Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts
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.
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Disagree with this take. I am curious why you are silent on Brandon Hickey.
Hunter Smith (54th pick in 2014) - appeared in every camp for the Flames including preseason (and even fought Nurse), went to the AHL and played hard, and even stood up for other Flames' prospects. Eventually fizzled out and left.
Brandon Hickey (64th pick in 2014) - went the college route, appeared in squat for the Flames. Treliving announced that he is signing Hickey soon, but then crickets until he got traded. He told Treliving that he would not sign here in Calgary, and he still didn't get a sniff of the NHL. Why aren't you so outraged about Hickey who was selected just 10 spots later?
I swear a there are a number of people here with an irrational dislike of large players. As soon as one is taken, and busts, it never ends with the: "This organization needs to stop taking meatheads!", "Great, another useless plug!", "Button sucks!".
When a smaller player busts, the takes become: "This organization sucks for never giving small players a chance!", "Watch this kid light it up elsewhere - I hope he scores on the Flames every game!"
FYI - Why was Hunter Smith drafted by the Flames? You assert it was only because he was big, but that would be a wrong take on your part.
Smith was scouted in his draft year by the Flames (he was playing through an injury apparently, and sometimes these big guys have a recent growth spurt and just have to allow their bodies to catch up). Flames didn't love him enough in his draft year to draft him, but they liked him enough and saw enough in him while scouting to invite him to camp. He turned it down because he was injured. The following Draft+1 season, his development took off. 16 goals, 40 points and 100PIMS. He played with skilled guys and looked good. He played on the PK too apparently. Flames liked enough of what they saw to use a pick on him. If the only reason they picked him was because he was big, then they would have used one of their 7th round picks on him from the previous draft (they had 2 - Rusan Rafikov and John Gilmour). They liked Smith because of his size + hands + IQ.
@7:28 in:
https://hockeyprospect.com/calgary-f...th-tod-button/
He busted. When that happens, it was a terrible pick, no question. However, you insinuate that there wasn't anything there. Flames had a long book on him, and they were either wrong, or the player failed to develop properly for whatever reason (you nor I know that by the way). Most picks don't make it.
If you are going to critique the Flames for making a horrible pick, then at least dig-in a bit to why they chose to select him, and try to figure out where it went wrong, rather than just blaming size.