Quote:
Originally Posted by Aarongavey
Exactly, what fan comes on a forum to criticize a Flames draft pick on draft day unless it is Jankowski. Furthermore who would criticize a pick by Burke and company. This Smith guy reminds me of a less talented Chris Dingman from his size, his numbers in junior, his apparent inability to skate, his truculence, etc. but I know I should not say that because Dingman was merely a 4th liner.
I would like to know how many drafted players have anything less than some form of NHLer as their projected ceiling though. That would be real bad if Burke drafted this guy in the 2nd round and his ceiling was a 4th liner or AHLer.
The Lucic stuff is equally as embarrassing for fans as some guy saying he will be a NHL hockey player on the 4th line. When Lucic was 18 he had 30 goals and 68 points, slightly better numbers than Smith in his 18 year old year.
It was Lucic's 17 year old year when he had the 19 points, in Smith's 17 year old year he had 1 point. Their is really very little that is similar between the two players numbers at least outside of both being big guys. But somehow a Lucic comparison is a fair comparable but a 4th liner is ridiculous, colour me bemused.
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Criticism is welcome.
Making crap up (ceiling is a fourth liner / can't skate) will generate criticism towards your post.
Typically, really big kids take a while to get their skating. The important thing with Hunter, IMO, is the amount of improvement in the last year (which was similar with Lucic). It is always about progression.
He is a month older than Draisaitl and is 6'7" 220. The fact that he can skate at all is somewhat remarkable.
It will be interesting to see how he progresses this year - that will tell us a lot. Personally, I would want to see
at least 25-30 goals.