Prospect Info: Bruins Prospects Discussion

[Rumpy]

Yakapov says hello. I still have my "Sedin sisters 2 girls no cups" tee shirt, should be worth money soon.

Alexandre Daigle, 1993 1st overall, Ottawa Senators
Patrik Stefan, 1999 1st overall, Atlanta Thrashers
Pavel Brendl, 1999 4th overall, NY Rangers
Rick DiPietro, 2000 1st overall, NY Islanders
Brian Lawton, 1983 1st overall, Minnesota
Alexandre Volchkov, 1996 4th overall,
Nikita Filatov, 2008 6th overall, Columbus Blue Jackets
Al Montoya, 2004 6th overall, New York Rangers

I wonder if the other teams are debating on how they passed on Pasta and Carlo

Feel free to refer to post #828 in this thread.

 

[Rumpy]

I'd say Boston is an outlier.

They never drafted Horton, they traded for him.

Where were Thomas, Bergeron, Krejci and Marchand drafted? (and I didn't include Chara because he was traded for)

I'll use Chicago as an example. Toews, Kane, Hossa (who they didn't draft) can't win a cup on their own.

Teams are built via trades, signing free agents (the right ones) and the draft. One way alone does not make a cup winner.

As I said in post 828 the Bruins have set themselves up to have a chance. But drafting 13/14/15 in what is considered a very very strong draft should/could have set the Bruins up to be elite. Was picking Mark Stuart between Parise and Getzlaf good?

I'm not here to debate who will be what. Just saying that the situation to hit a grand slam was there and it looks like they hit a single and took a couple walks. They are still in a good situation. I never said they weren't. My only arguement is you can't be happy with bottom 6 forwards and bottom pairing dmen at the top of the draft with is what the poster I was replying to stated.

 

[Montecristo]

Oh, I didn't realize the OHL has converted to figure skating and Zach is a one man show. In fairness, with David Branch you just never know, but I was under the impression the league still had 20 teams of 25 players. Glad you enlightened us that Zac is the only player in the league.

I mistakenly thought there was 500 players in that league including a couple dozen from his draft, and 100 more who went undrafted. I thought guys like Blake Speers, and Mitchell Stephens, Jeremy Bracco and Anthony Cirelli were still in the OHL, so thanks for correcting me. I should've known since they made team Canada and Zach didn't that they were established NHL vets already. My bad.

In fact, just looking over the forwards on the Team Canada roster at such luminary names as Taylor Raddysh, Matt Barzal, Julien Gauthier, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Dylan Strome, Michael McLeod, Blake Speers, Anthony Cirelli, Dillon Dubé. You know - all the players Senyshyn has out-produced in the goal scoring department (you know, that thing that wins games) ... I guess I was mistakenly under the impression they all played junior the last two years and are all still in junior. My bad. What was I thinking. I need to lay off the Robutusin. You're right. He's competing against nobody. EVerybody gets a trophy!

I don't think he should be compared to his junior league. He should be compared to the comparable players in the ohl to where he was drafted. You said he's leading the 2015 draft class in goals which is true. I just said that he's the only regular ohl forward from the 1st round of 2015. So he's leading the ohl in goals, and he should be. All of his peers are either in the NHL or had long stints there to start the season

 

[Fonzerelli]

Feel free to name a cup winning team that didn't have a player picked in the top 17...

I'm not sure what this has to do with our discussion. When we win a cup, there's a good chance Zac will be on that team. So we are in agreement then?

I can tell you one thing if you pick all bottom 6 guys and bottom 3 dmen at the top of the draft it looks like it correlates to your chances of winning being close to zero?

So we agree again then? Sweeney has picked all top 9 guys and top 4 D in the front half of his drafts, so were good there.

Teams like Boston and Detroit are the outliers in this study.

We just keep on agreeing then. So Boston doesn't have to be pigeon-holed in the group-think mentality and we can still have success? That's what I've been saying for a long time. It's like we are sharing a brain.

