Quote:
Originally Posted by gvitaly
Barkov and Draisaitl could just as easily have been Drouin and Reinhart. It's a lot easier when you know the future. I remember a lot of fans here making fun of Edmonton for picking Draisaitl instead of Bennett...
Also, you make an assumption that players develop equally on different teams. I have no idea how Barkov would've developed here, or how would Draisaitl. It has a lot to do with the coaches, veteran players, and player development.
Finally, I think that the Flames are missing top forwards(even past their prime) to give pointers to younger players. That was one of the reasons I was so excited to have Jagr come here. I also think that Hudler(even though not a top player) was a very good influence on Monahan and Gaudreau in developing their offensive game. I also think that Gio played a good part in helping develop young D on this team. That's why if this team is going to go the rebuild route, I really hope they get a couple of stars past their prime. Players like Thorton, Spezza, Perry, Getzlaf, you get my point.
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Yeah I don't really understand that, they both rated pretty much right next to eachother, Bennett might have been rated a little higher by most associations, but it's not like Draisaitl was a reach. He was also rushed to the NHL which was a foolish decision by the Oilers, but that probably spoke more about their lack of depth than anything else. Also, power forwards like Draisaitl take longer to develop, but there was not doubt he was going to be a dam good player. He always played heavy, had tons of power and was basically impossible to move off from the puck. In hindsight, his abilities definitely translated better to the NHL more so than Reinhart or Bennett.
I probably look at things a little differently, but elite players like Barkov and Draisaitl I think would've always made an impact with any NHL franchise that drafted them because they're straws that stir the drink on a line. I don't think of Sam Bennett in that way, I think Sam is the more of a complimentary forward to a driver like Jonathan Huberdeau. Sam can absolutely be a great piece to any top 6 line because he plays in the guts of the game, hits hard and plays a power game. But I think in order for Bennett to have reached his full potential here, he probably would've needed to play on a line with I don't know, maybe Gaudreau-Bennett-Tkachuk or something along those lines.