Lukas Jasek | RW

[SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME]

Jasek transferred to IK Oskarshamn earlier this month on a two-year contract with the SHL club.
 

Canucks hold his rights until July 1st 2025, when he hits age 27 free agency (which also lines up with the end of his SHL deal).

 

It’ll be interesting to see how he does in the SHL. If he can continue to prove himself as a top line centreman, produce points, and play high minutes in all situations in Sweden, he might still get himself on the radar. If not with Vancouver, I could see another NHL team taking notice and giving him an opportunity in 2025.

 

It’s kind of a shame that we didn’t have our current staff and the team located in Abbotsford when Jasek was playing in the AHL. I really think under the current conditions down on the farm (and also with the roster up on the main squad), he would have been given a real chance with the NHL team, and it’s quite possibly he could have seized that opportunity and claimed a 3C role with the Canucks.
 

I also think the current farm system coaches/staff (and the expanded development department) would have given him better development and helped grow him into an even better player than he is today (although he still worked his butt off with Utica, did everything the coaches asked of him, and proved himself to be one of our best AHL players while he was here).

Edited May 22, 2023 by SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME
Typo

[Fred65]

I always believed Jasekwas a good prospect and can't for the life of me think what scouts have against him or a flaw that's maybe not noticable

[SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME]

7 minutes ago, Fred65 said:

I always believed Jasekwas a good prospect and can't for the life of me think what scouts have against him or a flaw that's maybe not noticable

I suspect it’s mostly a size issue and the usual biases around him being both European and of a slight build. He’s a pretty feisty kid and works his butt off along the boards, but he’s still probably around 180ish pounds (maybe even under that) at 6’1”, so he’s not built like your prototypical 3C, and he definitely didn’t have that kind of pedigree and profile.

 

It still surprises me, however, that they never gave him a look. Especially that one season when he was basically Utica’s 1C, top minute forward, one of the first choices for taking key draws (including D-zone), and one of their main special teams guys, both PK and PP. 

 

Jasek always kept his head up, but I also know he felt personally hurt by the organization never giving him an opportunity, especially after he’d been such a “good soldier” and done everything they’d asked of him. It’s a pretty rare thing for a Euro kid who was basically seen as a winger to come over, switch to C (which he hadn’t really played with much regularity since he was a junior), and thrive in the position. And while he was always viewed as a speed/skill guy, he was able to quickly establish himself as a very steady defensive player, through hard work and determination, and really absorbing his coaching. Like I said, the kid worked so hard and he basically solved their roster issues by converting himself into a top level two-way centre in the AHL, which the Comets really needed at the time. Usually that kind of performance gets rewarded. Especially when the NHL club is in the basement of the standings and has no reason not to audition their prospects and depth guys. 

[joe-max]

31 minutes ago, SID.IS.SID.ME.IS.ME said:

I suspect it’s mostly a size issue and the usual biases around him being both European and of a slight build. He’s a pretty feisty kid and works his butt off along the boards, but he’s still probably around 180ish pounds (maybe even under that) at 6’1”, so he’s not built like your prototypical 3C, and he definitely didn’t have that kind of pedigree and profile.

 

It still surprises me, however, that they never gave him a look. Especially that one season when he was basically Utica’s 1C, top minute forward, one of the first choices for taking key draws (including D-zone), and one of their main special teams guys, both PK and PP. 

 

Jasek always kept his head up, but I also know he felt personally hurt by the organization never giving him an opportunity, especially after he’d been such a “good soldier” and done everything they’d asked of him. It’s a pretty rare thing for a Euro kid who was basically seen as a winger to come over, switch to C (which he hadn’t really played with much regularity since he was a junior), and thrive in the position. And while he was always viewed as a speed/skill guy, he was able to quickly establish himself as a very steady defensive player, through hard work and determination, and really absorbing his coaching. Like I said, the kid worked so hard and he basically solved their roster issues by converting himself into a top level two-way centre in the AHL, which the Comets really needed at the time. Usually that kind of performance gets rewarded. Especially when the NHL club is in the basement of the standings and has no reason not to audition their prospects and depth guys. 

Fully agree. Not sure whether he would have established himself in the NHL, but that he didn't even get a single game in his 4 years in North America surprises. He could have been the 'new Burrows'. 

[-Vintage Canuck-]

 

[Diamonds]

I'm still upset we never gave Jasek a call-up. He has always come across as incredibly hardworking and is just a hard guy not to root for.

 

I wonder if new managment will make him a pitch if he has a good full season in the SHL.