23 replies to this topic

[Aussie_Wing]

Has anyone else been as impressed as I have with Kindl? As expected, he started the season slowly, but since he's been a virtual regular he's playing with more confidence and the difference it makes in his game is enormous. He’s like a different player out there, he’s playing much more phusical along the boards, he’s making good decisions, and perhaps most impressive of all, he seems to know when to stay back and when to jump in offensively. Over the past 12 games, he's only once been a minus player, pretty telling stat I think.

He’s got all the tools to be a terrific NHL defenseman. He’s got good size, he’s an effortless skater, he’s showing the willingness to play physical, I can’t see how he doesn’t become at the very least a 2nd pairing defenseman.

He waited a long time for this oppertunity, and now that he's got it he seems to be relishing it. Keep it up Jakub.

[ricky0034]

too bad he will probably be benched for Salei soon anyways

but yeah honestly I didn't really expect much of anything from him so he has impressed me a lot

Edited by ricky0034, 20 March 2011 - 04:13 AM.

[MGreenberg]

I wish I watched more games than I have. In the few games I have watched he had some terrible turnovers that almost lead to goals if it weren't for the goalie bailing him out. But I guess that is when you actually notice defensemen. When they are doing things right you don't really notice them as much but when they make a mistake it just sticks with you for the rest of the period/game. Maybe I will try and pay more attention when I am actually watching the games though it is hard for me sometimes since I watch over the internet so I flip back and forth while browsing the web.

Not to mention I was too busy bitching about the refs against the Preds that I didn't even care about that game.

Edited by MGreenberg, 20 March 2011 - 04:14 AM.

[wings1110]

i thinkl he has been the wings worst d man all season. yes, worse than ericsson.

oh, and hes soft.

[St. Michael (the Red Wing)]

I find him to be useless but I have nonthing against him personally. I find him to be our weakest dman by far. It just seems imo he doesn't fit into our system...

[dirtydangles]

r u guys high? I've watched every game he's played in and kindl has been great. he actually moves the puck to an open man rather than ericsson shoving it up the boards and giving up possession the second he feels pressure. kindl has made mistakes, but ericsson has made more, and at this point i see much more potential in kindl than ericsson. he just needs more time. kindl is playing maybe a little bit naive at this point because hes new and i think he's more concerned about making mistakes than being relaxed. i'm telling you, the more this guy gets relaxed out there the better he gets.

[Blueliner]

He's been better since they told him to be more active on the offensive side, but he still has a long way to go.

[brett]

He has a great offensive side. He has looked good defensively since paired with raffi. Still some turnovers and bad plays but hes a rookie. Right now he pretty much is 2nd pair defense since hes playing with raffi.

[Broken 16]

Kindl>Ericsson

Ericsson still looks like a lost puppy on the ice and it's been two seasons now.

[under_par_00]

Kindl has been great so far, and is improving as he gains confidence and experience.

I've said this before, but Kindl > Ericsson. Kindl can see the ice better, and read plays a lot better than Big E. Kindl is our best skating dman. Ericsson has an advantage in the physical side of the game, but Kindl will grow to be the better player by far.

[jollymania]

he has been pretty awful this year, he coughs the puck up waaay too much, he is good on the pp and that is about it, but i know you like to suck on all of the rookies

[darkmanx]

I think Salei helped his game alot. Kindl is going to be a good defensemen, im liking what im seeing from him.

[The Secret]

I haven't seen as many games as I would have liked to this season but I've watched the past few and I Kindl has improved noticeably. He's still got a lot of growing to do but he's come a long way and at this point I like him better then Ericsson for sure and maybe even Salei. Keep up the good work!

[Rick Zombos Ghost]

I find him to be useless but I have nonthing against him personally. I find him to be our weakest dman by far. It just seems imo he doesn't fit into our system...

I think he fits our system perfectly. Hes a puck moving defenseman. Thats what we covet and groom here. So im unsure what you mean by not fitting our system...He's looked good for a rookie still learning the game. He has the potential to be a good 3/4 and PP threat i think*.

[stevkrause]

Sub-par at best this season... good potential and still young enough to project better, but this season he has had a LOT of mental gaffes, that make Ericsson's decision making look like that of a young Nick Lidstrom and he does not play to his size AT ALL... lets not make him out to be more than he is...

