C Connor McDavid - Erie Otters, OHL (2015 Draft) VI

[PuckG]

So do the Oilers deserve RNH? You know, they improved sooo much the year after they finished last place for Hall. Then they improved soooooo much more, up to the 2nd worst team in hockey the year after that for Yak. They've had time to become atleast middle of the ****ing road in a non-lockout season. Oh but they added Mark Fayne and Benoit Pouloity in 2014!! we tried guyyys, we triiiedd so hard.

We never won the RNH pick first of all. And second of all...yeah...the Oilers actually DID TRY to improve. There was never any blatant tanking by the team...they were just that bad because management has no idea how to support the core or develop players outside the first round.

 

[oStealthKiller*]

Are you really trying to argue that trying to be good and failing horribly is more deserving than being bad on purpose? Can't tell if serous...

Are you trying to say youd rather have the bottom 5 teams all tank instead of trying to win cuz, u know, trying to be good and ending up low in the standings is bad right?
Much better to just decide to be bad right?

 

[Chef de Cuisine]

Are you trying to say youd rather have the bottom 5 teams all tank instead of trying to win cuz, u know, trying to be good and ending up low in the standings is bad right?
Much better to just decide to be bad right?

lil "StealthKiller" is in denial, hahaha.

 

[taunting canadian]

Are you really trying to argue that trying to be good and failing horribly is more deserving than being bad on purpose? Can't tell if serous...

The league has for several decades run a draft which intentionally rewards the worst teams. Deserving? I guess you can have philosophical messageboard arguments about that, but it's clear that the league powers-that-be (in all the major North American professional sports leagues) think it's a good idea to give the worst teams a chance to acquire the best new talent. So, we can say with certainty that the league thinks it's a good idea to reward teams that fail horribly. We can also observe the the league only instituted lotteries once it became clear that some teams would try to "game" the system, so the league has also decided that it's not a good idea to reward teams for being bad on purpose. So again, one can argue about "deserving", but it's patently clear that the league intends to reward teams that are legitimately bad and prefers not to reward teams that are bad on purpose.



As for why the league has arranged things this way, and continues to arrange things this way after several decades, IMO that's also pretty obvious, it's because the NHL (and all the other NA pro leagues) think it's generally a good idea to promote at least a certain level of parity within the league. Messageboard posters can choose to disagree with their philosophy (although it will be somewhat pointless), but it's pretty obvious that the league does in fact want to reward teams that are legitimately bad teams.

 

[Spawn]

K... so this is a silly question to ask. But hopefully it might get the discussion back on to the actual player instead of the team drafting him (there are a number of those threads on the main board)

But for those who have actually seen him play a lot in junior. Just how good is McDavid? Got a break down of his skillset/abilities?

I watched him in the WJC and I've seen the highlights, but what about the people that see him every day? When I've got some time I think I will sit down and read through all of these threads, but any insight provided would be a breath of fresh air.

 

[PuckG]

K... so this is a silly question to ask. But hopefully it might get the discussion back on to the actual player instead of the team drafting him (there are a number of those threads on the main board)

But for those who have actually seen him play a lot in junior. Just how good is McDavid? Got a break down of his skillset/abilities?

I watched him in the WJC and I've seen the highlights, but what about the people that see him every day? When I've got some time I think I will sit down and read through all of these threads, but any insight provided would be a breath of fresh air.

I have limited knowledge, but as far as I know: exceptional hockey IQ (he sees the ice like few players do), excellent skating (for me personally, its hard to see how good of a skater he is simply because it looks so effortless...but from numerous highlights, you can see him hightailing it and beating people with sheer speed). Those are the two things that are clearly evident when you watch him play. From what I HEAR, the one knock is his long range shot, which makes sense cause the majority of goals you see him score are either gorgeous dekes or quick snaps from close to mid range. He seem defensively sound but I'm sure more knowledgeable hockey fans could give you a better idea of his defensive ability. Again, this is a very limited and unprofessional view from just watching highlights, WJC, and the occasional Otter game. Looking forward to watching the guy play against Soo. Excited to see a McD vs Nurse matchup.

 

[CanadianSniper]

So do the Oilers deserve RNH? You know, they improved sooo much the year after they finished last place for Hall. Then they improved soooooo much more, up to the 2nd worst team in hockey the year after that for Yak. They've had time to become atleast middle of the ****ing road in a non-lockout season. Oh but they added Mark Fayne and Benoit Pouloity in 2014!! we tried guyyys, we triiiedd so hard.

A Sabres fan accusing another team of tanking. That's rich

 

[Divine Wind]

...Yakupov

3rd line With Draisaitl. Oiler management are creatures of habit, so i fully expect them to rush all of Nurse, Draisaitl, and McDavid into the line up. They have already dubbed it a "development year" so i think we should expect it.

Pouliot - RNH - Eberle
Hall - McDavid - Lander
Purcell - Draisaitl - Yakupov
Hendricks - Gordon - Klinkhammer/Pitlick

 

[go canucks go*]

How nice was it waking up this morning and remembering that you have McDavid, Oilers fans? Musta been great

 

[PuckG]

How nice was it waking up this morning and remembering that you have McDavid, Oilers fans? Musta been great

It was my friend, it was.

