Players You Thought Would Bust But Didn't?

[DitchMarner]

MacK after the 3 year stint post rookie season.

Weren't there indicators that he would be a lot better?

I'm sure no one thought he would ever score 140 points, but when he was about a 50 point player, did it seem like he was capable of being at least a PPG player or did he change his game and improve drastically?

 

[missionAvs]

Weren't there indicators that he would be a lot better?

I'm sure no one thought he would ever score 140 points, but when he was about a 50 point player, did it seem like he was capable of being at least a PPG player or did he change his game and improve drastically?

I guess I should have specified that it didn't look great in comparison to his pre-draft projections or even his D+1 year. Only a bust in expectations so to speak.

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

Corado Micalef

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I didn't think Jason Robertson would turn out to be the player he's become. Even though he was producing in junior, I thought his physical limitations (ie. his skating) would make it difficult for him to replicate that sort of production at the NHL level.

Oops.

 

[banks]

I thought Jake DeBrusk was going to be a bust. I still don't like him much as a player, but I can admit that he's far exceeded my expectation. Nearly 30 goals a few times, too.

And if you go way back I thought Corey Crawford would never make it. He retired as a 2x Cup winner.

 

[BonMorrison]

MacK after the 3 year stint post rookie season.

This is a good one too. I totally thought MacKinnon was going to top out as like a 70 point guy with occasional PPG seasons (ie. Hall) after his fourth year or so. Oops!!!!

 

[Sheppy]

For me probably Trent Frederic. He's looking better and better as he goes.

I pegged him to be a 4th line energy guy with a bit of upside.

 

[Minnesota Knudsens]

Well they sucked HARD at that point. There was no signs of getting better. McDrai saved em

Wondering if I’m just making this up, but didn’t Drai and Hall have some chemistry right before they sent Hall packing?

 

[Rebels57]

Dylan Strome ..was never a believer.

 

[Sniper99]

Hottish take:

Leon Draisaitl when he scored 7 points in his rookie 37 games.

Oilers were hot trash and I thought they had 0 hope. Ten years later he’s signing an 8x14 lol

My dad couldnt stand Draisaitl in his 1st year wanted him traded. Some of the offers he came up with had me rolling. I said he should call into Stauffer and see what he thought. Here we are, loves him to death.

 

[dire wolf]

For me it was Tage. I just didn't see anything from him until Granato moved him to center.

 

[frisco]

Nico Hischier. Thought he'd be another Patrick Stefan. Especially after 2020-21.

My Best-Carey

 

[GreeningOil]

Wondering if I’m just making this up, but didn’t Drai and Hall have some chemistry right before they sent Hall packing?

They sure did, it was just in Drai’s second season in Edmonton

 

[seafoam]

Hottish take:

Leon Draisaitl when he scored 7 points in his rookie 37 games.

Oilers were hot trash and I thought they had 0 hope. Ten years later he’s signing an 8x14 lol

I thought his skating was going to bust him too.

Instead, he boomed; like big time.

 

[McDoused]

I didn’t have high hopes for William Nylander, oopsie!

Same here. Didn't like his "attitude" problems. Shame on me.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I thought Brandon Carlo was going to be a major bust

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Cale Makar

 

[jiboy]

Slad had me worried a bit at the start of his second season. Glad he picked it up big time

 

[tarheelhockey]

Michael Leighton massively exceeded my expectations, that’s for damn sure.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I thought Stamkos was gonna be a 35-35 type of player, didn't think he had a high enough IQ or broad enough skill set. Never expected 60+ goals or 100+ points.

I also expected EP to struggle a lot more on the small ice.

Oops.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Sam Bennett

 

[Bizz]

Ekblad

 

[Dhockey16]

Probably Matthew Tkachuk. Definitely never saw a 100pt NHL season. I just thought Marner was 10x more impressive in London.

 

[ohheyhemsky]

Gaudreau. Thought he was going to be another small, high scoring NCAA player and it wouldn't translate to the NHL at his size. Man was it annoying to be wrong after what he did with the Flames.

Joe Thornton after his first season.

I'll admit I was pissed about not taking Bennett over Draisaitl. Draisaitl's skating looked atrocious.

 

[Plastic Joseph]

I thought Sam Reinhart was going to peak as a decent point producer on bad teams type of player and never put up more than 65 pts or so