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Originally Posted by stemit14
Sounds like he could be a great target for the flames if he is available. Impressive if true because Brayden Point has some fantastic wheels. If I’m remembering correctly, that was not the case when he was drafted though and it was something he worked hard to improve and turn into a strength. I think there were concerns about his foot speed given his size and that’s why he ended up dropping to the 3rd round of the draft.
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That is correct. Back then the league wanted big center iceman. He was always an elite scorer though, played on a terrible team and was 8th or 9th in league scoring in his draft year. But back then (and now) size was valued much more than scoring ability.
This was the draft profile for Pastrnak in that same draft year
https://thehockeywriters.com/david-p...spect-profile/
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David Pastrnak has been ascending draft rankings all season long. The mid-sized winger lacks size and strength, but ultimately possesses some of the flashiest offensive moves from any draft prospect.
The real issue in his game is his toughness and ability to play against stronger players. His offensive potential is through the roof, but speed and skill can only get you so far. Eventually a big player will put a body on Pastrnak and fans will have to see how he adjusts.
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Here is Point’s
https://thehockeywriters.com/brayden...pect-profiles/
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It’s an absolute shame that Point’s stature – 5’9″ and 160 pounds – will reduce him from being an absolute slam-dunk first round selection into being a really smart depth move a team makes in the second or third round. His size will make it tougher to translate his game to the NHL level.
“Undersized at 5-foot-9, Point’s scrappy skilled approach is one that has proven to be successful recently in the NHL, which will help his cause at the 2014 NHL Draft. His defensive awareness is excellent and he is the type of player who can be trusted in every situation. Offensively, Point sees the ice well and displays sneaky playmaking abilities. Size will be the main topic of discussion at drafts table for Brayden Point but outside of that, he’s got smarts, skill set and production to be a top 40 selection.”
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Hockey people still like the big players. Suspect that will never change. I also suspect as a general rule they will continue to be disappointed with those picks. But Brayden and Tampa’s other little guy Kucherov have done alright.