My son had Mono at age 14 and was a multi sport athlete at the time. Spent a week in hospital and if you weren't told differently it looked like he was dying. Doctors insisted on no more sports for at least six months. His energy levels were so depleted he would have landed back in the hospital.

Lilgegren admitted he came back too soon. There's no way he was going to impress anyone because of that.
- shack67

no offense to your son what so ever, but a 14 year old kid recovering from mono is not the same as a high level athlete, with pro trainers and teams behind them, recovering from mono. i had bad mono in high school too, i know what it's like.....i'm not saying mono didn't have an impact on his season, it obviously did, i'm simply saying it wasn't the only reason he dropped in the draft. 31 teams analyzed the poop out of that kids game, taking mono into consideration, and 16 still passed on him. he was still not playing well months after coming back from mono, despite the fact that he was in a weaker league.

I think it is laughable that untalented hacks like tanner have a place to demonstrate how stupid they are you actually called a first over all and 2 seconds 1% of Taylor halls worth......it just clearly shows how irrational you are.....then the fact that you defend your writing by insulting those that comment on it is just brutal and I cannot believe this site allows it....

you know absolutely nothing about the game of hockey ...why you are allowed to write here makes me question whether ek is your father....uncle....brother....lover?
- OGoilerfan

Tanner on a consistent basis has hundreds of comments on almost every blog. He has a spot here because of high traffic. That simple.

I think he actually makes some good points, but definitely some stuff is intentionally inflammatory or controversial because it generates more comments and views. Smart.

Some of the symptoms such as chronic fatigue can last for several months. By the time he was over mono, he would no longer have been in game shape. Thus performing poorly the rest of the season. How many players that suffer an injury where they can't even maintain physical fitness immediately return to play at 100%?

The fact that a ton of teams passed on him doesn't mean they were right to do so. GM's make stupid decisions all the time and GM's and scouts pass on players they shouldn't every draft. This year it was Liljegren (and maybe Vilardi). Probably a lot of GM's just had a particular guy they were expecting to get and he was there when they picked, so they ignored Liljegren falling and picked "their guy".

I guess we'll see in the next few years whether they lucked out or not.
- Thecakeisalie

i don't disagree with any of this. i disagree with people who say the ONLY reason he fell was that he had mono, and that he's a can't miss prospect (already being compared to karlsson, which is beyond laughable).

great post meat head....
- OGoilerfan

You wanna taste my meathead?

no offense to your son what so ever, but a 14 year old kid recovering from mono is not the same as a high level athlete, with pro trainers and teams behind them, recovering from mono. i had bad mono in high school too, i know what it's like.....i'm not saying mono didn't have an impact on his season, it obviously did, i'm simply saying it wasn't the only reason he dropped in the draft. 31 teams analyzed the poop out of that kids game, taking mono into consideration, and 16 still passed on him. he was still not playing well months after coming back from mono, despite the fact that he was in a weaker league.
- sensarmy_11

All his competitors have pro trainers and teams behind them and they didn't suffer mono... Liljegren was playing catch up the rest of the year where everyone else was in top physical form.
Also bear in mind Mono doesn't seem to impact everyone exactly the same, so your own experience may be markedly different from Liljegren or the other poster's son.

Once again. Suggesting that because teams passed on him means they were correct to pass is incorrect logic. This whole argument is that many of them made a mistake.

If you want to blindly trust their expertise that's your prerogative, but others on here are less trusting that all those scouts always make the correct decision.

You wanna taste my meathead?
- PhillySportsGuy

you be who you are and you be proud to be who you are but I am a straight man and I would prefer that you not make advances at me. perhaps tanner or ek might take you up on it.

i don't disagree with any of this. i disagree with people who say the ONLY reason he fell was that he had mono, and that he's a can't miss prospect (already being compared to karlsson, which is beyond laughable).
- sensarmy_11

Suggesting he's Karlsson is definitely going too far. I agree on that. I'm sure he may have fallen a few spots even if he never had Mono, but he shouldn't have fallen so far.

Since you like to appeal to the experts, consider this: On most scout ratings, Liljegren was expected to be taken around #6. So even with his current season, most experts thought he would be taken about 11 spots sooner. Teams made a mistake.

All his competitors have pro trainers and teams behind them and they didn't suffer mono... Liljegren was playing catch up the rest of the year where everyone else was in top physical form.
Also bear in mind Mono doesn't seem to impact everyone exactly the same, so your own experience may be markedly different from Liljegren or the other poster's son.

