Funny the wings dont seem to have a problem picking up talent with the VERY LAST DRAFT PICKQuote:
Originally Posted by Spank_Me_Hard
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Funny the wings dont seem to have a problem picking up talent with the VERY LAST DRAFT PICKQuote:
Originally Posted by Spank_Me_Hard
The Wings are exceptionally good at drafting. Seem to find hidden gems like Zetterberg and Datsyuk later in the draft.Quote:
Originally Posted by Recon
I think that they are more the exception, and not the rule.
It's possible as well that they groom their draft picks better than others.
Some teams feel like they need to throw their draft picks to the wolves immediately after the draft. Put them in the NHL maybe before they are ready.
Sometimes to justify massive salaries and expectations from a early pick, sometimes to try to rescue a floudering team. For whatever reason.
But I think that in hockey, maybe more than any other sport... that confidence if everything. If you send an 18 year old player... who isn't even finished developing physically yet... to complete with grown men in their prime... I think that often that is a setup for failure. Failure that ultimately destroys confidence.
Look at your Daniel Cleary for example. I think that he was drafted at 16 years old by Chicago. He was regarded as a phenom who would be either a boom or a bust. He was started I think in his 1st year and wasn't ready for the challenge. Got traded to Edmonton very soon after. Didn't dazzle there either. Almost had a destroyed career before Detroit gave him one last chance. Has never really matured into the player that it was hoped that he'd be... but didn't fizzle out either. Has turned into a decent player for Detroit.
In Chris Pronger's first few years in Hartford, was widely regarded as a "bust". The guy was like 6'6" and 180lbs. He hadn't nearly finished "filling out" yet and was easily muscled off the puck by other developed players. It's testimony to his mental toughness that he was able to overcome that "schooling" at a young age and was able to retain his confidence by the time that he had "filled out" to about 220lbs.
But for every talented young player like Pronger, or Cleary that get thrown in right from the draft, it seems liike there is 10 who never regain their confidence. Their talent hasn't gone anywhere... they are still very young... and in their physical prime when their NHL career is effectively done. They have simply lost their mental confidence at that point.
I think that with the vast majority of young, hot draft prospects... that they need a few more "growing" years in the minors before they should get limited time in the NHL.
The guys like Ovechkin, Crosby, and Dourtey (Kings) who are able to go immediately from the draft to the NHL are the exception... not the rule. For every one of them, you get ten guys who washout.
thats why I always tell people on any given night our Grand Rapids Griffins can probably beat 50% of the NHL.
Totally agreed, SMH. The pressure to succeed and the difference in size between these skinny kids and fully grown nhl'ers can break them. In fact it always amazes me when guys like Patrick Kane succeed right from the start.
I mean, usually these top picks are taken by floundering teams and expected to come in and rescue the franchise somehow; either by winning more games or even getting the team a new building to play in, like Tavares or Corsby or Lindros. That's just insane pressure to put on a teenager.
This is especially true of goalies and defensemen...they usually don't come into their own until their mid-20's.
Twas the night before Christmas.:)
Mackenzie has Heatley headed to EDM. Like it Spanky? Read that Ottawa gets Penner, Cogliano and Smid in return. That's cool, the Oilers were starving for a star player.
WOW!Quote:
Originally Posted by r'aggro
Had heard that Edm was talking with Ott about Heatley, but didn't think much of it. Hear stuff like that all the time.
But I just saw that Heatley has nixed the deal by refusing to waive his "no trade" clause. If that's the case, Edmonton can do without a diva player.
Heatley is an amazing player. He's the type of star player that Edmonton could use.
But if that trade happens, Edm is giving up quite a bit of potential.
Penner I'd be ok with trading. He hasn't met Edm expectations, and is the softest 245lb player in the game. His production hasn't been too far off what it was in Anaheim... but he wasn't making $4.5 million there either. He showed up to Edm overweight I guess, and MacTavish made it known to the public last year. Properly motivated, I think that he can be a lot better. But you can say that about a lot of players in the NHL.
Cogliano has potential for a great future. Good rookie year, and 18 goals last year as a 2nd year player. Speed to burn. He's the player of the three that I'd LEAST like to see Edm give up.
Smid is ok. A very young defenseman who still has growing years ahead of him. Won't hit his full potential for another 5 years or so I think. He was a 9th overall pick... but I don't know that he has the potential that I think that Cogliano has.
Heatley is a great player. But his seemingly diva attitude combined with Edm giving up what I think is a lot makes me question this trade.
yawn wake me when the playoffs start =)......i know i know I'm spoiled
There are always ways for a team to improve. For example, your Wings might want to look at signing a top line winger to replace the 40-goal scorer that just went to your arch-rival.;)
Dang!
Hawks will be deadly if they can sign Havlat too!
Was overjoyed about the Oil getting the Bulin Wall. Goaltending was probably their weakest position, and Rolosson ain't getting any younger. Not that 'Bulin is either. 4 mill a year ain't bad either. Get rid of Penner, and he's paid for with change to spare.
We let Bulin AND Havlat go and tried to fill Marty's spot with Madden. I am NOT excited about Huet being our #1. He's stellar at times but inconsistent at best. He needs to stop dropping on every shot.
Hossa is a non-factor for me. I have a feeling if he doesn't get injured he'll be non-productive. I'd love to be wrong on both accounts but it always happens with long term contract guys. Also, if we don't pick up where we left off in the win category in the first two months heads will certainly be rolling. The roar was back but can and will leave as soon as the team doesn't mesh like last year.
Hope that Havlat enjoys not being able to practice his offensive creativity for the Wild.Quote:
Originally Posted by dyne
Why a scorer like Havlat chooses to go there is beyond me. And they got him for pretty cheap too.
