I only started following the development of prospects in 2006-2007. Since then:
Biggest Disapointment: Slava Trukhno
Most Impressed: Theo Peckham
Though obviously going back, Horcoff was obviously a very good story... and going forward I think Hartikainen will be the next one. Be suprised if he ever plays another game in the ahl.
Hartikainen is a great story because he was a 6th round pick and people pick him because of this. But lets be honest, most of us never heard of Hatikainen and the first time we did it was some very positive news that the kid is legit.
Josh Green. Again, a guy who seemed to have all the tools, big, decent hands, good wheels, just couldn't put it all together in the show.
Ugh, Josh Green was arguably the dumbest player I've ever seen on the Oilers (even compared to Jacques).
Friends of mine used to call him "Mr. Stupid Penalty" because that's all he seemed to be able to do. Whenever I saw him get on the ice, I knew a dumb penalty was on its way shortly and sure enough, more often than not it was.
I remember when Steve Kelly got draft I talked to a scout who worked for the Oilers and he was over the moon with the pick and said he was like Kurri with his moves and speed
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I remember when Steve Kelly got draft I talked to a scout who worked for the Oilers and he was over the moon with the pick and said he was like Kurri with his moves and speed
I assume said scout is now working in fast food somewhere?
He could skate, had good size, good development, leader, good enough hockey sense, could move the puck.
He's disappointed so far.
He's pretty undersized for a D-man and is a gong show in his own end. I think he's improved recently so the Oilers will probably give him another year.
Underachievers: Slava Trukhno (thought he could overcome his poor skating/speed), Motin, JDD (AHL goalie IMO), Kytnar, O'Marra, Cornet, and maybe Vande Velde. The young forwards in OKC aren't impressive at all.
Overachievers: Hartikainen, Peckham, Brodziak.
Never liked JFJ, MAP, Plante, Bryan Young so them busting doesn't matter.
Suprised these guys haven't been mentioned yet (unless I missed it)
Dubnyk - I thought he would go the JDD route and fail to meet expectations as a first round pick. Looks like he could be our starter of the future.
Nilsson - Not drafted by us, but was probably the central piece of the Smyth trade. Even when he had a pretty good (although ridiculously overhyped) year on the kid line with Cogliano and Gagner, I knew that he wouldn't make it in the NHL. I think Omark is better but I'm not certain he has any place in the top 6 of our future.
Mats Lindgren is someone who was a dissapointment to me.
My god was I ever disappointed with him. To think he was linemates, and considered to be on par with Marcus Naslund, and Peter Forsberg.
Injuries destroyed his development.
I thought highly of Tyler Wright. He even scored in his first ever game. I thought he was going to be a gem.
I thought Fred Brathwaite was going to be amazing. But let me put this in context.
We had a decade of Fuhr/Moog. And then a dude named Ranford came in and was absolutely filthy for us (winning us a cup). The Edmonton Oilers were synonymous with amazing goaltending, and Brathwaite was to be our goalie of the future. The Heir apparent to Ranford.
Then we got Cujo then Salo... Roloson...... and we've been leaning on some of the worst goaltending in franchise history the past couple of seasons... (Conkannen bad).
I also thought David Oliver would be our future superstar. I was quite surprised with Fernando Pisani, Jarrett Stoll, and Horcoff.
Before that I was impressed with Zdeno Ciger.
Nobody predicted Mark Messier would be the 2nd highest scorer in NHL history.
Atleast Oilers didnt sign him to a ridicilously high contract and got a underachiving tiny unmotivated bad shape fin like some swedish club did..
He had a good season in finland last year thou. So much talent so litle work ethics :/
Am suprised only one posters mention Omark.
How many predicted he would be in the nhl? Even after his big breakout season people on here didnt think he would even crack the rooster. For a small fourth rounder.. well
Its time for some Omark love or atleast turn this topic into a pro or anti Omark thread just jk..
David Oliver, didn't he score a hat-trick in one of his first pre-season games? I remember leaving hockey and listening to the game on the way home, Rod was going nuts.
just jk..
