But the 2007 draft sucked. Only Kane is a real star from that 1st round. But I bet the Kings wished they had Alzner instead.
Yeah he was -- my mistake -- even worse on him.
The 2007 draft really wasn't that bad though. Sure Kane is the only star to come out of the first round, but it yielded 13 players who have played at least 100 games in the NHL so far, most of which could be classified as middle-of-the-lineup players.
Then you've got guys like Ellerby, McDonagh & Gilles who will most likely play their 100th games later this season.
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Originally Posted by Big McLargehuge
A head-scratcher of a pick when it happened that time has only made look worse.
He still has a chance to turn things around and be a bottom pairing guy, but he's not too likely to come close to living up to his draft status. Still blows my mind that he somehow went above Alzner.
He's almost certainly not going to be with that horrible group that he's with right now of 1st rounders who haven't played in the NHL yet. I think it's fairly safe to say the call won't be coming for Logan MacMillan or Angelo Esposito ever.
Even as a bottom pairing guy, he has to be considered a bust. You don't draft 4th overall to get your next journeyman defenceman.
Hickey has transitioned his game. This preseason, he really showed a good physical presence and solid defensive skill. While he will never live up to the 4th overall pick status, I feel like he has a very good shot at becoming a normal NHLer one day and definitely not a bust.
For a fourth overall pick he's definitely is a bust
are you saying none of those guys are better than Matt Greene and Rob Scuderi? that's funny.
you mean Mitchell and Scuderi. none of those 4 listed defesenmen are even close to being as good defensively as Willie and Scuds. An Doughty and Johnson are both better offensively than those 4. So no, they don't sniff our top 4. Maybe not even ahead of Voynov
great. none of those 4 would be able to crack our top 4 right now anyway. im fine with letting Hickey develop more and more. I'm not a Hickey fan, but there's no reason he couldn't become a poor man's Brian Rafalski, who didn't even play an NHL game until he was 26.
It would be different if he was one of the Kings top prospects, but he's not anymore.
9th on hockey future's list for the Kings.
For a 4th overall pick 4 years ago, that's a bust.
It would be different if he was one of the Kings top prospects, but he's not anymore.
9th on hockey future's list for the Kings.
For a 4th overall pick 4 years ago, that's a bust.
he wasn't ranked at #4 overall at the time if i recall. the Kings surprised everyone by taking him higher than he should have gone. this is the risk you run when you don't take the BPA and take a chance on a long shot much too high! a bust? maybe, he hasn't exactly lit up the AHL....or he could still be a servicable NHL d-man one day. i'm starting to doubt he'll ever be the star player the Kings were hoping he would be....kind of a wasted pick if you ask me!
While the pick was questionable, the only thing keeping him out of the NHL at this point is LA's defensive depth. His development stalled due to injuries.
He may not be a top-pairing D-man when all is said and done, but he's going to make some overzealous posters in here look foolish.
you mean Mitchell and Scuderi. none of those 4 listed defesenmen are even close to being as good defensively as Willie and Scuds. An Doughty and Johnson are both better offensively than those 4. So no, they don't sniff our top 4. Maybe not even ahead of Voynov
he wasn't ranked at #4 overall at the time if i recall. the Kings surprised everyone by taking him higher than he should have gone. this is the risk you run when you don't take the BPA and take a chance on a long shot much too high! a bust? maybe, he hasn't exactly lit up the AHL....or he could still be a servicable NHL d-man one day. i'm starting to doubt he'll ever be the star player the Kings were hoping he would be....kind of a wasted pick if you ask me!
Just because he wasn't ranked at #4 overall, doesn't give him an excuse to not live up to a 4th overall pick. There were better defenseman projected in front of him, i still have no clue why the Kings picked him. I thought maybe they thought they saw something in him and really wanted him badly, but... Bust.
Duncan Keith, without any major injuries, took two AHL seasons to crack into a much weaker NHL defense scoring at a rate similar to Thomas Hickeys. He is a similar height, weight and plays a similar game.
you mean Mitchell and Scuderi. none of those 4 listed defesenmen are even close to being as good defensively as Willie and Scuds. An Doughty and Johnson are both better offensively than those 4. So no, they don't sniff our top 4. Maybe not even ahead of Voynov
Lol, okay. Taking that top 4 instead of slotting Alzner in would only be the second time your organization has made that mistake.
great. none of those 4 would be able to crack our top 4 right now anyway. im fine with letting Hickey develop more and more. I'm not a Hickey fan, but there's no reason he couldn't become a poor man's Brian Rafalski, who didn't even play an NHL game until he was 26.
You sure about that? Anyway Hickey's ceiling right is probably a bottom pairing D, which for a 4th overall pick is a bust.
Zach is probably worth more at this point since hes been on the NHL squad for a while/hes been playing well, but I think a change of scenery would be great for both players.
Also, trading each player to opposite ends of the US will ensure they dont come back to bite the franchises in the ass (other than the odd regular season game/SC Finals).
Way too soon. He needs a shot in the NHL before anyone can call him anything.
I also wouldn't put too much stock into his AHL point totals. Kevin Shattenkirk, also from the 2007 draft class, had no points in 10 AHL games last season before the Avalanche called him up. He's since turned into a top notch offensive d-man in the NHL.
Hickey's also stuck behind some very good young defenseman while Tangradi doesn't have much to beat out in PIT.
Tangradi has to beat out a forward core of vets and grinders that's coached by a man who has impure thoughts about the likes of Pascal Dupuis and Craig Adams.
I wouldnt count him out yet though, hes only about to turn 23. Duncan Keith played two full years in the AHL before he played for the Blackhawks. Not saying theres a great chance of that happening, im saying the skills are there...he might just be a late bloomer.
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