Quote:
Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher
In some ways yes and in some ways no. Their draft position is referred to because it helps us realize their upside and potential. Hanifin was drafted top 5 as a future stud dman. He still holds that potential. Referring to him as a former top 5 pick is an easy way to refer to that potential. But if that line of thinking offends you then refer to Hanifin as a future stud dman and Lindholm as a young blossoming top 6 C/RW. These two players are not busts. They were drafted extremely high for many reasons and those reasons have not evaporated or disappeared. They had massive potential when drafted and they still have that potential. So their draft position definitely has some relevance to their upside, potential and to their trade value.
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His draft slot has nothing to do with him still holding that potential. His age and improvement year over year have everything to do with that potential. They were picked where they were picked because people felt they had that potential
in their draft year, and now you can take their play in the league and determine if they still hold that potential completely independent of where they were drafted.
Draft pedigree has value before the player has played a significant amount of games in the league. It applies to neither of these guys at this point, only results and growth do. One is growing, one really isn't, and him being picked 5th overall 5 years ago really does nothing to add to what he's worth. At least I sure hope it doesn't to our management team.