Quote:
Originally Posted by FAN
You are lumping Weisbrod ability to make/suggest good management decisions and his ability to evaluate talent together. It should be separated. I don't think there is anything wrong with picking a 4-5 year project with enormous upside at #21. Realistically, the only guy at #14 that could be expected to be close to NHL ready was Girgensons and Wilson. The best defenders available and Teravainen with his slight build were expected to be at least 3 years away. I don't think there were too many who believed that Hertl would be able to make the type of impact he made at the NHL level so soon, even though he was playing against men.
I think that Weisbrod is a good talent evaluator. I don't think he would have been able to rise up in that Bruins organization under Chiarelli without some ability. But that doesn't mean he's going to bat 100% and that doesn't mean he knows how to build a winning team. So I think Weisbrod is at his best scouting the pro ranks and college (i.e. his job in Boston).
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I disagree with the Jankowski pick due to organizational philosophy at the time. This was a team that was selling a fan base on competing for a cup/playoff spot while improving the roster and bringing in young players. Drafting a 4-5 year project with your first round pick was not the right move for the organization. I am fine with trading down because moving only 7 spots landed them another pick in the top 60 that they needed. I remember as they walked up to the podium I was convinced we were getting Matta who dropped in the draft and was projected to go in the top 15. Taking Janko with the pick made little sense as he likely would have been available with our 2nd but Weisbroad had tunnel vision and convinced the scouts this kid was going to be a superstar.
Who knows maybe he pans out the potential is still there and now that they have started to rebuild and the flames have Monahan, Bennett and Johnny who looks like a late round steal the there is not as much pressure on Janko. I just didn't agree with the move as it relates to the teams philosophy at the time.
There were rumors other teams were picking Jankowski in the first round if the flames didn't but that was only speculation on the Feasters part to justify the pick. There were also rumors that Weisbroad was in charge of the Bouwmeester trade which was absolutely horrendous for the Flames. Luckily the Blues made the playoffs and were best early so we got their 2013 pick. Having said that it was also only a rumor so could be totally false.