Quote:
Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
This is what I'm talking about - there are other factors at play beyond just the scouting - and this is a good example. I'm not sure I agree 100% with it or not, but I think you can make a case that Sutter over the years hasn't let enough vets walk via free agency.
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I'm not saying that there aren't other factors in play aside from just scouting, but the top scoring forward drafted by the Flames (since 2003) was traded away for a 4th round pick, and as of right now the only drafted players on the roster are Pardy and Backlund, and neither of those guys is an everyday player right now. So basically your saying that because the Flames have traded some picks, and because they aren't picking early it is acceptable/excusable that they don't have a single drafted player since 2003 making an impact on the NHL team right now. Are there reasons for that? Sure, but some teams have had less picks, and some have had later picks, but all of them are getting more production from drafted players than the Flames are right now.
With the way teams are getting younger and faster drafting properly is a necessity, and not just for long term success, but short term as well. So yeah certain factors can explain why the team isn't stacked with good young players, but it doesn't explain or excuse the lack of any type of impact from drafted players on the NHL team right now. I'm not asking for a Crosby, Malkin, Backstrom, Kane, Toews, etc, but being able to draft just one player even if he was just the equivalent of Stajan or Hagman(2 guys we traded our best drafted player for) would be huge for this team.