Datsyuk is clearly the top end of the spectrum, but as you can see from the list I posted there are only a few energy players. I think generally you have the same chance getting a 4th or a 2nd line player in the 7th round which is to say very little chance.

If you are going to get lucky and win on a lottery ticket would you rather win a $5 or $100 dollar prize?
- belcherbd

I don play lottery unless they are over 5 million

I realize more & more that we live in a world in which nothing less than instant gratification will do.
Some days it makes me chuckle other days....
- Marwood

I was thinking the same thing, this is going to take years to turn around. Last year was year one, many more to go

I've booked the private Club Room, downstairs at Gotham for all of us.
I highly recommend the porterhouse with a lobster tail.
- Marwood

Did a stag night in that room a few years ago. Good time.

I was thinking the same thing, this is going to take years to turn around. Last year was year one, many more to go
- VANTEL

Could be more than a decade if they keep wasting picks on Stewart's and money on Sbisa's.

Could be more than a decade if they keep wasting picks on Stewart's and money on Sbisa's.
- Nucker101

And guys with 40 hits and two goals at 4.6 mil.

The idea is to pick for skill in the early rounds where most of the players picked in the first to third rounds (depending on how good the draft class is) will more than likely pan out and meet their potential. In the later rounds (fourth and beyond) you're taking flyers on guys, most of whom aren't exactly well known or well scouted. I posted this earlier, skills can be taught, you can't teach heart, character and killer instinct. Let's not forget that Tanev AND Burrows were never drafted and yet they somehow became huge parts of the Canucks. If a player has the drive, they can overcome their deficiencies and end up being NHL regulars, if not big contributors.
- DariusKnight

Burrows and Tanev's skill wasn't the issue when they were drafted, they were undersized and overlooked.

Tanev was under 5 foot and was 120 lbs as a 16 year old.

Burrows was over a point a game player in his draft year and led his team in scoring during the post season when they lost in the conference finals.

Always draft for skill first and then look at the intangibles of those skilled players imo.

I've booked the private Club Room, downstairs at Gotham for all of us.
I highly recommend the porterhouse with a lobster tail.
- Marwood

P.S. there goes Nucker's tuition for the next two years

Burrows and Tanev's skill wasn't the issue when they were drafted, they were undersized and overlooked.

Tanev was under 5 foot and was 120 lbs as a 16 year old.

Burrows was over a point a game player in his draft year and led his team in scoring during the post season when they lost in the conference finals.

Always draft for skill first and then look at the intangibles of those skilled players imo.
- belcherbd

Exactly, I think that's how the successful organizations do it. They draft BPA and then they can mould and develop a player the way they want (and utiilize the players intanigibles to get a proper assessment on what sort of style/positioning they'll ultimately end up playing - whether that's turning them into two way defensive specialists, offense-first PP quarterbacks, or stay at home defenseman etc. The rest of the team's needs can be acquired through trade and hopefully free agency

Burrows and Tanev's skill wasn't the issue when they were drafted, they were undersized and overlooked.

Tanev was under 5 foot and was 120 lbs as a 16 year old.

Burrows was over a point a game player in his draft year and led his team in scoring during the post season when they lost in the conference finals.

Always draft for skill first and then look at the intangibles of those skilled players imo.
- belcherbd

The intangibles are what is going to determine whether or not they succeed, skills can be taught, get players who have the drive and feel they were overlooked and they tend to surprise. Here's my problem with only picking skill players, they tend to be coddled and kept from dealing with adversity. So when it hits, and they go to the next level and find out that they're literally a dime a dozen, it destroys them.

I was thinking the same thing, this is going to take years to turn around. Last year was year one, many more to go
- VANTEL

I can definitely agree with this, hopefully each year is as entertaining as this one was.

Exactly, I think that's how the successful organizations do it. They draft BPA and then they can mould and develop a player the way they want - whether that's turning them into two way defensive specialists, offense-first snipers, or stay at home defenseman. The rest of the team's needs can be acquired through trade and hopefully free agency
- Zogg

Isn't that what Benning is doing with Stewart?

I can definitely agree with this, hopefully each year is as entertaining as this one was.
- belcherbd

I was not disappointed with the regular season.

