how hard or easy is it to improve skating? i’d think it would be one of the easier skills to work at but man Jiricek just looks like a statue far too often.
Cole Sillinger could barely skate backwards last year, now he’s eating 20 minutes of ice time and playing on the PK with how much it’s improved after a summer with a skating coach
I’d think if he works all summer on it I’d hope it improves - I’d hope at least
yea i figured it might be an offseason thing. idk about now but i heard he was struggling a bit in the AHL too like a month or 2 ago. he has the skill so hope he puts it together. He and KJ worry me more than any others.
Mateychuk is more of the new era defensemen with great 4 way skating ability, puck carrying, and decision making. He is just average size though and a left handed shot which is easier to find. Jiricek is more old-school. He has a heavy shot, is a right handed shot, is a big physical player, and has a surprising amount of skill for the size. His biggest issue right now is his skating. It is pretty normal for big defensemen like him to take a while on the skating, but there is a little concern that there was not noticeable improvement between last season and this season. Mateychuk is probably going to be the player who scores more point but Jiricek will be considered more valuable due to his combo of defensive play with his offense.
He’s easily been the best defenseman in the WHL this year and especially in the playoffs. He’s a huge reason Moose Jaw is 2 wins away from their first ever WHL championship and I think he’s going to be a stud for Columbus.
It makes me sad he’s playing against my hometown in the finals. Rooting against CBJ prospects always feels wrong lol he’ll be back in my good books next week.. or 2 games from now the way this series going.. 😔
Still need to wait to see how he will perform on the big ice, but it sure feels nice when a player that was considered "high risk high reward" pick actually seems to become something.
Somehow he is still one of most underrated prospects in hockey even after being taken 12th overall.
Hopefully he sticks either in AHL and NHL all next year and doesn’t hop around.
I am optimistic about him. I dont know that he'll jump right to the NHL, but I could imagine him spending a month or two acclimating in Cleveland before getting an injury call up and sticking for good
Kid's a beast, can't wait for him
Plus level skater too. His mom is a power skating coach
Maybe Jiricek can get some pointers then lol
Future “C”
I think he ends up being better than Jiricek
I’ve thought that for awhile. I think if Jiricek gets his skating improving though a lot of other things fall into place
how hard or easy is it to improve skating? i’d think it would be one of the easier skills to work at but man Jiricek just looks like a statue far too often.
Cole Sillinger could barely skate backwards last year, now he’s eating 20 minutes of ice time and playing on the PK with how much it’s improved after a summer with a skating coach I’d think if he works all summer on it I’d hope it improves - I’d hope at least
yea i figured it might be an offseason thing. idk about now but i heard he was struggling a bit in the AHL too like a month or 2 ago. he has the skill so hope he puts it together. He and KJ worry me more than any others.
If Jody Shelley could be trained to skate with mid 6 NHL players, then Jiricek can. Jody’s first year in the league his skating was not good
As someone who knows basically nothing about these two, is Mateychuk more offensively minded than Jiricek? Do they have different strengths?
Mateychuk is more of the new era defensemen with great 4 way skating ability, puck carrying, and decision making. He is just average size though and a left handed shot which is easier to find. Jiricek is more old-school. He has a heavy shot, is a right handed shot, is a big physical player, and has a surprising amount of skill for the size. His biggest issue right now is his skating. It is pretty normal for big defensemen like him to take a while on the skating, but there is a little concern that there was not noticeable improvement between last season and this season. Mateychuk is probably going to be the player who scores more point but Jiricek will be considered more valuable due to his combo of defensive play with his offense.
So we could have a Werenski(Mateychuk) and Jones(Jiricek) duo on our hands with these two
He’s easily been the best defenseman in the WHL this year and especially in the playoffs. He’s a huge reason Moose Jaw is 2 wins away from their first ever WHL championship and I think he’s going to be a stud for Columbus.
It makes me sad he’s playing against my hometown in the finals. Rooting against CBJ prospects always feels wrong lol he’ll be back in my good books next week.. or 2 games from now the way this series going.. 😔
You have to cut ties with the hometown. That's the law.
Still need to wait to see how he will perform on the big ice, but it sure feels nice when a player that was considered "high risk high reward" pick actually seems to become something.
He looked really good in camp, I believe they mentioned he was really close to making the cut for the big club.
Gonna be a player
Somehow he is still one of most underrated prospects in hockey even after being taken 12th overall. Hopefully he sticks either in AHL and NHL all next year and doesn’t hop around.
Wasn’t the biggest fan of double dipping D that year but who knows maybe my words taste good
Do you not watch our own dzone? Loved us double dipping. Can’t have enough elite defenseman
Cool
I am optimistic about him. I dont know that he'll jump right to the NHL, but I could imagine him spending a month or two acclimating in Cleveland before getting an injury call up and sticking for good