So yeah getting high end production from the top 1/2 of the draft does seem to be quite important.

Yes, so we agree again then. (I think I hear Kum Ba Yah playing in the background) I also believe our production will come from players selected in the top half of the draft ... and possibly Anders Bjork and Frankie Vatrano as well. Never hurts to have a "Plan Spoked-B"

So I guess I'll ask my question again, since you seem to agree with me on all of this ...

Why does the future of the Bruins, or the future of the player for that matter, hinge on one mid-first round pick being overlooked by the worst scouting staff in the history of Team Canada. It's almost a badge of honour that "hockey men" this incompetent didn't pick you.

I mean, the Hockey Canada scouting staff under Jankowski, despite Canada's wealth of talent, has gone 6th-twice and 4th-once in this tournament. They were only able to win when they had an all world talent in Connor McDavid. Having these clowns not pick you means little. At least Zac knows his name was on their dart board. There were other players worthy of camp who didn't even get their name pulled out of the hat.

Yet since the young man has been cut, there has been a rash of posts looking to use this slight as some kind of confirmation of Zac as a bust or Sweeney as incompetent, yet the posts hold no factual basis and have done nothing really beyond expose the ignorance and/or bias of the posters themsleves.

Zac will be fine. The Bruins will be fine. Sweeney will be fine. The decision of who plays or doesn't play for Canada in this one amatuer tournament means as much as it always has. ZERO. ZILCH. NADA. NOTHING.

 

[Mount Kramer Cameras]

Yet since the young man has been cut, there has been a rash of posts looking to use this slight as some kind of confirmation of Zac as a bust or Sweeney as incompetent, yet the posts hold no factual basis and have done nothing really beyond expose the ignorance and/or bias of the posters themsleves.

Zac will be fine. The Bruins will be fine. Sweeney will be fine. The decision of who plays or doesn't play for Canada in this one amatuer tournament means as much as it always has. ZERO. ZILCH. NADA. NOTHING.

You know, you're right Fonz. My comment about the first round picks was just a generic throwaway opinion that, in the context of the discussion, was poorly timed. I agree with everything you've said here.

Hopefully what I've said doesn't give the impression that I don't want these kids to succeed, because I do, like all of us. I'll have to learn when to keep my mouth shut.

 

[Fonzerelli]

Taylor Pyatt (who he eluded to as a success story) or Karl Alzner or Luke Schenn. Cause as nice of careers as they had you don't win with them.

You're slipping in your own shlt here.

Teams don't win with mid-first round picks who aren't franchise superstars? The Penguins are probably glad they missed that memo and didn't keep Eric Fehr off the playoff roster.

Chicago is probably jumping for joy they missed the memo as well. Never mind first round picks, they were burdened with so many 2nd round picks and later it's a wonder they even made the playoffs.

No, you're right. There's just no use in this league for first round picks who don't turn into franchise players. If Zac turns out to be a 3rd round guy, play 800 games and pot 350 points, that'll be the death of the Boston Bruins. Might as well move to Quebec.

 

[Fonzerelli]

You know, you're right Fonz. My comment about the first round picks was just a generic throwaway opinion that, in the context of the discussion, was poorly timed. I agree with everything you've said here.

Hopefully what I've said doesn't give the impression that I don't want these kids to succeed, because I do, like all of us. I'll have to learn when to keep my mouth shut.

No worries. We know you're one of the good guys. PM'd ya

 

[Gator Mike]

FWIW, given that this site spends a lot of time discussing prospects and player development, I think many of us could benefit from doing a little research into learning theory and skill development.

Point is everyone's learning curve is different. Just because you're ahead of the curve at age 19 doesn't mean you won't experience an extended plateau. And being behind the curve at age 19 doesn't mean you can't experience a period of rapid skill development. Everyone has troughs, declines, plateaus, periods of steady development, and periods of rapid development.

