How are the other top picks doing?

[Oil Stain]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/n...nthony-mantha/



I do recall reading that the reason he fell in a lot of rankings was work ethic.

Wojtek Wolski had similar stats in his 19 year old season and looked like a future star in his first NHL season.

He had the same knocks on him if I recall. Mantha will probably become a superstar though because Detroit.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Wojtek Wolski had similar stats in his 19 year old season and looked like a future star in his first NHL season.

He had the same knocks on him if I recall. Mantha will probably become a superstar though because Detroit.

yeah Detroit won't rush him and give him all the time he needs to develop properly.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

I guess it all depends on what scouting report you read;

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/anthony-mantha/



http://thehockeywriters.com/anthony-...spect-profile/



Bottom line is that skating wasn't considered a major weakness as it's not like Monahan is a burner.

I thought Mantha dropped because of perceived poor attitude and work ethic, not skating?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I thought Mantha dropped because of perceived poor attitude and work ethic, not skating?

I don't recall ever seeing his attitude questioned just his work ethic but in THN they had a scouts counter opinion saying he didn't buy that as big guys never look like they are skating as hard as smaller guys. Time will tell but the kid looks like a steal for the Wings.

[FBI]

Bumping this because I'm interested in this again.. Just read that Reinhart has been "so-so" in camp which just makes me even more excited that we got Bennett!

Haven't heard much about Dal Colle and some of the other guys though!

[PeteMoss]

Reinhart I believe has 0 points in 7 games (including rookie games). They are in a tough spot if he doesn't perform since there isn't a ton for him to gain going back to the WHL.

[Ashasx]

It's not like Reinhart dominated the WHL.

In a perfect world he'd be able to go to the AHL, but there's still a lot he gain and learn by playing another year in the WHL.

[TurdFerguson]

From what I have read on S. Reinhart, its has been a pretty meh camp. Some glimpses of poise etc but nothing much to make a strong case that he belongs as a full-time pro. Tough sport for him because dominating Jr isn't going to help him much (although it wont damage him either) but being pushed early into a terrible Sabers team isn't very attractive either.

I'd send him back to Jr after his 9 game look unless he can make a stronger case to stay.

[JiriHrdina]

Yeah I disagree - he can still gain a lot from heading back to junior (as our Sam could). Buffalo really f'd up Grigorenko, so I doubt they make the same mistake twice.

[nik-]

Sam Reinhart will be just fine. They can send him back though.

[Mike Teavee]

I don't really buy the line that there are players who have just been drafted who have "nothing more to learn" in juniors. I think that is rarely, if ever, the case. If the player has the skill/speed to play in the NHL right away, then let him. But I don't think players get damaged by spending an extra year in jr.

[TurdFerguson]

There are still lessons to be learned and skills to be honed heading back to Jr for sure but it can also be a dangerous thing for a player that has already scored at such a high pace. Expectations will be that he nets 1.25 - 1.5 ppg and if he falls short of that then people will really start to ask questions. This is exactly what happened to Strome and Schiefele - came back and scored a ppg and people were all WTF with him, as if that wasn't impressive. I dont think that really hurt either players development but depending on the character of the player, this can be a tough assignment.

All that said, it's still better then being pushed to early on a team that is going to lose a lot. 100% agree with that. Ideally, the AHL would be the landing spot but that's not an option.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Mike Teavee

I don't really buy the line that there are players who have just been drafted who have "nothing more to learn" in juniors. I think that is rarely, if ever, the case. If the player has the skill/speed to play in the NHL right away, then let him. But I don't think players get damaged by spending an extra year in jr.

Yea, pretty much this. If Tampa can send Drouin to juniors without hurting his development, the Sabres can definitely send Reinhart back.

[TurdFerguson]

I'm curious how one would know if going back to Junior "hurt there development". Smarter hockey people then me can probably quantify this but its seems like such a subjective and speculative thing to say. Especially for top end picks who have dominated at that level already - what demonstrates growth (usually i think its commitment to the 3 zone game). Is that different then what you look for if they played the year pro?

McKinnon/Drouin is a great case study I think. While for me, those 2 players were never THAT close, many had them interchangeable as the top player in the draft. One turns pro and lights it up and the other goes to Jr and does pretty good again. How has there development curve changed?

[PeteMoss]

The reason why I think Reinhart doesn't have a ton to gain by going back to the WHL is his style of game. He's not an uber skilled guy who needs to slow down a bit, get smarter or gain strength.

He's skilled but his hockey smarts and intelligence on the ice were always his best skills. He's going to dominate the WHL doing that, but he needs to learn to be able to do that against better players.

[bubbsy]

i think drouin's play this season will set more of a precedent on how top pick forwards are handled after their draft year. my money is on him just ripping it up and walking away with the calder, hence, making the case for another year of junior for high picks.

I think both sam's should go play another year in the CHL. the Center depth chart on the big club should NOT be a heavily weighted factor on the decision (ie. the edmonton oiler way of doing things).

[automaton 3]

Drouin broke his thumb in camp, which might set him back a bit this year.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yeah I disagree - he can still gain a lot from heading back to junior (as our Sam could). Buffalo really f'd up Grigorenko, so I doubt they make the same mistake twice.

They said the same thing about RNH that there was nothing left for him in junior but looking back I'm willing to bet the Oilers wish they let him play another season in the WHL as he's not quite the same player since the shoulder injuries.

[Burke Salad]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They said the same thing about RNH that there was nothing left for him in junior but looking back I'm willing to bet the Oilers wish they let him play another season in the WHL as he's not quite the same player since the shoulder injuries.

RNH tore up the pre-season, he was the best forward for the Oilers that pre-season.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

The reason why I think Reinhart doesn't have a ton to gain by going back to the WHL is his style of game. He's not an uber skilled guy who needs to slow down a bit, get smarter or gain strength.

He's skilled but his hockey smarts and intelligence on the ice were always his best skills. He's going to dominate the WHL doing that, but he needs to learn to be able to do that against better players.

Reinhart is an uber skilled and smart guy who needs to work on his skating and strength.