Simply put, "elite" prospects make the NHL before they're 23 no matter what organization they are with.
Detroit has the luxury to be able to put their prospects at levels below where they should be, but that doesnt make them better prospects.
Learn how Detroit operates. Here's a quote I found that sums it up about Smith and his situation of not being in the NHL:
Quote:
Brendan Smith, defenseman -- He'll play in Detroit next season and the loss of both Brad Stuart and Lidstrom means he'll get the opportunity to play in the top four if he continues to progress. "I really like Brendan," said an Eastern Conference amateur scout. "I'd be shocked if he doesn't turn into an NHL All-Star someday. He's an awfully talented kid. If you saw him in any other organization this mature, he would have been in the league two years ago."
Just want to thank Corey for coming in to deepen the discussion. People should really try reading the thread and the articles in question before popping in with half-formed opinions.
Yeah I'd say he's pretty much right. Nyquist and Smith are probably more likely to be guys like Filppula and Kronwall rather than the next Lidstrom and Zetterberg
So, your personal projection of Collberg trumps every team passing on him in the first round?
Brandon Saad was passed over by every team in the 1st round, and quite a few more in the 2nd (including Chicago, 3 times!).. a year later, he's Chicago's best prospect. It's about projections, not about who was picked higher. Good players fall in the draft all the time.
I agree with Ottawa's ranking. We a lot of top prospects in Lehner, Zibanejab, Silfverberg, and Ceci as well as a lot of depth and NHL prospects. This year we might have had 3 or 4 people graduate, and probably 3 or 4 again next year.
EDIT: Forgot Mark Stone and Stefan Noesen
I agree with the ranking but not the premise. We're ranked a little lower than the top 4 because we lack top-end prospects outside Zbad. So how is Minny, Det and NYI ranked higher than us (to the point where the writer said they were a tier above us). I don't have a big problem being 5th but I don't think we're a tier below those 3 based on top-end talent.
Yeah I'd say he's pretty much right. Nyquist and Smith are probably more likely to be guys like Filppula and Kronwall rather than the next Lidstrom and Zetterberg
Where did I say they were going to be the next Zetterberg and Lidstrom? How many prospects in the NHL are the next Lidstrom? Zero? That doesn't mean they aren't good prospects with lots of potential though.
Zetterberg - 22
Datsyuk - 23
Nyquist - 22
Smith - 23
All i'm saying is that the Wings don't rush prospects and the fact that a player isn't in the NHL by age 20/21 doesn't mean they aren't going to be good players or that they aren't very good prospects...which is what the guy was saying. I'm not saying they are the next Wing superstars. I'm just saying that joining the NHL team at age 22/23 does not preclude someone from being a good prospect or a good player down the road. Much like joining the NHL at an earlier age is no guarantee of future success, in fact, many careers are probably hindered by prospects joining the NHL before they are truly ready.
I agree with the ranking but not the premise. We're ranked a little lower than the top 4 because we lack top-end prospects outside Zbad. So how is Minny, Det and NYI ranked higher than us (to the point where the writer said they were a tier above us). I don't have a big problem being 5th but I don't think we're a tier below those 3 based on top-end talent.
Well Minnesota has 3 - 5 who could be considered top end talent(Granlund, Brodin, Dumba and many would count Coyle and Hackett). So that could cause some separation if Zbad is Ottawa's only top end prospect.
Yeah I'd say he's pretty much right. Nyquist and Smith are probably more likely to be guys like Filppula and Kronwall rather than the next Lidstrom and Zetterberg
Yeah Datsyuk and Zetterberg are elite NHLers for sure, but that doesnt mean Smith isnt an elite prospect. A player doesnt have to become that good to become a difference maker.
I think Nyquist and Smith have more offense to them then Kronwall and Filppula. If Smith turns into a Kronwall level player, thats roughly a top 20 dman in the league. Thats pretty good for a reach by Detroit on ak id who was ranked around 60 by some
Stepan probably would have made his debut last year and would be getting a full time gig this year as the 3c on Detroit. Veterans don't lose their spots to prospects. Prospects get put on the 4th line and earn a spot on the 3rd, then eventually the top 6. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Smith would probably be in his 3rd NHL season if he was on 25 other teams in this league.
And that is crazy. You may have noticed that Stepan was an impact player on a team that went to the third round of the playoffs.
Smith clearly behind Stepan in development or he owuld already be in the NHL, and performing very well.
Answer this: If you were a player that was breaking into the NHL, would you want to be drafted by Detroit, where you spend an extra 2 years in the minors? Given how short careers are I (personally) would have pulled a Schultz and gotten my ass into the NHL.
Just want to thank Corey for coming in to deepen the discussion. People should really try reading the thread and the articles in question before popping in with half-formed opinions.
And that is crazy. You may have noticed that Stepan was an impact player on a team that went to the third round of the playoffs.
Smith clearly behind Stepan in development or he owuld already be in the NHL, and performing very well.
Answer this: If you were a player that was breaking into the NHL, would you want to be drafted by Detroit, where you spend an extra 2 years in the minors? Given how short careers are I (personally) would have pulled a Schultz and gotten my ass into the NHL.
So now youre just agreeing that they take more time with that last question you asked. I have a friend just drafted this year and he was glad it wasnt Detroit for that reason. But in the long run, if Detroits philosophy works, the player will end up more well rounded and ready to go when he does step in.
And no Smith is really not all that far off of Stepan. Its easier for a forward to step in like that, its already been said plenty that most people including Mike Babcock thought he should've been in the NHL by now
Just want to thank Corey for coming in to deepen the discussion.
No problem. I enjoy discussing and debating with my readers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Victorious Secret
So, your personal projection of Collberg trumps every team passing on him in the first round?
Well a few things on that.... Why does it matter where he was drafted? My job is to be independent in my evaluations and while I listen to scouts I talk to for their own opinions at the end of the day I make my own calls. I also have two detailed reports up on Collberg explaining why I like him so much on top of articles detailing how I do my rankings. I've also heard from several pro scouts who had Collberg in the first round so it's not like teams didn't like him in that range it's just not how their board worked out.
I'm loving the added 'next 5' and 'under 22 Organizational top 10' parts to these articles.
Is there a schedule to when each team will be released?
Right now I'm tied down with preparing the Top 100 NHL prospects among other things for our book so it will be two a week. Safe bet is Tuesday/Thursday releases although we have no firm dates and by the end of the month through the rest of the series I hope to turn that up to 3 a week. It's in reverse order of the standings so I just turned in the Islanders, Toronto early next week then Anaheim after etc etc.
