Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
So much wrong in that article. First, Mangiapane is not a cohort of any of those players identified. Hiw many of those guys were passed over being drafted/selected in the junior or college ranks? How many of them were passed over in their first draft? This means teams passed on him at least a dozen times before he was selected by the Flames in the 6th round of his second edible draft. Not a single player mentioned in that article can say that. Again, that stacks up against the player.
The article also goes on about NHLe and it being a sure fire predictor of success. That is just so much bull#### it is beyond belief. Feel free to review the junior scoring races from the past 20 years and see just how many players with a NHLe of 30 or better didn't amount to a hill of beans. This list is very long and very proud.
As to your claim of the Mangiapane being named the most underrated player having any significance here is a list of past winners of that poll.
Marcus McIvor and Pius Suter
Brendan Bell and Brady Vail
Colin Miller and Eric Locke
Sam Carrick and Josh Leivo
Andy Andreoff and Brett Flemming (Freddie Hamilton was 3rd)
Ken Peroff and Garrett Ross
I can go on and on here. That's a list of pretty unwhelming players, a lot of them never even holding an AHL job. That speaks volumes of the importance of that award in the coach's poll.
I think we can agree that Mangiapane has some skill. You don't crack 100 points in the AHL without having skill. the issue is his development and the curve he is taking to get to the level where people should be all hot and bothered. This is a kid who has always been behind his peer group in development. Well he is now graduating to the pro ranks and has to prove his skills translate. That is key here. You have to believe that his skills will translate or he likely doesn't even hold a job in the AHL. He has to prove that first. Do that, be a top scorer in that league, then we can get excited about the kid. There is too much history, including his own, working against him.
One last thing, about the whole age crack. Yeah, I remember Marty Murray. I remember a lot of guys older than that too. That means I've see a lot of really good players over the years not amount to much, and lesser skilled players carve out impressive careers. Experience counts when evaluating these guys, a lot more than a spreadsheet.
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Pretty sure we had this exact discussion when Mangiapane won these awards.
How many of those "underrated players" also won fastest skater and best shootout shooter awards and were one of the leagues top scorers? Typically prospects without hype aren't top scorers of their league. Mangiapane is the exception, not the norm.
You think we as fans aren't allowed to get excited for prospects until they become top scorers in the AHL. I think that's the dumbest possible stance to take. So mind boggling and I clearly remember you saying it before. If you don't have the ability to evaluate a players skill before turning pro, that's on you. Mangiapane has done everything in his power to rise the prospect rankings and I believe he's going to be a surefire top-9 NHLer.
Smaller players need to do more to stand out as a real player. Mangiapane has done that ever since being passed over in his first draft. Just like how Johnny did after being passed over by team USA.