How are the other top picks doing?

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This is probably as good as any a thread to occasionally bump (On a side note, how nice is it not to constantly see annoying remainders about the "Canadian teams" every time the Jets win a game? This was a real pet-peeve of mine the last two seasons, and I do hope that the thread is somehow permanently lost for the duration of this season)...

Anyhow.

· MacKinnon, Barkov, and Monahan all having excellent beginnings to their NHL careers.
· Anthony Mantha on an absolutely ridiculous 3 pt/game tear in the Q
· Flames prospects Poirer and Klimchuk leading their teams in scoring, with Poirier also just having received player-of-the week honours.

Here's an interesting note for some discussion: Since his return to the Mooseheads, #3 pick Jonathan Drouin has managed only 2 goals and 5 points in his first four games. Respectable for a first-rounder, but he was a top-pick in a deep draft, and touted by many to be the most skilled player in the whole lot. Perhaps a bit more disconcerting is that Drouin is not even in the League's top-one-hundred scorers to begin the season. Granted, he has played in only half the games, but there are 48 players that are playing at an equal or higher pts./game pace, and his team has dropped from dominant Mem-Cup champions to the middle of the pack in the QMJHL.

So, how much do Drouin's present struggles have to do with MacKinnon's absence? Perhaps more pertinently, how much did MacKinnon positively impact Drouin's draft position? Is he good for his top-three status, or was he overexposed and over-rated, thanks to his time spent with the best player in the class?

I knew he would struggle without MacKinnon. It seems like he's the type of player that needs a #1 center. The kid is definitely skilled, but needs someone equally skilled to finish. He'll likely have Stamkos centering him in TB though, so he should be fine in the NHL.

[Street Pharmacist]

I haven't watched Jones, but the team is this worst in GA and bottom end for GF, so those minutes, at least on the surface, don't appear to be helping

[Robbob]

Is Drouin still playing the wing in Halifax? I thought we only played wing last year because of Mackinnon.

[albertGQ]

Drouin's struggles must be something else and not due to Mackinnen's absence. Last year, he was still ripping it up while Nate was injured.

[Tinordi]

Jones is -3 I believe and regardless, playing those types of minutes as an 18 year old is very impressive.

[albertGQ]

Big Poirrier fan here by how did he win qmjhl player of the week over Mantha? Anthony's stats are just rediculous.

[Duke43]

Payola

[BigRed]

Originally Posted by RyZ

Nichishkin riding the pine as a healthy scratch for the stars tonight. He has 0 pts and 1 SOG for the stars through 4 games so far this season.

A little surprising but the transition can be challenging for every the best, especially coming from the big ice. I expect he'll really start to produce after about 15 games. Who's he playing with?

[Tinordi]

Also, a pick from last year but still relevant I guess, Trouba is playing really well for Winnipeg early.

[Poe969]

Trouba seems like he might have been the best player from the draft that year...

[moon]

Originally Posted by albertGQ

Drouin's struggles must be something else and not due to Mackinnen's absence. Last year, he was still ripping it up while Nate was injured.

His struggles?

He has a PPG in a short sample size. One 4 point night as he is capable of and he is at 2 PPG.

[Vulcan]

Yeah, the way I remember it Drouin did just fine when MacKinnon was injured. It's got to be a little shock to him being sent back, so that may take some adjustment. Tampa Bay seems to want him at centre and I thought if we drafted him, I'd think we'd want to convert him also. He's listed now as a centre with the Mooseheads, so maybe he spends a year getting familiar again with centre and it will be time well spent.

He had no clue, he'd be cut.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/moosehe...from-lightning

[getbak]

Drouin hasn't played in Halifax's last three games due to a groin injury: http://metronews.ca/voices/the-q-fil...-groin-injury/

[Calgary4LIfe]

Re: Drouin - Frk (the other linemate) has graduated as well. New linemates, a bit of a letdown in not making the NHL right away, and re-adjusting to center. MacKinnon of course helped pad his stats, but Drouin was (and still is) capable of producing elite-level offence on his own. No way he doesn't pick it up, and at the very least end up challenging for top point-getter in the Q (though Mantha is on an other-worldly tear).

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Here's an interesting note for some discussion: Since his return to the Mooseheads, #3 pick Jonathan Drouin has managed only 2 goals and 5 points in his first four games. Respectable for a first-rounder, but he was a top-pick in a deep draft, and touted by many to be the most skilled player in the whole lot. Perhaps a bit more disconcerting is that Drouin is not even in the League's top-one-hundred scorers to begin the season. Granted, he has played in only half the games, but there are 48 players that are playing at an equal or higher pts./game pace, and his team has dropped from dominant Mem-Cup champions to the middle of the pack in the QMJHL.

So, how much do Drouin's present struggles have to do with MacKinnon's absence? Perhaps more pertinently, how much did MacKinnon positively impact Drouin's draft position? Is he good for his top-three status, or was he overexposed and over-rated, thanks to his time spent with the best player in the class?

I don't think so. Drouin actually outclassed MacKinnon in the World Juniors last year and they weren't playing together for most of the tourney. As someone else mentioned Drouin was awesome when MacKinnon was out for Halifax last year.

I'm sure Drouin will come around. He's an elite talent.

[Rerun]

[sureLoss]

Maatta has made the Penguins (Not the 2013 draft, but still impressive for a 2012 pick):

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 2m BREAKING: Olli Maatta will remain with #Pens. Ray Shero:"Based on his play, we believe this is the best decision for Olli & the Penguins..."

[TurdFerguson]

Zadorov got his first goal for the Sabers last night. Coming off a hand injury, it was his second NHL game. By all accounts he has been impressive in a minimal role. Still expected to return to junior before game 10 though.

[sureLoss]

And McKenzie is rubbing it in:

Bob McKenzie ‏@TSNBobMcKenzie 35s For me, Maatta will always have connection to CGY, who passed on him at No. 21 that year to go off board somewhat to take Mark Jankowski.

[Poe969]

ya, that pick I was kind of mad about.... Let's hope long term Janko is better!