Once again. Suggesting that because teams passed on him means they were correct to pass is incorrect logic. This whole argument is that many of them made a mistake.

If you want to blindly trust their expertise that's your prerogative, but others on here are less trusting that all those scouts always make the correct decision.
- Thecakeisalie

so i'm wrong to suggest that they didn't make a mistake......but you're not wrong to suggest that they did?

so i'm wrong to suggest that they didn't make a mistake......but you're not wrong to suggest that they did?
- sensarmy_11

It is incorrect logic to assume because they are experts they couldn't make a mistake.

This doesn't mean they made a mistake or didn't make a mistake, just that you shouldn't assume they didn't simply because they are "experts".

Use your own damn judgement and all the information at hand. By all means, give them some benefit of the doubt for knowing what they are doing, but if a lot of information suggests they made a mistake, then just maybe they did.

Suggesting he's Karlsson is definitely going too far. I agree on that. I'm sure he may have fallen a few spots even if he never had Mono, but he shouldn't have fallen so far.

Since you like to appeal to the experts, consider this: On most scout ratings, Liljegren was expected to be taken around #6. So even with his current season, most experts thought he would be taken about 11 spots sooner. Teams made a mistake.
- Thecakeisalie

tsn final rankings had him at 16, most others had him around the 12-13 spot......they were pretty much bang on. show me a scout ranking that had him anywhere near 6

It is incorrect logic to assume because they are experts they couldn't make a mistake.

This doesn't mean they made a mistake or didn't make a mistake, just that you shouldn't assume they didn't simply because they are "experts".

Use your own damn judgement and all the information at hand. By all means, give them some benefit of the doubt for knowing what they are doing, but if a lot of information suggests they made a mistake, then just maybe they did.
- Thecakeisalie

that's the thing, what information suggested they made a mistake......he fell consistently throughout the year, and was picked pretty much where everyone pegged him to be picked (maybe a couple of spots lower).

it's incorrect logic to assume that all the scouts were wrong simply because your favorite team picked this player.....which is exactly what you're doing

tsn final rankings had him at 16, most others had him around the 12-13 spot......they were pretty much bang on. show me a scout ranking that had him anywhere near 6
- sensarmy_11

I'd read the #6 spot from another poster elsewhere. I'll admit after researching myself, I've found him in spots from #5 all the way to #26.
The average does seem more like 12-13. This would still suggest a fall, but not as dramatic.

that's the thing, what information suggested they made a mistake......he fell consistently throughout the year, and was picked pretty much where everyone pegged him to be picked (maybe a couple of spots lower).

it's incorrect logic to assume that all the scouts were wrong simply because your favorite team picked this player.....which is exactly what you're doing
- sensarmy_11

That's the thing. You are incorrect assuming I'm arguing simply because my team picked him. A year ago I wanted Liljegren and figured there was no way we'd get him. If another team had got him after Toronto I'd have been pissed.

I'm very happy the Leafs got him, but that isn't the only reason I think he should have been drafted sooner.

One of Tanner's main points in this blog was recency bias and how teams let players like Liljegren drop when they suffer an injury in their draft year. It happens frequently and often the team that takes a chance and drafts them ends up with a real gem. We'll see in time if this is what happened for Toronto, but I'd say there is a good chance in a few years, a lot of other teams will be kicking themselves for passing on this guy.

that's the thing, what information suggested they made a mistake......he fell consistently throughout the year, and was picked pretty much where everyone pegged him to be picked (maybe a couple of spots lower).

it's incorrect logic to assume that all the scouts were wrong simply because your favorite team picked this player.....which is exactly what you're doing
- sensarmy_11

It's also incorrect logic to assume all the scouts were right simply because your most despised team picked this player....which is exactly what you're doing.

It's also incorrect logic to assume all the scouts were right simply because your most despised team picked this player....which is exactly what you're doing.
- systemtool

The pens didn't get him......we're good

Big picture, Devils jumped from 5 to 1, Flyers from 13 all the way to #2 and they both got the #1 or #2 available players. The argument of who got the better player is one to have five years from now. I leaned slightly towards Patrick, but it's very difficult to be disappointed with Hischier. Any way anyone can slice it, The Devils and Flyers were the two big winners this weekend.
- smellmyfinger

Devil's (pun fully intended) advocate take:

I find it interesting that you state that we should revisit the Patrick vs. Hischier argument in 5 years time only to finish with a statement that the Devils and Flyers are the "two big winners this weekend".