I'd be concerned if I got the sense that there was an extended period of no improvement or even a decline in his abilities. I don't see that at all with Senyshyn. Give the kid a break.

 

[Fonzerelli]

I don't think he should be compared to his junior league. He should be compared to the comparable players in the ohl to where he was drafted. You said he's leading the 2015 draft class in goals which is true. I just said that he's the only regular ohl forward from the 1st round of 2015. So he's leading the ohl in goals, and he should be. All of his peers are either in the NHL or had long stints there to start the season

**Sigh** What are you talking about.

Dylan Strome. Jeremy Bracco. Graham Knott. Blake Speers. Taylor Raddysh. Anthony Cirelli. Mitchell Stephens. Michael McLoed

Those aren't his peers?

Then you have more of his peers, who aren't in the OHL and he's kicking all their ***** as well. Pierre Luc-Dubois, Julien Gauthier, Matt Barzal, Nick Merkley, Dillon Dube, Max Jones, Denis Yan, Samuel Dove-Mcfalls, Jansen Harkins etc. etc.

These aren't his peers?

I mean, you have to leave out a lot of inconvenient facts to even attempt to make the ridiculous argument you try and make.

He's #2 in the OHL since his draft year. (#1 from his draft class). He's #4 (barely. just behind Roy) in the CHL (#2 from his draft class) since his draft year. He is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. Being an ELITE goal scorer in his age group.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Feel free to name a cup winning team that didn't have a player picked in the top 17...

You'll have to go back a lon ways I'm thinking if ever?

The closest would have to be the Bruins and Seguin or the Red Wings who hit home runs with Lidstrom Datsyuk and Zetterburg.

I can tell you one thing if you pick all bottom 6 guys and bottom 3 dmen at the top of the draft it looks like it correlates to your chances of winning being close to zero?

Since I'm bored I'll start for you:
Pittsburgh - Kessel Fluery Malkin Crosby all top 10
Chicago - Kane Toews Hossa Richards
LA - Kopitar Doughty Richards Carter Gaborik
Boston - Horton Seguin
Detroit in 2008 only had Dan Cleary.

Teams like Boston and Detroit are the outliers in this study.

Even back further Detroits other cups had Hull Shannanhan Yzerman etc
NJ had Neidermayer and Stevens
TB Levalvier and Richards

On and on ...

So yeah getting high end production from the top 1/2 of the draft does seem to be quite important. Especially more recently. Back in the 90's teams could be bought and traded for easier.

8 of the 16 guys you list were trades... makes your point rather confusing. Are you trying to say a team needs to draft high to win?

Or are you trying to say high draft picks = success? I happen to know top pick Joe Thornton has never one so that seams wrong to...

I think teams that have at least 5 players over 200 pounds win cups... going back 20 years it seams all cup winners had at least 5 players over 200 pounds...

Oops I mean a cup winner needs at least 1 left hand shot dman... going back 20 years all cup winners had at least 1 left hand shot dman

Oh wait... I guess a team needs depth... good players... team health... some luck.... good goaltending... yeah this is the commonality trait for cup winners.

But it doesn't hurt to have skilled players like Crosby and toews and doughty for sure

 

[DKH]

**Sigh** What are you talking about.

Dylan Strome. Jeremy Bracco. Graham Knott. Blake Speers. Taylor Raddysh. Anthony Cirelli. Mitchell Stephens. Michael McLoed

Those aren't his peers?

Then you have more of his peers, who aren't in the OHL and he's kicking all their ***** as well. Pierre Luc-Dubois, Julien Gauthier, Matt Barzal, Nick Merkley, Dillon Dube, Max Jones, Denis Yan, Samuel Dove-Mcfalls, Jansen Harkins etc. etc.

These aren't his peers?

I mean, you have to leave out a lot of inconvenient facts to even attempt to make the ridiculous argument you try and make.

