Confession of a Former Permabuild.
I will start this post off with a long overdue apology to
@cwede.
Three seasons ago Chris Drury extended Jimmy Vesey and I lost my mind. I went on the Vesey tread and railed against the signing. Cwede tried talking me off the ledge by explaining an organization can't play all rookies and why, but I'd have none of it.
Shortly after
@nyr2k2 posted on the Roster Building thread that AHL.TV (now FloSports) was having a half year sale. I had the time and luckily the money to subscribe. I've learned over the 2 and 1/2 years that young players need to be given the opportunity and time to learn how to play at the NHL level. They need to be surrounded by veterans who have compete and Character.
With most of the Hartford Wolf Pack games there is only a one camera setup. For me this is a plus. With only the one camera I'm able to not only see the play but because of the zoomed out picture I'm also able to watch what players are doing away from the puck. Over this time I was able to see why players like Edstrom, Rempe and Berard were ready to be given a shot and why players like Othmann and Robertson were not. Though I will admit that Othmann has definitely addressed of my concerns I had about his willingness to go to the dirty area's. Now it is jus a matter of "Talent".
Though the bar is pretty low, Matt Robertson has finally started to make strides, yet it maybe too late.
This season the Wolf Pack group is in shambles. They went from a well structured North/South system under Knoblauch and the Smith to total disarray. I can't say if it is the fault of the new Head Coach or if they've been forced to play Lavioleete's system. either way this is not a good environment to developed players. Looking forward I believe that Roobroreck should get a chance to play next season as well as Garand and that Chmelar has the talent but needs more discipline.
Last point. The last two Stanley Cup winners were not built through the draft. Florida's cup roster had only four drafted players and one of them was traded away and brought back. Vegas had three.
When a player gets to the pro level it usually means they have skill(s). Isn't the separation then between winners and losers their character and desire?