Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger
who would you have picked at the time?
pick 5) Del Colle, 0gp
pick 6) Virtanen, 135gp, 35p
pick 7) fleury. 61gp 12p
pick 8) nylander 179gp, 128p (would be a good pick but definitely would be a reach at 4th
Pick 9) Ehlers, 229gp, 158p (would be a good pick too)
Pick 10) Ritchie 180gp, 57p really 3rd line guy
unlike bennett, Nylander and Ehlers have had a chance to play with good linemates
with looking back at this draft there is not much from the any round too amazing... I don't get why people are so all about draft picks and trading decent players (Brodie) for a draft pick. Draft picks are great when rebuilding, but if your not in a full rebuild there best value is likely trading (as long as it is a younger asset).
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Lets not make excuses for Bennett. The reason he isn't playing with our top guys is because the coaching staff, like everybody else, sees that he lacks hockey IQ. Sure in juniors you can get away with that and rely on skill and finishing ability, but at the NHL game if you can't think the game, you are dead in the water.
To the point of not selecting him at 4 and picking somebody else? I specifically remember Nylander being the #1 ranked prospect early in the year and of course he fell as the year progressed. Maybe i'm just shocked at how bad Bennett actually thinks the game and how our scouting staff wasn't able to pick up on that prior.
Its unfortunate but I don't think Bennett will ever amount to anything significant in the NHL, and the hope when you draft in the top 5 is you get exactly that. You can't teach hockey IQ, I would sell while he has an ounce of value.