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Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Because he was two days away from being draft eligible this year, because he was rising up the scouts rankings faster than maybe any other player outside the top ten, because he's a 6 foot 4 centre with amazing hands, can shoot the lights out, and skate. So with a full year of development under his belt, there's no reason to think he wouldn't have continued to rise up the rankings, since all he's done since he was drafted is improve.

His toolbox was a tantalizing enough that's most teams were comfortable taking the chance on him in the 20s last year as a 17 year old. It's not like he all of a sudden became a 2nd round talent.




I should have been more concise with my expectations. My feeling isn't that they should rush him in three years after his draft, and if they want to be patient with him, by all means do that.

But in another two years, he will have completed three seasons in the NCAA. He's putting up solid if unspectacular numbers in a limited role as a freshman this year. Next year, his role will doubtlessly increase, and by year three, I don't see how he won't be the focal point of his team's offence.

At the end of his third year, he should be ready to push for a spot on this team. That is not an unreasonable expectation. If he needs a few months in the AHL, so be it. It doesn't make sense for him to play the full four years.

Based on what he has done this yer, I don't think he'd be a top ten pick in this years deep draft. He most likely would be a first rounder but a mid to late one pretty much where he was drafted last year, which is an improvement considering the stronger draft.