Doing a search through recent posts, there's not a lot of love pouring out for Dan Fritsche (putting it mildly). I gather his performance to date has disappointed? Statistically he seems to be doing quie well for a 22-year-old. Was he rushed? Were expectations on him too high because he's a local product? Do his shoulder problems limit his potential? What's the scoop?
Doing a search through recent posts, there's not a lot of love pouring out for Dan Fritsche (putting it mildly). I gather his performance to date has disappointed? Statistically he seems to be doing quie well for a 22-year-old. Was he rushed? Were expectations on him too high because he's a local product? Do his shoulder problems limit his potential? What's the scoop?
I think Fritsche has done okay and still has some upside.
I'm not sure if anyone here is truly anti-Fritsche.
I’ve defined him in the past as being good enough to have value, but not good enough to be untouchable. Doesn’t mean you kick him out the door, but if he can be used to make the team better, then I think that’s something to be considered.
He has a very dedicated following though that have very strong feelings.
Come back and visit and I’m sure you’ll see them.
While Fritsche still has alot to show me (and everybody else) I think he really improved on the puck this year.. he seems stronger. I see Danny as a Kirk Maltby type player. Quick, gritty and role playing. More about eating up minutes and keeping the puck in the offensive zone than alot of flash and dash. We shall see. He could easily end up as a throw-in addition to a deal this summer
Thanks. Took a wander through that (quite extensive, and entertaining!) thread, and this is what I gleaned:
For the most part, fans appreciate Dan's energy, commitment and (to varying degrees) his potential. They recognize that he may develop into a top-6 player, but he isn't there yet, and the sense from most is that this team needs to improve sooner than later. If he could be dealt in a package that would return a higher calibre of player for the coming season, they'd be for it, but if they could get that deal giving up someone other than Dan, they'd prefer that (mostly, it seems, because of the local connection than because of anything he offers on the ice).
All fair enough. For my part, I'd be loathe to trade him. From the tapes I've seen, he's a big-bodied kid whose development, granted, was slowed with injuries, but who seems to be coming more into his own of late. He skates hard, he finishes checks, he blocks shots, and has better hands than perhaps his role or his linemates could really showcase. Plus he seems to be really smart - makes good decisions, positions well in all three zones, and seems eager to learn. I gather he has some leadership quaalities as well - impresive from a 22-year-old. I think he could be from Mars and still be of real long-term value to Columbus, but it's sure a nice bonus that he's from Parma. Basically, it would have to be a VERY sweet deal to get me to agree to move him.
I'd rather see the Jackets give him a shot back at center where he belongs, let him move betwen the second and third lines so he gets some time with skilled players, put him on the second PP (he could even play point with that big shot), and PK units, and I think you'll see more of that potential come to the fore this season. A careful conditioning program this summer should help both with his injuries and his effectiveness on the ice as he matures, and he seems to have the right attitude to do the necessary work.
One more thing I gleaned from my brief foray into Jackets land: there are some very fine, eloquent, knowledgeable and above all devoted posters on this board! Kudos to you - your team is on its way, and you deserve it for the loyalty you've shown over the years.
Good luck at the draft!
(PS - in case you're curious, I'm a hockey fan first, a Leafs fan second. I live outside Toronto, my HF nickname nothwithstanding. I trust you won't hold it against me! )
I agree, he's still one of my favorites but a guy that we can live without if trading him would improve our team. He's never going to be better than a thid line player, if that. But darn I like the energy and hussel he brings to the team. As for the Ohio connection, that's neat and all but in the end should not be a consideration in keeping him or trading him.
__________________
"When I die I will be buried upside down so all of my critics can kiss my ass"~ Bobby Knight
Thanks. Took a wander through that (quite extensive, and entertaining!) thread, and this is what I gleaned:
For the most part, fans appreciate Dan's energy, commitment and (to varying degrees) his potential. They recognize that he may develop into a top-6 player, but he isn't there yet, and the sense from most is that this team needs to improve sooner than later. If he could be dealt in a package that would return a higher calibre of player for the coming season, they'd be for it, but if they could get that deal giving up someone other than Dan, they'd prefer that (mostly, it seems, because of the local connection than because of anything he offers on the ice).
All fair enough. For my part, I'd be loathe to trade him. From the tapes I've seen, he's a big-bodied kid whose development, granted, was slowed with injuries, but who seems to be coming more into his own of late. He skates hard, he finishes checks, he blocks shots, and has better hands than perhaps his role or his linemates could really showcase. Plus he seems to be really smart - makes good decisions, positions well in all three zones, and seems eager to learn. I gather he has some leadership quaalities as well - impresive from a 22-year-old. I think he could be from Mars and still be of real long-term value to Columbus, but it's sure a nice bonus that he's from Parma. Basically, it would have to be a VERY sweet deal to get me to agree to move him.
