Scouts told the Montreal Canadiens to draft David Fischer two spots ahead of Claude Giroux.

Scouts made it so Dan Boyle was never drafted and was traded by the Florida Panthers to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fifth-round pick

Scouts don't always know what they're talking about
- AllInForFlyers

There is a big difference though in judging how 18 year old kids will develop as pros and how well a 25 year old player with 4 years of pro experience will continue to develop. I think you are comparing apples to oranges.

Scouts told the Montreal Canadiens to draft David Fischer two spots ahead of Claude Giroux.

Scouts made it so Dan Boyle was never drafted and was traded by the Florida Panthers to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fifth-round pick

Scouts don't always know what they're talking about
- AllInForFlyers

Ok. But I am still relying on the scouts over hockeybuzz commentors. Also those were at drafts. These scouts were after watching him againts NHL talent.

There is a big difference though in judging how 18 year old kids will develop as pros and how well a 25 year old player with 4 years of pro experience will continue to develop. I think you are comparing apples to oranges.
- BiggE

Agree. Big difference. Gus was ok but nothing that made you think he was a long term answer.

He never really impressed me that much. His offensive skills were ok, but nowhere near the level of Timonen or Streit and defensively he was mediocre.
- BiggE

He showed promise at the end of last year and then at the worlds it seemed like it was finally going to click for him. He's just one of those guys that will show you flashes of talent but never consistently maintain it.

Stinks to lose and asset for nothing but he wouldn't have been much more than a throw in in a deal anyway.

Ok. But I am still relying on the scouts over hockeybuzz commentors. Also those were at drafts. These scouts were after watching him againts NHL talent.
- J35Bacher

Dan Boyle had played parts of four seasons with the Florida Panthers before they shipped him to Tampa Bay, playing 22, 13, 69 and 25 games in those seasons before getting traded at age 24.

That's not Hockeybuzz commentating. That's an eerie parallel to what a guy like Erik Gustafsson plays like -- except he never got the 69-game season so you don't even know enough to say what he is or isn't, no more so than professional scouts for NHL franchises had any clue what Dan Boyle was when the Panthers cut him loose for that fifth-round pick

Man I really wanted to see gus get a shot at the 6th spot this year. Now this is going to force the flyers to bring up a young guy. I just really hope that it is not Ghost/Morin/Hagg. And I guess they have to stick with their really expensive dmen. Hopefully will can still clear some cap space on D and sign some career 6th/7th guy (Hopefully better than Gervais...).

Scouts told the Montreal Canadiens to draft David Fischer two spots ahead of Claude Giroux.

Scouts made it so Dan Boyle was never drafted and was traded by the Florida Panthers to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a fifth-round pick

Scouts don't always know what they're talking about
- AllInForFlyers

But the scouts have now had a decent sample size of NHL play to base their decision on, which is a lot different than projecting a draft prospect

Im not sure i like the 'not good enough training camp' argument. The whole team, except Mason, should've been benched in that case.
- PhillySteen

This.

Erik Gustaffson is good enough to play regularly in the NHL.

Dan Boyle had played parts of four seasons with the Florida Panthers before they shipped him to Tampa Bay, playing 22, 13, 69 and 25 games in those seasons before getting traded at age 24.

That's not Hockeybuzz commentating. That's an eerie parallel to what a guy like Erik Gustafsson plays like -- except he never got the 69-game season so you don't even know enough to say what he is or isn't, no more so than professional scouts for NHL franchises had any clue what Dan Boyle was when the Panthers cut him loose for that fifth-round pick
- AllInForFlyers

True, but I really doubt Gus turns into the next Dan Boyle. I'm not sure the Flyers could even get a 5th for him even if he hadn't signed in the KHL.

There is a big difference though in judging how 18 year old kids will develop as pros and how well a 25 year old player with 4 years of pro experience will continue to develop. I think you are comparing apples to oranges.
- BiggE

But the scouts have now had a decent sample size of NHL play to base their decision on, which is a lot different than projecting a draft prospect
- funmaster18

Again: Dan Boyle had an NHL sample size -- and a bigger one that Gus had

The scouts were just dead wrong

This.

Erik Gustaffson is good enough to play regularly in the NHL.
- johndewar

Then why has he fled to Russia?

Man I really wanted to see gus get a shot at the 6th spot this year. Now this is going to force the flyers to bring up a young guy. I just really hope that it is not Ghost/Morin/Hagg. And I guess they have to stick with their really expensive dmen. Hopefully will can still clear some cap space on D and sign some career 6th/7th guy (Hopefully better than Gervais...).
- FlyersSteve118

If one of those three shows he's ready for the big show I don't have a problem with them moving him up to the big club. Do I think any are ready yet? Nope. So I would be surprised to see one.

