Our Lady Peace
Registered User
As a WHL rookie in his D-2 he had 29 goals, 48 points in 59 games. Good for 3rd in goals and 6th in points on the Blazers at the time. I guess he became a casualty of the short season but his early statline trended strongly with his prior season's performance.It's not that complicated. He's 5'8 and hadn't had a breakout performance yet in the CHL (only played 6 games in his draft year because of covid).
How many 5'8 draftees end up with long careers in the NHL? 5% of them? People are going to blame old scouts for being biased but the numbers aren't good.
The more interesting question is what is it about Stankoven that stands out above the rest of those little players running up the score in the CHL. What are his attributes that make it work? Is it something we can identify going forward? (Obviously D+1 things got a little more obvious).
The question of if it could translate was understandable, but I think he had done enough to have earned the benefit of the doubt. I think it was clear he played at a different pace than regular smaller skilled guys. So good at finding soft spots/pockets on the ice. Still explosive for a guy his size too.
I do wonder how far he would have fell had Dallas' owner not already had Stank playing in his Canadian backyard.