Fabian Brunnstrom (and other players greatly hyped before becoming NHLers)

[carjackmalone]

Pat Price

 

[Brodeur]

Angelo Esposito, he had huge hype but didn’t he blow out his knees?

I think by the time the draft rolled around, teams were a little skeptical about his play. And then as you mentioned, one of his strengths (skating speed) got diminished with injuries.

I forever associate Esposito with Brady Quinn thanks to a beer league teammate who doesn't quite know as much as he thinks he does. At some point the upcoming NHL draft came up in conversation and he brought up Esposito being the next #1 stud. I mentioned how his stock was dropping and he might not even go top 10. Buddy then offered to bet me that Esposito was going #1; He scoffed that I'd know anything about prospects and how his friends back home in Canada had told him how sick Esposito was. Naturally he disavowed that bet a few months later.

A few minutes later the NFL Draft came up and same buddy declared that Brady Quinn would be better than Tom Brady. [/coolstorybro]

 

[Voight]

Another three that popped into my head today.

Angelo Esposito, he had huge hype but didn’t he blow out his knees?

Gilbert Brule, typical early Jackets development and I think mental health issues.

Then John McFarland, guy carried minor hockey hype all the way to the NHL draft somehow.

Unrelated but he went into politics during the last Canadian federal election (he lost).