If you could have any one player from the 1994 draft for the duration of their career, who would you take?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NHL_Entry_Draft
- jmatchett383

Alfie

If you could have any one player from the 1994 draft for the duration of their career, who would you take?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NHL_Entry_Draft
- jmatchett383

No mention of Brett Lindros?!?

If you could have any one player from the 1994 draft for the duration of their career, who would you take?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NHL_Entry_Draft
- jmatchett383

Tim Thomas for me.

Love everything about the guy (including his objection to visit the WH and public quote on how our Fed govt sucks. he took a lot of heat for that, but at least he's got the balls to say what everyone else is thinking)

No mention of Brett Lindros?!?
- Trainfellow

Quite possibly the worst 9th overall pick ever.

http://www.mynhldraft.com...-picks/9th-overall/90509/

What about Nabakov?
- jmatchett383

I don't think so. Thomas was intriguing.

Is the Elias pick partly because he has tormented the Flyers for the past 80-or-so years?
- jmatchett383

Nah, he was a dynamite player. Would have scored more points if he wasn't a Devil

Akeson is miscast playing a fourth line role. ... I'd say put him back with Read and Coots. I think good things will happen.
- exlund

Agreed 100%. Even with the stuff I omitted for brevity's sake

No mention of Brett Lindros?!?
- Trainfellow

If his last name wasn't Lindros, you wonder where he would have really been drafted.

It's not like he lit it up in Junior or anything.

it is frustrating. you never truly know what you have. i dont get it. you know what a guy like rinaldo is going to be. yes, you can argue that its a necessary element, but to a large extent, it is what it is. but with a guy like gus, (of (frank)ing despres) you dont know yet. you know the skill is there, because you have seen it on occasion. its not like dealing with someone like rinaldo where you know for all the work or effort in the world you cant get blood from a stone.

and i realize what separates these skilled guys from those in lower european leagues or career AHLer guys is the ability to consistently draw from that well. but very few of them are able to have that consistency right out of the box. granted, a large majority of them never will be able to develop it, but i think its a pity to never know. especially when you lose out on that possibility in favor of something that offers a sure thing, but a sure thing of mediocrity.
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly. Gustafsson or Despres might be a bum. But if you never give them a real chance, or bench them the first time they screw up, you'll never know.

Coin flip between Elias or Alfredsson.
- Jsaquella

Quite possibly the worst 9th overall pick ever.

http://www.mynhldraft.com...-picks/9th-overall/90509/
- jmatchett383

Brent Krahn or Jason Marshall are good arguments there, too

Exactly. Gustafsson or Despres might be a bum. But if you never give them a real chance, or bench them the first time they screw up, you'll never know.
- Jsaquella

id rather give them a large sample size to prove that they are a bum, and then totally wash my hands of them, rather than 2 or 3 game spurts once or twice a year at the expense of a guy like Engelland or Bruno Gervais

id rather give them a large sample size to prove that they are a bum, and then totally wash my hands of them, rather than 2 or 3 game spurts once or twice a year at the expense of a guy like Engelland or Bruno Gervais
- stayinthefnnet

Exactly. In Gustafsson's case, to be fair, he did have some injury issues that kept him out at times. But when he was healthy he definitely had a shorter leash than guys like Meszaros (who was in steep injury decline) and Schenn who has simply been inconsistent for 6 years.

Agreed 100%. Even with the stuff I omitted for brevity's sake
- Jsaquella

Yeah, you know me..

Let's hope Berube sees the light at some point. If he continues to relegate him to a role he's not suited for (despite playing well in that role), I will likely sour on him (I've been mostly supportive).

Yeah, you know me..

Let's hope Berube sees the light at some point. If he continues to relegate him to a role he's not suited for (despite playing well in that role), I will likely sour on him (I've been mostly supportive).
- exlund

I'm not a fan of Berube's but I'm far from calling for his head. There's not a coach out there that could get a ton more out of this roster and it's not as if Akeson is likely to break out and become Pavel Bure if he got the opportunity. Still, there's a seeming bias that I find bothersome.

Exactly. In Gustafsson's case, to be fair, he did have some injury issues that kept him out at times. But when he was healthy he definitely had a shorter leash than guys like Meszaros (who was in steep injury decline) and Schenn who has simply been inconsistent for 6 years.
- Jsaquella

yeah. i think sometimes coaches make the mistake of thinking that skill guys arent trying hard too easily. because these types of players are out there to make the skilled types of plays, mental mistakes are more glaring.

a guy like gus makes a bad stretch pass thats intercepted because he made a bad read, okay. its going to happen. those kinds of plays are exactly what he is in there to be attempting. a player like rinaldo who really only has to dump it in and skate hard after it is already going into the discussion with a much easier task to attempt and not (frank) up.

its like they are rewarded for having a limited skill set, because its easier to achieve the anticipated result, if that makes sense.

Ek saying Flyers interested in moving for a dman
Could be Byfuglien
Byfuglien
again

If you could have any one player from the 1994 draft for the duration of their career, who would you take?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_NHL_Entry_Draft
- jmatchett383

Daniel Alfredsson or Patrik Elias.

