Quote:
Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda
and Rico Fata was picked 6th overall
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Burke took a lot of heat and a lot of patience to stick with the guy.
I thought he was going to be nothing more then another overhyped Leaf prospect and was a bigger story because of the claims, sometimes with race involved, that he wasn't getting a fair shot etc. But Burke knew to stick with him, even if it meant the AHL until he was ready, and its paying off this year, at least.
Fata was a tough pick to justify that high, and rushed in far too quickly to boot. He ended up having a long career in hockey, just not a very memorable one, and though he wasn't the right pick, he didn't get that proper development either, as the Flames needed him in right away and to hit his upper limit potential right away too.
As bad as things seem now, back in the days of those drafts, and the talent that was on the ice, things were a lot worse hope wise.
Keeps coming back for me; do we have the right people involved in making the right decisions for this franchise, now, at the draft with a couple first round picks, and, going forward? Phase 1 is now done, letting go of one of our HOF'ers, Phase 2 should be done Wednesday, Phase 3 is post season and the draft....TBQH I'd like to have that Flames power structure more clearly defined and ideally changed, by the time of Phase 3.
