Quote:
Originally Posted by Five-hole
Maybe so, but with the 4th overall pick you're looking for more than a guy who can grind down opposing D. He did his role well, and the role they're asking him to play isn't the role a Petan is playing, but he hasn't showed much in terms of skill.
A lot of people, myself included, were wary of a guy like Ritchie because guys who scouts fall in love with due to their size and physical play are often overrated and do little offensively at the NHL level. We needed more certainty than that at the pick we had, and I'm glad we didn't take him for that reason. It's definitely still possible he becomes better player than Bennett, but I'd say the odds are pretty low.
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Sorry to clarify - by no means am I suggesting that the Flames should have taken him at 4. I think he went in the area he should have.
My main point centered on the fact that his line did important work yesterday - and the ability for the team to role out a line like that - was a crucial part of the win. They did their best work when the game was close and soon after the goal started coming.