Quote:
Originally Posted by haohmaru
My argument specifically stated he was a 2nd year pro. Not comparing age(s).
Chara 2nd Year: 59 games, 8 points.
Pronger 2nd Year: 43 games, 14 points ('94/'95).
Gonchar 2nd Year: 78 games, 41 points (in a clearly different league in '95-'96)
Also, I'm comparing Gilroy to some of the best defenseman in the league over the past 10 years and 2 of these guys are probably shoe-in HOF'ers.
Point is, evaluating Gilroy after a year and half with two crappy D partners and him playing on the wrong side probably isn't the greatest way to measure his upside. He might never be a 40 point defenseman, but it wouldn't surprise me if he did somewhere where he gets ice time and another year or two under his belt.
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But how long do you want to give him to mature and/or develop? He'll be 27 when the next training camp starts. I've been saying for the last year or so that he doesn't have the luxury of time to develop.
The fact is this is a guy who's greatest success came when playing as an overage college senior against kids who were as much as six years his juniors. And he hasn't shown anything of note in the NHL. You can find any number of factors for that to be so, but at the end of the day it's on him. He still hasn't adapted to the speed of the game and the size of the competition.