He's #2 in the OHL since his draft year. (#1 from his draft class). He's #4 (barely. just behind Roy) in the CHL (#2 from his draft class) since his draft year. He is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. Being an ELITE goal scorer in his age group.

His play away from the puck which they've pounded into his head has been much better (where does this show up on these sheets)

 

[Fonzerelli]

His play away from the puck which they've pounded into his head has been much better (where does this show up on these sheets)

When your play away from the puck is good you get the puck more. When you have the puck more, you score more. He scores more than (almost) anyone else. So fixing his play away from the puck hasn't been a detriment to his goal scoring, which is still the primary reason they drafted him. They wanted a goal scoring right wing and they couldn't have picked a better one.

 

[Fonzerelli]

Yeah when he was hit there he was a bit slow and looked almost a bit dazed

Yeah it didn't look good. The hit was good and clean, but the way his head bounced off the ice is what worried me. Unfortunately, this tonight ...

 

[pierre gagnon*]

Lot of double talk, there good, there bad, ours are good, ours are bad. Seems some were ready to pounce when Senyshyn did not make it. Lauzon did and I am happy for him but you would hardly know on here that he did. Too busy called a 19 year old a possible bust already and declaring the other ones as possible stars is true reaching.

Anyways this is about the Bruins prospects. Sick of hearing about Connor, Barzal or Konecny, good for them. They can grow 4 arms and score a lot of points, dont care. Unless the Bruins get to draft in the top 3 no use bringing up the 'would have and should have' scenarios.

I am happy with who we got and I am behind them. Due to the sheer numbers Sweeney and staff amazed if a few bust and more rise its a success. Somewhere in the middle of a "guy is going be a star, for sure top line" and "he is a bust the other guy will be great" is where it lies. Way to early to predict who is what at this point.

I am looking forward to watching the Bruins prospects at the World Juniors. I hope for Senyshyn the snub and health problems this year will forge his will to prove himself even more. He has lately and that is a good sign, we should ackowledge that personal growth. These are lessons that if he over comes will make him a better person and player and we will enjoy the results. As with Lauzon, Cehlarik, DeBrusk and Subban all of them had serious injuries last year on the ice and came back.

 

[pierre gagnon*]

You mean teams made bad picks ?!?

Where is the NE Patriots of the NHL? Teams don't win without drafting and developing home grown talent at the top of the NHL. Like I just showed Philly who never won but the pair won in LA and Anan with Perry and Getzlaf.

Detroit was the only team and I think most would agree they drafted and plucked Europe better than anyone the last 2 decades.

So now that you've entered the conversation instead of being a smart ass please feel free to contribute to the topic of teams that have won without drafting stars at the top.

Ok, been on this thread since page 3, topic is about the Bruins Prospects. Any guys we drafted you seen, read about that you would like to share would benefit the group. Myself I look forward to seeing McAvoy, Lauzon and Zboril play. Problem is the team is too good to draft in the top 3 and not good enough to win it all. Guarantees not getting a McDavid, Matthews or Eichel. Gotta be happy with what you get and find players another way. Perhaps a few of our guys can be flipped for a stud, we have a lot to offer. We have had our share of losing out on the 4 quarters for a buck.

 

[ODAAT]

FWIW, given that this site spends a lot of time discussing prospects and player development, I think many of us could benefit from doing a little research into learning theory and skill development.

Point is everyone's learning curve is different. Just because you're ahead of the curve at age 19 doesn't mean you won't experience an extended plateau. And being behind the curve at age 19 doesn't mean you can't experience a period of rapid skill development. Everyone has troughs, declines, plateaus, periods of steady development, and periods of rapid development.

