Looking at your list, hindsight so far would suggest that their drop was deserved as they pretty much all have been disappointments in the NHL, still not even made the NHL, or dead (with exception to Couturier and Hamilton).
You didn't even mention Angelo Esposito. It seems like a boon on draft day to grab a falling star as it's good value with a later pick, but the results so far would have to be underwhelming.
Hamilton, Couturier, Myers, Fowler and Tarasenko have all been fine or better than fine as drafts picks.
Probably to early to tell with Gormley and Beaulieau.
If it was just based on "the Russian factor", I might be inclined to agree with you. I think he is a legitimate talent in the mix that a team could prioritize in the first couple of picks.
However, with that 2 year KHL contract, teams will get jittery. It isn't like he is so far ahead of other prospects to gamble on, just a guy that is legitimately in the mix. Teams may feel more comfortable drafting Monahan and Lindholm ahead of him, rather than take a risk. I really don't think that if he drops, he will drop past 10, but I find him to be the most interesting prospect this year as to where he does get drafted.
It is infinitely more valuable, especially when every one of us has seen the stats, that is the datum, to project based on them adds no value.
Seeing a player play any game vs stats alone is so laughably more valid its not funny. Not one team employs a stats only scout, due to their uselessness. I would bet that they don't even exist.
I would take a poster I have never heard of views of watching a player 10 times out of 10 over a poster I completely respect who is looking at their hockeydb page.
Or maybe I am missing what you are arguing, because that makes no sense...
This seems logical, but humans are inherently biased. Some fan going to watch MacKinnon/Druoin play is more likely to look for things to confirm their opinion than reevaluate everything they think about the player. It's the same with any prospect that gets a cup of coffee in the NHL - everyone who thinks he has potential remembers all the good plays they made and everyone who thinks they are going nowhere remembers all the bad turnovers.
And let's not compare watching a few junior games to scouting. It's basically impossible to watch hockey to enjoy it and scout accurately at the same time. Scouting isn't just watching some QMJHL game and reporting all the good things MacKinnon/Druoin did. It involves watching each guy basically every second of every shift and seeing what he does away from the puck. There's not a lot of random fans out there attending games and watching a handful of players like this.
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Wouldn't be surprised at all if one or both of Lindholm & Monahan are picked in the top 5. I expect Barkov to drop below them.
I know I might be biased towards a Finnish guy but I just canīt see this happening. Although Iīm pretty impressed with Lindholm, he probably will make an immediate impact in the nhl just by looking at his style of play. But Barkov still is 17... If Lindholm has the 4th best ppg in SEL ever for a guy who is getting drafted, just compare it to the fact that there hasnīt been anyone in Finland before (talking about all the greats like Kurri, Selanne etc.) who have even played full time in SM-league at the age of 17, let alone at a ppg pace like he did. He is truly unique... I think he should be ranked 1 lol.
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Berglund to Calgary at the draft for a package involving a 1st (not ours). Book it.
St. Louis has a bunch of RFAs and with Bouwmeester's salary, they can't afford them all. I'll be disappointed if it's Stewart and not Berglund, but I'm betting St. Louis and Calgary are trade partners come draft time.
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Not sure what it is but I have been reading the Blues forums to see how Bouw has been and they are all over Berglund. You would think he is Matt Stajan 2011-12 bad with the way they talk about him.
I'm actually not sure I would want to part with a first for him in a deep draft like this one. Hasn't taken that next step yet, and actually seems to have regressed in some cases.
This Lindholm is intruging. if the flames end up taking Drouin, i hope they trade up and grab this guy as well to be down the middle. hard to predict anything with this management
The more i think about it i feel like Lindholm might just be a Flame. The guy fits the mold of what kind of players Feaster wants: high IQ, work ethic, two-way play and a complete player in all 3 zones. Watching that video was very impressive to see how well he controlled the game with the puck on his stick and how physical he was for his size. The comparisons with Forsberg are just the icing on the cake. If we finish outside of the top 3 picks i would love it if we picked him. But yeah if we are in the top 3 picks: Mackinnon or bust.
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There's a more natural look at him(not all highlights). The kid is just all over the ice. He finishes checks, has great vision, is erratic but dominant along the boards, and brings the puck out in transition effortlessly.
Apparently his 57 hits in the SEL were the most of any junior player in the league by a wide margin(next highest was 40).
I'm forming a man crush here!
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I don't understand how the St. Louis Blues might be in cap trouble. With all the UFA and their cap hits coming off...they still have about $5M+ to add about 3 contracts to the team.
This is with Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo both getting $5.5/per year.
Also with Berglund and Stewart getting $4/per year each.
There's a more natural look at him(not all highlights). The kid is just all over the ice. He finishes checks, has great vision, is erratic but dominant along the boards, and brings the puck out in transition effortlessly.
Apparently his 57 hits in the SEL were the most of any junior player in the league by a wide margin(next highest was 40).
I'm forming a man crush here!
Good news that Weisbrod and the scouts are apparently very high on him.
I don't understand how the St. Louis Blues might be in cap trouble. With all the UFA and their cap hits coming off...they still have about $5M+ to add about 3 contracts to the team.
This is with Shattenkirk and Pietrangelo both getting $5.5/per year.
Also with Berglund and Stewart getting $4/per year each.
I think it has less to do with the actual salary cap and an ownership mandated salary cap. If I recall the Blues owner has mandated a certain salary, regardless of the cap. I think that's why the Blues were big players during the deadline as they want to ensure they make the playoffs and that extra cash for next season.
Well I'm officially on the Lindholme bandwagon and wouldn't mind ending up with him, especially if we draft in the 4-6 range. The kid has great hands and he never stops moving his legs. Really impressive highlight packages for sure
