Vakub Voracek

[CanadianJacketsFan]

Now that our push for the playoffs is slowing down should we bring in prospects like Vakub Voracek in for a few games to get some feel for NHL speed going into next season. Same thing goes with Steve Mason.

I'd really like to see Vakub get some mins on the PP to see if he can add that spark with his sick passing skills. Maybe try him at center, see how he does with faceoffs and backchecking.

am i right or wrong?

[Nate]

If you're out of the playoff picture and you're thinking about next year, then yes I think you need to try some of the younger guys and get them some minutes.

[Prestonn99]

No, bringing Vorachek in right now would make him very difficuly to manage in the future. Next year during training camp will allow us to see if he is ready for the NHL. If Hitch and Howson don't think that he is ready, he will more then likly spend next season also in the Juniors.

I would not be totally against bringing him to Columbus for a small stint in the NHL this season if he were with the Crunch, but because of his age, he is not eligble for the AHL, nor will he be next season (this is a rule that makes NO sense to me). If we could call him up for a few games to get his feet wet, the I would be all for it, but if I'm not mistaken, once you leave Juniors for the NHL there is no turning back, and if you could return, I feel it would be detrimental to the confidence of a young player.

The days of the Blue Jackets rushing prospects into the NHL are over. There will be no more Gilbert Brules who are tossed into the NHL before they are ready. Again, the only reason Brule was with the club for all of last season was because of his age making him ineligble for the AHL.

The ability to send a prospect to the Crunch is somthing I honestly think is manditory for the proper development of our young up and coming picks. Example: Brule, Now that he is eligble for the AHL he was sent down this season for a few weeks, and returned with a large amount of confidence and determination, and look at the way his game has improved over the past few weeks.

I would love to see more of Jakub's play, but not if its at the expence of his development.

[CanadianJacketsFan]

Halifax Mooseheads forward Voracek dominant force in QMJHL this season
Canadian Press Feb 28, 2008

Jakub Voracek is sporting quite the hockey mop these days. The Halifax Mooseheads forward hasn't seen the barber since returning from the world junior hockey championship in January and the Czech's curly blondish hair is fast approaching the 1990s look of Jaromir Jagr, whose trademark curls flowed out the back of his helmet.

"I have to dye it black first," Voracek said of one day matching the former style of his countryman.

"(But) if I go two straight games without a point, I'll cut it," he added.

Based on his exceptional play this season, expect the locks to stay - and grow.

Voracek, a first-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2007 NHL draft, has been a dominant force in the QMJHL all season. He's recorded points in 44 of 47 games and has never gone back-to-back outings without at least a goal or an assist.

He also sports a league-best 30 multi-point games, including one five, three four and nine three-point efforts.

It's why the 18-year-old Voracek, who has missed 16 games because of Blue Jackets training camp and the world juniors, is leading the QMJHL in scoring with 95 points, including 31 goals. He also has his Mooseheads sitting as one of the teams to beat going into next month's playoffs.

"I try to show everything," said the six-foot-two, 190-pound right-winger, whose point total is nine more than he had last season in 59 outings as a rookie. "Score goals. Get assists. Score game-winning goals."

What makes Voracek so dangerous is his ability to dominate.

Voracek is a smooth skater with unbelievable hockey sense. His playmaking ability takes a back seat to no one in the QMJHL. He also has a great shot and a tremendous work ethic.

Voracek rarely takes a shift off, working hard at both ends of the rink and playing with a real competitive edge.

"I've seen him do some amazing things," said Mooseheads coach Cam Russell, a former NHL defenceman with the Chicago Blackhawks and Colorado Avalanche. "It's my opinion that he's the top player in the league. He's the kind of guy that makes it enjoyable to come to the rink every day."

The Blue Jackets are also impressed. A late cut at training camp, Columbus officials are watching Voracek closely in Halifax and are happy with his progress.

"How could we not (be happy)," said Paul Castron, the team's director of amateur scouting, who was surprised Voracek was still available in the draft when the Blue Jackets picked him seventh overall last year. "He's done everything really."

Many feel Voracek will be ready to make the jump to the NHL next season.

