The highest pick in 2019 or 2020 they used on a NA skater was 54th overall. If you want to expect studs at those picks, go for it, but guys like that not panning out is expected. In 2021, all 3 of their first NA skaters drafted are trending really well. In 22, 113th overall looks like a potential player and in 23, there's 3 or 4 NA skaters trending towards NHL games.
The NA drafting has probably been "average", maybe even slightly above for where they've drafted North Americans. Their European drafting has been great.
But lets also not pretend this thread wasn't full of people shitting on the wings drafting, you moving the goal posts to only North America is pretty funny.
Yep, and players develop. I'm a guy who goes to Grand Rapids and watches them play live. Soderblom was trending towards Sweden. Its why people in this thread writing off guys who are like 20-22 years old because Yzerman slow cooks them is pretty stupid. Yzerman has a long track record of drafting well, and the first round guys have all looked like. big hits, maybe give his late rounders more than a couple years to judge
Neck and neck this season, sure. Raymond was better last year, objectively and there's not really an argument in Stutzles favour. This season, Raymond has likely been better by a hair but we can call it even if you want. Over this season and last, Raymond also has 17 more goals, 9 more even strength goals, more even strength points while playing 2 minutes less a game and 45 seconds less on the powerplay per game.
This season and last, Raymond has the edge, saying "this season, sure" is completely disingenuous
Its been a season and a half now of Raymond being better/on par. We can stop pretending Stutzle is a clear 1st in a redraft, and we can stop using career stats to try to make a point lol