I'd be concerned if I got the sense that there was an extended period of no improvement or even a decline in his abilities. I don't see that at all with Senyshyn. Give the kid a break.

agreed, was watching Charlie Rose a few weeks back, had some scientist on there discussing things that was both interesting and well above my level of understanding but they were discussing "progress" in a particular area and the scientist said "progress rarely happens in a straight line", liked the quote and have claimed it as my own

 

[Sharp Shooting Neely]

Lot of double talk, there good, there bad, ours are good, ours are bad. Seems some were ready to pounce when Senyshyn did not make it. Lauzon did and I am happy for him but you would hardly know on here that he did. Too busy called a 19 year old a possible bust already and declaring the other ones as possible stars is true reaching.

Anyways this is about the Bruins prospects. Sick of hearing about Connor, Barzal or Konecny, good for them. They can grow 4 arms and score a lot of points, dont care. Unless the Bruins get to draft in the top 3 no use bringing up the 'would have and should have' scenarios.

I am happy with who we got and I am behind them. Due to the sheer numbers Sweeney and staff amazed if a few bust and more rise its a success. Somewhere in the middle of a "guy is going be a star, for sure top line" and "he is a bust the other guy will be great" is where it lies. Way to early to predict who is what at this point.

I am looking forward to watching the Bruins prospects at the World Juniors. I hope for Senyshyn the snub and health problems this year will forge his will to prove himself even more. He has lately and that is a good sign, we should ackowledge that personal growth. These are lessons that if he over comes will make him a better person and player and we will enjoy the results. As with Lauzon, Cehlarik, DeBrusk and Subban all of them had serious injuries last year on the ice and came back.

Ditto! A thousand times, Ditto! Would'a, could'a, should'a matters not. Embrace what the Bruins have for as long as they have it.

 

[burstnbloom]

There is a lot of conjecture and very little analysis happening in this thread. I'll address just one point. The 13,14,15 slots in the draft are not exactly the bastion of superstardom that they've been made out to be in this thread.

Going back to the year prior to the Senyshyn draft, this is what we're looking at.

2014 - Vrana, Honka, Larkin
2013 - Morrisey, Wennberg, Pulock
2012 - Faksa, Girgensons, Ceci
2011 - Baertschi, Oleksiak, JT Miller
2010 - Gormley, Schwartz, Forbort
2009 - Kassian, Kulikov, Holland
2008 - Teubert, Boychuk, Karlsson
2007 - Eller, Shattenkirk, Plante
2006 - Grabner, Helenius, Wishart
2005 - Zagraban, Pokulok, O'Marra

So that is back to the lockout. I count three top 6 players on first division teams (Larkin, Jt Miller and Schwartz) and 2 top pairing D on first division teams (Shattenkirk and Karlsson). This notion that a team picking in the teens should be nailing superstars does not hold up to any intelligent scrutiny. There is only one superstar taken in any of those spots in the last decade and only 2 of those 5 players was in the NHL in their draft +2 year. You're either complaining to complain or out of expectations that are way too high.

 

[Rumpy]

There is a lot of conjecture and very little analysis happening in this thread. I'll address just one point. The 13,14,15 slots in the draft are not exactly the bastion of superstardom that they've been made out to be in this thread.

Going back to the year prior to the Senyshyn draft, this is what we're looking at.

2014 - Vrana, Honka, Larkin
2013 - Morrisey, Wennberg, Pulock
2012 - Faksa, Girgensons, Ceci
2011 - Baertschi, Oleksiak, JT Miller
2010 - Gormley, Schwartz, Forbort
2009 - Kassian, Kulikov, Holland
2008 - Teubert, Boychuk, Karlsson
2007 - Eller, Shattenkirk, Plante
2006 - Grabner, Helenius, Wishart
2005 - Zagraban, Pokulok, O'Marra

So that is back to the lockout. I count three top 6 players on first division teams (Larkin, Jt Miller and Schwartz) and 2 top pairing D on first division teams (Shattenkirk and Karlsson). This notion that a team picking in the teens should be nailing superstars does not hold up to any intelligent scrutiny. There is only one superstar taken in any of those spots in the last decade and only 2 of those 5 players was in the NHL in their draft +2 year. You're either complaining to complain or out of expectations that are way too high.

