Have we talked about this Spector article he posted yesterday?
I keep checking in on Bouchard, and came across a doozy that I'm sure will age well:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/...st-nine-games/
"...Keith Gretzky is earning the confidence of a highly skeptical Oilers fan base, one that has waited patiently for their team to have success with picks that aren’t No. 1 overall. Rounds 2 through 7 are supposed to deliver the odd player as well.
As it stands, the Oilers’ top two prospects were both first-rounders — Evan Bouchard, 10th overall in 2018 and Kailer Yamamoto, 22nd overall in 2017. But below that are a host of guys picked outside Round 1 who elicit a definite belief that they will one day play in the NHL."
First off, I didn't know the nepotism ran so strong that Keith was on-board... and secondly, let's have a look at the
host of players outside the 1st round Mark really wants you to check out.
He starts with Bouchard and Yamamoto... their 1st rounders
Then we have McLeod, Bear, and Benson. At first look, that's a pretty mediocre group to be getting excited about... let alone elicit a
definite belief that they will one day play in the NHL. The only belief I have that the 3 listed will play in the NHL is centered around the atrocious roster that they're competing against.
That Edmonton fans can read that article and do anything but request Mark writes less is hilarious.
Ryan McLeod:
The only knock on the Oilers here is their fanbase and media seemingly glossing over this guy. He's exactly what the Oilers need, and he's done nothing but lead Mississauga since going back this year. Big guy, pretty quick, great IQ and good on the FOs. He's their ticket to actually having a 3rd line.
"But it definitely looks like he’ll play, and depending on how fast second-rounder Tyler Benson progresses, McLeod could be the first Oilers second-rounder to pan out since Tyler Pitlick in 2010."
Ethan Bear:
"But Bear, a Tyson Barrie protégé, is still one of the top defencemen in the system and could be called up when injuries hit."
Oilers Nation pointed out that Bear was named the WHL Defenceman Of The Year, along with "[s]ome notable NHL players [like] Wendel Clark, Chris, Phillips, Tyson Barrie, Dion Phaneuf, Kris Russell (TWICE), and Tyson Barrie." (...also twice...?). The kid looks like he'll be just fine, but a Tyson Barrie protege? It's certainly possible, I guess But 'possible' and 'protege' are very different things...
I also don't think you send down a Tyson Barrie protege when you have names like Garrison, Benning, Gravel (?) and Russell on your roster... unless this is the ONE time the Oilers have decided to season a player in an appropriate league (give us back Bouchard already, you morons).
Tyler Benson:
"Benson could one day become an elite distributor."
"When you think Tyler Benson, think Tanner Pearson."
...pretty 'elite' territory right there.
It honestly feels like I dissected a post on HF or something, not a paid piece on a major network. The fantasy projections come across as ignorant (or just hopeful) when you read it from a fan, but it's kinda just dishonest when you read it from a journalist. Outside of Toronto and Edmonton, are there any other fanbases that respond this way to such puffy journalism?