To be fair, Kesler has proved pretty much everyone wrong since he was drafted. We didn't know much about him, he was a young college player that was out-played by RJ Umberger at Ohio State. Scouting reports had him as a checker that wouldn't put up numbers. Everyone bought in. It wasn't until he spent a year with the Moose that opinions changed.
But some of the classic posters here can't be blamed for their opinions on Kesler, he's become a better player than even any NHL scout fathomed.
To be fair, Kesler has proved pretty much everyone wrong since he was drafted. We didn't know much about him, he was a young college player that was out-played by RJ Umberger at Ohio State. Scouting reports had him as a checker that wouldn't put up numbers. Everyone bought in. It wasn't until he spent a year with the Moose that opinions changed.
But some of the classic posters here can't be blamed for their opinions on Kesler, he's become a better player than even any NHL scout fathomed.
Didn't post in that thread thankfully, but if I'm being honest, I saw Kesler as a 15-20 goal, 35-45 point guy with Selke potential. I was half right...his offense has completely blown me away.
The more embarassing thing for me is that Tambellini was the guy I wanted us to pick on draft day. Kesler was actually 2nd on my list, so when we picked him I was satisfied, but I really wanted Tambo.
One of the few times the Canucks outsmarted me(pre-Gillis).
The more embarassing thing for me is that Tambellini was the guy I wanted us to pick on draft day. Kesler was actually 2nd on my list, so when we picked him I was satisfied, but I really wanted Tambo.
Tambellini was popular around here, but (perhaps) even more so was Anthony Stewart... here's one of the threads from back then:
Didn't post in that thread thankfully, but if I'm being honest, I saw Kesler as a 15-20 goal, 35-45 point guy with Selke potential. I was half right...his offense has completely blown me away.
Same here. I always thought he had the ability to be one of the best defensive centers in the NHL, but didn't expect more than a 45-50 point player, maybe hitting 60 or so a couple times ala Mike Peca. His 75 points last season and now being on pace for a 40 goal season is just phenomenal.
I remember Canucks fans wanting Tambo and Stewart, I personally wanted Mike Richards/Derek Roy after watching the Mem cup for the first time. Richards/Kesler is one of those debates that will go on until their careers are over because they're pretty similar.
Didn't post in that thread thankfully, but if I'm being honest, I saw Kesler as a 15-20 goal, 35-45 point guy with Selke potential. I was half right...his offense has completely blown me away.
The more embarassing thing for me is that Tambellini was the guy I wanted us to pick on draft day. Kesler was actually 2nd on my list, so when we picked him I was satisfied, but I really wanted Tambo.
One of the few times the Canucks outsmarted me(pre-Gillis).
Don't be too embarassed. From NFITO: When Kesler was drafted I was pretty disappointed... I was very high on Stewart and really wanted to canucks to draft him.
As a species, humans are not very good at predicting the future. What we're good at is being confident that we're good at predicting the future.
Same story today... kind of makes you think people would be less firm in their evaluations of Brendan Gaunce... I was so happy we took him, despite what TSN said about him being a 3rd liner at most in the NHL... yeah we heard that one before, TSN.