The playoffs was a kick in the nuts and it reminded us of how far we truly are

Isn't that what Benning is doing with Stewart?
- VANTEL

I'm not sure the outlook is as positive as it would be with a more skilled player, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. In my opinion, I'm not really sold, though

Nice little article about Stewart - he's definitely a quality character guy at least (although projecting him as a 5 or 6th defenseman, I think is stretching things a bit. Never say never, however - as he's certainly been through quite a bit as a youngster but has that determination to get better.

http://canucks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=726007

I still say go after Dillon (I know you're a fan as well) - there must be a do-able trade somewhere that can be put together without losing any significant pieces or prospects? (especially given he had a bit of a set-back last year)

I'm not sure the outlook is as positive as it would be with a more skilled player, but I guess we'll have to wait and see. In my opinion, I'm not really sold, though
- Zogg

I am not totally sold on it either. I look at it this way , do I want to send Higgins or Vey out as a fourth liner again? Not a chance in hell. Try something new if it fails try something new again til you find that piece

It's a 7 th round pick , not a first or second, it's a 7 th round pick, not a third or fourth it is a 7 th round pick, not an impact player, we're talking a 7 th round pick , not a depth player ! We're talking a 7 th round pick .

I mean Cmon
- VANTEL

Sorry, usually someone somehow reads my thoughts and writes down what I've been thinking so I don't bother posting but regarding this signing no one has mentioned it yet...this kid started hockey at 12 years old (2nd year peewee) so really only has a year and a half until the bantam draft (for the WHL) and he friggin made it.

Fast forward to now and he is 6 - 8 years behind most kids his age yet still got drafted to the NHL. Give him time to learn the game and he could be a friggin beast in 4 years, and we got him for nothing...oh and he is deaf, so he knows how to battle and overcome odds...good friggin signing.

okay, back to work.

I am not totally sold on it either. I look at it this way , do I want to send Higgins or Vey out as a fourth liner again? Not a chance in hell. Try something new if it fails try something new again til you find that piece
- VANTEL

Considering that we didn't see Defazio/Archibald/Sestito I don't think there is much chance WD starts deploying those types of players on the 4th. Kennins/Dorsett/Hansen seems to be the guys he likes, speed, tenacity but also skill.

Sorry, usually someone somehow reads my thoughts and writes down what I've been thinking so I don't bother posting but regarding this signing no one has mentioned it yet...this kid started hockey at 12 years old (2nd year peewee) so really only has a year and a half until the bantam draft (for the WHL) and he friggin made it.

Fast forward to now and he is 6 - 8 years behind most kids his age yet still got drafted to the NHL. Give him time to learn the game and he could be a friggin beast in 4 years, and we got him for nothing...oh and he is deaf, so he knows how to battle and overcome odds...good friggin signing.

okay, back to work.
- PopCanBong

Good points. I'm certainly hoping the kid makes it, as he's had a tough life with all the operations he's had to have to fix his hearing (apparently he's now got 80% of it back) and, as you noted, being forced to start playing hockey quite late by usual standards. But, yah, he seems tenacious and determined to make it, having already overcome a lot of obstacles

Did a stag night in that room a few years ago. Good time.
- bloatedmosquito

I hope it wasn't the one when 1 of the strippers got into a fight with their pimp?

I hope it wasn't the one when 1 of the strippers got into a fight with their pimp?
- Marwood

Man, Vantel gets around

Good points. I'm certainly hoping the kid makes it, as he's had a tough life with all the operations he's had to have to fix his hearing (apparently he's now got 80% of it back) and, as you noted, being forced to start playing hockey quite late by usual standards. But, yah, he seems tenacious and determined to make it, having already overcome a lot of obstacles
- Zogg

exactly the type of kid this team needs more of...can't teach size or heart, the rest can be learned.

Considering that we didn't see Defazio/Archibald/Sestito I don't think there is much chance WD starts deploying those types of players on the 4th. Kennins/Dorsett/Hansen seems to be the guys he likes, speed, tenacity but also skill.
- belcherbd

He could be a three year project in Utica.

I seen Archibald play here and he was a disappointment , same as Kellan Lain Defazio and to some extent Sestito.

If you are going to be that size and used as an energy guy you need to always hit and forecheck.

Sestito would drop them but the enforcer role has died off. You need that big guy to constantly check , skate hard and battle in dirty areas.

That is why the smaller Kenins made it last year and Archibald is still playing in the AHL

Man, Vantel gets around
- Zogg

Man, Vantel gets around
- Zogg

She wasn't Filipina.

Sorry, usually someone somehow reads my thoughts and writes down what I've been thinking so I don't bother posting but regarding this signing no one has mentioned it yet...this kid started hockey at 12 years old (2nd year peewee) so really only has a year and a half until the bantam draft (for the WHL) and he friggin made it.

Fast forward to now and he is 6 - 8 years behind most kids his age yet still got drafted to the NHL. Give him time to learn the game and he could be a friggin beast in 4 years, and we got him for nothing...oh and he is deaf, so he knows how to battle and overcome odds...good friggin signing.

okay, back to work.
- PopCanBong

Reported

She wasn't Filipina.
- Marwood

Wasn't me then