this. it was calamity. every single person wanted kopitar.
remember this was pre-breakout sedins. the franchise had never had a number one center before and we were all dying for one. and this guy was regarded as a sure thing except for the slovenian argument that kept getting repeated, which as stated didn’t make any sense because he was playing in the same league as all the swedish prospects and we all knew and constantly talked about it.
it actually seemed too good to be true, a number one center falling to us because of a perception that made absolutely no sense. and of course it was too good to be true, because nonis whiffed on it.
what bourdon could have been, i don’t know. but how good would he have had to be to not be the wrong pick? brian leetch good? and maybe even then you could argue that kopitar is the better cornerstone because he peaked arguably as high but lasted so much longer.
that said, following him as a prospect i saw jovo as his ceiling. good offensive tools, happy feet, questionable hockey sense. so almost the opposite kind of dman than you projected him to be.
