[nik-]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Amateur scouting. Calgary has been great at identifying and developing talent outside of the first round. This might be the aspect of Tre's tenure that is his saving grace.

Still incoming is Ruzicka, Petterson, Phillips, Mackie, Wolf, Kinvall, and I'm probably forgetting a few. All solid and looking good. That doesn't include this last draft.

My problem is that there is a wheel of randomness attached to making the big club. Kylington is told to concentrate on defense (understandable) but also is not allowed to skate, as a systemic rule, which is his one elite level talent. He is being neutered. Gawdin is great at the cycle, but is put on a line with two players that can't hold onto the puck. Bennett is a bump and run player, but only plays with like players (Lucic and Dube) as a last resort. It goes on. Players not being allocated to take advantage of their strengths, because the system, bias of management, myopic vision of what brand of hockey they want, is more important.

Yeah but every team can just list a group of prospects coming. It doesn't mean they'll hit. Dube and Mangiapane look to be solid NHLers and as a 6th Mangiapane is clearly a home run. Andersson was a great pick. Valimaki could be really good. Other than that it's pretty dire. And that's not even really getting into how many 1st rounders have totally fizzled.