If not sent to the AHL he will need to be paired with a strong defensive D-man.
Sounds like where he belongs to me. OEL needed it last season as PHX FireBirds18 mentioned in the other thread. It's already paying dividends but from the fan reaction it seems Rundblad needs more work in that area than OEL did at the same time last season. A year and a half with a few cups of coffee in the NHL seems like the way to go as a starting point.
Sounds like where he belongs to me. OEL needed it last season as PHX FireBirds18 mentioned in the other thread. It's already paying dividends but from the fan reaction it seems Rundblad needs more work in that area than OEL did at the same time last season. A year and a half with a few cups of coffee in the NHL seems like the way to go as a starting point.
That sounds about right to me as well. If he manages to develop faster he could even be good to go next season, but then he'd need to really work hard imo and I also see no need to rush him at the moment. No matter what happens I just hope that the organization as well as Rundblad himself will have enough patience to work it out. Hopefully he can get a few pointers from OEL on the value of playing in the AHL. I'd hate to see him give up and go back to SEL if(/when) he'll get sent down.
He has played 26 games for Ottawa this season, so this will be a demotion if he is sent to Portland right away. Hopefully it will be handled well by the coaching staff and with OEL's help, be seen as a career step to make him a better NHL'er.
I'd give him a couple of games. Let him get a feel for the system, see how he reacts, and if he's not quite ready, send him down for seasoning.
What bothered me a bit in OTT is that in the end about 1/3 of his ice time per game was on the PP (in his last game 1/2). I get that this is one of his absolute strengths, and according to SWE newspapers today this is one of the big reasons that PHX wanted him, but I kind of think that he needs 5 on 5 to develop his overall game. He is already good on the PP but needs to get used to NA and be ready for 5-5 as well as boxplay. I think that his PP performance would also improve along with his overall performance.
Problem as I see it is that if OTT critizised his D then he should have an even tougher time here since PHX D is much more disciplined. But maybe that will turn out to be good for him in the end so that he understands exactly what, and how, to improve.
I think this will be interesting. The coyotes are probably the best team for Rundblad, he'll play for a coach that turned Yandle, Schlemko & OEL from young defensive liabilities to decent D-men rather quickly.
I do feel bad for Summers though. I thought he looked pretty good, and was hoping he'd get a shot. He might be the odd man out. I guess we could be icing Yandle, Schlemko, OEL, Rundblad, Summers, Klesla & Morris next year, but that seems awfully young.
Can't say I'm excited to see Rundblad in a Phoenix jersey, sky's the limit for this kid, he's going to be a pleasure to watch down the road. Sounds like PHX will be good for him though, and playing under a guy like Yandle ought to be good for him. I hope he can play to his potential for you guys, I wish him, and by extension Phoenix all the best.
Enjoy him guys! He's going to be great!
(Thanks to this trade, OTT/PHX SCF next year? Plan the parades )
What bothered me a bit in OTT is that in the end about 1/3 of his ice time per game was on the PP (in his last game 1/2). I get that this is one of his absolute strengths, and according to SWE newspapers today this is one of the big reasons that PHX wanted him, but I kind of think that he needs 5 on 5 to develop his overall game. He is already good on the PP but needs to get used to NA and be ready for 5-5 as well as boxplay. I think that his PP performance would also improve along with his overall performance.
Problem as I see it is that if OTT critizised his D then he should have an even tougher time here since PHX D is much more disciplined. But maybe that will turn out to be good for him in the end so that he understands exactly what, and how, to improve.
Playfair will get him ready for 5 on 5 play. The man has done wonder with OEL.
I think this will be interesting. The coyotes are probably the best team for Rundblad, he'll play for a coach that turned Yandle, Schlemko & OEL from young defensive liabilities to decent D-men rather quickly.
I do feel bad for Summers though. I thought he looked pretty good, and was hoping he'd get a shot. He might be the odd man out. I guess we could be icing Yandle, Schlemko, OEL, Rundblad, Summers, Klesla & Morris next year, but that seems awfully young.
There's going to be a real challenge there. The upside to having so many blue chip defensemen is that we should have a killer D-corps for years to come and under Tippett that's a major component to his system. The downside if you can call it that is that there isn't enough ice time for development and integration of all these young assets at once, particularly given Tippett's preference for vets. Goncharov's been called up once this year but didn't get any games. Now with the addition of Rundblad, I wonder what his chances of getting a cup of coffee this year are. Does he bolt for the KHL? That'd be a shame because he was apparently pretty close. Stone continues to develop pretty well in the AHL too. At some point Tippett's going to have to go young on D, possibly as early as next year, even if that means Maloney forcing his hand. Even then, we'll likely have to move a guy or two.
Lets not elevate Playfair to a deity just yet.
OEL, good improvement but is it Playfair or just gaining experience?
Morris, ok season last year, not great this year.
Yandle, 2010 Norris candidate, playing well but not elite this year.
Rozsival, Aucoin and Klesla same as they ever were.
Schlemko, playing well continuing improvement as ice time increases.
I do not have the stats comparison with last year but is seems like our defensive zone play is not as good as last year.
Playfair seems to be a good fit, but management would never say otherwise if there was a problem. Montreal is the only team that has ever blasted an assistant coach during the season.
There's going to be a real challenge there. The upside to having so many blue chip defensemen is that we should have a killer D-corps for years to come and under Tippett that's a major component to his system. The downside if you can call it that is that there isn't enough ice time for development and integration of all these young assets at once, particularly given Tippett's preference for vets. Goncharov's been called up once this year but didn't get any games. Now with the addition of Rundblad, I wonder what his chances of getting a cup of coffee this year are. Does he bolt for the KHL? That'd be a shame because he was apparently pretty close. Stone continues to develop pretty well in the AHL too. At some point Tippett's going to have to go young on D, possibly as early as next year, even if that means Maloney forcing his hand. Even then, we'll likely have to move a guy or two.
We have some nice pieces here to move in order to acquire a center.
Just so you guys know, Rundblad has it written in his contract that if he does not make the NHL he can choose to either go back to the SEL or accept the demotion to the AHL.
Not sure what he would do, and I think that might have been part of the reason Ottawa did not have him in the AHL
He has tons of potential, but he needs (IMO) to learn the NA style in the AHL for at least 20 games (much like the Sens did with Karlsson in his first year). Hopefully he will accept demotion if asked
That's the same thing we heard with regards to OEL last season. He would either get a chance to play in the top 4, or back to Sweden. Once he got assigned to San Antonio I fully expected him to high tail it but he stuck around, and I believe got sent down twice that season. Don't know if Rundblad is like that. If anything it staying in NA that whole year helped OEL avoid the AHL altogether this season. Either way, I think he's gonna get in a few games here at least, then see what would be best.
That's the same thing we heard with regards to OEL last season. He would either get a chance to play in the top 4, or back to Sweden. Once he got assigned to San Antonio I fully expected him to high tail it but he stuck around, and I believe got sent down twice that season. Don't know if Rundblad is like that. If anything it staying in NA that whole year helped OEL avoid the AHL altogether this season. Either way, I think he's gonna get in a few games here at least, then see what would be best.
If there is one person in the world Rundblad should seek advice from on the matter it is OEL.
He definitely needs some time in the AHL. don't know if he has a problem with that, but if he does hopefully OEL would talk to him and explain the benefits.
Once he does that, i believe he has the ability to become amazing.
As of right now, he is not NHL calibre. and i wouldn't expect it either. he's only played 24 games in NA!
He can pair with Morris to form our Maginot Line.
