I don't think so. Kane, Benn, Subban, Couture, Pacioretty, McDonagh and Shattenkirk are all extremely good players. The first three are certainly stars in this league. It's also produced a high number of "solid" guys like Hagelin, Alzner, Gagner, Simmonds, Perron, Eller, Voracek, Sutter and JVR.
A few guys like Brendan Smith and Matt Frattin are likely to break into the league this year as well. It wasn't a stellar draft, but 99 and 96 were worse. That being said, they did produce a lot of guys who had, or are having, long careers in the league.
In terms of star power, it's weak. At least to date. You only have a couple of real impact guys. Longevity means little to me in terms of comparing drafts of the past because the post-lockout NHL has been extremely friendly and generous to draftees in terms of playing time, simply because theyre so cheap.
The way I rate "star power" is top-10 scoring, postseason awards, postseason award voting and postseason all-star teams.
Outside of Kane and maybe Benn, it lacks star power. At least to date, which was my original point.
The 2008 draft has already produced three postseason all-star team guys, including a Norris and Richard winner.
Any information on Ryan O'Reilly or Subban lately? Drafted these guys and they both have contract problems going into the season.
Both guys are smoking crack. Subban wants a megadeal close to what Doughty got, but he got screwed by Sather because MDZ -- a more comprable player -- was had for pennies.
Subban wants between 5-6. No way he's worth that on a garbage team. The habs suck with or without Subban. He's not ray Bourque or Brad Park.
O'Reilly is what, a 2nd/3rd line tweener who had one good season? He turned down 5/17 last summer and wants to be paid like Duchesne.
At least Dubinsky was a consistent 40-45 point guy before leading the team in scoring and getting his deal. O'Reilly had back-to-back 25 point seasons before last.
Yup, and Lou prob figured he would be as good as gone if he didn't get the deal done right now, since he has that policy where he won't negotiate mid-season. Now Zajac has security for 8 years, rather than thinking he's a UFA at season's end and a bad season/bad injury could mean he would never be offered that kind of contract ever again.
I was under the impression if Zajac ever hit UFA, there was no way NJ retains him. Good deal for both sides.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Antithesis
Seems they are fully expecting him to return to 65 point form.
Playing with Kovalchuk for a full year it's possible. I still see him as a 40-50 pt second line two-way guy though.
It's a fine deal if he gets back to 60+ point status, but crappy if he goes back to what he did in his last full season. On the other hand, he'll get tons of time with Kovalchuk and they'll be leaning on him extra hard with Parise gone, so he'll have all the offensive chances in the world
In terms of star power, it's weak. At least to date. You only have a couple of real impact guys. Longevity means little to me in terms of comparing drafts of the past because the post-lockout NHL has been extremely friendly and generous to draftees in terms of playing time, simply because theyre so cheap.
The way I rate "star power" is top-10 scoring, postseason awards, postseason award voting and postseason all-star teams.
Outside of Kane and maybe Benn, it lacks star power. At least to date, which was my original point.
The 2008 draft has already produced three postseason all-star team guys, including a Norris and Richard winner.
Fair enough, but I think that's a bit flawed. If that's your criteria on 'star power' then 1999 was a great draft as it's produced:
- A Conn Smythe winner (Zetterberg, 07-08)
- Two Art Ross winners (D. Sedin 10-11, H. Sedin 09-10)
- One Hart winner (H. Sedin 09-10)
- All three have been, or are regularly in the top-10 in scoring
'99 and '96 are panned because very few of the top-picks panned out. '07 has a lot of late bloomers. 11 of the top-15 picks are regulars on an NHL squad as of today.
I dunno, just pointing some things out. Not many drafts instantly produce huge stars like 2008 did.
Zajac is a hell of a player. Little surprised they went that long though.
A hell of a player is something I'd consider Kessler. Zajac is a very nice player, for sure. But at 8 years and 5.75 per? That's too rich for me. He'll be making 5.75 at age 36 (the final year of his contract). Tough for me to expect Zajac to still be producing that late in his career.
Stranger things have happened, though.
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"Of course giving Sather cap space is like giving teenagers whiskey and car keys." - SBOB "Watching Sather build a team is like watching a blind man with no fingers trying to put together an elaborate puzzle." - Shadowtron
Sestito still on the make a wish tour. - rholt168
If Zajac plays like he did in the playoffs, he'll be worth his contract. I just question his durability and ability to produce without Parise.
To be fair, last season was the first time he had injury problems, and he'll be playing with Kovalchuk so he should be able to pick up plenty of assists that way
I'm sure there are a lot of disappointed fans of other teams out there now that Zajac re-signed. Teams needing a first or second line center would have thrown a lot of money his way in July.
