Tomas Jurco
Image: NHL

Tomas Jurco

Hometown:

Kosice Slovakia

Currently Playing In:

Pro

Birthday:

1992-12-28

Position:

RW

Eligible for draft:

2011

Shoots:

Left

Drafted:

2011

Height:

6-2

Acquired:

2nd round (35th overall), 2011

Weight:

193 lbs.

Probability of Success
  • C

History

2007-08: Tomas Jurco played for the U-18 squad of HC Kosice. In 57 games, he scored 28 goals and added 24 assists for 52 points.

2008-09: Jurco spent most of the season with HC Kosics's U-20 team, scoring 24 goals and adding 30 assists for 54 points in 51 games. He also played in 5 games for the U-18 squad, scoring 8 goals and adding 5 assists for 13 points. Jurco played for Slovakia at the 2009 U-18 World Junior Championship, scoring 2 goals and adding 3 assists for 5 points in 6 games. He was chosen in the first round, 4th overall, of the 2009 CHL Import Draft by the Saint John Sea Dogs.

2009-10: In his QMJHL rookie season, Jurco appeared in 64 games for the Sea Dogs. He scored 26 goals and added 25 assists for 51 points. In 21 playoff games, he scored 7 goals as added 10 assists for 17 points. Jurco was chosen in the sixth round, 141st overall, of the 2010 KHL Draft by Automobilist Ekaterinburg.

2010-11: In 60 games for the Sea Dogs, Jurco scored 31 goals and added 25 assists for 56 points. In 19 playoff games, he scored 6 goals and added 12 assists for 18 points. Jurco played for Slovakia at the 2011 U-20 World Junior Championship, scoring 1 goal in 6 games.  Jurco played for Team Cherry at the 2011 CHL Home Hardware Top Prospects Game.

2011-12: Skating on one of the top lines in junior hockey for much of the season with Saint John, Jurco was the fourth-leading scorer for the Sea Dogs despite missing 20 games. Playing with 2011 first round picks Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida) and Zach Phillips (Minnesota) on the QMJHL champions, Jurco scored 30 goals with 38 assists and was plus-46 with 37 penalty minutes. The Sea Dogs finished with a league-high 103 points and lost just once in the QMJHL playoffs. Jurco scored 13 goals with 16 assists and was plus-24 with 12 penalty minutes in 16 playoff games. In the four Memorial Cup games he scored 2 goals with 1 assist and was minus-2 with 4 penalty minutes; Saint John was 2-2 in the tournament, losing to Shawinigan in the semifinals. Jurco was the leading scorer for sixth-place Slovakia at the 2012 U20 World Junior Championship, scoring 1 goal with 7 assists in five games and was plus-four with 4 penalty minutes.

 

Talent Analysis

A dynamic scoring forward who is infamous for his highlight-reel shootout goals, Jurco is far from a one-trick pony. Displaying a willingness to drive to the net, he looks at times closer to a power forward than a pure sniper. With game-breaking ability, the question is whether the Slovakian can put it all together. His hands are incredible, but he needs to round out his game and show more consistency in his effort.

 

Future

Jurco continues to project as a high scoring top-six talent. A better understanding of how his talent will develop should come this season, as he will make the jump to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012-13.

 

Jurco, Ouellet among Wings prospects to enjoy long post-seasons

by Mike Farkas
on
Tom Jurco at the 2011 NHL Draft.

Photo: Tomas Jurco is among the few Red Wings prospects to see an extensive post-season. (Brace Hemmelgarn/Icon SMI)

 

Success in Hockeytown is measured in Stanley Cups, but unfortunately, the Detroit Red Wings and their local affiliates came up well short of their intended goals this past season. The Red Wings made the playoffs but failed to advance past the division rival Nashville Predators in the first round. The AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins missed the playoffs altogether. They won just three of their final 10 games down the stretch and missed the playoffs by nine points. At the ECHL level, the Toledo Walleye posted the third-worst record in the league as they were unable to clinch a postseason berth for the second straight season. It was a disappointing spring for most Red Wings prospects abroad as well, though there were several notable exceptions.

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Top 10 QMJHL Wingers

by Kevin Forbes
on
Photo: Tomas Jurco (DET) is one of many drafted players on the Saint John Sea Dogs roster. Jurco managed 30 goals in only 48 regular season games in 2011-12. (Photo courtesy of Dave Connell/HF)

There are plenty of reasons why the Saint John Sea Dogs are the favorite to repeat not just as QMJHL champions this year, but also to successfully defend their Memorial Cup win from last season.

First and foremost, the Sea Dogs were the top team in the regular season for a record-setting third consecutive year. They've followed that momentum into the playoffs, where they are currently in the third round and so far have out-scored their opponents by a combined total of 79-28.

All this offensive firepower is thanks to the depth of the Sea Dogs roster and no where is that depth more noticeable than when you consider the forwards on Saint John's roster in the context of the top forwards in the QMJHL.
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