Stockton Heat 2016/17 General Discussion

[Journey17]

Great to see that certain players seem to be exceeding expectations but definitely worrisome that special teams are that poor and couldn't keep leads.

[jg13]

For those that watched Klimchuk last year, what has he done this year to change his game?

55GP with 9 points last year
4GP with 8 points this year is just so night and day.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by jg13

For those that watched Klimchuk last year, what has he done this year to change his game?

55GP with 9 points last year
4GP with 8 points this year is just so night and day.

Nothing really.

His linemates have gone from guys like Van Brabant and Smith to Poirier and Pribyl.

Give anyone the opportunity to play with players that can both pass the puck and receive passes, and you'll get scoring opportunities. Last year he was playing in a very defensive role and most of his points came from individual efforts because he had to do most of everything himself.

Their line this year is basically playing as the Backlund Frolik line in Calgary.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Nothing really.

His linemates have gone from guys like Van Brabant and Smith to Poirier and Pribyl.

Give anyone the opportunity to play with players that can both pass the puck and receive passes, and you'll get scoring opportunities. Last year he was playing in a very defensive role and most of his points came from individual efforts because he had to do most of everything himself.

Their line this year is basically playing as the Backlund Frolik line in Calgary.

To add to this, when Klimchuk got an opportunity for a couple games last year right before Shinkaruk and Raymond were added to the roster he looked really good as well and put up points then too. His shot is very good, he is very good at distributing the puck and he knows where to be on the ice in both zones. Klimchuk is a much better prospect than alot of people give him credit for.

[killer_carlson]

So assuming Tkachuk gets sent down, is the call up:

Pribyl
Klimchuk
Jankowski
or someone else?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

So assuming Tkachuk gets sent down, is the call up:

Pribyl
Klimchuk
Jankowski
or someone else?

My guess is Hathaway. He and Hamilton split time on the 4th line as all of Ferland, Bouma and Stajan (the 4th line to start last game) can all move move up as needed.

[killer_carlson]

i don't think it will be Hathaway until such time as a bottom 3 needs to be replaced. Hathaway isn't a solution on the top 2 lines. It has to be a scorer, imo

[Greybeard]

I also went to the Heat Roadrunner game on Friday. A few observations and my read on things. Very excited sell out crowd. Lots of fun, very noisy reasonably knowledgeable crowd. Jankowski looked very good. Plays big and willing to go into dirty areas. When on ice he is noticeable every time and plus with skill too. Hathaway and Vey stood out and seemed to both want the puck. Klimchuk looked like he has progressed a lot. Nice goal and skating skills have improved. Has some finish. Would not be surprised to see him get an injury call up. Poirier had one scoring chance but I was not impressed. Shinkaruk was not all that noticeable. Bollig will not be back in the NHL. Defence was not great. Anderrson and Kilington were the best two. Wotherspoon did not look NHL ready even now. Apologize for name spelling mistakes.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

i don't think it will be Hathaway until such time as a bottom 3 needs to be replaced. Hathaway isn't a solution on the top 2 lines. It has to be a scorer, imo

it's like you didn't even read what I said

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

it's like you didn't even read what I said

No, I read what you said. I simply disagree.

It's a mistake to plug a 4th liner on a scoring line and think it is a long term solution.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

No, I read what you said. I simply disagree.

It's a mistake to plug a 4th liner on a scoring line and think it is a long term solution.

Any of Ferland, Bouma or Stajan would all be more than fine playing with Backlund and Frolik and it would not hurt the team at all. It's not like I am suggesting throwing Hathaway or Hamilton into the top 9.

[Freeway]

Huska had Klimchuk playing a bottom-six role last year primarily to teach him the defensive side of the game. Once he had that down, he was given more and more top-six time (and scored). He's starting where he left off last year, more or less.

[sureLoss]

Heat are down 1-0 after 1 period against Tuscon again.

Rittich with 13 saves on 14 shots in his first 20 minutes in North American pro

[devo22]

Heat scored twice in the final 42 seconds of the second period and are now up 3-1 thanks to goals from Shinkaruk (Kylington, Wotherspoon), Poirier (-) and Vey (-). Rittich has 22 saves.

[thymebalm]

Score is 3-2 with 10 minutes ish to go in the 3rd.

So happy to see the farm off to a good start. Let's hope Rittich can close the door.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by thymebalm

So happy to see the farm off to a good start.

same. Even happier that it's the prospects who seem to be driving the bus and not the vets, given that the top 7 scorers on the team are Klimchuk, Jankowski, Andersson, Shinkaruk, Mangiapane, Pribyl and Hathaway. Very encouraging.

[devo22]

Tucson scores. Boo-uuurns!!!

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Here's the scoring so far for the Heat

17:29 STK Hunter Shinkaruk (4) ASST: Oliver Kylington (3), Tyler Wotherspoon (2)
19:18 STK Emile Poirier (1) ASST: Daniel Pribyl (4), Hunter Shinkaruk (2) (PP)
19:59 STK Linden Vey (2) ASST: None (SH)

Tucson just tied the game at 3.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Now they're losing. Ouch.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

4-3 final. Three unanswered goals in the 3rd. That stings.