Tomas Jurco (Credit: Mark Newman)
There are two things you need to know about Tomas Jurco.
First, and widely known in hockey circles, is that he has immense natural skill, so much so that he was considered a first-round talent back in his draft year.
“When you see some of the goals he’s scored, you say to yourself, ‘OK, this guy has a chance (to play in the NHL), because other people just can’t do that,’” says Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill.
Second, he’s young — among the 10 youngest players in the American Hockey League — and it’s important to keep that in mind when you look at his first-year statistics.
Jurco, who was a teenaged rookie until he turned 20 on Dec. 28, has eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 53 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins — a far cry from the 68 points he recorded in 48 games last season with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.
Learning the ropes isn’t easy for a rookie at the best of times in the AHL. Throw in the fact that he was playing in a league stacked with locked-out NHLers for the first three months and it gets even harder.
“Tomas is learning how hard and how strong you have to be on the puck and how much you have to value the puck because it just won’t come back to you if you lose it,” Blashill says. “In junior, it comes back to you enough and in pro it doesn’t.
“He’s learning how to go get it more and when he has it to hold onto it longer. That’s confidence and it’s learning how to do it and it just takes time.”
Jurco won a Memorial Cup with the Sea Dogs in 2011 and was selected in the second round, 35th overall, by the Red Wings that summer after slipping from his ranking as a consensus first-rounder.
The Red Wings have compared the 6-foot-2, 193-pounder favorably to Marian Hossa. He can electrify with mind-boggling stick skills given time and open space, but needs significant work on his play in traffic.
But his work ethic, attitude and commitment have been exceptional since his arrival in Grand Rapids.
“The one thing I know about Tomas Jurco is Tomas cares,” Blashill said. “He wants to be a real good hockey player. I’ve spent lots of time with him in video and he’s very receptive and totally wants to be a real good player.
“Now it’s a matter of putting the whole game together and learning to be a successful pro.”
NOTES: Forward Gustav Nyquist (Grand Rapids, AHL) is on a tear with seven goals and seven assists in his past eight games. He’s taken over the AHL scoring lead from Tyler Johnson of Syracuse … Nyquist is ranked No. 55 among NHL prospects in The Hockey News’s annual Future Watch issue. The ranking, which includes prospects in the NHL, tabs defenseman Brendan Smith as the NHL’s 26th-best prospect and center Calle Jarnkrok (Brynas, SEL) at No. 31. Tomas Tatar, Petr Mrazek and Riley Sheahan didn’t crack the top 75 … Jarnkrok finished tied for eighth in Swedish Elite League scoring with 42 points in 53 games, while defenseman Mattias Backman (Linkopings, SEL) was eighth in defense scoring … Right-winger Trevor Parkes (Toledo, ECHL) picked up ECHL player of the week honours and has 15 points in seven games with the Walleye. The gritty forward is a breakout candidate in Grand Rapids next season … A final note about former prospect Jan Mursak: He’ll qualify for Group 6 unrestricted free agency because he will not have reached 80 career NHL games.
Following is this week’s statistical report.
SKATERS: REGULAR-SEASON REPORT
| NAME | TEAM | LEVEL | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nyquist, Gustav | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 54 | 22 | 35 | 57 | 30 | +11 | 160 |
| Ferraro, Landon | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 52 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 37 | +1 | 108 |
| Andersson, Joakim | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 36 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 55 | +1 | 84 |
| Parkes, Trevor | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 34 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 35 | +6 | 39 |
| Lashoff, Brian | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 36 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 23 | +4 | 38 |
| Tatar, Tomas | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 44 | 19 | 20 | 39 | 44 | +13 | 147 |
| Almqvist, Adam | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 48 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 26 | +2 | 60 |
| Nicastro, Max | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 15 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | +1 | 12 |
| Raedeke, Brent | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 31 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 36 | +1 | 24 |
| Sheahan, Riley | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 53 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 25 | +13 | 80 |
| Aubry, Louis-Marc | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 46 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 40 | -2 | 58 |
| Callahan, Mitchell | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 50 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 82 | +2 | 90 |
| Jurco, Tomas | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 53 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 18 | -3 | 75 |