Again: Dan Boyle had an NHL sample size -- and a bigger one that Gus had

The scouts were just dead wrong
- AllInForFlyers

Then why rush to the KHL if he's good enough for the NHL? Seems like they gauged interest and had the best opportunity in the KHL. Can he be an every day guy? Sure, maybe at some point. But I didn't see anything that made me think, man we gotta retain this guy.

True, but I really doubt Gus turns into the next Dan Boyle. I'm not sure the Flyers could even get a 5th for him even if he hadn't signed in the KHL.
- BiggE

I doubt he'll turn into Dan Boyle, but I'm hesitant to take the word of a couple "whisper down the lane" scouts on a guy who hasn't seen enough consistent ice at the NHL level to warrant having such a sentence handed down on him.

Ironically, the thing that might have hurt Gus the most this year was the fact that the blueline was remarkably healthy this year.

Then why has he fled to Russia?
- funmaster18

For the same reason lots of people leave their jobs for another job: A better opportunity.

In Gus' case: To get consistent ice time.

It's obvious the Flyers don't view him the way he views himself.

If one of those three shows he's ready for the big show I don't have a problem with them moving him up to the big club. Do I think any are ready yet? Nope. So I would be surprised to see one.
- FlyersGrace

I really think whenever the flyers feel this kids are ready and give them an extra 1/2 season to a full season of development just to make sure they are damn ready.

Then why has he fled to Russia?
- funmaster18

He looks a lot better and more comfortable on the big ice. I think it's a good decision on his part he should find success and make more money over there

Then why has he fled to Russia?
- funmaster18

And FWIW, it's not out of the realm of possibility that, not only will he see more ice time, but he might even make more money.

Then why rush to the KHL if he's good enough for the NHL? Seems like they gauged interest and had the best opportunity in the KHL. Can he be an every day guy? Sure, maybe at some point. But I didn't see anything that made me think, man we gotta retain this guy.
- funmaster18

Brian Rafalski had to head to Europe, too, before he got his break with the Devils at age 28 -- sometimes, players know when they're not going to get a shot.

For the same reason lots of people leave their jobs for another job: A better opportunity.

In Gus' case: To get consistent ice time.

It's obvious the Flyers don't view him the way he views himself.
- johndewar

Was he an RFA Or UFA? There are 29 other teams he could have played for if he truly was an every day player. He could have requested a trade or signed elsewhere depending on his status. I just think he knows he will struggle to get ice time anywhere in the NHL so he took a better option

I doubt he'll turn into Dan Boyle, but I'm hesitant to take the word of a couple "whisper down the lane" scouts on a guy who hasn't seen enough consistent ice at the NHL level to warrant having such a sentence handed down on him.

Ironically, the thing that might have hurt Gus the most this year was the fact that the blueline was remarkably healthy this year.
- johndewar

It was amazing how healthy they were -- good for those players, bad for Gus

Brian Rafalski had to head to Europe, too, before he got his break with the Devils at age 28 -- sometimes, players know when they're not going to get a shot.
- AllInForFlyers

And if he looks ready later, give him another shroud. Right now he looks like an average player to me. You can sit on either side the fence, but I don't think it changes what he is right now. I'm not ruling out his potential, just that it doesn't pain me to see him go, especially if hextall has a plan for the defense.

I doubt he'll turn into Dan Boyle, but I'm hesitant to take the word of a couple "whisper down the lane" scouts on a guy who hasn't seen enough consistent ice at the NHL level to warrant having such a sentence handed down on him.

Ironically, the thing that might have hurt Gus the most this year was the fact that the blueline was remarkably healthy this year.
- johndewar

How much ice time does he need? You play with what yuor given. If h showed enough to the Flyers they would have made an offer for him to stay. You have to make the most of your chance and he didn't. Mason only had 7 gaesat the end of last year to make his chance. He played well in camp and ook wht happened. If he didn't play well he would have been sitting behind emery

Was he an RFA Or UFA? There are 29 other teams he could have played for if he truly was an every day player. He could have requested a trade or signed elsewhere depending on his status. I just think he knows he will struggle to get ice time anywhere in the NHL so he took a better option
- funmaster18

For him, right now, it is the better option.

He needs consistent ice time even to give other teams something to see. The 29 other teams did not exactly see a full body of work at the NHL level in order to make a judgement on the guy.