Except this draft we speak of was supposedly top 3 all time. Up there with 2003 and 1988.

2003 Dustin Brown Brent Seabrook and Robert Nilsson. I'd take that ...
1979 Doug Sulliman Brian Propp and Brad McKinnon. Not quite as good ... still a lot of quality.

The problem with picking in these extremely deep drafts is the guys that go after. They out smarted themselves. Likely like they did in 2003. I don't mind reaching once in a while but why 3 times in a row?!?

Every player 1-11 is in the NHL already. That isn't normal...

What's even better is so are picks 16/17/18/20/24/28/35/37/39/46/51

That's 22 picks out of the top 60 that have played in the NHL before they turned 20 years old. This wasn't a normal draft year. It's far from it! Having 3 picks where they did should have been franchise changing.

 

[KnightofBoston]

Pretty disappointing senyshyn didn't make the team.... if only because I think he would have lit it up. Be very interested as to hear why he wasn't picked

 

[pierre gagnon*]

There is a lot of conjecture and very little analysis happening in this thread. I'll address just one point. The 13,14,15 slots in the draft are not exactly the bastion of superstardom that they've been made out to be in this thread.

Going back to the year prior to the Senyshyn draft, this is what we're looking at.

2014 - Vrana, Honka, Larkin
2013 - Morrisey, Wennberg, Pulock
2012 - Faksa, Girgensons, Ceci
2011 - Baertschi, Oleksiak, JT Miller
2010 - Gormley, Schwartz, Forbort
2009 - Kassian, Kulikov, Holland
2008 - Teubert, Boychuk, Karlsson
2007 - Eller, Shattenkirk, Plante
2006 - Grabner, Helenius, Wishart
2005 - Zagraban, Pokulok, O'Marra

So that is back to the lockout. I count three top 6 players on first division teams (Larkin, Jt Miller and Schwartz) and 2 top pairing D on first division teams (Shattenkirk and Karlsson). This notion that a team picking in the teens should be nailing superstars does not hold up to any intelligent scrutiny. There is only one superstar taken in any of those spots in the last decade and only 2 of those 5 players was in the NHL in their draft +2 year. You're either complaining to complain or out of expectations that are way too high.

Awesome perspective, I would say that sums ups the odds and its a guessing game after picks 1-10. So that ends that, lets get back our guys. Glad to see Vatrano back last night as our #1 prospect right now. Scoring in his 1st game with a nice snapper 5 hole. No one else in the system that is ready to play can do that with that ease. If we are still going talk about that draft at least wait till 2020 to see how it unfolds. If you have the future knowledge now, please give me some powerball numbers.

 

[Rumpy]

My perspective is that if you have three consecutive mid-first round picks in a stacked draft, one of them has to be a huge hit. I don't mind which one, but there is no excuse for it not to happen. We can talk about top 9 being ok (which it is, ordinarily) but in this instance, if the club doesn't acquire a legit top 6/4 player they have failed badly.

But for all I know, one (or more) of the three are on the correct path. It'll be fun to see how it all pans out over the years.

Do you have a link or some kind of URL for this. I wasn't aware of that rule ...

This is what all of my messages were referring to yesterday in which I obviously did a poor job of getting my point across.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_NHL_Entry_Draft

You're happy with Steve Bernier Eric Fehr and Mark Stuart.

While me and the others guys fighting with you have higher standards and expectations. With the way 2015 is looking it's not a reach to expect or want Brown Seabrooke and Parise or Burns Getzlaf and Kessler.

2015 is shaping up to look like a monkey could have threw darts at the top projected and drafted better than the Bruins at 13/14/15.

At no point in this thread have I said I hate Zboril/Debrusk/Sensyshn either.

The point is they had a every chance to do something spectacular and it doesn't look like it's playing out that way.

