but didn't Dawes put up much better numbers than Svatos at similar ages?
Dawes also put up very nice numbers in the AHL as a rookie. 35 goals? not bad. obviously he's not as good as Svatos at the NHL level (at least yet) but the point I'd make is that if you want to compare prospects, Dawes looks like the better prospect between him and Svatos (when Svatos was still a prospect). And now, I'd be damn happy if Dawes put up the kind of numbers in the NHL that Svatos did
but this thread seems to have been about goals, and those goal numbers are not comparable. The AHL's not too close (I would discount Dawes' number slightly when comparing to Svatos as one can argue the level of competition in the prior year was higher - just want to be fair).
Well, I don't claim to be an expert on Svatos, but I get the sense that he creates more of his own offense. Prucha, on the other hand, strikes me as more of the classic sniper a la Mike Gartner. His game is to find open space and create an opportunity - even if it's just for a second - to receive the puck and fire. He spends very little time with the puck on his stick, except on the rush. (Even on the PP, he makes passes very quickly.) This is not a BAD thing vis-a-vis Svatos's style of game, it's just different.
[To be clear, I understand that Mike Gartner is an all-time scoring leader and his game had a very different feel than Prucha's (he had more of silky-smooth flow to his game vs. Prucha's audacious grittiness), I was just comparing how their games are to get open and shoot rather than to work with the puck.]
but this thread seems to have been about goals, and those goal numbers are not comparable. The AHL's not too close (I would discount Dawes' number slightly when comparing to Svatos as one can argue the level of competition in the prior year was higher - just want to be fair).
why was the level of competition in the prior year higher?
the year that svatos played 30 games wasn't the lockout year
I just re-read the post. I looked up his numbers earlier and recalled they weren't to comparable to Dawes', and that was the lockout year, so I made a bad assumption that the numbers above were the lockout year too (18g, 28a in 72 games). My bad. Even greater disparity.
To find only one example of him carrying the puck through the zone with pressure on a 7 minute video doesnt change my opinion. Not to mention that defense was pretty bad on that play. He let prucha just skate around him.
My point is the kid has hockey sense and talent. His game is not a puck carrying one or maybe he'd be a Center. He's a sniper and I think this video displays the sense and talent pretty well.
My point is the kid has hockey sense and talent. His game is not a puck carrying one or maybe he'd be a Center. He's a sniper and I think this video displays the sense and talent pretty well.
I agree with you. I said I cant think of any reason why he wont be a consistent 30 goal scorer. Was just pointing out what I think needs to be done for him to reach the next level.
Prucha may never repeat what he accomplished this year in terms of goal scoring. If he hadn't been injured 40 goals would have been well within reach. However, 30 goals a year is not too much to ask of this guy, assuming he plays with a puck carrying center. A 30 goal scorer is a great asset to have, especially at such a young age. He also plays a gritty game which you have to love.
Prucha tore up the Czech Junior leagues and then flew a bit under the radar while playing for Pardubice. If he had played in the CHL I don't think anyone would be doubting his goal scoring ability. The real questions for Prucha are 1) can he stay healthy? 2) can he be a little bit more creative/dynamic as a playmaker which would take his game to another level.
I love how jerseydevil thinks Prucha is a fluke already and we aren't even close to training camp yet. You can have this arguement once the season starts and see how he is doing. There is no basis whatsoever that you can come up with that he will have a crappy season. Hell for all we know he could have a season that is 5 or 10 times better then last. You have no basis to say that he is going to ***** the bed next season, oh wait, because he was a 8th round pick, ya hes really gonna be bad because of that. Why don't you go back and look at players that have been picked late in the draft or not picked at all that have gone one to have great careers.
You didn't read the posts..I said NOTHING about being a fluke...I simply said that I didn't think Prucha would match his numbers from last year..and that nothing in his past 4 seasons would lead you to believe that he's gonna scoe 30-35 goals a year in the NHL. I also said that I think he's a good player and he had a great year. I don't think the word fluke ever was writen in any of my posts...Your comments are a complete overreaction.
I simply said that I didn't think Prucha would match his numbers from last year..and that nothing in his past 4 seasons would lead you to believe that he's gonna scoe 30-35 goals a year in the NHL.
Let me ask you a few things.
1. It's his rookie year, what other rookies outside of Teemu Selanne can you honestly name who's best seasons have been their rookie years?
2. Past 4 seasons? Playing 3rd/4th line time in the Czech Extraleagues? What are those numbers going to show you? So you couldn't see Alexander Ovechkin scoring 50 goals in the NHL because of his past seasons with Moscow Dynamo? It's the same concept.
3. This season was his first season in North American professional hockey, he was still getting used to the game, and scored 30 goals in the process. How can you quite possibly say that you don't see him scoring 30-35 goals a year, when he did it this year under the circumstances in which he did?
1. It's his rookie year, what other rookies outside of Teemu Selanne can you honestly name who's best seasons have been their rookie years?
2. Past 4 seasons? Playing 3rd/4th line time in the Czech Extraleagues? What are those numbers going to show you? So you couldn't see Alexander Ovechkin scoring 50 goals in the NHL because of his past seasons with Moscow Dynamo? It's the same concept.