Shouldn't we wait 5 years to evaluate the entire draft class of 2017? Both players may not live up to their hype or expectations while others in their same class may leap frog them.

Tanner is a Flyers fan now

tsn final rankings had him at 16, most others had him around the 12-13 spot......they were pretty much bang on. show me a scout ranking that had him anywhere near 6
- sensarmy_11

Your Leaf hate is high at the moment.

you be who you are and you be proud to be who you are but I am a straight man and I would prefer that you not make advances at me. perhaps tanner or ek might take you up on it.
- OGoilerfan

you be who you are and you be proud to be who you are but I am a straight man and I would prefer that you not make advances at me. perhaps tanner or ek might take you up on it.
- OGoilerfan

YEAH!

I hate the Flyers with a red hot passion but even I can admit that they actually had the best draft not the Leafs. Getting Patrick, Frost, and Strome gives them their future top 3 canters all in one draft. And the Pens throw away their pick and best centre prospect for a goon and a dman they could have got in the fourth round.

Your Leaf hate is high at the moment.
- Garnie

Stating facts is leaf hate?


http://www.tsn.ca/mckenzi...ourable-mentions-1.778987

I hate the Flyers with a red hot passion but even I can admit that they actually had the best draft not the Leafs. Getting Patrick, Frost, and Strome gives them their future top 3 canters all in one draft. And the Pens throw away their pick and best centre prospect for a goon and a dman they could have got in the fourth round.
- Dcoms

Strome sucks. Reeves can play a bit. As much as I hate the bastard. He does fit in the long line of dirty Pens players though.

NHL Draft Grades

http://bleacherreport.com...-grades-for-notable-picks

Anaheim Ducks, B+
Arizona Coyotes, B
Boston Bruins, C
Buffalo Sabres, B
Calgary Flames, B-
Carolina Hurricanes, A-
Chicago Blackhawks, C-
Colorado Avalanche, A
Columbus Blue Jackets, C-
Dallas Stars, C+
Detroit Red Wings, B+
Edmonton Oilers, B
Florida Panthers, C+
Los Angeles Kings, A-
Minnesota Wild, B-
Montreal Canadiens, B+
Nashville Predators, B+
New Jersey Devils, A
New York Islanders, B+
New York Rangers, C+
Ottawa Senators, B+
Philadelphia Flyers, A
Pittsburgh Penguins, C
San Jose Sharks, C-
St. Louis Blues, B+
Tampa Bay Lightning, B-
Toronto Maple Leafs, B
Vancouver Canucks, B+
Vegas Golden Knights, B+
Washington Capitals, D (first pick came in fourth round)
Winnipeg Jets, B-
- LeftCoaster

I usually take BR with a grain of salt, but trading off Kolesar for texier is not the end of the world and Tarasov was out with injury all year ....

Chiarelli is terrible. The oft put narrative that "he had the balls to make big changes" is patently ridiculous - it doesn't take balls to make big moves - any idiot can do that (see: Snow, Garth).

Chiarelli seems to me to be the worst kind of GM -- the one that plays loose and fast with assets and puts his ego and "feelings" above intelligent, informed asset management. It's this type of style that was the prevailing GM wisdom for decades that some have not been able to shed (see also: Burke, Brian).

I've mentioned it before and it bears repeating: if you haven't watched the stupefying video where PC and fellow Boston upper management team discuss and then pull the trigger on ridding themselves of Tyler Seguin, you need to do yourself a favour and watch it. It should be required viewing for any Chiarelli-apologists.

The Oilers should thank their lucky stars that they landed McDavid. Can you imagine what kind of (poop)show Edmonton would be in without landing that miracle pick? Yeesh.
- mjones242

Great post! chia pet is Brian Burke! Brian Burke is tim Murray, tim Murray is nonis, milbury, snow? and so on,all the same...bad!

All his competitors have pro trainers and teams behind them and they didn't suffer mono... Liljegren was playing catch up the rest of the year where everyone else was in top physical form.
Also bear in mind Mono doesn't seem to impact everyone exactly the same, so your own experience may be markedly different from Liljegren or the other poster's son.

Once again. Suggesting that because teams passed on him means they were correct to pass is incorrect logic. This whole argument is that many of them made a mistake.

If you want to blindly trust their expertise that's your prerogative, but others on here are less trusting that all those scouts always make the correct decision.
- Thecakeisalie

I can't believe that Timmy fell to us at 17th! amazing!