For that to happen, he needs a strong off-season, which includes adding more muscle. Then, at training camp, he'll have go out and earn his position.

"He has to force us to make a move on another player for him to land a spot," Castron explained. "But he's making all the right moves to do that right now."

Voracek is not without some faults. Although unbelievably skilled, he sometimes falls victim to trying to make the fancy play. And like most players his age, a better understanding of the defensive game is necessary.

"If you look at the way Columbus plays, they play a very defensive oriented system. That's something he'll obviously have to buy into," Russell said. "He'll have to get very good at it if he's going to play at the NHL level (next season)."

Voracek, the Canadian Hockey League's top import pick in 2007, doesn't hide the fact he wants to play for the Blue Jackets next season. The team signed him to a three-year entry level contract last August, and as a 19-year-old, Voracek would either play in the NHL, or go back to junior.

"I have to improve everything," Voracek said. "I think you can improve every year, every game, and every practice. You have to be bigger, stronger. "

"I can improve everything."

I no longer want Jakub to come play a few games this season. It's important for him to stay with the Mooseheads going into the playoffs because he will gain experience, leadership, responsibility and hopefully confidence. I disagree with Preson's belief that Jakub will still be in juniors come next year because the club is paying him 1.5 mill/year (I Think) and I feel with hard work during the off-season he can come in to training camp and impress the coaches.

The Canadian Press said that the lineup will be changed in order for Vakub to play, well I personally believe that Vyborny will NOT be a BlueJacket next season (he'll follow Svitovs (pussy ass) suit and go play in Europe) and there will be a need for a new top line RWinger a.k.a ...

Jakub Voracek!

[CanadianJacketsFan]

Just a small update on Jakub and the Mooseheads....

He finished the regular season 4th place in scoring with 101 pts in 53 games, not too shabby
(he played less games then any of the 3 guys ahead of him)

Playoffs:

they are winning 3-2 in the best of 7 series against Victoriaville, Jakub has 6 pts (2 goals 4 assists) in 5 games

i'll continue to give playoff updates as the playoffs go on (as long as they stay in)

[CBJfan14]

sounds like he is having a great year...  i say leave him down there until he is completely ready, dpnt bring him up tpp early like we did with Brule!

[CanadianJacketsFan]

Jakubs just 1 step away from the presidents cup finals!

http://www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=946855&id_saison=97

his stats for the playoffs: 11GP, 4 G, 12 A, 16 pts

so he isnt dominating like he did in the regular season but he's still a big reason Halifax has made it this far.

hopefully they can beat Gatineau this round and advance to the finals

[TheFiveHoleExpress]

I would not be totally against bringing him to Columbus for a small stint in the NHL this season if he were with the Crunch, but because of his age, he is not eligble for the AHL, nor will he be next season (this is a rule that makes NO sense to me). If we could call him up for a few games to get his feet wet, the I would be all for it, but if I'm not mistaken, once you leave Juniors for the NHL there is no turning back, and if you could return, I feel it would be detrimental to the confidence of a young player.

I think there is more to it than that, we brought Steve Mason in for about 5 games on emergency call up. Not sure the rules on that, but he didn't actually get in the games either, just sat the bench. Could be that you actually have to play in the game, not just be called up? Or is it ok if its emergency recall?

[CanadianJacketsFan]

no clue

[CanadianJacketsFan]

The Blue Jackets' top junior prospect Jakub Voracek will not join the Syracuse Crunch for the remainder of its playoff run.

Jackets general manager said Sunday that he and Voracek -- the franchise's top pick in last year's draft -- agreed to call it a season. And what a season it was. The winger registered 33 goals and 68 assists in 53 games for Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Voracek was fourth in league scoring. His team was knocked out in the third round of the playoffs.

Howson said there was thought of sending the right wing to Syracuse, but that it's been a long season and he's a little "banged up."

so Jakub is out of the quebec league playoffs, what a shame. He's made a good decision not to join syracuse, he wouldn't jell with the team and a star like Jakub needs his rest.

Come back strong at training camp Jakub!

[CanadianJacketsFan]

look at him now

[CanadianJacketsFan]

HiddenFireGemFly, you see this?

I am the Voracek master.