Pavel Brendl-How talented was he?

[jkrx]

Originally Posted by Johnny Engine

Can I go out on a limb and say that the only teams that would fit Brendl's game would be a talentless expansion-type team that went out and signed every 32-year-old grinder they could get their hands on?

As in, have him playing Straka's role for the 96 Panthers, or like a rookie Gaborik for the Wild?

He would better suit a playoff team that have a bone-hard coach to scare him straight but still use him in an offensive role. I could see him on the '03 Islander squad with Yashin or on the ducks with Oates/Rucchin.

[Ferros]

Brendls shot is one of the best I've ever seen. It is probably top3 all-time in SEL.

When he was playing for both Mora and Brynäs you knew that once they got a powerplay there was only one guy that you had to make sure couldn't shoot but it didn't matter, he would still score with his slapper anyway. His slapshot was so hard and accurate that it wouldn't matter if the goaltender could see the puck, it was still almost impossible to stop it.

One of Brendls problems was that he usually didn't have to work that hard - he would score his goals anyway because of his ability to shoot the puck alone. It sometimes felt like that he was so aware of that he would score goals that he didn't have the urge to fight to score once he had the opportunity to do so when he had to work for it. He was also a bad skater and hated to play in his own zone, that is why he was a minus -17 in two season despite scoring 112 points in 108 games (which is fantastic for SEL).

It is tempting to play with the though of Brendl playing with Malkin and Crosby on Pittsburghs powerplay, I actually think he could have scored well over 35 goals in that environment a few years ago solely based on how good his shot was.

[jumptheshark]

Originally Posted by VerySuperFamous

He's not really a prospect anymore so. I know he had major work ethic issues. But I was always curious. But how good could he have been?

Could he have been a consistent 20, 30, 30-40, + goal scorer based on skill?

Or was he just not talented enough for his game to transition to the NHL as a pure scorer, and too lazy to work hard to get better?

He had the talent but it sounds like he had a problem at being able to deal with adversity and did not have the desire to adjust to what was needed. I remember that when he was with the hitman there was a comment about him and his love of raw hotdog while watching TV.

the 99 draft was killer for the Rangers. They also took Lundmark in the draft and some people we thinking the Rangers just draft two of the best players in the draft. But neither one was able to turn into NHLErs, both bounced around and we often scratched in the AHL and neither on has been able to find a home here in Europe