The Blackhawks haven’t been able to find forwards who have such an effective combination of skating with puck handling - including some creativity in the neutral zone - outside of the first round for a while, so Ludwinski’s selection is a worthy one. This was tied for third-best on the Kingston Frontenacs, a decently impressive feat considering all but one of the players (Shane Wright) who tallied more points than Ludwinski were older. It’s important to note that Ludwinski did improve as the season progressed, especially in the postseason, when his production rate jumped to 1.06 PPG. He didn’t really “wow” offensively last season, with a rate of just 0.64 points-per-game in the regular season which is fine but not spectacular by any means. This lack of pace control was most easily seen as an issue in Ludwinski’s poduction. This concern is likely the main reason why most pundits rated Ludwinski outside of the first round despite his already NHL-caliber skating and developable toolkit.

Sometimes players who require specific conditions to be effective haven’t been able to translate their obvious skills to the NHL. But in front of their net, it's good to slow it down, just like how Kane does.'- Ben Pope July 8, 2022Īn argument could be made that Ludwinski needs to play with higher quality linemates, which is definitely possible, but it’s a concern on whether he can adapt to and work with varying teammates for the best results possible. I play with a high motor, so I go 200 mph all the time. The only thing I need to work on is patience with the puck in the O-zone. “It often seemed as if Ludwinski was playing at a pace that most of his OHL linemates couldn’t match, regularly rushing passes before plays could develop or mistiming his off-puck routes by arriving into space too early.”Īnd Ludwinski himself notes that pace-control is an area of his game he needs to improve:īlackhawks 39th pick Paul Ludwinski: 'Defensive wise, I'm perfect. However, that need for speed sometimes got Ludwinski into trouble: most of his mistakes stem from him rushing plays in some way, as Elite Prospects OHL scout Lauren Kelly observed: Additionally, he’s a puck-hound who employs smart stickwork, so Ludwinski tends to be relentless on the forecheck and forces turnovers regularly. Stellar acceleration and strong edgework means Ludwinski often makes defenders look silly by deking around them almost effortlessly, mastering the neutral zone in a way that is reminiscent of successful modern-NHL players. The 5-foot-11 forward was arguably a top-five straight-line skater in the 2022 draft, and one of the most effective puck handlers at top speed in the OHL. The first draft under Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson had an obvious emphasis on speedy, “high-energy” players, so selecting two-way center Paul Ludwinski in the second-round should have come as no surprise, because he checks both those boxes. The Capitals will play in New Jersey at 7 PM.Acquired via: 2022 NHL Draft, second round (No. Panik, 30, has not played since March 28. In 2017, then coach Barry Trotz scratched Vrana for several games. Matt took on CJ in a street hockey style shoot-out. He is a very skilled player but there are other aspects of the game that are very important… We’re looking for a higher level of play.” This weeks sports bet finale concludes with another physical challenge. He added that “We’ve had many conversations just about his play with regard to the competitiveness of it and the speed of it. Laviolette told the press he hopes the scratching “will reignite a fire inside of his game and start to push him in the right direction.” Radio legend Frazer Smith and comedian Joe Bartnick get together each week to talk hockey with their comedy friends Check out the OFFICIAL Puck.

His ice time has diminished sharply in recent weeks, dipping near 10 minutes per night at times. Vrana, 25, has 10 goals and 13 assists through 35 games. Radio legend Frazer Smith and comedian Joe Bartnick get together each week. Richard Panik will return to active play. Whrend die Puck Off Jungs gerne mit emotionalen Geschichten glnzen mchten, holt er sie mit nchternen Fakten auf den Boden der Realitt zurck auch im Falle der NHL-Playoffs und deren vermeintlichen Helden- und Verlierergeschichten, die bereits geschrieben wurden. For the first time this season, Vrana will be a healthy scratch. In his pregame media availability, Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette announced that forward Jakob Vrana will not play in Friday night’s game.

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