Quote:
Originally Posted by Ola
There is a ton of good things you can say about Christian Thomas.
But I do not think people on here has much perspective on him. What's said paints a default picture IMHO.
Here is why. No matter what he is small, physically he is far from say a Callhan, and my bet is that will be the case when he gets older too. He falls into the Dawes cathegory, a tad less stocky but only a tad taller, not weak, but small.
He is also, in lack of better words, from a offensive perspective, a one dimensional sniper.
If you look at his offensive abilities, this kid is clutch and game, but definitely no wonder kid or something like that.
Thats what you have. And how successful are kids like that on avg in the NHL? Thats the question you got to ask yourself. What do we have. What does that result in.
Its hard to answer that question.
No matter how his goals are described, and while some of them comes from distance when he is using his slapper from the point, he is a kid who has to go to work in the dirty areas in the NHL day after day after day. Thats just tough. Its not the same thing as in the OHL.
I love the pick of Thomas. I think he gives you great value for a 2nd round pick. I think his upside might be compared to say a Danny Briere (worse playmaking ability, better attitude). But at the same time, to be realistic, its far from given that he even makes it to the NHL, and if, its probably the most likely scenario that he has like a Prucha/Dawes type of career. We should be optimistic and what not. But I don't agree that there is reason to rank Thomas 3rd on our intern prospect ranking, other kids we have can become just as good and has just as high potential. If not higher.
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Interesting post.. However I have full confidence that Gordie Clark knows what he is doing by drafting a small player such as Thomas in the second round. Gordie has a great track record.