[News] With the 16th selection, the Flames select LW Samuel Honzek

[sureLoss]

3a 1st star in a 4-3 win

3gp 2g 3a

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

3a 1st star in a 4-3 win

3gp 2g 3a

This is very promising. Really would be a positive If he stayed healthy and had a great year

[Tilley]

Posted this in the prospects forum, but some might miss it so decided to post it here as well.

Was at the Spokane/Vancouver game to watch Honzek and Lipinski tonight. Had to leave shortly into the 2nd period, but Honzek looked really good. Started on Lipinski’s left wing and controlled the play almost every shift. It was my first time seeing him live and was impressed with his hands and vision. Obviously the size is there, but he was able to read plays well, resulting in a short-handed breakaway and setting up multiple good chances. Saw him play the body a bit as well which I wasn’t expecting. He took some draws as wel, switching with Linpinski when Honzek was on his strong side. Honzek and Linpinski also played in all situations including the pk where Honzek set up Leslie for a short-handed goal after I had left.

Lipinski also was noticeable at times, but not to the same degree as Honzek. He was consistently reliable in his own end and showed a couple flashes of skill in front of the net but unable to finish. He skates pretty well for a guy his size and I could see him as an option on the 4th line like a Garnet Hathaway type player.

Just saw the game ended 4-3 Giants with Honzek first star with 3 assists.

I took some pictures during warmup and will try to upload them tomorrow.

[dustygoon]

Bump.

I haven't followed Honzek or other prospects much.

So after juniors, what do folks think of the Honzek pick vs what else was available at that spot? He was injured but seems decent from what he has shown.

[SuperMatt18]

He's been fine IMO. Was fine in his first 5 games back to junior, and fine in his 5 games at the WJC.

Always tough to gauge when a guy is hurt for a long period of time, and then only plays 5 games before having to adjust again and go play another 5 games for a new team against the best in your age group.

Overall he generally looks good IMO.

Maybe you wince a bit at not taking Sandin-Pelikka who went one spot later and is having a historical year in Sweden for a d-man his age...but I'm not sold on him either TBH. And I'd take him over Barlow, Moore, Sale, Stramel, and Bonk at this point who were the next 5 forwards taken. ASP and Perreault might be the ones that maybe you regret not taking but I think too early to say really at this point. It seems like a fine pick still.

[bigrangy]

I liked Honzek generally. He was a bit too Monahan-ish (very uninvolved but converted on his chances, kind of lost in the d-zone) but I usually judge harshly. He didn’t seem like a driver, more of a finisher to Repcik.

Compared to who else was available, ASP or Perrault would be the two big ones. Sandin-Pelikka didn’t have a great tourney despite being named to the all-star team and I honestly have no feel for Perrault, he’s been with such talented players all the time, and produces accordingly. Plus the American factor. So overall Honzek is still tracking ok I am thinking. I’d like to see some big performances for Vancouver. It’ll be interesting to see if he can drag them into a playoff spot, the Giants have not been good without him.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Maybe you wince a bit at not taking Sandin-Pelikka who went one spot later and is having a historical year in Sweden for a d-man his age...but I'm not sold on him either TBH. And I'd take him over Barlow, Moore, Sale, Stramel, and Bonk at this point who were the next 5 forwards taken. ASP and Perreault might be the ones that maybe you regret not taking but I think too early to say really at this point. It seems like a fine pick still.

Bonk is a defenseman.

With the injury and it only being half a season, I don't think Honzek has shown anything good or bad that should change you view on the pick from whatever you thought about it when it was made.

He has been good in the short time he was back in the WHL, but not sure there is enough games to make any big judgements and was fine for being an 18 year old at the WJHC as well.

[The Fonz]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Bump.

I haven't followed Honzek or other prospects much.

So after juniors, what do folks think of the Honzek pick vs what else was available at that spot? He was injured but seems decent from what he has shown.

