Dekes For Days
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- Sep 24, 2018
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None of those picks were "flushed". Most draft picks (especially low ones) don't become NHLers, regardless of their profile, but they had as much chance as the big fridges we drafted previously. In fact, probably more, as it's easier to grow into a bigger body, than it is to develop NHL skills at that point of development. Not to mention adapting the size disadvantage you've always had to overcome to the next level vs. adapting to suddenly losing a size advantage you've always had helping you.Flushing a half dozen picks on small, non elite defenesmen who can't be promoted to the NHL would seem like the biggest disadvantage.
Every defenseman outside of the lottery is non-elite when they're drafted. That doesn't mean anything. We drafted a wide variety of defenseman of different sizes and types, and they all had a promotion pathway to the NHL. There are 213 defensemen that have played more than 20 games in the NHL this year. They range all the way from 5'9" to 6'8". And there are more 5'9"s than 6'8"s. More 5'10"s than 6'7"s. More 5'11"s than 6'6"s. Niemela is 6'0", and there are more defenseman 6'0" or below than above 6'3". Should we disregard all prospects above 6'3" as well?
Your draft picks not all hitting and becoming NHLers is not a disadvantage. That is normal. A disadvantage would have been avoiding somebody like Sandin, and losing out on years of surplus value and a 1st round pick+ return, as a result of putting arbitrary limitations on ourselves. A disadvantage would be dismissing a good prospect in Niemela because he doesn't fit a certain meaningless profile.