I'm not sorry that me and a few others have higher standards when it comes to such a draft. Maybe in 5 years this will be a moot point (sure isn't tending or projecting that way though) and we can look back on a sad day in Bruins history. June 26th 2016 just another day of mediocrity.

As a bonus June 27th looks like a good day!

 

[Rumpy]

There is a lot of conjecture and very little analysis happening in this thread. I'll address just one point. The 13,14,15 slots in the draft are not exactly the bastion of superstardom that they've been made out to be in this thread.

Going back to the year prior to the Senyshyn draft, this is what we're looking at.

2014 - Vrana, Honka, Larkin
2013 - Morrisey, Wennberg, Pulock
2012 - Faksa, Girgensons, Ceci
2011 - Baertschi, Oleksiak, JT Miller
2010 - Gormley, Schwartz, Forbort
2009 - Kassian, Kulikov, Holland
2008 - Teubert, Boychuk, Karlsson
2007 - Eller, Shattenkirk, Plante
2006 - Grabner, Helenius, Wishart
2005 - Zagraban, Pokulok, O'Marra

So that is back to the lockout. I count three top 6 players on first division teams (Larkin, Jt Miller and Schwartz) and 2 top pairing D on first division teams (Shattenkirk and Karlsson). This notion that a team picking in the teens should be nailing superstars does not hold up to any intelligent scrutiny. There is only one superstar taken in any of those spots in the last decade and only 2 of those 5 players was in the NHL in their draft +2 year. You're either complaining to complain or out of expectations that are way too high.

They aren't too high. Please compare to 2003 which is what the 2015 draft has been compared to for a year or two before it even happened.

After I see your analysis of that comparing apples to apples instead of an apple to an orange I will be happy to admit you are right.

In a normal draft year you are right but 2015 has already shown it's not normal. Adding to that the WJC arguement. It is far from an exact science but I'm willing to guess or bet that most players named to last years or the past 5 years all star game have played in this tournament? I'd say there is a correlation between making this team and having NHL success. It's not the be all end all but it's a good measuring stick...

 

[Rumpy]

You're slipping in your own shlt here.

Teams don't win with mid-first round picks who aren't franchise superstars? The Penguins are probably glad they missed that memo and didn't keep Eric Fehr off the playoff roster.

Chicago is probably jumping for joy they missed the memo as well. Never mind first round picks, they were burdened with so many 2nd round picks and later it's a wonder they even made the playoffs.

No, you're right. There's just no use in this league for first round picks who don't turn into franchise players. If Zac turns out to be a 3rd round guy, play 800 games and pot 350 points, that'll be the death of the Boston Bruins. Might as well move to Quebec.

Not slipping in anything...

As I hopefully showed more clearly this morning.

Weather teams buy sell or trade for guys picked in the top 15. Getting stars at the top is critical and crucial. This isn't the NFL where teams drafting late and having great coaches can overcome elite home run talent.

Steve Bernier Eric Fehr and Taylor Pyatt although contributors isn't what I want. I hope Zboril/Sensyshn/Debrusk all have great careers. But when everyone drafted in front of them is or has been in the NHL or playing in the WJC when measured against their peers they very well should be I'd say there is plenty of room for critism instead of rainbows and lollipops.

 

[pierre gagnon*]

Pretty disappointing senyshyn didn't make the team.... if only because I think he would have lit it up. Be very interested as to hear why he wasn't picked

Even if he made the team unless you are in the top 3 you will not get powerplay time or extra shifts. Last year's team over played the so called stars to death and they came up empty and tired. The coach would not change his approach and left good players playing in roles they were not good at. My fear with him is making the team and being used 3 times a period as a checker on the 4th line. People would say he is a bust he is not scoring, what a wasted pick. Thats the way Canada roles out the players, it can be a showcase for only a few elite guys. The Marners, McDavids and Crosby's of the talent pool get the spotlight and the coaches are auditioning for the show too. Maybe they wanted to work in some younger guys for next year's tourny in the bottom 6 or they went with real checkers for that role.