He'll be stifled and frustrated in the overly defensive system there.
You could be right.Quote:
I have a feeling if he doesn't get injured he'll be non-productive.
Guys who sign for massive contracts often dog it for a few years... only to turn it on when they are nearing the end of their contract.
The good news is that he shouldn't be able to do that as his contract will end when he is 42 and is far out of his prime.
And... he signed the big deal with Detroit last year and didn't dog it for them. Mind you, it was only a one year deal... so I guess that he really couldn't afford to dog it.
Hossa will put up his points.
A more pressing concern for CHI is to figure out how they are going to be able to afford Kane Toews Keith Seabrooke in a year or two. That Campbell contract is going to haunt them big time.
As far as Huet goes, ya he's no Khabi but perhaps Chicago's management feels that Neimi or Crawford is ready to step up and assume the starter role sooner than later.
I'm not all that worried about hossa....was he a great player yes, will his leaving hurt the wings alot..nope..
Im hoping the wings can score one of hte young defensemen chicago wont be able to afford.
I'm thinking Cam Barker will be the odd man out in that situation, but Campbell's contract is such a lodestone that they may have to give up Seabrooke instead. Not to mention, there might be some offer sheets in store for them.
The nerve of Heatley. I can't believe he would demand a trade and then hurt the Sens by rejecting it. He's going to get boo'ed anywhere he ends up.
I will kill if Seabrook leaves. I also have much more faith in Crawford. Every time he's played he's done really well, especially while subbing in during the Detroit series.
Must be nice to have some drafted goalies who can potentially start someday. Philly doesn't, so I hope they can get a guy like Harding or Schneider frome someone else.
Meanwhile I love the Laperriere signing. He's just what they needed to help keep the young talent from coasting when the chips are down. Vive veteran leadership! And he's a tough bastard so he'll fit right in.
So who wants a line brawl with Philly!:D
Cote
Asham
Carcillo
Laperriere
Hartnell
Richards
...and Emery!
That's a lot of beatdown, while only carrying one actual enforcer. The return of the Philly Flu.
I love how you listed Emery. Lol.
Sick, SICK goals of 2009:
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=618&id=44982
Great stuff right there, and reminded me how awesome TJ Oshie is. Truth be told I probably saw dozens of highlight goals like these throughout the season so maybe they should have done 30 instead of 10! I could watch it for hours.
wow no poo stash goals in there...bettman must have been sick when they made this list...
"Top ten" is probably pretty hard to determine... so many great choices!
Wanting to see the "top ten" checks from the season...
:)
the krominator better be in that list twice!
Top hits of 2009:
http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?&id=45106
Loved seeing Dustin Brown get crushed by Ethan Moreau.
Anyone have a chance to read this THN interview with Bobby Clarke?
http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...nt-office.html
I certainly don't agree with everything Clarke says, and I'm still on the fence about whether or not he was even a good GM in his day. But damn, he says exactly what's on his mind, ill-advised or not!:eek:
Patrick Kane being an idiot... over twenty cents:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4387102
OMG... what an IDIOT! Had to have been drunk and stupid...Quote:
Blackhawks F Kane arrested
Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, the top overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft, was arrested early Sunday morning in Buffalo, N.Y., and charged with robbery and other counts following an altercation with a cab driver in his hometown.
The 20-year-old Kane and his cousin, James M. Kane, 21, were taken into police custody at about 5 a.m. ET after allegedly punching the driver and taking $15 in fare they had given him after he said he didn't have 20 cents in change, a police report says. Police say the cousins apparently caught a cab from the city's downtown nightclub district at about 4 a.m. Sunday.
Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane, the NHL's top rookie in 2008, was charged Sunday with robbery and other counts after an incident with a cab driver in Buffalo, N.Y.
Buffalo police spokesman Michael DeGeorge says the cab driver suffered cuts to his face and his glasses were damaged after being struck in the face and head. Both Kanes were charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor counts of theft of services and criminal mischief.
WIVB-TV in Buffalo reported that an attorney for Kane has entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf in a city court. Second-degree robbery is a Class C felony. The fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft-of-services charges are both Class A misdemeanors.
A message left by The Associated Press at the home of Kane's parents was not immediately returned Sunday afternoon. Relatives who answered his grandfather's phone and his mother's cell phone declined to comment and could not say whether either Kane had an attorney.
Kane's agent, Pat Brisson, declined to comment.
The Blackhawks are aware of the allegations against Kane, spokesman Brandon Faber said.
"He is a big part of our organization and a team leader and we stand behind him," Faber said. "As we are still collecting all the facts, it would be premature to comment further at this time."
Kane's arrest came only days after he took part in a ceremony announcing the funding of an ice rink in his native Buffalo, according to the Buffalo News.
On Thursday, Kane joined Mayor Byron W. Brown at Timothy J. Burvid Ice Rink in South Buffalo.
"Today is special for me," Kane said at the ceremony, according to the News. "This is where I grew up playing hockey. This is the first rink I probably skated in when I was 6 years old."
Brown referred to Kane and fellow NHL star and Buffalo native Tim Kennedy as "hometown heroes," the report said.
"I'll tell you one thing: It's a lot of fun playing in the NHL and playing on the ice and playoffs and certain things, and being part of an Original Six organization with the Blackhawks," Kane told a crowd during the event. "But to come back home and drive in the driveway for the first time for summer, and realize that you have a long time to hang out back home in Buffalo [is a great feeling].
"The best thing about it is my friends treat me like I'm a regular kid. They don't treat me like a celebrity or whatever they might treat me like in Chicago."
Kane has played his first two NHL seasons with the Blackhawks and had 46 goals and 96 assists. He won the Calder Trophy, given to the league's best rookie, in 2008.