Strange, i feel the exact opposite. I saw a big body with elite hockey sense and skill. Three things that simply cant be taught. He isnt going to happen automatically like all big players his development curve is a long one. He is also still growing so his body hasnt filled out yet. This injury has held him back but he dominated his peers at under 18.
White is almost the opposite style prospect, he is far more polished and physically developed. The thing you cant teach about him is his compete and care level, he's a hockey player. However his skillset limits him in that he wont be a top line player.
Mcleod is a very similar type prospect as White so given your current stance on who you like more im not suprised you would have preferred him at the draft.
I spoke with a few scouts that liked both Mcloed and Brown, they feel Brown has top line potential and a higher ceiling but if he doesnt make it as a scorer he could struggle to be an nhl regular while bith White and Mcloed will play in the league for a while. I am glad the sens took the player with the higher ceiling they wont win the big one without a player like that.
No guarantee Brown gets to be a first line guy id say the biggest question about him is if he has that level of compete that White has.
In short looking at what the sens currently have on the ice and in the system Brown is the more valuable prospect. However he could also bust and we know Colin White is going to be a player.
I think that's a very good breakdown of the situation. I have to say I
think White is being underrated offensively, he has a lot of skill on top of his competitivness and 200 ft awareness on the ice. White is a lot more likely to reach his ceiling although Brown likely has the highest potential but potential is such a tricky term to use.
White makes players around him better and that's always been the case. He reminds me a bit of Stone with a Stepan attitude. His ability to defend is Stone-esque it's quite impressive. He's a coaches dream if you ask me. Brown isn't there in his development yet since like you say he has ways to go to become the players we think he could become.
Your last sentence is also what I'm really looking at. I think right now we need a guy that can step in and play valuable minutes. I think White has the ability to do that at the moment. When I look at a player, I like to look at the impact he'll have on the team and for me, I think that even if Brown reaches his full potential, he'll still have a similar impact on the team as White since White is just a more complete player.
I wouldn't trade Brown because I understand why we took him and it would really hurt to lose a potential player like that but for me the bottom line is I see a lot of risk in him not becoming much more than a tweener in the NHL but that's just me.
At the draft I was thrilled we took Dahlen and dissapointed that we took Brown so like I say, there's some bias in there I just don't like what I think Brown will realistically become (but the chance of him becoming what some think is worth it)
I think a good way to put it is I'm not high on Brown but I'd be torn between taking him or McLoed just based on potential even though I like McLoed more.
