Ya, I'm sure he was drafted that high to be a third or fourth liner.
He may end up being just that but a lot of knowledgeable people thought higher of him.
NO they knew what they were getting a third or fourth line player that will hit and fight. All teams need them. I am a leaf fan and i would of taken him over Kadra anytime and i said that at the time of the draft. He will be more useful than a lot of others that were drafted before him. He may get points if he plays on the PP in front of the net screening the goalie.
Niederreiter seems to have all the right qualities. Didn't think he'd have 0 goals but when he's on the ice you can definitely tell he has a ton of promise.
Have to agree with Adam, but mostly due to his amazing start to the season. Overall 10 goals and 20 points in 52 games isn't too bad. Just the way it happened.
For the Wings it's been Mursak. Most were excited to see him full time this season, and then he went down with a long term injury right away. He has been struggling to take a roster spot since coming back, let alone bringing any sort of impact.
He makes boneheaded decisions all over the ice. He roams in his own end, makes poor pinches and constantly loses his man in the defensive zone. For a shutdown defenseman who provides little offense, I expected solid defensive play at least. These issues can be worked out, so there's potential in the kid, especially when he bulks up (he's still very skinny), but as of right now he's just plugging a spot on the roster.
Colton Gillies was drafted 16th, and I doubt anybody expected him to be a top-six forward.
When you're drafted mid-1st round you are definitely expected to become a solid top 9 contributor. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say when Gillies was drafted he was expected to be a player who could easily slot into your 3rd line due to his physicality and after some seasoning would be able to play in your top 6. Just because he hasn't panned out doesn't mean his initial expectations change at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redarmynative
Adam Larsson. I'm not that disappointed because I didn't expect much from him but he had a big role to fill and he failed miserably.
Not sure if serious?
Larsson is 19, straight out of the SEL playing his first season on NHL ice. He is 2nd in points, 2nd in goals, 3rd in hits and 3rd in TOI/G among blueliners playing on a playoff squad.
What did you expect a 50pt rookie season from the dude? Give me a break..
Adam Larsson. I'm not that disappointed because I didn't expect much from him but he had a big role to fill and he failed miserably.
What? He struggled after coming back from injury but before that he was playing really well. He hasn't failed miserably at all especially for a guy at 19 years old playing 20minutes a night in the hardest position to adjust to.
Yeah, I wouldn't consider Larsson a disappointment at all.
As far as the preds are concerned I will throw Jon Blum out there, he looked so well poised out there last year, and this year he just hasn't looked the same.
He makes boneheaded decisions all over the ice. He roams in his own end, makes poor pinches and constantly loses his man in the defensive zone. For a shutdown defenseman who provides little offense, I expected solid defensive play at least. These issues can be worked out, so there's potential in the kid, especially when he bulks up (he's still very skinny), but as of right now he's just plugging a spot on the roster.
