Quote:
Originally Posted by djsFlames
Burke also needs to put more emphasis on skill.
We've demonstrate that we can compete with anyone in the league when we stick to our system that relies heavily on energy and work ethic. We've got a winning record vs the past 3 cup champs to prove it. What's holding us back most is our talent level. We have to work so hard to stay in games and did exceptionally well at it early on, but you can't keep up that effort level, hence the shutout streak. We need legitimate 1st liners that can put up the points.
That should 100% be his primary focus with our top 3 pick this draft, above all else. Elite skill is something we desperately need more of. He can go in the character and size direction with later picks, that's great. I don't care. Just don't flop on that 1st.
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He's never said he wants to draft unskilled big players. Obviously the ideal is size + skill + character and there should be several players with that combination at the top end of the draft. I don't see the problem with what he's said. There's nothing new to worry about now, some of you are reacting to this size thing as if it is new info.
Usually the GM's preference on what attributes he wants to emphasize will have more of an effect on mid-late round picks. If anything Burke's comments to them will have us downgrading a guy like William Nylander at the top end. And personally as soon as Burke was hired I didn't think we'd draft him. Personally I had zero interest in Nylander with Baertschi, Gaudreau and Hudler all in the system or on the team. Drafting a guy like Nylander with what we've already got would be like the Oilers taking Yakupov after already having RNH, Hall and Eberle. Nobody should want us to draft a small, skilled winger with our top pick this year.
The people thinking we're gonna pass on Reinhart and Bennett because they are average size are obviously overreacting, misreading the situation or misunderstanding Burke. Burke has drafted Kadri and Reilly in the top 10 who are no bigger than Reinhart/Bennett. And both Kadri and Reilly are high skill players who aren't necessarily truculent. So again those worrying we'll take a Biggs type player in the top 5 are jumping to conclusions and using completely backwards analysis of the situation.