No one said they want a skilled bust over Krejci or Bergeron. They were both 2nd rounders too, so I don't understand your argument. They were high ceiling players; they just happened to be high floor too. Not unlike our own Rubtsov. And high end talent does exist beyond the first 2 rounds -- it's all about identifying it and projecting it. Or a willingness to be less judgmental. And luck. But when you have that drafting mindset, you only up your chances.
I know Tomahawk wasn't saying take a bunch of no risk players with the best chance of making it to the NHL...even if it is only as 4th liners. And then work with it and call it a success. If you want another Gostisbehere, you have to gamble. 1 Gostisbehere or Benn or Klingberg or Gaudreau or Pavelski is worth 50 Ryan White's. And I do think Hogberg, Laczynski, Bernhardt are risk/reward gambles, so Hexy didn't just play it safe. Realistically you need a couple safe, floor players each draft. That shouldn't be all you take from rounds 3 on.
- Mononoke
My whole point is high end offensive players drafted normally go very early in the first round. Even though a kid may tear it up in juniors, that doesn't always translate to the NHL. It is best to draft the best all around player with decent size you can get because it gives you a better chance of finding a player who can last longer in the NHL, whether first line or 4th line to fill a needed role. I get people want the Flyers to take a big chance on a flashy big scorer that looks sexy on paper, but that normally translate into buying a lottery ticket. For every big name player that was drafted in later rounds, there are multiple reasons teams passed them over. Could be size, under scouted, character, etc.
IMO the biggest busts in the NHL are players who are considered pure goal scorers because if they don't score in the NHL they are worthless. I thought the Flyers did a decent job of drafting and making their prospects for the future that much more stronger.