Looking purely at the WJC offensive numbers of the players drafted over the 15 selections following Honzek:

16th - Honzek - F - 5GP 3G 1A +3

17th - Axel Sandin-Pellika - D - 8GP 2G 5A -2
19th - Oliver Moore - F - 8GP 1G 2A +4
20th - Eduard Sale - F - 8GP 3G 4A +4
21st - Charlie Stramel - F - 8GP 0G 3A -1
22nd - Oliver Bonk - D - 5GP 0G 3A +4
23rd - Gabriel Perreault - F - 8GP 4G 9A +7
25th - Otto Stenberg - F - 8GP 6G 4A +6
28th - Easton Cowan - F - 5GP 1G 1A +3
29th - Theo Lindstein - F - 8GP 2G 6A +7

[dustygoon]

^^ Oliver Moore's numbers was what made me bump this. I didn't watch him, I know it was a stacked team, but kind of nice to see that he didn't pop!

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Moore, Wood, Perreault and Musty were the others I was interested in.

The former two are looking "OK", but certainly not tracking any better than Honzek, which is assuring.

Musty looks pretty good, continuing to improve in production. But that's also at the OHL which is harder to project than guys playing in the NCAA which is more of a men's league.

Honzek is still looking pretty good for where he was picked.

I was underwhelmed at camp, but it was a small sample and for a guy so young expectations shouldn't be high. Lipinski looked more ready but clearly has the lower ceiling.

I hope the conversion to C is still happening because we're going to need a new talent down the middle very soon.

[Robbob]

I honestly thought the juniors were over and went to see how he did. I know his point totals were low, but the thing that stood out to me is 2 of his 3 goals were game winners, which lead the team. I didn't watch any of the games, but that stood out to me.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Sounds like a clutch type of player who just needs to work on getting more physically involved in the play consistently.

The good thing is that can be learned.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Robbob

I honestly thought the juniors were over and went to see how he did. I know his point totals were low, but the thing that stood out to me is 2 of his 3 goals were game winners, which lead the team. I didn't watch any of the games, but that stood out to me.

You should have watched the games. Honzek was a very much a non-factor for Slovakia for the most part. Best player for the Slovaks was Petrovsky with Filip being the point producer. Where Honzek was strong was standing in front of the net and distracting the goaltender. Other than that he was pretty invisible and disappointing. Expected a whole lot more but he wasn't a play driver. I think that could be exected with how much of the season he missed to the lead of the tournament.

[dieHARDflameZ]

I wasn’t overly impressed by Honzek prior to his injury or at the world juniors to be honest. He seems like a perimeter player and not really much of a game breaker. I know he is a still young but I expected more from a 16th overall drafted player from a “loaded” draft.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

I wasn’t overly impressed by Honzek prior to his injury or at the world juniors to be honest. He seems like a perimeter player and not really much of a game breaker. I know he is a still young but I expected more from a 16th overall drafted player from a “loaded” draft.

Who would you take at 16 then that would be the slam dunk you're looking for/expecting?

[Tbull8]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Who would you take at 16 then that would be the slam dunk you're looking for/expecting?

Sandin Pellikka or Perreault were the guys I wanted. Will be interesting to see how all 3 develop

[Erick Estrada]

Perreault's going to be a very good NHL player. All he does is produce. Kind of crazy he fell into the Rangers lap.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Perreault's going to be a very good NHL player. All he does is produce. Kind of crazy he fell into the Rangers lap.

Man, I despise that organization.

Win the lottery (Laf), Fox and Panarin flock to them. And guys like Perrault fall in their lap at 23.

Easiest rebuild I ever did see.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by TrentCrimmIndependent

Man, I despise that organization.

Win the lottery (Laf), Fox and Panarin flock to them. And guys like Perrault fall in their lap at 23.

Easiest rebuild I ever did see.

They did strike out on Kakko and Lafreniere at least.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

They did strike out on Kakko and Lafreniere at least.

It's a small consolation, I suppose.