Quote:
Originally Posted by ricardodw
So looking at Bob Mckenzie's 2009 pre-draft rankings..... what was the problem with going Canadian at pick #23 after the 6 best Euro's were gone. McKenzie ranked Ryan O'Rielly just ahead of Erixon and turns out he is in the top 10 from the class of '09.
Was there a rule that the Flames had to take the long-shot on a Euro instead of picking a Canadian that was ready for a regular shift in the NHL 3 months after he was drafted?
Sometimes the obvious pick is a lot better than the guy that needs to develop for another 2-3 years. |
Hindsight is 20/20. I'm pretty sure O'Reilly jumping straight into the NHL was a surprise to most NHL teams or he wouldn't have gone in the second round. Most guys of his pedigree in the CHL don't make the jump so quickly so it's not like it was blatantly obvious. Erixon was playing a regular shift as D-man against men in the Swedish elite league.