He already had a year in at UND when drafted.
- dadeadhead

I'm just throwing in the he must be a bust line since he didn't play right away.

When Toews was drafted he wasn't thought of this great player he was projected to be a very good NHLer which is what Reinhart is projected to be

Merry Christmas!

From the players perspective yes, but you saw the out of control spending. Everyone saw the lockout coming a mile away. Owners were throwing around NFL type contracts. Golisano saw the writing on the wall. And the problem still exists. You still have the have's and have's not's in the NHL.
- Buffalo-Sabres

I'm not saying Golisano wasn't smart in refusing to get into bidding wars over players. I'm just saying that it really had no bearing on the lockout. In fact, if the owners did follow Golisano's lead, the Union would most likely have been using collusion charges as leverage in negotiations.

Also, there will always be haves and have-nots in professional sports, no matter how well crafted a CBA is.

To elaborate...Toews and Reinhart were both scouted highly both in the top of their draft classes both do different things better than the other, however to say he was a better prospect at 18 is just wrong because if he was don't you think he would have played in the NHL right away?
- Stripes77

No. Toews was and is better. he was the total package.

54 points in his first season as an 19 year old. Calder nominee. Captain a year later. Reinhart still has a ways to go

I'm just throwing in the he must be a bust line since he didn't play right away.

When Toews was drafted he wasn't thought of this great player he was projected to be a very good NHLer which is what Reinhart is projected to be
- Stripes77

Just found this on Toews:

http://blackhawks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=634620

It's an excerpt of different things said about him throughout his development leading up to his draft year. Kind of interesting.

No. Toews was and is better. he was the total package.

54 points in his first season as an 19 year old. Calder nominee. Captain a year later. Reinhart still has a ways to go
- MCGUIZZY

The college game translates better to the NHL than Jrs does, so there's going to be a bit more of an adjustment period for Reinhart when he does make the jump.

Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko & Tim Schaller, and defenseman Mark Pysyk sent back to rochester. Congrats Johan?

Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko & Tim Schaller, and defenseman Mark Pysyk sent back to rochester. Congrats Johan?
- yen6d1

Kind of funny, since I thought Larsson was the player I liked the least last night.

The college game translates better to the NHL than Jrs does, so there's going to be a bit more of an adjustment period for Reinhart when he does make the jump.
- HonkFortheGoose

My original point was Toews was a better prospect at 18 than Reinhart is. Which I still believe is true.

Joel Armia, Mikhail Grigorenko & Tim Schaller, and defenseman Mark Pysyk sent back to rochester. Congrats Johan?
- yen6d1

Tank on

My original point was Toews was a better prospect at 18 than Reinhart is. Which I still believe is true.
- MCGUIZZY

That's sort of revisionist history.

Both draft classes were weak, and Toews went after another 2-way center.

Reinhart was the 1st forward taken

Kind of funny, since I thought Larsson was the player I liked the least last night.
- HonkFortheGoose

Hahaha couldnt agree more felt he was out muscled all night glad i wasnt the only one to think that

Tank on
- sbroads24

Don't be surprised to see one or more of them back up here by Saturday. Wasn't Grigorenko sent down and called back up between the Winnipeg and Colorado games?

I'm not saying Golisano wasn't smart in refusing to get into bidding wars over players. I'm just saying that it really had no bearing on the lockout. In fact, if the owners did follow Golisano's lead, the Union would most likely have been using collusion charges as leverage in negotiations.

Also, there will always be haves and have-nots in professional sports, no matter how well crafted a CBA is.
- buffalofan19

If what you're saying is true, and it may very well be true, it illustrates that the players don't care about the fans. They really are the top of the food chain in our society.


As far as have and have not's, the NHL could be doing a better job. The first and most obvious is having teams in places like Florida and Arizona where they don't draw revenue like other teams will by default(I.E. see Canadian teams). Then you have teams like Chicago and Pittsburgh, who have their top tier talent, and its working for them. When they pay a Corsby or a Kane 8-10 mil a year, they still make money hand over fist, based on success. Then you have everyone else, Buffalo, Islanders teams like that who want desperately to be good. Their only choice is to overspend to not only try get and get good, but to sell to their fan base that they are legitimately trying to be good. Even if the options aren't great. That's how chumps like Villie Leino got rich.

That's sort of revisionist history.

Both draft classes were weak, and Toews went after another 2-way center.

Reinhart was the 1st forward taken
- sbroads24

Which is my point

Plus that link you posted is right to the Hawks website...of course they are going to boast about their captain...

To say Toews was a better prospect than Reinhart when they were both drafted is splitting hairs. They were both high prospects but Reinhart was the first forward taken in his draft class

Don't be surprised to see one or more of them back up here by Saturday. Wasn't Grigorenko sent down and called back up between the Winnipeg and Colorado games?
- buffalofan19

I think Mitchell and Moulson will be back.

Stachan might be back

Which is my point

Plus that link you posted is right to the Hawks website...of course they are going to boast about their captain...

To say Toews was a better prospect than Reinhart when they were both drafted is splitting hairs. They were both high prospects but Reinhart was the first forward taken in his draft class
- Stripes77

I posted that. And I thought it was interesting in that you can see where they keep saying that he's improving, but nothing specifically says he's going to be a great player, or at least that's not what I got out of it. Seems most of it just says he's got a good all around game, plays smart, etc. Not all that different IMO of what we heard about Reinhart going into this year's draft.

