[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I guess I don't understand what you're saying then. Looks like you say, "I don't put too much into consensus" and then you criticize the Bruins for not following the supposed consensus and say that you'll criticize the Flames for not following the supposed consensus. Please explain.

There is a difference between plainly following a list on central scouting or ISS or what have you.

If you can consider a "tier" of players of those who generally hover around the same rank across multiple publications (i.e., if you graphed their positions, mean, min, max, on a graph, a tier of players would be close together. The next tier, as we can see in this draft, occurs after the top 3, as you have noted). Debrusk/Senyshyn weren't even in the same stratosphere as Barzal/Connor. I'll bet the Islanders and Jets tap-danced to the podium.

You can say whatever you want. If you've seen the players and have some talent at identifying talent (or scouting) then what you say would be a valid and informed opinion.

Are you saying there's a top 5 followed by a top 8? If so how many times have you seen the players in question?

Why can I say there's a clearcut top 3? I'm merely repeating what most scouts have said this year. It also happens that in my limited viewings of the players in question that the top 3 players are on another tier than the rest. Saying there's a clearcut top 3 is echoing the expert opinion.

I don't understand how you can say "I'm merely repeating what most scouts have said this year." and then mock me for doing the same.

That's a quote from you. That is a false statement. That statement you made is not true.

It's a false statement to say the Rangers and Leafs have larger and more expensive scouting teams?

They do. I don't know what else to say to you. Higher revenue teams have an advantage here. It's as it's always been. This is the primary reason why the NHL established Central Scouting Services, to help level the playing field.