[News] Flames assign Kulak to Stockton

[Enoch Root]

I don't think he's a better puck mover - I think that's his biggest weakness: he has no on-ice vision whatsoever.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Jokipakka a better puck mover than Kulak? Say what?

[Gaskal]

Jokipakka can hit. Kulak can shoot.

Aside from that, neither of them do anything else particularly well.

[GranteedEV]

After this season where they have swapped in an out so directly, I am condifent I would say Kulak is better at:
Gap control
Stickwork/Anticipation
Short breakout passes under pressure
Skating the puck away from forechecking pressure
Zone entry denial
Foot races to loose pucks
Crease protection/positioning
Smart pinches

Jokipakka is better at:
Board battles
Wrist shots
Desperation crease protection/stick lifting

[Flamefan1]

I am not sure about Jokipaka, but I believe both Kulak and Wotherspoon are improvements over Wideman. We would be higher in the standings now if they had played together or in a 3 man rotation with Joki since the start of the season. They also would have improved as they gained confidence by playing more over the course of the season. Hopefully the new man is not a duplication of Grossman who with the capable help of Wideman helped the team get off to two very bad games at the start if the season. They also did a lot to destroy Elliot's confidence to start the season.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

After this season where they have swapped in an out so directly, I am condifent I would say Kulak is better at:
Gap control
Stickwork/Anticipation
Short breakout passes under pressure
Skating the puck away from forechecking pressure
Zone entry denial
Foot races to loose pucks
Crease protection/positioning
Smart pinches

Jokipakka is better at:
Board battles
Wrist shots
Desperation crease protection/stick lifting

Just my opinion, but outside of skating, Jokipaakka is a more mature and reliable D.

[timbit]

Originally Posted by Flamefan1

I am not sure about Jokipaka, but I believe both Kulak and Wotherspoon are improvements over Wideman. We would be higher in the standings now if they had played together or in a 3 man rotation with Joki since the start of the season. They also would have improved as they gained confidence by playing more over the course of the season. Hopefully the new man is not a duplication of Grossman who with the capable help of Wideman helped the team get off to two very bad games at the start if the season. They also did a lot to destroy Elliot's confidence to start the season.

Grossman and Wideman were a long ways behind Giordano and Brodie as far as fault in the first 2 games, IMO.

[Flash Walken]

As bad as Wideman has been he is clearly a better option than Kulak and Wotherspoon, especially Wotherspoon.

Jokipakka has been a huge diasppointment for me this season as well but he's also clearly better than both Kulak and Wotherspoon.

This is pretty much a no-brainer opinion in my mind. I think Jokipakka is probably not getting icetime for things related to hustle and effort than he is for mistakes.

Kulak busts his ass out there because he spends most of his shifts scrambling all over the defensive zone. I haven't felt that uncomfortable with a defender out on the ice since oh I don't know, Manton Slapchuk? Bubba?

This is much ado about nothing.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by timbit

Just my opinion, but outside of skating, Jokipaakka is a more mature and reliable D.

He's three years older and 22-25 is huge development years for a blueliner, as I'm sure you're aware. I think Kulak will be better at that age.. but that's not singing his praises.