Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Hudson
We don't have that many great prospects, so there is an inpetus to groom our prospects well. I hope this will be the guy to do that. We desparately need cheap top 6/4 players, enough of the $3-4.5M 30+ year olds.
What will be the measure of a success, at least 2 (1F,1D) graduate to NHL at the start of every year, and 1 during season? One 1st-2nd line player every 2nd year?
Can we project any of our prospects to top positions?
Brodie maybe this year, Nemisz, Reinhart, Howse, Wahl, Breen, Ramage and Irving over the next 5 years? One can dream.
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That measure of success can't necessarily be sustained. Id say that if at least 2 graduate to the NHL at the beginning of or during any season, should be the measure of great success, and if 1 manages to do so, that should be acceptable, depending on where the team is. If a year from now only 1 makes the NHL, that would be a disappointment, but this year, if one makes it out of camp, that will be considered a success due to all the competition for the bottom paring defensive spots. When there are only 21-23 players on a team, 3 rookies are hard to integrate every year. The Oilers only had that many on their roster to start last year and they were the worst team in the League.
I'd say that a measure of development success has to be more than just players making the NHL team. If two players on a team can increase their responsibilities every year, that should also be considered a measure of success, because if they can't, it will be hard to add rookies. Backlund going from the 3rd/4th lines to 1st/2nd and Giordano going from second paring defenseman to first pairing defenseman and being successful in those roles would be a success by my definition. Last year, Moss and Glencross forcing their way onto the second line would qualify.