I don't have to tell anyone how Nuchushkin shouldn't be projected ahead of Morin. It doesn't matter what I think, or anyone else. All that matters is what the Flyers think. And as a fan, I'm not in any position to tell a team, who has a stable of professional scouts and talent evaluators, that they're wrong about players that they have extensively scouted. Morin has not played a single second of professional hockey. There is no basis whatsoever at this point to state that they were wrong with their selection. I think the criticism is baseless at this point.
- MJL

I'm not criticizing Morin. There are other professional scouts other then the Flyers, and the general consensus is Nichushkin was a top 4 pick. Most likely a top overall in another year. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that have watched video of either player that Nichushkin should be ranked ahead of Morin.

Not sure what shooting the poop is about here, but its a pretty heavy notion to suggest we have no basis of questioning the Flyers scouting/management because they are professionals.

A sheep at any point in life, is just that.

A nutter's thoughts.

I'm not criticizing Morin. There are other professional scouts other then the Flyers, and the general consensus is Nichushkin was a top 4 pick. Most likely a top overall in another year. There should be no doubt in anyone's mind that have watched video of either player that Nichushkin should be ranked ahead of Morin.
- SchennBros

If the general consensus was that Nuchushkin was a top 4 pick, he would've been picked in the top 4, instead of 10th overall. The history of the draft itself refutes that statement.
There is no fan alive who can make that conclusion based on video highlights. Not possible.

I'm not criticizing Morin, I'm criticizing the Flyers for putting Morin ahead of Nichushkin on thier board... but at the same time justify taking Laughton the year before because he was the best player available.

You guys might like McKinnon or Barkov... But I bet Nichushkin will be the best player out of that draft. He has the entire package... Size, Speed, hands...
- SchennBros

Have you watched Barkov, Jones, Monahan and McKinnon play? Even Drouin is owning juniors right now. He averages well over 2 points per game.

The Flyers don't like picking boom or bust players. Nichushkin fit that mold. Everyone knew he was a great talent. Like it or not, he has the Russian factor. Will he leave for the KHL? will he play defense? will he adjust to the bigger rink? Does he take the NHL seriously and care about winning a cup?

Not sure what shooting the poop is about here, but its a pretty heavy notion to suggest we have no basis of questioning the Flyers scouting/management because they are professionals.

A sheep at any point in life, is just that.

A nutter's thoughts.
- flyer_nutter

Nice. but a young sheep is called a lamb.

Not sure what shooting the poop is about here, but its a pretty heavy notion to suggest we have no basis of questioning the Flyers scouting/management because they are professionals.

A sheep at any point in life, is just that.

A nutter's thoughts.
- flyer_nutter

That completely misses the point. Professional talent evaluators, who do it for a living, and who also, which is the key part, have extensively scouted the players and done lots of other homework when it comes to evaluating talent.

Versus any fan, who maybe saw some video highlights, or maybe a game here or there.

It's not about infallibility. It's simply about having enough information at this point, to make a valid criticism.

Youth is wasted on the youth. Just my thoughts.

Nice. but a young sheep is called a lamb.
- SchennBros

And they are delicious

Have you watched Barkov, Jones, Monahan and McKinnon play? Even Drouin is owning juniors right now. He averages well over 2 points per game.

The Flyers don't like picking boom or bust players. Nichushkin fit that mold. Everyone knew he was a great talent. Like it or not, he has the Russian factor. Will he leave for the KHL? will he play defense? will he adjust to the bigger rink? Does he take the NHL seriously and care about winning a cup?
- PhillySportsGuy

Morin has the same amount of questions... He is also a Boom or Bust. Will his offense increase. Will he be able to transition into an NHL game when his size isnt as big a factor as it is in juniors.

If you tell me they put Morin ahead of Nichushkin on thier draft board because they needed a defenseman more, I can understand that... but it discredits the arguement they picked Laughton because he was BPA even though they needed defense.

Now if you tell me they honestly think Morin is a better projected player then Nichushkin then they need to fire thier scouting staff immediately.

That completely misses the point. Professional talent evaluators, who do it for a living, and who also, which is the key part, have extensively scouted the players and done lots of other homework when it comes to evaluating talent.

Versus any fan, who maybe saw some video highlights, or maybe a game here or there.

It's not about infallibility. It's simply about having enough information at this point, to make a valid criticism.

Youth is wasted on the youth. Just my thoughts.
- MJL

For all the professional talent evaluators they have. How many d-men currently playing in the NHL have been developed by the Flyers?

What was the last time the team drafted/developed one with that professional scouting/management staff, and had them be a staple on this team's back end?

Not totally crazy to question those making the decisions, but carry on.

If the general consensus was that Nuchushkin was a top 4 pick, he would've been picked in the top 4, instead of 10th overall. The history of the draft itself refutes that statement.
There is no fan alive who can make that conclusion based on video highlights. Not possible.
- MJL

And why not? Where do you think scouts do most of thier scouting?

And why not? Where do you think scouts do most of thier scouting?
- SchennBros

Scouts actually attend games and watch the player play. And if they watch video, it's complete games. Not selected highlights in an edited video that only shows the good plays, that a player makes.

That completely misses the point. Professional talent evaluators, who do it for a living, and who also, which is the key part, have extensively scouted the players and done lots of other homework when it comes to evaluating talent.

Versus any fan, who maybe saw some video highlights, or maybe a game here or there.

It's not about infallibility. It's simply about having enough information at this point, to make a valid criticism.

Youth is wasted on the youth. Just my thoughts.
- MJL

FROM PROFESSIONAL TALENT EVALUATORS

European skaters
1. Aleksander Barkov, Jr. (C)
2. Valeri Nichushkin (RW)

For all the professional talent evaluators they have. How many d-men currently playing in the NHL have been developed by the Flyers?