| Fournier, Gleason | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 23 | -2 | 15 |
| Nestrasil, Andrej | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 14 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| Coetzee, Willie | Grand Rapids | AHL | PRO | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| Coetzee, Willie | Toledo | ECHL | PRO | 52 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 16 | +1 | 219 |
| Nestrasil, Andrej | Toledo | ECHL | PRO | 40 | 11 | 30 | 41 | 26 | +17 | 113 |
| Fournier, Gleason | Toledo | ECHL | PRO | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | +5 | 11 |
| Parkes, Trevor | Toledo | ECHL | PRO | 7 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 2 | +1 | 40 |
| Jensen, Nick | St. Cloud State | WCHA | NCAA | 34 | 3 | 23 | 26 | 12 | +14 | 55 |
| Marshall, Ben | Minnesota | WCHA | NCAA | 34 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 18 | +10 | 57 |
| McKee, Mike | Lincoln | USHL/JR-A | USHL | 38 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 278 | +13 | 56 |
| De Haas, James | Penticton | USHL/JR-A | BCHL | 51 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 19 | – | – |
| Frk, Martin | Halifax | CHL | QMJHL | 49 | 32 | 44 | 76 | 78 | +30 | 156 |
| Ouellet, Xavier | Blainville-Boisbriand | CHL | QMJHL | 46 | 9 | 30 | 39 | 42 | +14 | 152 |
| Hudon, Philippe | Victoriaville | CHL | QMJHL | 59 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 54 | +1 | 122 |
| Sproul, Ryan | Sault Ste. Marie | CHL | OHL | 45 | 19 | 45 | 64 | 41 | +8 | – |
| Athanasiou, Andreas | Barrie | CHL | OHL | 60 | 27 | 36 | 63 | 28 | +13 | – |
| Quine, Alan | Belleville | CHL | OHL | 48 | 20 | 41 | 61 | 20 | +9 | – |
| Tvrdon, Marek | Vancouver | CHL | WHL | 18 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 16 | +2 | – |
| Nedomlel, Richard | Swift Current | CHL | WHL | 67 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 97 | -12 | – |
| Jarnkrok, Calle | Brynas | EUR | SEL | 53 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 12 | -2 | 136 |
| Backman, Mattias | Linkoping | EUR | SEL | 53 | 2 | 24 | 26 | 34 | +5 | 67 |
| Pulkkinen, Teemu | Jokerit | EUR | FIN | 57 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 49 | +4 | 253 |
| Marchenko, Alexei | CSKA Moscow | EUR | KHL | 44 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 | -2 | 46 |
| Bodin, Rasmus | Tranas | EUR | SWE-3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | -5 | – |
| Bodin, Rasmus | HV-71 | EUR-JR | SWE-J20 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | -1 | 11 |
GOALIES: REGULAR SEASON REPORT
| NAME | TEAM | LEAGUE | GP | W | L | O/S | SO | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson, Jake | Saginaw | OHL | 46 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 3.60 | .898 |
| McCollum, Thomas | Grand Rapids | AHL | 23 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 2.83 | .897 |
| Pearce, Jordan | Grand Rapids | AHL | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4.32 | .847 |
| Mrazek, Petr | Grand Rapids | AHL | 29 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2.34 | .915 |
| Mrazek, Petr | Toledo | ECHL | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2.02 | .944 |
| Pearce, Jordan | Toledo | ECHL | 27 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2.56 | .906 |
SKATERS: PLAYOFF REPORT
| NAME | TEAM | LEVEL | LEAGUE | GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- | SOG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marchenko, Alexei | CSKA Moscow | KHL | EUR-PRO | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Log jam of prospects in 3 years, good situation to be in! Jarknok, Tatar, Anderson and Nyquist up next year. The year after that Sheehan, Almquist and Ferraro. And then Backstrom, Ouellett and Sproul…
I maintain they should trade Filp if he doesnt sign an extension by the deadline. Trade him to an eastern team for a first. I like him but no team in todays nhl can afford to get burnt ala Parise and Suter last summer.
oh PS I think Blashill will get an NHL coaching GIG maybe even in Detroit. I am a fan of Babcock but Blashill has some good qualitys in working with young guys at the Pro level something the Wings are shaping up to be in the next five years.
Blashill could very end up as the Wings next coach. It is no secret (well, maybe it is) that Babcock is primed to take over the young Oilers just when all that young talent is about ready to move up in the standings, probably next year. I believe, without checking, Babs has one yr left on his Wing contract so he will do what he did with the Ducks and Wings; win a cup as the teams have peaked and are ready for Lord Stanley. Babs is, as everyone knows, a prairie boy at heart so Edmonton will be his next stop.
The prospect I’m most excited about right now is
Martin Frk – Halifax CHL QMJHL – 49 Games 32 G 44 A 76 pts. +30
Maybe, just maybe, Jarnkrok turns out to be the best of all the current crop of good prospects. Would be nice if he turns out to be the super star and Smith, Mrazek, Jurco, Nyquist, Tatar, become stars with grinders like Sheahan, Andersson, and Callahan. Throw in Ouellet and Sproul and with speedsters like Helm and Athanasiou along with a couple of free agents and we have a winner again. God Kenny, you have an easy job.
