I know he is only 22 years old, but the hype of Rundblad has kinda fizzled down quite a bit. Phoenix has a ton of good young dmen in their system and it sort of feels like he wont reach that huge potential he had when he was lighting it up in Europe. He has pretty good numbers so far this season in AHL(almost a point of game average). But it just seems like he isn't reaching that next level. What does everyone else think??
I still think he'll be a solid 2nd pairing defenseman. A slow development isn't that bad, especially for defensemen. And I still remember when he got traded in that Turris transaction, everyone was making fun of Ottawa for pulling the trigger on that one.
Of course there's "still hope," 22 isn't that old for a d prospect, and last year was his first in North America. I think he was fairly overhyped on hfboards before he came over, those hyping him the most hadn't seen him play much, if you listened to the Swedish fans most were saying "be careful with the hype, he's a good prospect, but he's no Hedman or Larsson."
Handle with care and you got yourself quite the player soon as he rely more than most on instinct and the confidence he´s got have to use them well. He´s the kind of player you build around not try to change. Could easily see him regressing if handled wrong. Much like say Jonas Gustavsson, who the Maple Leafs where trying to change instead of building him around his positive sides.
Why wouldn't there be hope still? What exactly is going wrong with him.. Nothing from what I can see, just a normal and promising progression with some points that required adapting.
Why wouldn't there be hope still? What exactly is going wrong with him.. Nothing from what I can see, just a normal and promising progression with some points that required adapting.
Well I am just asking about it just because I have been following the Coyotes alot and also the Portland Pirates and the blogs/acticles I read keep saying things like he is continuing to struggle in his own end, or other coyotes prospects are jumping him on the depth chart etc etc. Plus on hockeysfuture prospect rankings, his stock has dropped huge from the offseason. I've just noticed that over the past couple years his rankings and his "hype" has significantly dropped. I still believe in the guy but am just curious as to what others think!!
i think alot of it has to do with the fact that all these young dmen in the league that were hyped up have come in the NHL and have excelled at such a young age (Karlsson, Ekman-larsson,Pietreangelo,doughty, subban etc etc) and I am just wishing that Rundblad was in that same category already. I really think this year and next will be HUGE for his development
Hard to reach the next level if there isn't one We'll see what happens if the NHL gets going. Maybe somebody watching Portland could tell us a little about his defense these days.
He's fine, definitely on pace. Defensemen don't often step into the NHL until the age of 22/23, and PHX is pretty deep on the blueline on top of that. He could spend another whole season in the AHL if you ask me, while being used as an injury call-up of course. As long as he makes some noise in the AHL this year, and then makes the team out of camp next year, I still have faith that he will be a very solid 2nd pairing guy (with the potential for more, depending if he puts it together). So far with 7 points in 8 AHL games he's on pace if you ask me.
Hard to reach the next level if there isn't one We'll see what happens if the NHL gets going. Maybe somebody watching Portland could tell us a little about his defense these days.
Ya it would be nice to hear what others have to say that have possibly seen him play this year(live or on tv). Like I said, Im just going by what i read from columnists and bloggers
I have seen him play 3 times this year, and I still like what I see. He has been burnt a couple times on the PP which has led to a couple short handed goals, but if/when there is an NHL season I fully expect he will be outta Portland and in Phoenix. He is solid.
Playing defense is something that can be taught and Rundblad is already good at the stuff that is much harder to teach.
The guy is going to be good, but Ottawa had to make the deal. Turris was exactly what they needed and Karlsson made David expendable.
_avi_ Run_bla_ needs to work on a few things if he doesn't want to be MA Bergeron or An_y _elmore. Dude's D is very bad.
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Id love him to light it up.... ill be holding onto him definately in my fantasy pool. This lockout is benefitting him i think by forcing him to spend the full year in AHL to get better
We'll see what happens if the NHL gets going. Maybe somebody watching Portland could tell us a little about his defense these days.
