Juraj Valach on the Giants...

[Stamps1]

The Giants aqquired him last year, played a few games, then Giants trade him away ...??? why did they do this?? he did good for the G MEN

[Lucic]

Not really. While he had a heavy shot he was pretty bad defensively and never really fit in, IMO. He would have struggled to crack the top 6 on a consistent basis.

[dondo]

not sure what games you were watching, but Valach was slow, lazy and did not bring his game up to Giants hockey level.

he had a great shot when he got it through, but he was a big liability and big guy who didn't hit, and did not hustle back --he didn't do "good" at all.

Neither did he do well for the team to which we dealt him.


Vancouver and Tri-City
To Vancouver: Juraj Valach
To Tri-Cities: 55th pick in the Import draft.

Vancouver and Regina
To Vancouver: Craig Schira (19 yr old D) Mike Reich (19 yr old, C)
To Tri-Cities: Juraj Valach (19 yr Old, D), Tim Kraus (20 yr old, C)

Schira has become a top offensive defenseman with us, when he was just playing a stay at home D role with the Pats, Mike Reich contributed decently. Valach took up an import spot, did not contribute to the team, did not fit in and did not fight and try.

I personally love that we picked him up.. and then were comfortable saying .. hmmmm.. nope. Hey Pats! A similar thing happened with Phil Gervais who was all intense with no direction and couldn't settle down or play the systems and was dealt not too long after acquiring him. not every player fits into a Don Hay system and prima-donnas either drink the team Kool-Aid or the get relegated to the doghouse and then given walking papers.

The linchpin of that deal was Kraus who has contributed well with the Pats and I think Valach was just throw-in the Giants were dying to rid themselves of..

Schira was capable last season, but this season his game is at a whole other level. Valach would not have even come close.

We all had high hopes for Valach, but in the end he didn't fit and wasn't willing to do what it took to stick with the team.