Quote:
Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina
Yeah my main point was to dispute the notion that the Flames somehow made a larger mistake by missing out on a player in their "back yard". I just don't think for any of the primary leagues, that's true at all. They are all heavily scouted.
But would a few things:
- Not claiming the Flames were a good drafting team at the time
- I don't think you can completely ignore size. As much as the NHL has a bias for size, fans have a bias against it. I think you have to factor it in, alongside other attributes.
- For me, for a team like the Flames to succeed, they need to produce a higher volume of NHL players because they will lose more to free agency and have a harder time attracting free agents.
- So with that, you can do that in two ways. If you are an average drafting team (say with a 20% hit rate) get more picks. So instead of product 1 out of 5, product 2 out of 10. Or be a better drafting team so that you convert more often. Ideally do both. Instead of hitting 1/5 per draft, hit 3 out of 9 per draft.
Obviously you need to pick the right players, but I'm beginning to think that quantity of picks is actually the bigger driver of success. You don't have to be better if you have more picks.
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Hunter Smith was a horrendous pick. He was a 1 point player, and overage season had 40 which isn't good by any metrics. He was selected because of size.
When you make a major blunder like that you should be placed on a PIP in any workplace.
Size doesn't just mean you are good, or bring anything to the table.