YVR pretty good asumption on Babcock.. I keep hearing him say the “i been here 7 years and soon players start to tune you out” speech. Like I said i am a fan but we have had no results in the last few years, this year I for a change feel we have a shot if we make it in. good depth on all lines and I like the D compared to Chicago’s and Anaheims.
So I think its a make or break year for Babcock even being a shortened season we may only have one year left with Pavel!!
I think the assumption on Babcock is sound. I think that his structured style would help propel Edmonton into Championship contention. I think he’d absolutely excel at the position and he will more than likely bring some of his Detroit compatriots with him. Babcock will not win again with this core here in Detroit, unless a significant move is made. The Wings need a new Coach, and perhaps a new GM I could see Laviolette (if Philly falters), or even Lindy Ruff taking over. It all depends on how well the Wings perform in the 2nd half of the 2013 Season, and, presumably, the Playoffs.
All I will say is, with all the young talent on display in Grand Rapids, and overseas, we cant afford to let them rot in the AHL forever. Id like to see Jurco get some games in next season, even if its less than a handful. After all, the average hockey player’s career is short.
I agree that it takes time with young prospects. Think how much Ferraro has improved since last year. That is the kind of improvement they are looking for from Jurco. He needs to get physically stronger. I think the biggest jump is fromcollege or junior to the American Hockey League where you are playing against grown men in their late 20′s and early 30′s. Many of them with NHL experience. He will get a taste of a few games with the Wings next year.
I also agree the clock is ticking on Babs. I think it is true that coaches do not have the same longevity with one team the way they did. They do get tired of your voive after awhile. I could also see Blashill being the next Wings coach as more and more of the Griffins players he is coaching become part of the Red Wing team. They are players he would be familiar with. I did not know about his connection with the Oilers but would believe it.
I don’t think Babcock’s going anywhere unless he chooses to. Really I don’t think that you can pin the lack of success over the last few years on him when we essentially have the same team we had back in 2009 only a lot greyer, half the defensive talent and no Hossa.
Holland’s been stockpiling picks and prospects and has failed at making any sort of big acquisition over the last few years whether by trade or free agency. I can’t say that’s clearly an indictment on him, but a sign that we’re in a transition and he’s committed to building from within. He knows as it stands we’re not going to contend for a Cup unless we’re lucky. So as long as Babcock can keep us in the playoffs I think he’ll have a job here.
@SBURR – I have to agree with you on the trade of Fil. I love the guy, but as it stands I think Nyquist would play the same role. The only thing I worry about is if Datsyuk were to go back to Russia after next year our depth at center becomes a big question mark. We’ve got Jarnkrok and Sheahan in the pipeline, but I think Sheahan’s set for a 3rd line role and we won’t know where Jarnkrok fits until he’s proven himself on the smaller rink.
I think you guys are underestimating Sheahan. He’s big, 21, and having a very strong rookie season. I’ve got him as a top-six guy after his strong showing in the AHL this year.
You could be right about Sheahan. You know who has really suprised me is Luke Glendening. He was not even that good a college player, basically just another scholarship player. He goes to Wings camp, earns a minor league contract, does well at Toledo and earns a promotion to the American League and is a compeititive player in that league. Someday he might even make the Wings as a grinding checking forward.
Not bad for a guy who was just an average college player on scholarship at Michigan. Its pretty impressive really. Shows you what effort and determination can do
It is not a bad thing for GR to have a local boy in the lineup. He (Glendening) does have 7 goals in 31 games which is not bad for a rookie.
Regarding Mike Babcock, yes he’s been here for 7 years but how many players have been here 7 years? Those that have are mostlty the Wings top line players. This team as we know is in transition..players and style. What is outstanding if you think about it, is Babcock has been able to adjust and not fit square pegs into round holes. If the Wings make the playoffs this could be his best coaching job ever. I hope he doesn’t leave for a long time.
An interesting artticle i read this week with dean lombardi the kings GM said teams now a days would prefer to hold their ufa’s and try and resign them in the summer. He said thats the biggest change in the GM’s role. The reason because its worth the gamble to try and resign them as oppose to dealing for a pick that is unproven.
Kind of what wings did with Hudler and probably Filpula this year…
Back to the story of the day, Jurco has both GR’s goals with 3 minutes left in the game.
