Ekmanc

I know we have a large group of defensemen in the AHL who are looking for a job with a big club but no one outside of possibly Sproul who can fill the role of PP quarterback in a good way so I figured I'd float this idea at least. Why not give Patrick Hersley a look? he's a late bloomer, a 28yr old Swedish defenseman who is fairly big at 6'3, 209lbs and has an absolutely booming shot. He broke the 15yr old goal record be a defenseman in the Swedish hockey league with 24goals and he had in total 35points in 51 games, most of those on the powerplay. This year he just won the KHL allstar hardest shot competition and he currently has 15 goals and 29points in 46 games. I don't know how he would perform defensively but he would give us a new weapon and a threat that we haven't had on the PP for a while now. Oh and he's a RH shot too so might be worth looking at at least or what say you?? http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=1288 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LKUho-wszQ

Was 27 when he got his start in the NHL and played a stint in Europe, the horror

No I'm certainly not saying that he is a bust or that he can't be an effective d-man. I am saying that I am not overly impressed by his point production so far and of course he could improve that as well but so far I don't see him as an excellent pp qb.

I don't think so for most players? I've heard a lot of Swedish players complain a little recently that the value of their contracts just got cut in half. Maybe it's just for superstars like Kovy that can demand insurance in form of being paid in usd.

True Sproul is young and he also has a cannon of a shot, he could definitely develop into a more reliable scorer.

Do you really think Sproul or Jensen can fill that part? none of them seems to be putting up points at all so far at the pro level. I do agree that we have a bit of a log jam on defense right now and he probably won't get a shot here but I don't think we have a good powerplay dman in our system and I really wish we did.

I have no idea what he wants but for most Swedes playing in the NHL is the big childhood dream, no one dreams of the KHL and the money isn't that good now after the rubel collapsed. It's mostly a case of me thinking that this is exactly the type of player we need and are sorely lacking in our lineup right now and a type of player that is also almost impossible to acquire through a trade. That is if he can perform on this level as well but I think at least offensively and on the powerplay he probably could. He's been playing a bit for the Swedish national team too and he's performed very well at that level as well. Edit: just saw an interview with him where he said he would much rather play in the NHL if given the opportunity but that he knows that it's difficult as most teams only have 2 offensive d-men.

You are right there are tons of players in Europe who did well in the ahl and still didn't make it. Very few of them however have this particular players skill set. As for late bloomer as I said I've watched him a lot particularly in the SHL and the national team and it's really in the last 1,5 seasons that he's broke through, he's almost a constant offensive threat now whenever I see him play. As for his desire I have no idea but if he wants to I think we will see him at least try out in the NHL within the next 1-2 years, he has all the tools to be an effective player.

That's what I've been doing all night, as usual though you just don't get it. Can't wait to hear some more brilliant insights from you on how a trip back and forth to NA ruins someone's career forever.

Sleep tight little troll, maybe tomorrow you'll have something new to add about this player you've never heard of or seen play.

I never said there isn't a difference, good god you're such a troll it's ridiculous... I mentioned several players who have DEVELOPED in European leagues and came to the NHL when they were older and who had great success there. I am however saying that if they played a season in the AHL when they were 19 and then went back to Europe or if they played in Europe the entire time is an entirely pointless criteria. Do you understand now that I've broken that down for you for the fifteenth time or do we need to go over it again??

I've mentioned several players who developed in Europe, I don't give a s*** if you rule out the ones who travelled back and forth. That's your issue and your shifting goalposts. It really is too bad that you can't block trolls in this place.

I'm not gonna spend my morning googling cause you come up with some insane criteria that they have to fullfill. They can develop in any league in the world and make it in the NHL at a later age. I know of Lindström off the top of my head, if you wanna come up with more try using google, I'm sure yours works just as well as mine. Even if there isn't a single other player in the history of the NHL who hasn't done it though that means absolutely squat in the case of Hersley.

I gave you several players who didn't make it in the NHL until later in their careers. I could give a flying f*** where they played in the mean time. Or actually not even where they played cause most of them did play in Europe, it's the trip back and forth that you somehow magically thinks kills any chance for them to progress in their careers...

People can develop wherever they play, what part of this is so difficult to understand? And what part of stop derailing this thread with meaningless bulls*** is so difficult to understand?? You haven't seen a second of the player in question anyway, you're just arguing for the point of arguing so yeah a troll...

And you wonder why I call you a troll? Keep shifting the goalposts though and asking me meaningless questions that doesn't have a single thing to do with this.

You can google yourself if you want to, I don't think it matters one bit if they stay in NA their entire careers or if they choose to go back and develop in Europe for a couple of years. Players can develop after 20 and there is nothing you can say that will change that. I guess we should just forget about Bäckman btw, dude went back to Europe so he is clearly never gonna get anywhere. Lindström is an example btw, that you think he isn't good enough doesn't really change that he went that route.

The other thing that is comparable is that they weren't good enough to play in the NHL until well into their careers. Make a new thread if you want to discuss this any further. You obviously know everything about not having any support for your argument.

How the hell does it matter if they left or not? none of those players made the league when they were the age that Hersley was when he left. The point is that players aren't done developing when they are 19-20, where they play is completely irrelevant to that fact. Take your trolling/derailing somewhere else.

But either way this thread isn't about Hasek or St Louis so let's try to not derail it any further.

I mentioned several players just off the top of my head but fine Söderberg in Boston then, or is he a s***ty fringe player too? Also not sure how Hasek and St Louis doesn't make sense to you, they both didn't become regulars in the NHL until later in their careers.

I didn't say I saw similarities I'm just saying it does happen that players are not mature enough at 19-20 or don't really understand what it takes but if you're that young you have a lot of time to improve and work on it and come back when you're older and more experienced.

I edited my original post but Hasek and St Louis come to mind, Lindström in St Louis now just came back to the NHL, Ducks goalie Andersen didn't come over til he was 24-25, Oilers goalie Viktor Fasth was 30-ish when he played his first NHL game. Carl Söderberg in Boston came over when he was 27-ish and is playing great right now. Not every player is gonna be a fully formed superstar at 19.

When did Hasek make the NHL? St Louis? It's not exactly unheard of for people to make it when they're a little older. You'll see this dude in some team within 2 years, count on it.

I've followed his career for years now, I watch a lot of SHL and other leagues and he's taken huge steps in the last couple of years. Also I don't subscribe to the theory that everyone who doesn't make the NHL right away at 19-21 yrs old are not talented enough to ever play there. People mature at different ages and there are tons of reasons why a young kid might not be ready until a few years later.