3. This season was his first season in North American professional hockey, he was still getting used to the game, and scored 30 goals in the process. How can you quite possibly say that you don't see him scoring 30-35 goals a year, when he did it this year under the circumstances in which he did?
Circumstances like playing with Jagr?? I seem to remember a guy named Nedved putting up some sweet #'s with that Jagr too...
I love Prucha, you cant deny his heart , but I honestly think he is going to be a 2nd, or 3rd line winger/Powerplay specialist who will score anywhere from 15 to 25 goals a year. Prucha is a great finisher, but from the little I saw of Svatos he was much better at creating offense. But it is great to have Prucha on the team to begin with.
I love Prucha, you cant deny his heart , but I honestly think he is going to be a 2nd, or 3rd line winger/Powerplay specialist.
Several things here. First of all, you are making it sound like a 25-30 goal scoring 2nd line wing is some kind of booby prize. I will sign on to take that out of Prucha, year-in, year-out right now and call it a great situation. Second of all, what excactly is a power play specialist? Is it someone who plays on the PP a lot? If so, isn't someone like Richards as well? And wasn't Bure? I am not comparing him to those players, but isn't anyone who plays a lot on the PP a specialist? Third of all, if you are calling him a so-called specialist, how many can you name that have scored 30-goals from the third line? If you cannot find a third line player like that, then it means that they must surely play on the top-2 lines.
And finally, calling him a third line winger seems a little harsh, considering he just became the first Rangers rookie to score 30 goals in how many years? And after you come up with that name, try to go past the 30 year mark to see how many times it happned.
I am not trying to offend you, but just what does a guy have to do to earn a little more confidence, then simply writing him off to be a "3rd line winger/Powerplay specialist."?
I am not trying to knock Prucha at all and he did have a wonderfull rookie season. I guess what I mean by PP specialist, is that he is a guy who probably isnt going to score a lot of goals at even strength. But will score most of his goals on the powerplay on one-timers, and rebounds. Maybe calling him a 3rd liner sounds harsh but it isnt meant to be an insult. I think in todays NHL your top 3 lines all have to have a right mix of talent, speed, and heart. And I can see Prucha playing the 3rd lines on some nights, like he did this season, with ward, to help balance out the scoring. The main issue I have with Prucha is while I can see him score 30 or more again this upcoming season, I can aslo see him scoring around 15. Even he has said many times he was suprised with his success. Again my post wasnt to knock him at all, he is def one of my favorite players, but I guess after seeing some of our other young players fizzle out (dvorak, hlvac) I am trying to stay a bit cautious about Prucha's future success.
I am not trying to knock Prucha at all and he did have a wonderfull rookie season. I guess what I mean by PP specialist, is that he is a guy who probably isnt going to score a lot of goals at even strength. But will score most of his goals on the powerplay on one-timers, and rebounds. Maybe calling him a 3rd liner sounds harsh but it isnt meant to be an insult. I think in todays NHL your top 3 lines all have to have a right mix of talent, speed, and heart. And I can see Prucha playing the 3rd lines on some nights, like he did this season, with ward, to help balance out the scoring. The main issue I have with Prucha is while I can see him score 30 or more again this upcoming season, I can aslo see him scoring around 15. Even he has said many times he was suprised with his success. Again my post wasnt to knock him at all, he is def one of my favorite players, but I guess after seeing some of our other young players fizzle out (dvorak, hlvac) I am trying to stay a bit cautious about Prucha's future success.
Prucha is a sniper, you feed him the puck. He played with Betts to start the season most times creating offense single handed, then later played with Rucchin. (Both were at even strength) But when Prucha played on the PP, Jagr fed him the puck for those backdoor finish. Put him with a center that can feed him the puck then you have a goalscorer on the team, definitely top six player.
I was LMAO when Prucha was interviewed and he said he didnt have a great shot, JD was like what the heck is he talking about he has an awesome shot.
Yeah you cant help but laugh at the kid's modesty, it is what makes him so likeable. I wonder with the addition of Shanahan if he will be switched to the right wing again.
, but I honestly think he is going to be a 2nd, or 3rd line winger/Powerplay specialist who will score anywhere from 15 to 25 goals a year. Prucha is a great finisher, but from the little I saw of Svatos he was much better at creating offense. But it is great to have Prucha on the team to begin with.
I guess what I mean by PP specialist, is that he is a guy who probably isnt going to score a lot of goals at even strength. But will score most of his goals on the powerplay on one-timers, and rebounds. Maybe calling him a 3rd liner sounds harsh but it isnt meant to be an insult. I think in todays NHL your top 3 lines all have to have a right mix of talent, speed, and heart. And I can see Prucha playing the 3rd lines on some nights, like he did this season, with ward, to help balance out the scoring. The main issue I have with Prucha is while I can see him score 30 or more again this upcoming season, I can aslo see him scoring around 15. Even he has said many times he was suprised with his success. Again my post wasnt to knock him at all, he is def one of my favorite players, but I guess after seeing some of our other young players fizzle out (dvorak, hlvac) I am trying to stay a bit cautious about Prucha's future success.
