[News] With the 54th overall pick the Flames select RW Hunter Smith - Page 19 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

undercoverbrother · 03-03-2015, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Yes, I absolutely do. Most professional sports leagues do.

So Sven is shorter and lighter than 5'11" 185, I am glad we got rid of the little midget

Enoch Root · 03-03-2015, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

6'1" Phil Esposito? 6'3" Jean Beliveau?

As for my second point, how do I need to back it up? How can I? I look at Brian Boyle and he can't play the same. Just as Gaudreau can't play like players who are 6 feet tall, the game Hunter Smith plays is not comparable to those are much shorter than he is.

Every year, every draft, we see teams hyped up about drafting these 6'5" monsters. Everyone is looking for the next Chara. But it seems that most of these players have such a disadvantage over others that it becomes a detriment, especially for forwards. For a defenceman, foot speed is not as important as it is for a forward.

Hunter Smith was facing a handicap before we even drafted him.

You can bet that I am going to cheer him on and hope he comes a player for us. But I just don't see any real examples of what kind of player he can be besides a 4th line guy. That doesn't get me excited.

This is nothing personal. I'm trying to look at this as if I were evaluating the draft choices of another team.

Beliveau was 6'3" (I recall him being listed at 6'4") when the average player was 5'9" to 5'10". Pretty similar to a 6'7" guy compared to the average player of 6'1"

You continue to hype on about tall players not being able to play a skill game. WITH NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER TO BACK IT UP.

(again, see Jean Beliveau)

Enoch Root · 03-03-2015, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

He's not a "goon" as we understand it at the NHL level.

In fact, many enforcers who play in the NHL today were quite good in their junior leagues and were counted on for more than just using their fists.

That does not mean they should have been projected as anything else as an NHLer.

Again with the "big = goon" garbage.

Dude... just stop

Ashasx · 03-03-2015, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

So Sven is shorter and lighter than 5'11" 185, I am glad we got rid of the little midget

Yes, Sven is probably 5'10". Shinkaruk I also know is shorter than 5'11".

St. Louis is probably closer to 5'6" than 5'8".

Keegan Kanzig is definitely not 6'7", as Hunter Smith was quite a bit taller than him at camp.

This is what you took from my posts?

Point Blank · 03-03-2015, 02:11 PM

Ashasx · 03-03-2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Again with the "big = goon" garbage.

Dude... just stop

You're going to have to find a post of mine where I said that.

How about 115 penalty minutes this season? 100 last season?

undercoverbrother · 03-03-2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Yes, Sven is probably 5'10". Shinkaruk I also know is shorter than 5'11".

St. Louis is probably closer to 5'6" than 5'8".

Keegan Kanzig is definitely not 6'7", as Hunter Smith was quite a bit taller than him at camp.

This is what you took from my posts?

Actually I took nothing from you posts.

What were you trying to give?

ComixZone · 03-03-2015, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Beliveau was 6'3" (I recall him being listed at 6'4") when the average player was 5'9" to 5'10". Pretty similar to a 6'7" guy compared to the average player of 6'1"

You continue to hype on about tall players not being able to play a skill game. WITH NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER TO BACK IT UP.

(again, see Jean Beliveau)

...his easy counter argument here is show a 6'7" forward playing in the NHL being anything but a face-puncher.

Brian Boyle is the only one. The only one. He's not even very good, he's a 4th line centre.

Ashasx · 03-03-2015, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Actually I took nothing from you posts.

What were you trying to give?

I answered your question and you are going to ignore it.

GioforPM · 03-03-2015, 02:14 PM

McGrattan was an impact player. Just ask some of the guys he impacted.

As for Smith, lots of people said Johnny wouldn't make it because his size would create significant obstacles. At least there's a rational basis for that. Granted that Hunter is even taller, but there's nothing I've seen that indicates a tall guy with skill is hampered by his height (and in fact the long reach that comes with height is a huge asset).

Joe Thornton is 6'4" and not an exceptional skater. Rick Nash is the same height, and seems to deal with it pretty well. Colborne is tall, and while he hasn't lit up the NHL, IMO his size is an advantage. Heck if he turns into Nik Antropov, I'm pretty OK with that.

GoJetsGo · 03-03-2015, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You continue to hype on about tall players not being able to play a skill game. WITH NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER TO BACK IT UP.

Not to mention, Hunter Smith isn't just exceptionally tall for an NHL player, he's exceptionally tall for a human being.

The reason there aren't a lot of 6'7 players with skill is because there are very few 6'7 players playing hockey at all.

Because there are so few players above 6'5 that even play the game, it's not surprising the majority of them aren't going to be above average in terms of skill.

To suggest someone that large can't be above average just because they're that tall is really odd.

I would wager Ashex is below average in height because this is starting to sound like spite/bias against taller people.

GioforPM · 03-03-2015, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

...his easy counter argument here is show a 6'7" forward playing in the NHL being anything but a face-puncher.

Brian Boyle is the only one. The only one. He's not even very good, he's a 4th line centre.

I would think 6'4" to 6'6" should do unless you can show how an inch or two would make a difference. And there's plenty of examples of those.

GioforPM · 03-03-2015, 02:18 PM

I've posted a pic of my kid beside Gaudreau. Gaudreau is not 5'10". He's maybe 5'7".

Ashasx · 03-03-2015, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

I would wager Ashex is below average in height because this is starting to sound like spite/bias against taller people.

How is this an acceptable post?

How am I supposed to respond to this?

People talk about how I get defensive with my posts... comments like the quoted are intended to be personal.

SuperMatt18 · 03-03-2015, 02:18 PM

Nick Bjugstad is listed at 6'6" and he has 20 goals this year so there is proof that a tall guy can play a skill game.

Not to say I think that Smith is as skilled as Bjugstad.

undercoverbrother · 03-03-2015, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

...his easy counter argument here is show a 6'7" forward playing in the NHL being anything but a face-puncher.

Brian Boyle is the only one. The only one. He's not even very good, he's a 4th line centre.

What about 6'4", cuz I can think of two, one of which was one of the greatest ever.

GoJetsGo · 03-03-2015, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashasx

How is this an acceptable post?

How am I supposed to respond to this?

Start considering that players above 6'5 can be skilled players despite the fact there aren't many of them playing the game? That would be a start.

ComixZone · 03-03-2015, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I would think 6'4" to 6'6" should do unless you can show how an inch or two would make a difference. And there's plenty of examples of those.

The fact that there aren't any 6'7"+ forwards who make an impact being anything but goons is the proof, at least as it stands today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

What about 6'4", cuz I can think of two, one of which was one of the greatest ever.

Well, the argument isn't about someone who is 6'4, it's 6'7.

I'm just playing devils advocate here, and am in no way saying that like...6'6.5" is the cut-off where the hockey gods no longer allow players to be good, just stating that there aren't any.

Fire · 03-03-2015, 02:40 PM

Some people still hating the MacDonald pick? He's 3rd in the QMJHL in save % and the two guys ahead of him are 2 years older. So far it looks like the Flames picked the right goalie at the right time.

undercoverbrother · 03-03-2015, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Well, the argument isn't about someone who is 6'4, it's 6'7.

I'm just playing devils advocate here, and am in no way saying that like...6'6.5" is the cut-off where the hockey gods no longer allow players to be good, just stating that there aren't any.

Good so we agree that setting an arbitrary height for hockey skill is nuts.