Trying not to be an ass, but you're making my point for me. We understand that the guys that get drafted are the elite of either Canadian Junior, USHL or NCAA. Just asking for a balanced report that gives BOTH their good points and their not so good points. I'll guarantee you, every amateur player has flaws. Let us know what they are.
- scottak
I didn't actually know we were in a debate.
(You are making me self-conscious, like I jumped into some healthy argument with someone and I was posting simply to take a side...I was not, in anyway trying to do that.) So now, I will take the time to go back some pages puzzled by the "ass" statement, and I found this that you posted:
Wiz, I love draft previews, but I really wish they were more fair and balanced. Not just you, but every one who does them. If you listen to the NHL Network coverage of the draft, every player is touted as a future HOFer. And we all know that only a small percentage of draftees will even make the big show.
You list 15 lines of positives, and 1 of negatives ('needs time'). How about equal positives and negatives? Let us know what the holes in his game are, because there have to be plenty, as there are with almost every prospect.
- scottak
My point was what
I wrote was from 2015-16 no more no less. ABOUT a candidate for the NHL not a
sure-fire lock.
And when you are looking at juniors and posting them for fan consumption, you try and see the draft as the fans do: the savior player is there for your team, or the missing ingredient may be present in that prospect.
Believe me, it becomes difficult for me to
write these profiles year after year and not sound completely repetitive,
and sometimes I am counting on YOU as a reader to see the PLACE I HAVE Cameron Morrison ranked at - 36th overall as the balance to the positives.
Earlier he was at 40th, 44th overall, 49th overall, 53rd overalll and 73rd....even earlier
ALL that is THERE on the site. That trend tells me anyway that he might be worthy of 2nd round selection based on positives.
YOU THINK TEAMS say, "
Well, he is horrible at this and this so we will take him in the second!"
So...back to reality 2016....a fan of Colorado after they select him, comes to Draftsite reads the profile....
1) Do you think after they read it they gained any insight?
2) Do you think they read my words and thought the Avs snookered 39 other teams when they took him???????????????????????????
Because I think they see the ranking and use common sense to see this guy is
a guy ranked as second rounder with a chance. They get the same happy vibe post draft that a Hawk fan got about Michal Teplý in the 4th-they should get H O P E.
And since you ruffled my feathers I want you to know that is starts to get to be tedious to FIND enough positives when you get in the draft board as it winds past the prominent accomplished prospects and so if you go and READ any 2020 Draft profiles on DraftSite RIGHT NOW (your choice) that are there in the later rounds, you will find more than enough criticism with me trying to sugar coat positives.
And I know I have great freedom on the site to say what I want, and I am grateful to have that distinct freedom, and that all I say is at one place.
Try finding the past works of my buddy Shane Malloy & Russ Cochran from their radio work, or the past five years of Corey Pronman in one spot.
(and the biggest knock I have with Corey is he will place a negative and never walk off it, so you see so many of his second rounders drafted in the first...well maybe not this time since he suddenly had a vision, and his board changed to one very similar to a certain free site that Wiz posts.)
But for your sanity I will re-iterate and add to Cam Morrison.
Most fans (and I) think second rounders have a chance for NHL success, so that when I put one in the second round, I think he can be there, and belongs to be based on POSITIVES
At the time Cam Morrison was a large beast of a kid who knew how to play to his strengths. SHOULD HAVE I said his success was against players in the USHL ?
Should have added that at time, that, Cam Morrison, on offensive forays in the front or along the boards had him engaged, and when the puck transitioned, he was lagging and sometimes unable to be part of the defensive end answer?
Sure.
But to me. I saw a hunk of clay that could be sculpted and wrote the profile that way.
My apologies that I wasn't more critical.
and here is the Boqvist, pretty honest I think:
This draft will be marked with an unprecedented number of highly sought after skilled attacking defensemen who are average or under-sized with little physicality. This player compensates for it with terrific hands and ability to push the pace, doing a decent job in his own end using his skill set. In the Swedish junior league, Boqvist showcased a nice shot, high end speed, and agility. He may very well be the top finesse and fine-edge-skating defenseman in the draft, displaying great balance and lateral mobility. He is lightning fast and has great vision. He distributes the puck unselfishly and he jumps in on the attack -- sometimes leading it. He opens up and delivers a very accurate one timer. As a
slight, smaller player, he gets overtaken, losing puck battles to the bigger players. Does show good vision in both ends but it is a bigger challenge in his own end. His fast feet help negate some of his problems in the defensive zone, but it is difficult to ignore his defensive zone positioning issues. As a lightweight anchor, he needs to fill out, get stronger, and build his defensive game. Another right handed shooting mobile defenseman.
LOL, sorry to sound like an executive with a bruised ego
but if you read my
Michal Teplý profile below written prior to his draft, I think you can see the negatives are veiled:
Big off-hand left winger with soft hands, great physical attributes and an
improved skating gear and footwork.
Seems like a natural goal scorer with good mobility and pace to his game. Handles passes and in the Five Nations U-17, had a hat trick against the Finns.
Improving as an attacker as his legs and hands are coming together. He has good vision and
now is playing at a confident tempo. His co-ordination has progressed and was surprisingly physical against the Russians and applied strong forechecking pressure throughout the match. Lets go with dangerous shots through heavy traffic. Jets through open ice and his solid edging helps him cut out of traffic for a good look. He is still filling his frame in. A team captain, he is a prospect with considerable upside, because of his vision and execution on the power play. Uses his body to an advantage, and wants to be on the ice in crucial situations.
My point is to show why guys get picked, not dwell on negatives, or I would be posting all the 20230 pospect negatives in tweets in wee hours of the morning....
If I didn't want fans to return to the site, I could have strong negative opinions on most players past slot 19 in most draft years...
