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Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
I see it similar to 2013 as well. Barkov is a going to be a top tier #1 centre and Drouin is showing some serious star/superstar potential this year. Wouldn't surprise me if Ristolainen was a Norris nominee/winner at some point, he has massive ability and is one of the better young dmen in the game. Monahan looks like a star. Wouldn't surprise me if a guy like Lindholm turned out pretty star like as well. Nurse still has top pairing potential IMO. Jones looks like sure fire top pairing dman with star upside. Wouldn't rule him out of competing for a Norris later in his career. Domi is showing some star potential IMO.
2013 is a disappointment to you? weird. Some fantastic young players have come from that draft. Definitely a lot of future stars in there. Too early to say there was no top 15 players, can't judge most drafts properly until 5-7 years after. Barkov, MacKinnon, Drouin and Monahan could all be top 15 scorers at some point in their career. There's not many young dmen in the game I'd take over Ristolainen and Jones.
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Again, the hype. When do these players actually step up and prove they are as good as you suggest? Monahan is the best of that draft and has proven it in spades. Not only has he stepped up and become an important core player for his team, he has actually done it in multiple years. Drouin has displayed super star potential, with that whopping 8 goals in 35 games played? If he was a super star I would expect a lot more production than that. Simply stated, super stars do not spend the majority of their season in the minors, or pouting at home. And Nurse, a top defenseman? He plays like a number six, at absolute best. When does he show that he has the skill or instincts to be a top pairing defenseman? He plays like a border line player on a team full of minor league level talent. Of the 2013 draft the best blueliner appears to be Ristolainen, but he has massive mountain to climb in the Norris voting. There's a lot of projection in you post, but the players are short on proving capable of playing to level outlined. Again, hype but they aren't backing it up. Good players, possibly even star players, but not the top end super star talents you've suggested. When you frame these players with the expectations you have laid out, then yes, that draft is a bust.