Bad example to be fair.
Because Borgström never had it in him. Or I should rather write that he was a hot take and there was never a Finnish majority amongst experts and fans believing he would be a certified good pick especially a first rounder when overaged. Never did he show something special in Finland either. His WJC were straight out bad. Didn't play in the Liiga.
Yeah, his time in the NCAA was successful but didn't he play with two future NHLers in Denver? Troy Terry and Gambrell?
I mean Pulkkinen is the same kind of prospect for me. But at least a D and a lot bigger so perhaps worth the risk of taking him in later rounds or even the second, who knows.
I mean Hyry is a good example as well. Not even drafted and even if he's a risk he's still worth the chance because of some worth mentioning merits like the mens WC and a good season in Liiga. Borgström has never even represented Finland in a WC like Hyry.
Also, a point worth mentioning? How come no European players have found any success worth mentioning since Ehlers? With Jets that is. Forget the Finnish perspective for a while, think about it.
Neither Niederretier nor Namestnikov were drafted by the Jets and I wouldn't state that their time while at Jets has been anything special or a success.
So if anything, this is a lot more relevant thing to mention than your Borgström example. And you probably know it.
Last but not least. I almost feel like Lambert, Salomonsson, Chibrikov and Heinola need to pan out to prove me wrong and that the Jets are doing something right with their European prospects. Or at least half of them. Why I'm mentioning these prospects are also because of their talent level. They are a couple of the Jets most promising prospects overall.
1st Bold: Since Ehlers the Europeans the Jets have taken in the 1st and 2nd are:
Laine: 1st: great for the Jets
Vesalainen: 1st: Bust, and he hasn't proven it's not on him since leaving the Jets
Gustafsson: 2nd: Pretty much developed as you would expect as a low scoring late 2nd round pick. He's shown decent ability to be a 4th line checking / PK player.
Heinola: 1st: Has developed in the AHL and needed to improve defensively. Likely makes the team last year but broke his ankle. Development is fine.
Lundmark: 2nd: A low scoring right handed defensive defenseman. Has played some decent seasons on the Moose, and now needs to beat out NHL vet Colin Miller for the 3rd pair RHD. Development is fine.
Torgersson: 2nd: Was probably a reach and they thought he was on an upward trajectory. Hasn't put it together after 2 seasons in the AHL. Still 22 but 9 points last year is telling. He's had opportunity.
Chibrikov: 2nd: Was getting next to no playing time in Russia (great development right?), then came to play in the AHL last year and played 70 games with 47 points. Plays pretty feisty and could be a depth guy for sure. Was given opportunity and did well.
Lambert: 1st: bounced around in Finland before getting drafted and struggled. D+1 the Jets bring him to the AHL, and then decide, you know what, this kid really needs to have some time playing with his peers. They make the decision to send him to the WHL and he thrives. Comes back the next season and is an AHL all star.
Salomonsson: 2nd: Just played his D+1 in Sweden and will now most likely play in the AHL to develop further.
Freij: 2nd: Playing his D+1 in Sweden
While I wouldn't have minded seeing Heinola get more NHL ice time here and there, none of the above were mishandled, and Chibrikov and Lambert were moved from poor situations into good situations by the Jets.
2nd bolded: Tell me you don't watch the Jets and know nothing about the team without telling me. lol.
Niederreiter has played 1.5 seasons and has put up pretty much the same points per year he has been his whole career, and he's been playing on a checking line as well, playing against other teams top lines more often than not.
Namestnikov has been with the team for 1.5 seasons as well and has been a very good swiss army knife type player. He played a lot of last season as the 2C and did ok. His P60 is near the highest it's been in his career. Last year was probably his best season since 2017-2018.
Neither of those guys are stars, but they've done all you can expect at their ages and past history for the Jets and even more. The fact you think those are "gotchas", shows you don't watch the Jets and know anything about those players.