Giants coach: I want Samuel Honzek to play centre

[Moneyhands23]

I wonder if he plays center in Penticton

[Fan in Exile]

Originally Posted by 1qqaaz

Hopefully he’s more than 186 lbs now. AKA hopefully he’s actually a bigger Center rather than just tall. This is completely within his control, so there should be no excuses. I would hope that at the very least, this experiment would fine tune his defensive attributes.

Completely within his control? I'm sure he'll try to put on muscle like all players in junior do but what is realistic or ideal for him weight-wise remains to be seen.

[browna]

I dunno, a new coach for the Giants who wants the team to do well to make himself look good. Team itself probably has more decent wingers than centers, and, they figure he has been drafted already so the player himself doesn't have to prove anything this season.

So, for the best interests of the Vancouver Giants and their new coach, lets move the best player to center and see what happens, it's the team's s best option and player can figure it out. Flames need to tread very carefully here and not have him waste a year of maturing.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Because of a late birthday, Honzek is also eligible to play for the Wranglers in 2024-25. Any shenanigans on the Giants part will see him gone after a season.

[Groot]

Originally Posted by browna

I dunno, a new coach for the Giants who wants the team to do well to make himself look good. Team itself probably has more decent wingers than centers, and, they figure he has been drafted already so the player himself doesn't have to prove anything this season.

So, for the best interests of the Vancouver Giants and their new coach, lets move the best player to center and see what happens, it's the team's s best option and player can figure it out. Flames need to tread very carefully here and not have him waste a year of maturing.

If only the coach said something like this...

We’re obviously going to take into consideration where Calgary wants him, because we want to give him the best opportunity to play in the National Hockey League.

[monkeyman]

If nothing else it gives him a broader perspective and understanding of the game.

[HighLifeMan]

Originally Posted by browna

I dunno, a new coach for the Giants who wants the team to do well to make himself look good. Team itself probably has more decent wingers than centers, and, they figure he has been drafted already so the player himself doesn't have to prove anything this season.

So, for the best interests of the Vancouver Giants and their new coach, lets move the best player to center and see what happens, it's the team's s best option and player can figure it out. Flames need to tread very carefully here and not have him waste a year of maturing.

Honzek played center prior to jumping to the pro league(s) in Slovakia, so it's not a position he has zero experience in.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Maybe it goes no further than a few attempts in practice drills.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I was one of the people that were not a fan of Honzek getting selected with our pick, but it would go a long way if he actually became a dominant center for this franchise. I think he can be a good player, but the sky's the limit for this kid if he can manage to play a 200 ft game and be a difference maker.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Toonage

For those thinking Honzek gets a 9 game look, well, this a window into the orgs plan for him.

I don't see the connection here. Whether or not he gets an audition in the regular season likely has nothing to do with where the Giants coach wants to play him.

Honzek is unlikely to get an audition simply because most players out of junior are not ready for that, but if he does get an extended look after training camp, it will be because he earned it and the Flames think it could be valuable experience.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't see the connection here. Whether or not he gets an audition in the regular season likely has nothing to do with where the Giants coach wants to play him.

Honzek is unlikely to get an audition simply because most players out of junior are not ready for that, but if he does get an extended look after training camp, it will be because he earned it and the Flames think it could be valuable experience.

I think he might get a look, but maybe not on opening day.

[NewFan]

As we have a couple winger prospects, I hope he become Centre for us. If he has a good vision and hockey IQ, it wouldn't be much difficult to adjust his game.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I don't see the connection here. Whether or not he gets an audition in the regular season likely has nothing to do with where the Giants coach wants to play him.

Honzek is unlikely to get an audition simply because most players out of junior are not ready for that, but if he does get an extended look after training camp, it will be because he earned it and the Flames think it could be valuable experience.

The team wants him to get a look at C, not just the wing which to me suggests they aren't going to throw him in for a 9 game look in the regular season. If he isn't a finished product yet in junior, he isn't close to a look in the pros.

[calumniate]

I heard Honzek wants to play goalie

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Toonage

The team wants him to get a look at C, not just the wing which to me suggests they aren't going to throw him in for a 9 game look in the regular season. If he isn't a finished product yet in junior, he isn't close to a look in the pros.

Looking at the original quote from the Giants coach, it sounds like it is their decision to try him at center and not the Flames pushing for it, although I am sure the Flames don't mind.

“I think he’s skilled enough, smart enough, mobile enough and big enough to be able to do both (centre and wing). We’re obviously going to take into consideration where Calgary wants him, because we want to give him the best opportunity to play in the National Hockey League. But I also think that he could benefit from being able to play both positions.

It basically breaks down to; "We want to try him at center because we think he has the skills for it, but we will also take into consideration where Calgary wants him to play. We (as in the Giants) think he would benefit from learning both positions".

Anyway, it wouldn't have to be 9 NHL games if they think he earned it, but even if it was 9, I don't think that would derail any plans that the Giants have after he gets sent back.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Now is the point that we, as fans, should panic.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I was one of the people that were not a fan of Honzek getting selected with our pick, but it would go a long way if he actually became a dominant center for this franchise. I think he can be a good player, but the sky's the limit for this kid if he can manage to play a 200 ft game and be a difference maker.

If Honzek becomes a dominant centre, then this pick becomes one of the best in Flames history. "Go a long way," indeed.

Sent from my moto g stylus 5G (2022) using Tapatalk

[FanIn80]

When I read up on this guy before the draft, after seeing him as our pick in a couple of mock-draft articles, I had the impression that he was a natural center that was converting to wing.

There are references out there to him playing center, and even one of the pre-draft videos listed him at center. At this point the only thing I really know for sure is that he's not a goaltender.

[gvitaly]

Giants coach, (25:46) Manny Viveiros was on 960. He talked about Honzek at C, and as a captain, Lipinski on the PK and as a power forward, Ben Jones playing for him in the AHL, and Trent Cull.

[robertsfanatic]

How soon into his transition to C can we start with the Getzlaf comparisons? Asking for a friend.