NHL Prospect Watch: Jakub Kindl

Jakub Kindl's long, painful adjustment to North America continues this season and the growing pains still remain. Scouts and NHL personnel speak of potential in regards to Kindl – he has outstanding physical skills and is built for a faster paced NHL game. Whether his mindset is in agreement with his body is another matter.

Another slow start this season looks like predominantly more of the same. His numbers so far have been solid (16-3-12-15), but a poor +/- rating (-7, one of the worst on the team) stands out.

Kindl is partnered with fellow first rounder Boris Valabik, which gives him the luxury of joining the rush while the big Slovak takes care of the dirty work.

At either end, Kindl has not incorporated a physical dimension. He remains passive and relies solely on positioning to contain forwards. His QB skills are effective on the power play – he has magnificent hands and feet that really fly when he has the room to operate. On the downside, his shot power is only average and his decision-making is frequently a red flag, as he often elects to pass when he should shoot, and shoots when he should pass.

He is a better player at several aspects – one is that he is stronger on the puck, not significantly but enough to keep him on his feet in traffic. He has grown to be more confident and is taking more chances with the puck, although we still don't see that playmaking sixth sense that one would expect from a true expert pointman.

We will keep you updated on Kindl's status throughout the season.