132 replies to this topic

[Andy Pred 48]

He's not playing tonight against London, did he pick up a knock or
is he being rested? Maybe Stevie has told Babs to get him up!

[SpiritFan]

Weekly Mursak update (12/5/06):

Mursak did in deed NOT play the London game, simply because he has left the team temporarily to go play in the World Junior Championship Tornament for Team Slovenia. It is quite an honor to be selected to a team going to the World Junior's.

Anyway, Jan had possibly his worst week with the Spirit this week, recording 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, was a -2, and had 0 PIM's. However, the team as a whole had a bad week getting only one point out of a possible 6. Jan will be back in the States at the end of December.

Also, it is my understanding that Jan CAN play in the AHL next season - I was told that only players who are drafted from the CHL can not play until they are 20, but that does not include players drafted BEFORE they came to the CHL, as Jan was. So he is eligible to play in the AHL right away.

[Hit]

I have watched this kid play and lets just say this. He has the hands, skates like he is on fire and sees the ice like no other. He is very strong with the puck and a shot that just plain smokes. This kid is the real deal. He will be in the NHL and he will be there for a long time.

[Piton]

There is an interview with Jan in local newspaper. If you are interested I can translate it to you.

[al48]

There is an interview with Jan in local newspaper. If you are interested I can translate it to you.

Uh, yeah, I think everyone would be interested. What are you holding out on us for?

[Piton]

Here you go. I will not translate it word by word and please note that some things may be lost in translation. I some things are unclear I can try to explain them in other words.

You were drafted as no. 182. Was that a disappointment?
I believed that I'd be drafted sooner, many has told me, that I would be, if I played in North America last year. But Detroit is known for good late draft picks. Like Datsyuk ot Zetterberg, who are among biggest NHL start today.

You left Ceske Budjeovice, although you had secured place in team nad went to NA to Saginaw Spirit.
I would play on third or fourth line, not good enough for NHL scouts. Now I'm on their doorstep and I would never return to Europe. I adapted quickly to everything, also to faster play. There is huge difference between Slovenia and Czech Republic, but diffenrence between Czech Republic and NA is even bigger. They take care of everything you need and fans are incredible. In Saginaw there are on average 3500 and in some other arenas up to 9000.

You broke ten years old league record. You scored at least a point in 22 games.
Yeah,even people in Detroit are suprised. They are watching me constantly, last was here Steve Yzerman. He told my agent more than he did to me, but I heard him on radio, that I have some advantages against other young players. That I'm already best Detroit skater.

Also other scouts from NHL have evaluated your skating as superb. It's hard to believe that you gained that at Maribor hockey team.
When I was young my father took me to recreational skating every day. I skated 2 hours without rest. While other were just skating I tried to do everything possible. Now I'm gaining from that.

They have also said that you lack physical strenght and weight
I have 180 cm and 80 kg, I need another 10 to 15 kg, in muscles of course. It's going slowly as I don't eat any additives as some of my teammates do. And you cannot work out in fitness to much in the middle of season.

Then you're lucky that you're in Saginaw and you cannot go out a lot
Yeah, there isn't much to do in Saginaw, but even if it was I couldn't go anywhere as I'm too young. I don't even go to private parties as I'm only interested in hockey. And I'm going to school.

Do you live alone?
No I live with family I was assigned to by Detroit. They are hockey fanatics(in good way). They come to every game, they bought slovenian flag over internet, which is hanging on their house and they learned some slovenian words..

Have you explained to Americans difference between Slovenia and Slovakia?
With my Slovakian teammate Tomas Zaborsky I speak in Czech language, which I learned well, so others were even more convinced that Slovenia and Slovakia are the same. But we explained it to them. Anze kopitar is taking care of hockey promotion of Slovenia. He is well known on eastern coast too.

There is only one player from Maribor area in national team. You could become second.
To be hockey player in Maribor is not easy as fans like soccer more. But some players are now in younger selections, so things are going forward.




This article can be found on http://www.vecer.com/ (only in Slovenian).

[al48]

Thanks for your time in doing that. A good read!! I hope you don't mind me reposting your translation somewhere else.

[Piton]

No, of course not. I just hope I didn't do damage as I'm not used to do this. Also my english has become rusty lately.

[al48]

No, of course not. I just hope I didn't do damage as I'm not used to do this. Also my english has become rusty lately.

Well, your English is much better than my Slovenian

[betterREDthandead]

No, of course not. I just hope I didn't do damage as I'm not used to do this. Also my english has become rusty lately.

Thanks for the translation, very interesting interview. I'm really starting to hope for big things from Mursak. It sounds like he's having little trouble with adapting to North American hockey and the lifestyle, which to me is more important than the flashy stats.

[Aussie_Wing]

Thanks for the translation, it's a great read. I really like this part...

Then you're lucky that you're in Saginaw and you cannot go out a lot
I don't even go to private parties as I'm only interested in hockey. And I'm going to school.

Seems like a young kid very focused on making the most of his ability. A very important trait.

[Piton]

Jan is playing for Slovenia in U-20 championships. You can see his scores here:

http://www.iihf.com/...ournaments.htm#

Group W20 I A.

He was selected as star in his team in game 2 wih GWG and an assist.

[Cruiser008]

Watched Mursak play against the Windsor Spitfires today in a 4-3 loss. Here's a brief (and not necessarily accurate, since it was only one game) scouting report based on what I saw.

Strengths:

The fastest player on the ice; he's quite slippery and has excellent one-step acceleration. His hockey sense is above average; he seemed to be at the right place more often than not and a few times he would tip the puck forward and then attempt to outrace the d-man to it. Moreover he knows how to use his speed to avoid checks and generate offense (although a few times at the expense of his defensive assignments).

Weaknesses:

Lacks strength and does not make a physical impact at all. The one time he tried to lay a hit on the Windsor d-man he actually bounced off the guy. Also on one of the Windsor goals (I think it was a SHG actually) he failed to pick up the late man, but he did get some PK time and seemed to do ok. Moreover he could stand to shoot more (one time he had the goalie out of position and instead of shooting at a sharp angle chose to pass behind the back to a teammate on shot it right at the goalie).

Overall:

Bulking up physically (and just gaining strength in general) without losing speed will be a challenge since he's only 5'11", but he has a good work ethic, excellent offensive instincts and the kind of skating ability you can't teach.

[JMursakAdmin]

Jan named as the West Division OHL Academic Player of the Month......congratulations!.........Read More...

The Detroit Free Press (www.freep.com) listed Jan Mursak as the #4 prospect in the Red Wings organization.........Read More....

[Andy Pred 48]

Jan got back into his grove last night with a 4 point haul and a 1st star rating as the Spirit came away from Sudbury with a 6-5 win.
55 points from 38 games and a +22 rating.

[grsbmd]

Did anyone just hear Mursak and Pyatt mentioned on the Colbert report?

[JMursakAdmin]

This news aren`t posted nowhere yet....................yesterday Jan Mursak signed three years contract with Detroit RW.

[Andy Pred 48]

is he going to GR with Emmerton?

[JMursakAdmin]

Yes.......and Kindl after playoff

[Andy Pred 48]

Sweet, I think Kindl is going to be a Wing next year. If Jan can add some size he'll have an outside chance next camp too. Maybe another
year in Saginaw will help him better but you never know.