I'm not a fan of Berube's but I'm far from calling for his head. There's not a coach out there that could get a ton more out of this roster and it's not as if Akeson is likely to break out and become Pavel Bure if he got the opportunity. Still, there's a seeming bias that I find bothersome.
- Jsaquella

Re: Coaching
agreed!

Scotty Bowman be lucky to get 90-95 points out of this bunch, and that's only if every single player stayed healthy from here on out.

I'm not a fan of Berube's but I'm far from calling for his head. There's not a coach out there that could get a ton more out of this roster and it's not as if Akeson is likely to break out and become Pavel Bure if he got the opportunity. Still, there's a seeming bias that I find bothersome.
- Jsaquella

The alleged bias is annoying in that it doesn't allow for the maximum potential of success. The goal of any coach should be to maximize the effectiveness of the team. Berube's decisions don't make the difference between a fringe playoff team and a Cup Contender but they're still not allowing for the max effectiveness of the roster which is worrisome per se no matter how small of an effect they have.

Ek saying Flyers interested in moving for a dman
Could be Byfuglien
Byfuglien
again



- BiggE

Is he playing D for them, or is h back on the wing?

Ek saying Flyers interested in moving for a dman
Could be Byfuglien
Byfuglien
again



- BiggE

I think Byfuglien will retire before this rumor will be.

Ek saying Flyers interested in moving for a dman
Could be Byfuglien
Byfuglien
again



- BiggE

Ugh

Akeson is miscast playing a fourth line role. I understand the notion of earning your opportunities, but asking a young player to prove himself as a physical checking forward so he can earn a spot as a winger on a scoring line is contradictory. Especially when you consider his relatively strong showing on a more skilled line during last year's playoff series against the Rangers.

While I'm very much in favor of having a skilled fourth line, Akeson isn't ideally suited for that kind of role (and we have other semi-skilled types that can play that role just as well). Akeson's hands and hockey sense are consistent with a top-six type role.

Right now the creative plays he's making on the fourth line are dying on the stick of Zac Rinaldo, who is getting over twice as many shots per game as he usually does (due to) playing with Akeson, but doing nothing with them. I can't help but wonder what would happen if those passes were to the likes of Read, Simmer, Couturier Schenn...people like to knock his defensive play, but again, let's not forget last season when Akeson looked pretty damn good with Coots and Read, even with the tough matchups that line drew. Impressively, advanced stats show Akeson led the team in puck possession stats during the series. Those stats continue to show he's been strong in defensive play and possession this season. I'm tired of seeing people reach to point out Akeson's weaknesses, some of which aren't even there.


Akeson has done everything the org has asked and has performed well in doing so. He paid his dues in the minors, worked hard and improved his defensive game under Murray and proven he can play with men. He's too talented to play 9 mins of checking a game with no PP time. It would behoove the Flyers to give him linemates that are better able to take advantage of his ability to make plays. He should also get more cracks at the shootout. The Flyers had enough scouting acumen to sign this kid and showed the patience to groom him slowly and mold him into a player. I hope they don't waste their investment. Akeson has at some point led every team he's played on in points. He's far too skilled to be relegated to a fourth line and I think it's a very bad idea to use his performance in that role as a measuring stick to judge his value as an NHL'er. Let's see what he can do playing with other skilled guys. I'd say put him back with Read and Coots. I think good things will happen.
- exlund

Excellent post! I'd definitely like to see him get another shot with 14 and 24.

Akeson is miscast playing a fourth line role. I understand the notion of earning your opportunities, but asking a young player to prove himself as a physical checking forward so he can earn a spot as a winger on a scoring line is contradictory. Especially when you consider his relatively strong showing on a more skilled line during last year's playoff series against the Rangers.

While I'm very much in favor of having a skilled fourth line, Akeson isn't ideally suited for that kind of role (and we have other semi-skilled types that can play that role just as well). Akeson's hands and hockey sense are consistent with a top-six type role.

Right now the creative plays he's making on the fourth line are dying on the stick of Zac Rinaldo, who is getting over twice as many shots per game as he usually does (due to) playing with Akeson, but doing nothing with them. I can't help but wonder what would happen if those passes were to the likes of Read, Simmer, Couturier Schenn...people like to knock his defensive play, but again, let's not forget last season when Akeson looked pretty damn good with Coots and Read, even with the tough matchups that line drew. Impressively, advanced stats show Akeson led the team in puck possession stats during the series. Those stats continue to show he's been strong in defensive play and possession this season. I'm tired of seeing people reach to point out Akeson's weaknesses, some of which aren't even there.


Akeson has done everything the org has asked and has performed well in doing so. He paid his dues in the minors, worked hard and improved his defensive game under Murray and proven he can play with men. He's too talented to play 9 mins of checking a game with no PP time. It would behoove the Flyers to give him linemates that are better able to take advantage of his ability to make plays. He should also get more cracks at the shootout. The Flyers had enough scouting acumen to sign this kid and showed the patience to groom him slowly and mold him into a player. I hope they don't waste their investment. Akeson has at some point led every team he's played on in points. He's far too skilled to be relegated to a fourth line and I think it's a very bad idea to use his performance in that role as a measuring stick to judge his value as an NHL'er. Let's see what he can do playing with other skilled guys. I'd say put him back with Read and Coots. I think good things will happen.
- exlund