Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
Way too early to be saying what Poirier and Klimchuk will definitely be. Either you haven't followed prospects very long or haven't followed hockey very long if you're comfortable writing off players in their early 20's. Ever seen late bloomers? Ever followed Backlund's career progression?
You can't possibly know how good a player like Klimchuk will be, nobody knows the future. Stop pretending you do
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Yep, I've followed Backlund's career. At the same point in his development (approximately four years after draft, second pro season) Backlund had played almost 100 NHL games. He was already an NHLer, even if he had plenty of areas he needed to improve upon.
Towards the end of their second professional seasons, prospects
need to be making a push for the NHL club. Giordano, Brodie, Bouma, Backlund, Ferland... all of these players had either made the team or had played an extended stretch in the NHL by the end of their second pro years.
Fans always want to look favourably on their team's players, which is underatandable. But things aren't looking great for Poirier and Klimchuk. It's a shame as the first round in 2013 was quite strong but we ended up drafting two of the weaker players.