Quote:
Originally Posted by Chingas
I am not sure why I feel that I need to defend Nylander because I am not head over heels in love with him, and to be honest this is just scoreboard watching at this point. However a highly intellegent RW with 75 points in 57 regular season games, and 12 points in 6 playoff games all while playing in his first season in North America, sure seems like someone we could use. I am not sure where all of the talk of poor attitude and not playing well when it counts comes from as he delivered in the playoffs and played well in the world Juniors. Has anyone with any crediblity sited any attitude issues with him? Any interviews I have seen he sure comes accross as a humble kid.
If we have to "settle" for this kid at 6th I would be happy. I feel that taking a punt on someone who can turn into a real weapon is more valuable to us than a sure fire unspectacular defensman at this point in our rebuild. Nylander seems to me to be both bpa and fill a gap in the rw.
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I am coming across from the other side - I don't mind Nylander (and I was perhaps one of the few it seems that really appreciated his dad on the Flames).
75 points in 57 games - look at the guys in and around that 6th spot being talked about - those points aren't particularly 'amazing' - though his playoff points I think were pretty darn good.
If the Flames draft him, I won't hate it. I just see Nylander as one dimensional as it gets. Now, do I think the Flames would work with him and get him to grow in different areas? I think so. But that doesn't always work out (i.e. Baertschi).
I am not advocating Brown over Nylander. Or Jost over Nylander. Or Keller over Nylander. Etc.
I am advocating that the Flames continue to build what I think is their 'identity'. We have seen it the last few seasons now in Calgary - a tenacious hockey club that doesn't give up and doesn't back down, with speed and solid 2-way play. Now, with that being said, the majority of this past season was terrible, but I think most can follow along.
People are talking about Nylander like he is head and shoulders more offensive and highly skilled than his competition. I beg to differ.
Jost is right there. Keller is arguably even better skilled. I like these two more than Nylander because I see them fit 'better' organizationally (and I desperately want the Flames to get bigger, yet I like 2 smaller guys over Nylander). Why do I think they fit better? They seem to have a heck of a lot more tenacity in their games. I think they both have much higher motors.
Look at Logan Brown. 74 points in 59 games. Doesn't seem like Nylander is that much more productive to me. Brown also plays more defence - how many more points could be ARGUABLY have registered if he wasn't more responsible defensively (and yes, that is what scouts write as one of his strengths, though he isn't as defensively sound as a McLeod). If you followed him later into the season and especially in the U18s, he started to actually use his body, which maybe is indicative of becoming an even more attractive and important piece for the Flames.
I like Nylander's shot. I like Nylander's ability to generate offence. I just don't particularly see too many more strengths in his game. I especially hate it when I hear scouts saying: "We went to watch Nylander, and came away more impressed with McLeod". To me, that insinuates that Nylander isn't pushing the line, McLeod is.
If you take a look at Jost, Keller and Brown - these are the drivers for their line. They all possess other attractive qualities other than offence, yet they compare really well to Nylander on that front. That is why I don't necessarily 'hate' Nylander, but those 3 guys have definitely jumped way ahead of Nylander for me.
If the Flames pick Nylander, I know they will have another prospect with top-line potential who can be a secondary scoring threat on the top line, or hopefully a good tandem offensively with Bennett. I just think I can say the same thing about those other 3 just as well, but they will provide those lines with 'something else' in addition to pure offence. Not the end of the world if the Flames take Nylander - kid will score.
I just want the Flames to build a team.
I look at it this way. Remember the Flames in '04? They were a team. They had an identity, and they played well to that identity. Sutter eventually removed himself from the coaching position - when he had a firm pulse on both the team and the on-ice product. The more years removed, the less his trades 'fit'. At the end of Keenan's tenure, that Flames team - much more talented than the '04 Flames - was a mish-mash of different types of players. They no longer had an identity.
This is why I prefer the Flames to pass over Nylander. He is Baertschi to me in some ways (which is unfair to him - I really believe he will be a better player than Baertschi - much better in fact). But that 'type' of player. If he isn't driving offence, he isn't helping the team. He isn't going to create turnovers on the forecheck like Keller or Jost will. He isn't going to win board battles or offer superior puck protection like Brown would. Yet, it seems his offence is right around the same mark as those 3, give or take.