I think Mitchell and Moulson will be back.

Stachan might be back
- sbroads24

I would have thought Moulson would be good to go yesterday. He seemed to be the first one to get sick, so I thought he'd be the first one back. Guess not.

I posted that. And I thought it was interesting in that you can see where they keep saying that he's improving, but nothing specifically says he's going to be a great player, or at least that's not what I got out of it. Seems most of it just says he's got a good all around game, plays smart, etc. Not all that different IMO of what we heard about Reinhart going into this year's draft.
- HonkFortheGoose

He was 17 at the time and was playing in collage againts 18-24 year old players.

Toews played two seasons at The University of North Dakota, compiling 85 points (40 goals, 45 assists), a plus-38 rating and a 56.7% faceoff winning percentage in 76 games. He helped UND reach the NCAA Frozen Four in both 2006 and 2007, serving as an alternate captain in his sophomore season.[4] Toews registered 39 points as a freshman and earned Rookie of the Week honors twice.[5] He helped North Dakota capture the Broadmoor Cup as WCHA champions and also was named West Regional MVP after tallying five points.[5]


"Possesses excellent acceleration, agility, quickness and is an extremely smart player who is versatile and has played both wing and center equally well this season... has very good poise and patience with the puck when on the power play or five-on- five...possesses a dangerous shot with a quick release and has the ability to make big plays and finish ... is very good on faceoffs...a highly competitive team player who is unselfish and will take a hit to make a play...is a very consistent hard working player who leads by example... has outstanding leadership qualities."

He was 17 at the time and was playing in collage againts 18-24 year old players.

Toews played two seasons at The University of North Dakota, compiling 85 points (40 goals, 45 assists), a plus-38 rating and a 56.7% faceoff winning percentage in 76 games. He helped UND reach the NCAA Frozen Four in both 2006 and 2007, serving as an alternate captain in his sophomore season.
- MCGUIZZY[4] Toews registered 39 points as a freshman and earned Rookie of the Week honors twice.[5] He helped North Dakota capture the Broadmoor Cup as WCHA champions and also was named West Regional MVP after tallying five points.[5]


"Possesses excellent acceleration, agility, quickness and is an extremely smart player who is versatile and has played both wing and center equally well this season... has very good poise and patience with the puck when on the power play or five-on- five...possesses a dangerous shot with a quick release and has the ability to make big plays and finish ... is very good on faceoffs...a highly competitive team player who is unselfish and will take a hit to make a play...is a very consistent hard working player who leads by example... has outstanding leadership qualities."

http://bleacherreport.com...rt-for-top-draft-prospect

An elite talent who is battling to be the 1st overall selection, Reinhart has improved each year in the WHL, recording 105 points this season. He’s a premier set-up center who can also play the wing when needed. A great face-off man, Reinhart shows maturity with the puck well beyond his years. He controls the pace of the game and makes it easy to get by defensemen with his quick hands and dynamic skating

I mean seriously you'll read the same about Reinhart...

New Bluggeroo

Does anyone else find it ironic that in a day and age where social protocol dictates that you're supposed to take the price tags off of gifts you give people, that Hallmark stamps its price on the back of its Christmas cards?

I posted that. And I thought it was interesting in that you can see where they keep saying that he's improving, but nothing specifically says he's going to be a great player, or at least that's not what I got out of it. Seems most of it just says he's got a good all around game, plays smart, etc. Not all that different IMO of what we heard about Reinhart going into this year's draft.
- HonkFortheGoose

My mistake...

But you're exactly right its the same thing we've read about Reinhart...but Toews was the better prospect Like I said before splitting hairs

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2029797-sam-reinhart-complete-nhl-scouting-report-for-top-draft-prospect

An elite talent who is battling to be the 1st overall selection, Reinhart has improved each year in the WHL, recording 105 points this season. He’s a premier set-up center who can also play the wing when needed. A great face-off man, Reinhart shows maturity with the puck well beyond his years. He controls the pace of the game and makes it easy to get by defensemen with his quick hands and dynamic skating

I mean seriously you'll read the same about Reinhart...
- Stripes77

Agree to disagree

He was a guy that wanted to become governor, that bought a hockey team hoping for votes, that only wanted to be in the black, and couldn't of given two sh!ts if they won.


That sums up Golisano.

I am thankful he kept the team here.
- dadeadhead

So just catching up
With all do respect, you are completely wrong.
Galisano is a true WNYer..and a great businessman who deplores the way NYS is run...and who doesn't. He has googles of money and his past time now is spent to agitate the Govenor's office...he tried to but his way into office or just blew $100M to advertise his thoughts as a way to rankle the Govs office.

He saved the Sabres from moving out of WNY, period. Yes, he made money and profited nicely from his move..mostly because he found a morivated buyer with $B's available and keen interest in that team...but his motivation was the same as Pegula's with the Bills...ain't leaving on "his watch".

Interesting how people find the negatives in a classy move by people who really don't need to do anything.

My hat is off to Galisano and Pegula!!!

Merry Christmas to all