Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Not sure why you keep mentioning 5 years in the minors.
Chucko leads that category with 4 years already banked, on his 5th. I think most of us are agreed in labelling him a bust.
Pelech has played 3 years in the minors, this will be his 4th
Negrin has played 1, this will be his 2nd
Irving has played 2, this will be his 3rd.
Chucko likely won't be anything. Pelech may still turn into a regular NHLer with us or someone else.
To even talk about Irving or Negrin being busts at this point is pretty ludicrous. They aren't anywhere near the 5 years you seem to be harping on. Ryan Miller played University hockey and in the minors until he was 25 before making the NHL full time. And he was considered the best or one of the best goaltending prospects outside the NHL for a lot of that time.
Your rule about how many years a player plays before making the NHL ignores late bloomers and exceptions like that. Rafalski played 4 years in Europe after playing 4 years in college, he made the NHL in his mid 20's. I'm not saying any of these players will be Rafalski but you shouldn't be making blanket statements like top 4 defence/top 6 forwards never spend more than a few years in the minors because it just isn't true in all cases.
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5 years is simply a measure - you can agree or disagree with that being the cutoff line with respect to being a career minor league player. IMO if a guy is still in the minors after 5 years, with that organization, he's going to be a bust.
As noted, goalies typically don't fall under the 5 year category.
we've had the same conversation with respect to lottery picks being required in order for teams to get elite players. I say they don't; that great players can be found after the top 15. When you defend Calgary's poor record of drafting, you certainly don't use the exception to the rule either.
Luckily, all we have to do is watch the players named and their development in order to see which position is correct.