I'd rather see the Jackets give him a shot back at center where he belongs, let him move betwen the second and third lines so he gets some time with skilled players, put him on the second PP (he could even play point with that big shot), and PK units, and I think you'll see more of that potential come to the fore this season. A careful conditioning program this summer should help both with his injuries and his effectiveness on the ice as he matures, and he seems to have the right attitude to do the necessary work.
One more thing I gleaned from my brief foray into Jackets land: there are some very fine, eloquent, knowledgeable and above all devoted posters on this board! Kudos to you - your team is on its way, and you deserve it for the loyalty you've shown over the years.
Good luck at the draft!
(PS - in case you're curious, I'm a hockey fan first, a Leafs fan second. I live outside Toronto, my HF nickname nothwithstanding. I trust you won't hold it against me! )
I've grown to like Fritsche in the last season. Prior seasons, we nicknamed him "spaz", much in the way Boll played this season... wreckless and usually missing targets, flopping all over. Most likely a first year reckless energy. Fritsche learned how to harness it better and to learn to rely on some of his skill and smarts and that really helped his performance, IMO. I hope we are able to keep him, but I think he's got some potential other teams may find enticing for a trade.
ya you really nailed it on the head, and thanks for the kind words. for the sake of discloser, I'm a keep fritsche guy.
but Ohio Jones? you from ohio, why did you pick that screen name?
I'm the GM of the Blue Jackets in the HFNHL, Hockey's Future's FHL sim league. I was also a huge fan of Raiders of the Lost Ark as a kid. The choice was obvious.
(Also in the interests of disclosure, I should warn you that my name is Douglas, and my grandma's maiden name was MacLean... ).
Fortunately, MacLean was my grandma's name, not mine.
Isn't MacLean a fairly common name in Canada? He doesn't have many fans left around here, part of me thinks we may have done better with your Grandma running the show...
Sure is, in Canada and anywhere else the Scots emigrated when they got turfed off their land to make room for more English sheep.
These days Canadians are just as likely to be named Chen or Singh, which suits me fine too, as it does most Canadians not named Donald S. Cherry (who, for all we all like to make fun of him, is actually a real peach of a guy, and great in the community).
Of course, judging from recent developments in the US presidential race, America may joining Canada in the idea that not everyone needs to be named "Smith" or "Jones" (or "Bush" or "Clinton"...). Good for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert
He doesn't have many fans left around here, part of me thinks we may have done better with your Grandma running the show...
XGMDM (as I've seen him branded on this forum) is from PEI; my MacLean connection is from Nova Scotia (home of Stanley Cup also-ran Sidney Crosby); the two provinces are cheek-by-jowl, so it's not impossible that there's a family connection.
Don't worry, though, I don't think I'll be considered for a front-office job with the Jackets any time soon.
When I was working, I had to do some trouble shooting for Northern Telcoms manufacturing problems. What I found interesting was most of management was from England and the engineers wore Turbans. Mostly from India, I think. Wondered what the canadians did.
When I was working, I had to do some trouble shooting for Northern Telcoms manufacturing problems. What I found interesting was most of management was from England and the engineers wore Turbans. Mostly from India, I think. Wondered what the canadians did.
Cried about how the collapsing stock price gutted our RRSPs (like your folks' 401Ks).
I know there were educated Canadians, I just wonder why they couldn't break into good management and engineering positions.
Actually, a large number of both the "British" management and "Indian" engineers would be Canadian citizens. We really have a diverse population base, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area, were Nortel is headquartered.
I was talking to a guy from Edmonton last year, and he is in med school.
He says he plans on practicing in Canada and not the US because even if the money isn't as good, it is much safer for him as far as frivilous malpractice lawsuits and that sort of thing. Is that true?
I was talking to a guy from Edmonton last year, and he is in med school.
He says he plans on practicing in Canada and not the US because even if the money isn't as good, it is much safer for him as far as frivilous malpractice lawsuits and that sort of thing. Is that true?
I can't speak for the Canadian governmental health care system but I can speak for the U.S. version, in the Department of Veteran Affairs physicians liabilty is paid for by the taxpayer.
Doing a search through recent posts, there's not a lot of love pouring out for Dan Fritsche (putting it mildly). I gather his performance to date has disappointed? Statistically he seems to be doing quie well for a 22-year-old. Was he rushed? Were expectations on him too high because he's a local product? Do his shoulder problems limit his potential? What's the scoop?
Dan either
1. Does not bring any consistent effort to the ice.
or
2. Does not get on ice oppurtunities on a regular basis to be consistent.
More than likely its a little of each. Their are nights where he is my favorite Jacket, but their are many nights that I don't even notice him on the ice(sometimes because he's not out there for more than 8 minutes).
I was talking to a guy from Edmonton last year, and he is in med school.
He says he plans on practicing in Canada and not the US because even if the money isn't as good, it is much safer for him as far as frivilous malpractice lawsuits and that sort of thing. Is that true?
Canadian society is less litigious in general, so I have no doubt that malpractice insurance is less expensive than it is in the US.
)
