Jared Spurgeon Can Help Drive Zeev Buium's Development

Maybe he can take a hint from how Addison ended up and actually listen to advice.  You really can't ask for help from many better defensemen than Brodin and Spurgeon.

I think all are defensemen can learn from Spurgeon, but Kiviharju might be the one whose game parallels Spurgeon's games as they are both smaller defensemen.  

I like Kalisha's optimism. She's going down these prospects and assuming they will be with the big club soon. But, reality is, we don't have enough space for everyone. 

I would rank Buium as our #1D prospect. I find it difficult to say that Spurgeon will mentor him as a player. However, we don't know how Spurgy's duct taped body is going to respond next season. I'm hoping for the best, but am pessimistic on the actual outcome.

For years now, I've advocated for Offensive and Defensive Coordinators within the organization. It is a completely new organizational concept across the league, but, we are the State of Hockey, so innovation should come from us. For me, we have our Offensive Coordinators in place: Mike Modano and Mikko Koivu. There's no better choice in the league than that. If they could both work with the big club forwards, both Iowa teams and trips to the prospects, I think it would be a huge win for everyone. But, since Tom Kurver's passing, we have nobody who can speak to our defenders.

One suggestion could be bringing Goligoski down from Grand Rapids to handle this. He'd have a lot to say and could speak specifically to puck moving defenders which is most of what we have as prospects. Or, this could be Spurgeon who I'd trust more if his duct tape isn't strong enough. While Goligoski was a liability on defense, Spurgeon has not been. He's had an elite stick and can specifically talk about leverage. One would think Spurgeon might have the most credibility in the organization. So, exploring this idea, let's play what if.

Game 18, an overzealous forward weighing in at 215 decides to test Spurgeon's duct tape surgical procedures to see if they actually fixed his problem. The outcome is Spurgeon limping to the bench and his career essentially being done. But, he could have another career. Instead of finishing out his contract on LTIR, what if he simply retired as a player, and Guerin, out of loyalty, suggested such a position for Spurgeon, paying out what's left on his contract through this role? This would, essentially reclaim his cap number to go and get replacements (I'm not sure about the mid year rules, but it could be an LTIR for the year and then retirement past that). 

One thing we have is a huge amount of undersized, puck moving defenders as prospects. Working with them on an organizational system is needed. Most of Spurgeon's time would likely be spent in Des Moines. Could his family base themselves out of Des Moines? But, from all those puck moving defenders, they also need to learn defense, they need to learn leverage, they need to learn controlling sticks and having the faster stick in front of their net. These are all things Spurgeon excelled at. 

I think Spurgeon would have the credibility to do this on role on day 1 of being out of the lineup. He could see if it is a good fit while on LTIR, but let's face it, he's set up for life from the money he's already made, and, he would need something else to do very soon after his career is done. I think he'd be awesome in this role! He has so much technical knowledge of how a smaller player can make it in the N. He's also been an underdog most of his career. 

This plan is one to help invest in the prospects which we need a pipeline of for continued success. I believe one of the things we need is a physical investment in facilities, but from the personnel side, setting this up under the player development program is exactly how Nashville developed its pipeline of defenders. These guys don't just need to be ready for St. Paul. These guys need to be ready to acquire anything we might need in St. Paul while they play elsewhere. If our development can hit above average in the league, and our drafting can hit above average in the league, this is how dynasties are built. It wouldn't happen immediately, but it would make contending sustainable.

“Buium is getting similar buzz to Brock Faber, who finished as a Norris trophy finalist behind Connor Bedard.”

You gotta edit this part I believe haha 😂  I believe you ment Calder instead of Norris.

On 8/17/2024 at 2:33 PM, Mateo3xm said:

“Buium is getting similar buzz to Brock Faber, who finished as a Norris trophy finalist behind Connor Bedard.”

You gotta edit this part I believe haha 😂  I believe you ment Calder instead of Norris.

Given how much the NHL wanted to market Bedard and how quickly the media anointed him for the Calder despite being a completely one-dimensional player, I bet there'd be Chicago fans who would stoutly defend he was the best defensive player on his team and deserved Norris consideration. 

I mean, I realize +/- is a flawed stat, but being the worst +/- on your team definitely says something, and it isn't good.  I mean, if the kid was 4th liner on a bad team and was mostly only deployed while on the PK, it would make more sense.  From what I saw, he basically just sat at the edge of the zone waiting to go back on offense, effectively leaving his team short-handed.

I remember reading a bunch of the discourse between Faber and Bedard for Calder and there are some completely delusional Chicago fans out there.  There were more than a few saying Bedard should get the Hart too.

I'd have to check to be sure, but I think they were roughly even in win-rate in games without him as they were with him last year.