and stay here. It's basically up to him, as the Sens have said he can go back to the SEL if he doesn't crack the opening night roster, but that doesn't mean they can't convince he and his agent to stick around. They might also give him a 8 game try-out. But either way,
As to toughness, I think he has has it in a Forbserg sense. A mean streak isn't something you really develop - you either have it, or you don't. He won't be a huge intimidating presence per se, but neither will he get intimidated. Bobby Holik type attitude if you will (it's not like Z-bad is going to be a big scrapper). A good playoff type attitude to have, for sure.
Offence is the question. While Z-bad showed very well late last year in the SEL, it's not like his production and impact was in elite status amongst former Swedish draftees. Guys like Forsberg, Backstrom and the Sedins put up big numbers in the SEL as draft eligibles. But still has nice upside.
One remote possibility, is that Z-Bad is convinced to head to the AHL for a short-period with the understanding that he will get called back up. I think the Sens would be reluctant to 'promise' this, in the event he struggles in the AHL, but if Z-bad thinks he is close and is very comfortable here in NA, he might opt (along with his agent) to not head back to the SEL and stay here. It's basically up to him, as the Sens have said he can go back to the SEL if he doesn't crack the opening night roster, but that doesn't mean they can't convince he and his agent to stick around. They might also give him a 8 game try-out. But either way,
As to toughness, I think he has has it in a Forbserg sense. A mean streak isn't something you really develop - you either have it, or you don't. He won't be a huge intimidating presence per se, but neither will he get intimidated. Bobby Holik type attitude if you will (it's not like Z-bad is going to be a big scrapper). A good playoff type attitude to have, for sure.
Offence is the question. While Z-bad showed very well late last year in the SEL, it's not like his production and impact was in elite status amongst former Swedish draftees. Guys like Forsberg, Backstrom and the Sedins put up big numbers in the SEL as draft eligibles. But still has nice upside.
It's not something you impose on the leagues established players at 18 years old either.
It's not something you impose on the leagues established players at 18 years old either.
Wasn't implying he doesn't have a mean streak. Quite the contrary. Just tempering what that mean streak will equate to. Haven't seen it in a game sense yet, but I think we will if he is pushed. He isn't a shrinking violet, that's for sure.
Wasn't implying he doesn't have a mean streak. Quite the contrary. Just tempering what that mean streak will equate to. Haven't seen it in a game sense yet, but I think we will if he is pushed. He isn't a shrinking violet, that's for sure.
I just don't understand what some guys obsession with mean streak is around here. What is mean streak? Being physical? Being dirty?
