I really wanted Maata, but I would have understood the reason for drafting another defenseman and forgiven missing out on Laughton.
- SchennBros

Did you scout Maata or was it because he was on the top of people's boards?

Wait, Hartnell thinks?
- Pixote Andolini

Not as much as you'd expect him to, I guess.

We were hanging out. He tried to post mid conversation. I broke every means he had to access hockeybuzz.
- JFlyers00

The Dark Side cannot be stopped! I'm lurking in the darkness.

The Dark Side cannot be stopped! I'm lurking in the darkness.
- MJL

Jesus, it's like Beetlejuice.

The Dark Side cannot be stopped! I'm lurking in the darkness.
- MJL

Jesus, it's like Beetlejuice.

- tangent_man

Just wow.
- Pixote Andolini

The Dark Side cannot be stopped! I'm lurking in the darkness.
- MJL

I figured you were just out grabbing lunch

The Dark Side cannot be stopped! I'm lurking in the darkness.
- MJL

I figured you were just out grabbing lunch

- BulliesPhan87

Come on, dude. Let it go.
- PhillySportsGuy

never.

The Dark Side cannot be stopped! I'm lurking in the darkness.
- MJL

I always pictured you more as someone who leers, instead of lurks.

- SchennBros

one of the best commericals! love it

Did you scout Maata or was it because he was on the top of people's boards?
- PhillySportsGuy

Probably listens to the same scouts who convinced the hockey world they'd be nuts if they didn't select Ty Wishar, Mark Mitera, David Fischer, and Bobby Sanguinetti over Giroux.

Probably listens to the same scouts who convinced the hockey world they'd be nuts if they didn't select Ty Wishar, Mark Mitera, David Fischer, and Bobby Sanguinetti over Giroux.


- 77rams

I know. I hate when fans get mad about the Flyers missing a top notch player. They have found so many good players late in the first round. Giroux is the 2nd best player of that entire draft and they got him with the 21st pick.

Laughton is still a guy with tremendous upside. He's 19 and dominating the OHL. Its not like the Flyers completely whiffed.

I always pictured you more as someone who leers, instead of lurks.
- flyer_nutter

It's hard to tell when he's leering with that mask on.

Did you scout Maata or was it because he was on the top of people's boards?
- PhillySportsGuy

I review most of the first round draft picks...

I know. I hate when fans get mad about the Flyers missing a top notch player. They have found so many good players late in the first round. Giroux is the 2nd best player of that entire draft and they got him with the 21st pick.

Laughton is still a guy with tremendous upside. He's 19 and dominating the OHL. Its not like the Flyers completely whiffed.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'm not saying they did whiff. Maata and Laughton were thought to be about equal in terms of potential at the time. And it still looks like they might be. The thing that gives me a beef is they had Schenn, Couturier, and Giroux... They needed Maata much more.

So would you have been happy if they selected another defenseman other than Maata?
- PhillySportsGuy

Well remember, Maata was a slam dunk, can't-miss, HOF-caliber defneseman who is destined to be better than Bobby Orr. So yeah, it was silly not to pick him.

I mean, sure, Laughton may be the next Guy Carbonneau, but Olli Maata's played really well for like 65 NHL games. Terrible choice.

I'm a big Maata fan, and think he will be a great player in years to come. But the Flyers obviously felt that Scott Laughton was the better prospect with a better chance at becoming an impact player. Heck, if the cards fell differently, Maata could have been a flop, and then we'd all be talking about what a terrible pick it was for Pittsburgh. But when we put on our Captain Hindsight cape, we get to bash our favorite organization a little bit more.

I'm not saying they did whiff. Maata and Laughton were thought to be about equal in terms of potential at the time. And it still looks like they might be. The thing that gives me a beef is they had Schenn, Couturier, and Giroux... They needed Maata much more.
- SchennBros

Best philosophy in most sports is to go BPA. They must have liked Laughton more than Maata. If you want to blame the scouts for getting that one wrong then go ahead. I just don't think you can criticize a team for taking the BPA.

Maata was viewed as a guy who was more NHL ready than other defenseman. The reason he dropped was because most didn't view him as a guy with high potential. Who's to say those scouts are going to be wrong? Maybe he reaches the top 4 and never gets good enough to be top pairing.

Well remember, Maata was a slam dunk, can't-miss, HOF-caliber defneseman who is destined to be better than Bobby Orr. So yeah, it was silly not to pick him.

I mean, sure, Laughton may be the next Guy Carbonneau, but Olli Maata's played really well for like 65 NHL games. Terrible choice.
- jmatchett383

Wait... Maata was ranked in the top 10 and dropped to 22. Why cant you admit they passed over a team need, and a player that was scouted higher, or something they felt more comfortable drafting... a 2 way center..

Wait... Maata was ranked in the top 10 and dropped to 22. Why cant you admit they passed over a team need, and a player that was scouted higher, or something they felt more comfortable drafting... a 2 way center..
- SchennBros

Well the reason he dropped out of the top 10 probably had to do with them (and other teams) feeling that he wasn't as sure of an impact player as Laughton. They obviously felt Laughton would be a better player.

All things being equal, a position of team need comes into play. In the scouting department's minds, things weren't equal. In 7-8 years, we'll know if they were right or not.

Wait... Maata was ranked in the top 10 and dropped to 22. Why cant you admit they passed over a team need, and a player that was scouted higher, or something they felt more comfortable drafting... a 2 way center..
- SchennBros

My argument isn't about which one would be the better player. My argument is that a team shouldn't take a defenseman simply because they need defenseman in the system. You need to weigh all options.

If a guy like Monahan dropped to them in the last draft, they would have had to take him and I wouldn't have been mad. Then, maybe, they trade Schenn or Couts or Laughton for a top prospect defenseman or top 4, NHL defenseman.

If you draft for need, you end up selecting guys you aren't completely sold on.

Best philosophy in most sports is to go BPA. They must have liked Laughton more than Maata. If you want to blame the scouts for getting that one wrong then go ahead. I just don't think you can criticize a team for taking the BPA.

Maata was viewed as a guy who was more NHL ready than other defenseman. The reason he dropped was because most didn't view him as a guy with high potential. Who's to say those scouts are going to be wrong? Maybe he reaches the top 4 and never gets good enough to be top pairing.
- PhillySportsGuy

IMO its just a foolish move... BPA was Maata. He was ranked higher, and a team need. Flyers just saw Laughton as the "safer" pick, but IMO with so many centers and at 20, to grab a defenseman...that you need... that dropped from ranked 8th... that would have been a good draft pick.

Well the reason he dropped out of the top 10 probably had to do with them (and other teams) feeling that he wasn't as sure of an impact player as Laughton. They obviously felt Laughton would be a better player.

All things being equal, a position of team need comes into play. In the scouting department's minds, things weren't equal. In 7-8 years, we'll know if they were right or not.
- jmatchett383

I think anybody would rather have Maata than Laughton right now, but its not like the Flyers picked a terrible player. No one saw this coming from Maata. Even his junior team expected him to be back with them this season. When he didn't return, they had to make a series of moves to bring in other defenseman.