Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinordi
He was never very good because he had below average hands. Big fast kid that matured early but the warning signs were there in his draft year. He couldn't make plays at the speed he was playing, constantly flubbing the puck. He dropped from early rankings as a third overall guy to seventh with many thinking he should have dropped further. He was given a wealth of opportunity in St. Louis to compete and make it as a top nine forward, he didn't. It's not because Edmonton ruined him, he just sucks.
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He was always decent in close, mucking, garbage goals, that's what he was good at. Didn't have to have the hands to score those, just get in close and bat at the puck. He was rushed physically, shouldn't have played in the NHL that early. If he was brought along slowly he would have gotten stronger and not derailed by injuries.
Hard to give an organization like Edmonton, who continually rush players, the benefit the doubt here.