Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGrimm
I'm also on the fence with Horak... I don't think he's shown 1st or 2nd line offensive skills at an NHL level and while I do think he has good fundamentals, I don't really see him in a 3rd/4th line checking role. He's a good overall player, but needs to specialize a bit if he ever wants to stick with the big club.
He is still fairly young, but 18 pts in 81 NHL games isn't too exciting. Even looking at his AHL production, 34 points in 73 games, it doesn't exactly jump off the page. I see a lot of people on this board excited about Horak, I am just not sure why.
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Maybe because Horak is about 25th place in scoring from the guys drafted in 2009. He has only 17 2009 1st round picks who have outscored him.
Brayden Schenn (2009 #5 overall pick) who would be considered a key building block (on any team) and who has so far been paid some where around $6M has 46 NHL points.
There are not that many 21 year olds that have shown they can play at the NHL level.
Backlund Birthdate: March 17, 1989 Age: 24
Horak Birthdate: May 21, 1991 Age: 22
over the last 2 seasons Backlund has put up 27 pts... 7 on the PP 20 even strength and is -19
Horaks 18 pts include 0 on the PP but 1 short-handed and Horak has been -2.
Horak's prime line-mates for his NHL games..... Byron, Jackman and Kostopolus.
If Horak was a late first round pick (20-30) the Flames would be satisfied with his progress and he would almost be guaranteed a spot on this re-building team.
I think the truth is not that far from that and Horak is pencilled in for a roster spot (similar to Backlund and Baertschi) on the Flames that is his to lose....