Quote:
Originally Posted by ssjshmo
Is Detroit considered the exception to this new NHL development path?
Tartar and Nyquist are always used as their prime examples. Granted neither of them went 3rd overall
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Nyquist was drafted #121 overall.
Tatar was drafted #60 overall.
Neither were top offensive talents when they were drafted. Both were a lot further from being NHL ready than Drouin was. Players like Tatar and Nyquist need to learn a more well rounded games, because they don't have the pure offensive firepower that a player like Drouin has.
The whole Detroit long term development program is a bit of a myth too. The simple fact of the matter is that Detroit has been so successful for so long that they don't draft high, and aren't going to get NHL ready high end prospects. Instead, they are forced to squeeze talent out of the later rounds. Detroit is very good at finding players with potential but require development.
As others have stated when they get a talent like Larkin, who was their highest drafted pick since Martin Lapointe in 1991, they fast track him, as they should.
Basically, what I'm saying is that Detroit's long development program is out of necessity, not choice, because they simply rarely draft high enough to get high end NHL ready prospects.