Quote:
Originally Posted by Iniggywetrust
I still feel people are over valuing junior prospects.5 and under valuing guys knocking on the door.
Magiapane had the same point totals last year as the year before. He is under sized and was a second entry into the draft. Andersson had a great season, but has a lot to learn about being a pro. Both have potential to be great but both could also bust. History tells us great junior players don't always turn into great pros. Especially in older Junior years.
Shinkaruk was great in Junior, had a solid year in the AHL and showed he could contribute in the NHL. Still a lot of potential and his floor is NHL player.
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I see it the other way.
When you draft a guy at the age of 18 he has to keep improving in relation to his peers at 19, 20 and 21 or he won't make it.
A top 5 pick will play without improving, but a guy taken in the second round has to keep improving in relation to his peers or it's over.
When a guy gets to the AHL, and has mixed results it's a sign that he may not be out running the heard any more. We saw that with Poirier last year, certainly saw it with Klimchuk.
Does that mean they are done? Hell no. They can find that burst again and catch up or over take the group and be well on their way again.
A guy like Andersson however hasn't hit that wall. He hasn't played pro hockey yet for sure, and that's the next step. But he took another step in the season after his draft and with that he's still projecting to be an upper roster player.
Wotherspoon didn't take those steps, so now he's likely projecting to a lower roster player, or a tweener as it stands - unless he can surge again.
I value upper roster destination prospects over guys that will play a bit, or are closer, and with that I'll always rate a guy that nailed his post draft season over a guy that is getting by in the AHL.