 

[YEGJuniorFan]

How nice was it waking up this morning and remembering that you have McDavid, Oilers fans? Musta been great

I had to double check if it was a dream. But hey, you woke up and your team is in the playoffs so you can't be too jealous, right?

 

[Divine Wind]

Except Pittsburgh never employed idiots like Lowe, MacTavish, Katz.

Wow, you are calling people idiots and you just referred to the owner as an employee. Just saying.

 

[Divine Wind]

I had to double check if it was a dream. But hey, you woke up and your team is in the playoffs so you can't be too jealous, right?

I still think this is screwed up. It is beyond weird. After TO missed the lottery i thought for sure one of AZI or BUF is going to win it and i was excited. I figured the Oilers would be steared into getting Hanifin if we drafted 3rd and forced to fix our ****ing defense. I was still worried even then that they might take Marner or Strome instead.

This is just weird. I don't think the idea will settle in with me at the draft either. I don't think it will until i see McDavid out on the ice in September, racing around in Oiler silks. TC is going to be nuts.

 

[The Nuge]

How nice was it waking up this morning and remembering that you have McDavid, Oilers fans? Musta been great

Yep. It still doesn't seem real

 

[Joey Moss]

How nice was it waking up this morning and remembering that you have McDavid, Oilers fans? Musta been great

It was pretty incredible. There was a buzz around the city today.. Everywhere you go in Edmonton McDavid is the conversation.

I'll never forget this lottery

 

[go canucks go*]

Jealous as hell, haha. I couldn't even imagine knowing you have the next Crosby joining your team.. at a very young age... or maybe even damn better. My only fear is having that beast and your beastly #4 haunting the Canucks for almost two decades. But on the other hand I'm damn happy for your fans and franchise. Hopefully the Nucks get lucky and win a lottery sometime soon. Would be nice.

Good luck with everything. Hopefully your owner sells the team, your GM, coach and scouting staff is fired, and the fans are given a wide spread apology in the form of free beer all season at every home game. Hehe.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Jealous as hell, haha. I couldn't even imagine knowing you have the next Crosby joining your team.. at a very young age... or maybe even damn better. My only fear is having that beast and your beastly #4 haunting the Canucks for almost two decades. But on the other hand I'm damn happy for your fans and franchise. Hopefully the Nucks get lucky and win a lottery sometime soon. Would be nice.

Good luck with everything. Hopefully your owner sells the team, your GM, coach and scouting staff is fired, and the fans are given a wide spread apology in the form of free beer all season at every home game. Hehe.

You. I like you.

 

[Arcade Fire]

It's kinda funny though how people are against the Oilers because of the 1st overalls when in fact they did not really tank to get them and were lucky to win the lottery. It'd be different if they purposely tanked to end up 30th place year in and year out and get the 1st overall but that's not the case here. I think honestly it would be more shameful if Sabres got the 1st overall two years in a row now with their obvious tanking, and I say that as a guy who likes and follows the Sabres quite a bit and respect Tim Murray.

People are mad because your incompetent management is getting a new chance with the top prospect year after year. Think the majority would have loved to see one of those 1st OA picks go to a management/team with an actual plan.

 

[daver]

The only thing I wonder about McDavid is whether he should be viewed as a true draft eligible player playing his 17 year-old season or given he has played 3 seasons in the OHL, as being in between his 17 year old and 18 year old season. In general, I think there is always question marks as to how far along the development curve a 17, 18 year player is.

In trying to put his stats into perspective, should he be compared to Crosby as a 17 year old who was six months younger and in his 2nd junior season or does it makes sense to compare MacDavid last year to Crosby's draft year?

Mario was one month away from being drafted in 1983 and ended up playing 3 years in the Q where he put up monster numbers in his last year.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

The only thing I wonder about McDavid is whether he should be viewed as a true draft eligible player playing his 17 year-old season or given he has played 3 seasons in the OHL, as being in between his 17 year old and 18 year old season. In general, I think there is always question marks as to how far along the development curve a 17, 18 year player is.

In trying to put his stats into perspective, should he be compared to Crosby as a 17 year old who was six months younger and in his 2nd junior season or does it makes sense to compare MacDavid last year to Crosby's draft year?

Mario was one month away from being drafted in 1983 and ended up playing 3 years in the Q where he put up monster numbers in his last year.

6 months is not much

 

[daver]

6 months is not much

Everything else being equal:

2nd year at age 16/17 vs. 2nd year at age 17

seems like a better comparison than

3rd year at age 17/18 vs. 2nd year at age 17

 

[Riddum]

Connor McDavid looks like a floater to me


He looks like current Crosby or last year Ovi on defense. That's not a good thing. I really hope the Oilers can surround him with people to teach to play the game the right way.\

Maybe it was an off game on D but his positional awareness looks absolutely non-existent on defense.

 

[FrontierPsyCHiatrist*]

''To me''

 

[PensBandwagonerNo272*]

 

[ResilientBeast]

Wow, it's really convenient this thread popped up after Edmonton got lucky.

I'm not seeing what you're seeing