Quote:
Originally Posted by kehatch
Regehr and Sarich are two dedicated stay at home D men in Flames recent history. Warrener is another.
They all had MUCH better production than Kanzig and Sieloff in junior.
I think it is a mistake to say that a lack of offensive production in junior is okay for players that project to be defensive players. Players with NHL potential are generally good enough in junior, and have enough acumen, that they put up a reasonable number of points.
There are VERY few players that have the level of junior production of Sieloff and Kanzig and actually make the NHL. I am sure there are examples, but I haven't found any.
Both players are incredible long shots to make the NHL. I am cheering for them. But unfortunately history just doesn't support them making it.
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Just did a quick look, found a poll regarding the top "Defensive defensemen" on each NHL team this season. I'd have to say I disagree with a few, but I used it none the less just for comparison sake.
8 of 30 players (26.7%) listed as their teams best defensive defenseman had Junior or Euro league (age 22 and under) point production of 0.30ppg or less. 4 were 0.20ppg or less.
Hjalmarsson was a 0.12ppg in 63 games in SEL and SWE-1
Jan Hejda was 0.13ppg in 111 games (age 18-22) in the Czech league
Niklas Kronwall was 0.27ppg in 166 games in SEL
Ladislav Smid was a 0.06ppg in 88 games in Czech league
Mike Weaver was 0.29ppg in 163 games in CCHA
Bryce Salvador was 0.28ppg in 311 Games in WHL
Kimmo Timonen was 0.17ppg in 129 games in SM. Liiga
Victor Hedman was 0.30ppg in 82 games in SEL
There are another 7 on that list (50% of the list) that were 0.50ppg or less including Chara, Myers, R. Suter, S. Weber, Girardi, Orpik and Alzner.
I'd say junior production really doesn't mean much when it comes to translating to the NHL, seeing as half of the top ranked "defensive defensemen" this year really didn't put up huge offensive numbers in Junior or Euro leagues, but have obviously transitioned quite well to the NHL, just like offensive players in junior may not necessarily be anything special in the NHL.
And really, when the Flames are looking to fill the hole of a physical stay at home guy, why are you looking at offensive production anyway? We already have Gio, Brodie, Russell and Wideman as offensive D-men. If Kanzig and Sieloff are more closely comparable to Smid on our roster, I would say that's a good thing.