He's still young and has had the growing pains any rookie will and I'm not saying he's bad, but he has a LOT of growing to do and isn't there yet...

[HankthaTank]

I think he has taken a step back lately. Watching Ericsson play too much or something

But seriously, we can't be too pumped about our bottom pair (not to say we should).Kindl can be pretty effective on the PP at times and then he can just toss the puck errantly behind him to the other team. It's a frustrating part to this team lately. Ericsson, Kindl, and Salei have all been pretty equally bad of late with Kindl getting somewhat of a pass because of the rookie factor. The other 2, well they truly need to figure it out.

[stevkrause]

I think he has taken a step back lately. Watching Ericsson play too much or something

But seriously, we can't be too pumped about our bottom pair (not to say we should).Kindl can be pretty effective on the PP at times and then he can just toss the puck errantly behind him to the other team. It's a frustrating part to this team lately. Ericsson, Kindl, and Salei have all been pretty equally bad of late with Kindl getting somewhat of a pass because of the rookie factor. The other 2, well they truly need to figure it out.

I don't want to get off topic, but Salei has been everything we needed from him and then some, he's a veteran, bottom pairing, stay-at-home d-man making less than 1m a year... to expect more of him is silly, he's done very well in the role he was asked to play... Ericsson has been maddening, because he has games where he looks like a top 2 d-man and then he has games where he looks like he doesn't even belong in the league... all and all though, you hit the nail on the head with expectations of them all - we should not expect Norris quality play from a bottom pairing and they have all been better than a VAST majority of other teams 5/6/7 d-men...

[Z Winged Dangler]

I wish I watched more games than I have. In the few games I have watched he had some terrible turnovers that almost lead to goals if it weren't for the goalie bailing him out. But I guess that is when you actually notice defensemen. When they are doing things right you don't really notice them as much but when they make a mistake it just sticks with you for the rest of the period/game. Maybe I will try and pay more attention when I am actually watching the games though it is hard for me sometimes since I watch over the internet so I flip back and forth while browsing the web.

Not to mention I was too busy bitching about the refs against the Preds that I didn't even care about that game.

21 Mar - Penguins - TSN2 - 7:30 eastern
23 Mar - Canucks - TSN - 7:30 eastern
26 Mar - Leafs - CBC - 7:00 eastern
28 Mar - Hawks - TSN2 - 7:30 eastern

that should get you started on the Kindl watch. 4 games in a row on tv make me very happy!

and yes, kindl looks like he wants to steal someones roster spot. he's definitely not in need of a sit down in the press box. and 4 wins in 5 games now, when Salei comes back he should come in slow as a 7th dman and take ice time from whatever dman sucks that night. kindl is developing quite well now and i'd hate to see that hindered.

[wings1110]

I think they should give him a shot on offense tonight, we have plenty of D-men and not enough forwards.

[Johnny Law]

I think some people need to be a little more realistic in what they expect from this kid. He played like 40 games with the Wings with stints in GR in between.

The transfer between the AHL and the NHL is tough for the kind of game he plays, simply put he plays the anticipation game and the kind of plays your going to see at the AHL level is not nearly the same when you play with the big boys both from opposing players and those on your team.

I think its undeniable that at the start of the year he was playing not to make mistakes, he would get the puck and quickly move it many times without taking a good look. Bad s*** happens when you play that way and he made a change, while not momentous he's making much better passes out of the zone and using his vision alot more.

His positioning is generally good and he's starting to take the body more and be involved offensively. I feel that Ericsson has sort of shown what he can do where as Kindl seems to still be developing.

Two things to remember are that the Wings have employed a newer strategy against the F1, they are one of I think three teams playing the side by side rather than the long pass behind the net. They aren't using this in the AHL let alone at lower level leagues and it has caused a few mix ups for guys like Lidstrom and Kronner let alone a rookie trying to unlearn 20 years of basic dman technique.

Lastly and I will preface this with an I like Howard statement, the Wings D picks up alot of those s***ty rebounds he kicks out. I can't think of another team where you see all the dmen so committed to moving rebounds and that just isn't something he can really be prepared for.

Give this kid some more time and lets see how he progresses.

Edited by Johnny Law, 21 March 2011 - 04:00 PM.