What was the last time the team drafted/developed one with that professional scouting/management staff, and had them be a staple on this team's back end?

Not totally crazy to question those making the decisions, but carry on.
- flyer_nutter

The discussion was not about an overall grade of the Flyers drafting, or about criticizing them in areas where there is room for obvious criticism, such as in their failure to draft and develop defenseman. The discussion was about criticizing the Flyers for having Morin graded higher then Nichushkin.
And the simple reason why, is that we know for a fact that the Flyers haven't done a good job in drafting and developing defenseman over the years. Do we know that they were wrong yet in having Morin rated higher then Nucushkin?

Morin has the same amount of questions... He is also a Boom or Bust. Will his offense increase. Will he be able to transition into an NHL game when his size isnt as big a factor as it is in juniors.

If you tell me they put Morin ahead of Nichushkin on thier draft board because they needed a defenseman more, I can understand that... but it discredits the arguement they picked Laughton because he was BPA even though they needed defense.

Now if you tell me they honestly think Morin is a better projected player then Nichushkin then they need to fire thier scouting staff immediately.
- SchennBros

I don't think they liked the risk associated with Nichushkin. I think everyone knew he had as much skill as anyone. They didn't like taking on risk.

I think they view Morin as a top 4, shutdown dman at worst. They see him having tremendous upside. Nichushkin could have been Zherdev or Yakupov. Look at the other Russians taken in the top 10.

A hilarious article from way back... not sure if this underscores the importance of BPA, or debunks it... but man oh man... predicting the future trajectory of teenagers is freakin' treacherous:

Flyers Pick Another Goalie In Draft Maxime Ouellet, 18, Was The 22d Choice. Young Netkeepers Brian Boucher And Jean-marc Pelletier Are Already In The System, With John Vanbiesbrouck.

The Flyers' long-range picture in goal hasn't been clear, and it became fuzzier yesterday with the selection of Maxime Ouellet during the NHL amateur draft at the FleetCenter.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Canadian goaltender was the Flyers' first-round pick at No. 22. His selection created a logjam of young goalies, with Brian Boucher and Jean-Marc Pelletier in the system and the organization struggling to get one into a backup role at the NHL level.

"He was the best player available, in our opinion,'' Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said, explaining the decision to take a goalie even though the club is thin at forward.

The Flyers wanted to take Nick Boynton, a 6-2, 210-pound center who was reentering the draft after failing to sign in 1997 as the ninth selection of Washington. But Boston, picking 21st, took him.

"We would have taken Boynton if he were there,'' Clarke said.

With Boynton off the board, Ouellet was next on the Flyers' list. The New York Islanders then offered a package deal of later-round picks for the Flyers' 22d. Club officials huddled, then announced that they were choosing Ouellet.

http://articles.philly.co...axime-ouellet-simon-gagne

FROM PROFESSIONAL TALENT EVALUATORS

European skaters
1. Aleksander Barkov, Jr. (C)
2. Valeri Nichushkin (RW)
- SchennBros

Need to clarify where that list is from.

Need to clarify where that list is from.
- MJL

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=88637

Morin 23rd on North American.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=88636

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING.
- SchennBros

That was only European players. And regardless, it doesn't mean anything. All that matters is what the Flyers thought. And only time will tell if they were wrong or not.

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING.
- SchennBros

Lets go back and see if Central Scouting always had it right in every draft.

I understand your criticism, but the Flyers can't draft the best player in their spot every year. Sometimes, they get it wrong.

Just on a little side-note, while scouting is important, developing that player properly is also crucial.

With how they treated Sbisa in his time here, and Guss now. You would like to see that improve.

Speaking of side notes. Jets are riding a 5 game losing streak and the Maurice magic has worn off. Another team that could be looked at to plunder in the off-season.

Just on a little side-note, while scouting is important, developing that player properly is also crucial.

With how they treated Sbisa in his time here, and Guss now. You would like to see that improve.

Speaking of side notes. Jets are riding a 5 game losing streak and the Maurice magic has worn off. Another team that could be looked at to plunder in the off-season.
- flyer_nutter

Pretty much every Canadian team (other than the Flames and Habs) feels their players are twice as good as they really are.

That was only European players. And regardless, it doesn't mean anything. All that matters is what the Flyers thought. And only time will tell if they were wrong or not.
- MJL

Well that is my point. Either they think the Morin will be a better player then Nichushkin, which everyone should be fired if thats the case... OR they knew they had an orgizational need at defense thus ranked Morin ahead of Nichushkin for that reason.

And if they were willing to bypass taking Nichuskin becuase they needed a defenseman, then how can people justify bypassing Maata for Laughton when there was a orginizational need....

NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=88637

Morin 23rd on North American.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=88636
- SchennBros

Here's the final Central scouting list from 2008. Look through it and see if they got anything wrong.

http://www.thefourthperio...m/draft/draftranks08.html

Pretty much every Canadian team (other than the Flames and Habs) feels their players are twice as good as they really are.
- PhillySportsGuy

Its the media influence. Great example is a kid like Kadri. Does he have upside? Sure, but if he is playing in say Nashville or Minnesota he wouldn't be the next saviour of maple syrup.

Jets are essentially the same crew they were in Atlanta, vibes are that changes will come. The pressure is starting to heat up.

Just on a little side-note, while scouting is important, developing that player properly is also crucial.

With how they treated Sbisa in his time here, and Guss now. You would like to see that improve.

Speaking of side notes. Jets are riding a 5 game losing streak and the Maurice magic has worn off. Another team that could be looked at to plunder in the off-season.
- flyer_nutter

Please dont say that. NO Buff!