Calle Järnkrok has been nominated for Swedish Elite League MVP, as one of eight players. He’s being described as “a given on the national team”, “is as skilled defensively as he is offensively”, “a spectacular playmaker who can finish as well”, “has tremendous potential, although can already be described as a complete player”. A lot of superlatives…
Nice goal: hockeyligan.se/video/2016991416001/
Incredible quotes there, Joakim. Thanks for those!
Why do we even have a prospect page when the best prospect doen’t even get called up when there are injuries? Nyquist has 60 points and leads the AHL in scoring. He should be on a line with Datsyuk and Abby needs to go to the 4th line with Emmerton. If I had it my way here would be the lines for the rest of the season once everyone gets back:
Franzen-Datsyuk-Nyquist
Filppula-Zetterberg-Brunner
Miller-Helm-Cleary
Abdelkader-Anderson-Tootoo
Tatar back to minors, will replace Miller, Cleary, Brunner or Filppula if they are not re-signed next year
Emmerton placed on waivers, to AHL if unclaimed
Eaves healthy extra
Here are my lines next year if Filppula, Miller, Brunner and Cleary are not re-signed:
Franzen-Zetterberg-Nyquist
Datsyuk-Jarnkrok-Tatar
Miller-Helm-Bertuzzi
Abdelkader-Andersson-Tootoo
Extra’s: Eaves,Samuelsson
Nice Steve but not going to happen as much a I would love to see guys like Samuelson and Bert gone it isn’t going to happen. Slim chance is that Bert may retire considering he has been plagued with back issues his whole career and he isn’t getting any younger. I can see Sammy being one if those Hasek like players whose time is way passed him but will refuse to retire. Next year maybe another stressful year like this year like the previously mentioned two taking up a roster spot for a more deserving player. However there will be light at the end if the tunnel with Nyquist and Tatar being full time next year. Barring a major trade I do not see a whole lot of player movement. And if there is a major trade great but I’m truly terrified of what KH is will to give up to land an Iginla or Campbell like player. Time will tell so let’s all cross our fingers that we trade some dead weight for just deep drafts picks. But doubtful.
I don’t want to see Kenny trade for some over-the-hill rental players since the Wings are not going far in the playoffs even IF they make the playoffs. Right now if the teams below them in the standings win their games-in-hand, the Wings will be 11th in the West. Get rid of guys like Sammy, Bert, Cleary (wonder what Cleary has on Babcock?), White, and Quincey. Play the kids and take our lumps. The Wings fortunes get better when Smith, Jurco, Tatar, Jarnkrok, Sheehan, Ouellet, Sproul, and Mrazek get a few yrs experience.
RE: Gustav Nyquist
It makes sense for Holland to keep Nyquist in the AHL. For starters, he is “the man” down there. He is getting all the minutes and being put in all the situations he can handle. It is still the best option for him right now. Secondly, his contract is up this summer. By keeping him off of the Red Wings roster, Holland minimizes whatever extension Gustav will see. If he were putting up NHL numbers this season, that price tag goes up. Tatar is up instead because he’s still signed for cheap through next season.
Keep Nyquist in the AHL, call him up only if absolutely necessary, but not until the playoffs if they can help it. The salary cap will likely remain below $65M over the next 2 seasons, and saving on contracts now is a necessary foresight.
2013-14 Roster (I know it’s not going to happen but this is what I would like to see…)
If I were Ken Holland…
I would use our 2 amnesty buyouts to buy out Samuelsson and Colaiacovo and I would keep Bertuzzi around if his body could handle it but I have a feeling he’s finished after this season.
I doubt we will make a whole lot of huge trades or signings so I’ll keep them to a minimum. I would start by resigning UFA’s Filppula, Brunner and Howard and then I would resign RFA’s Nyquist, Andersson, Smith and Kindl. I would bring Jarnkrok over from Sweden and throw him on the team from the start of the season. The only outside signing I would make would be for a defenseman, I would try to sign either Douglas Murray or Ladislav Smid.
These are the lines I would go with…
Gustav Nyquist – Henrik Zetterberg – Johan Franzen
Valtteri Filppula – Pavel Datsyuk – Damien Brunner
Tomas Tatar – Joakim Andersson – Calle Jarnkrok
Justin Abdelkader – Darren Helm – Jordin Tootoo
Cory Emmerton – Patrick Eaves
Niklas Kronwall – Jonathan Ericsson
Brendan Smith – Kyle Quincey
Jakub Kindl – ( Douglas Murray OR Ladislav Smid )
Brian Lashoff
For those of you making the Wings roster future plans what about Pulkkinen? The man seems to shoot the puck about 200+ times a season. Shouldn’t he be considered for a roster spot? I think I would let Filppula walk and try my hand at someone else preferably with size and plays physical.