After reading a cool Buccigross column on his outdoor rink, a Q&A followed. One question ultimately led Bucci in his response to "redo" the 2005 draft based on what we know today. Here's the original question and Bucci's response (look where he ranks Price)
[fyi: Bucci is a huge Bruins fan and, not surprisingly, despises the Habs]
Bucci,
I have had my first extreme spine-tingling hockey moment of the year. It was Bobby Ryan's third goal of the game against the Kings the other night. We know you love each team, but spread a little love for our Ducks and take a look at the goal. If your spine stays intact, you're a better man than I. Got to be the nicest goal I have seen in a long time. The last one that did this to me was Alexander the Eight's goal while not looking and sliding on his backside.
Rick Allen
Bucci Response:
Bobby Ryan's goal in Los Angeles is certainly one of the goals of the season. Blake Wheeler's amazing goal in St. Louis also comes to mind. Ryan has had many jaw-dropping offensive moves this season around the net. It is startling how his game has come around, validating Brian Burke's selection of him as the second overall pick of the 2005 Sidney Crosby draft. Players taken after Ryan include Jack Johnson (third), Carey Price (fifth), Devin Setoguchi (eighth) , Anze Kopitar (11th) , Andrew Cogliano (25th) and Paul Stastny (44th).
There is still plenty of time for players to develop from the 2005 draft. Some of these players are 21-22 years old. But if that draft were held right now on what we've seen so far and what we can reasonably expect based on a conservative curve, my draft would look like this. (We can't simulate need; that would change things.)
1. Sidney Crosby: Will go down as one of the best of all time.
2. Carey Price: Great goaltenders are vital. Price is a step away from great.
3. Bobby Ryan: Haven't seen him? You should. Monster ability.
4. Anze Kopitar: Only 21. He has regressed this season as he tries to learn to play two-way hockey.
5. Paul Stastny: Point-per-game machine. Steady.
6. Devin Setoguchi: Admittedly, he plays with the ideal center in Joe Thornton, whose nickname should be "ATM" (the man who makes his wingers rich).
After reading a cool Buccigross column on his outdoor rink, a Q&A followed. One question ultimately led Bucci in his response to "redo" the 2005 draft based on what we know today. Here's the original question and Bucci's response (look where he ranks Price)
[fyi: Bucci is a huge Bruins fan and, not surprisingly, despises the Habs]
Bucci,
I have had my first extreme spine-tingling hockey moment of the year. It was Bobby Ryan's third goal of the game against the Kings the other night. We know you love each team, but spread a little love for our Ducks and take a look at the goal. If your spine stays intact, you're a better man than I. Got to be the nicest goal I have seen in a long time. The last one that did this to me was Alexander the Eight's goal while not looking and sliding on his backside.
Rick Allen
Bucci Response:
Bobby Ryan's goal in Los Angeles is certainly one of the goals of the season. Blake Wheeler's amazing goal in St. Louis also comes to mind. Ryan has had many jaw-dropping offensive moves this season around the net. It is startling how his game has come around, validating Brian Burke's selection of him as the second overall pick of the 2005 Sidney Crosby draft. Players taken after Ryan include Jack Johnson (third), Carey Price (fifth), Devin Setoguchi (eighth) , Anze Kopitar (11th) , Andrew Cogliano (25th) and Paul Stastny (44th).
There is still plenty of time for players to develop from the 2005 draft. Some of these players are 21-22 years old. But if that draft were held right now on what we've seen so far and what we can reasonably expect based on a conservative curve, my draft would look like this. (We can't simulate need; that would change things.)
1. Sidney Crosby: Will go down as one of the best of all time.
2. Carey Price: Great goaltenders are vital. Price is a step away from great.
3. Bobby Ryan: Haven't seen him? You should. Monster ability.
4. Anze Kopitar: Only 21. He has regressed this season as he tries to learn to play two-way hockey.
5. Paul Stastny: Point-per-game machine. Steady.
6. Devin Setoguchi: Admittedly, he plays with the ideal center in Joe Thornton, whose nickname should be "ATM" (the man who makes his wingers rich).
1) Carey Price: Great goaltenders with the ability to steal games by himself
2) Sidney Crosby: A very very good forward who is behind Malkin in Pittsburgh
Are you guys started to notice that the Pens seemed to win more games when Crosby was out of the lineup. Malkin, in my opinion, is a better center than Crosby.
1) Carey Price: Great goaltenders with the ability to steal games by himself
2) Sidney Crosby: A very very good forward who is behind Malkin in Pittsburgh
Are you guys started to notice that the Pens seemed to win more games when Crosby was out of the lineup. Malkin, in my opinion, is a better center than Crosby.
hes not far off by saying malkin is better than crosby....its very close, however even though im a die hard habs fan crosby should definitely be taken over price
hes not far off by saying malkin is better than crosby....its very close, however even though im a die hard habs fan crosby should definitely be taken over price
Bobby Ryan will be good but I think the man is gushing a bit to much over the kid.
I've seen him play a lot in Jr and he has improved a lot of his game since then. First off, he looks a lot fitter. Secondly he keeps the puck a lot less. Lastly, his skating has improved. It was the weakest aspect of his game I thought.
As for the draft selection of Price, it is amazing how many folks drank the TSN koolaid and wondered HUH?! Why Price? Thank goodness BG and Timmins are smarter than the rest of us and made this choice. Clearly these guys have shown a good eye for assembling quality players from the draft.
I was surprised to see Price picked by us that year too. But it wasn't hard to warm up to the pick after thinking about it a while.
I think the case isn't close if Malkin or Sid is the better hockey player... Where Sid is clearly more valuable than Malkin is as marketable asset. A franchise can sell tickets with Sid. Much harder with only Malkin.
Bobby Ryan will be good but I think the man is gushing a bit to much over the kid.
I've seen him play a lot in Jr and he has improved a lot of his game since then. First off, he looks a lot fitter. Secondly he keeps the puck a lot less. Lastly, his skating has improved. It was the weakest aspect of his game I thought.
As for the draft selection of Price, it is amazing how many folks drank the TSN koolaid and wondered HUH?! Why Price? Thank goodness BG and Timmins are smarter than the rest of us and made this choice. Clearly these guys have shown a good eye for assembling quality players from the draft.
I was surprised to see Price picked by us that year too. But it wasn't hard to warm up to the pick after thinking about it a while.
Have you seen Ryan this year? He's a completely different player. He's got 28 points in 29 games and is +12.
Have you seen Ryan this year? He's a completely different player. He's got 28 points in 29 games and is +12.
And good for him, but at one point, D'Agostini was on pace for 60 goals.
Sample is still too small for me to rank him over Stasny and Kopitar.
As to Malkin/Crobsy, I disagree. Malkin is the better scorer, and a dominant superstar, but what offensive edge he has over Crobsy (and keep in mind we're arguing about #1 in scoring vs. #2) is offset by his Jason Spezza like ability to do the absolutely moronic thing at the wrong moment.
While Crosby isn't perfect, I think he's the better all around player right now, but that one is a coin toss.
Price vs. Crosby? Completely incomparable. It's an absurd comparison, but who won the Kings vs. Habs cup final? Yet, most would take Gretzky over Roy... Nonetheless, I'd say relatively speaking, Crosby is the better player at his position. However, goalies are so important, I'd at least think about Price at that pick before I finally said Crosby's name.
I'd still rather Crosby than Malkin. Crosby does a lot of little things that Malkin does not do. Plus Malkin's play in the Cup Finals was horrendous.
As for the topic at hand, I'd take Kopitar over Ryan. He's having a down year, but he's still proven much more than Ryan has. I'd probably also take Stastny if the kid could stay healthy. Marc Staal would be high on my list too.
Ryan has incredibly exploded. He went from a bust to completly turning it around. The Ducks are lucky as Hell, they lacked offensive depth and now they have one more guy that can step up that they can have for many years. To think Burke have offered to trade him.
Nonetheless, I'd say relatively speaking, Crosby is the better player at his position. However, goalies are so important, I'd at least think about Price at that pick before I finally said Crosby's name.
