Picard is liability in almost every facet of his game...he looks so overmatched out there.
Don't agree with this. The kid has 5 mins TOI this YEAR at the NHL level. Last night his line w/ MacKenzie & Lindstrom played with energy & intensity. They carried the play at least 3 or 4 shifts. They got a nice cheer from the crowd after one shift, because they were the only line that didn't suck consistently.
Besides Nash being a beast, this was the only bright spot last night. I just don't think you can claim him a liability after only one look this year.
Don't agree with this. The kid has 5 mins TOI this YEAR at the NHL level. Last night his line w/ MacKenzie & Lindstrom played with energy & intensity. They carried the play at least 3 or 4 shifts. They got a nice cheer from the crowd after one shift, because they were the only line that didn't suck consistently.
That's what I EXPECT from kids from Syracuse trying to make a name for themselves, but it takes more than energy to make it in "the show." Hence the five minutes of ice time.
I agree that the CBJ owes it to themselves to give Picard a longer look before deciding on his RFA status.
Picard is liability in almost every facet of his game...he looks so overmatched out there. Brule and him both, they are just look like fish out of water in the NHL...
This is the last rodeo for Picard guys, he'll get a few games to show Howson and Hitch something, then its back to Syracuse for the playoffs in the AHL then who knows what the future holds after this seaon for Picard and the Bluejackets. My guess, he won't see him in a Bluejackets uni ever again after this season. They might give Brule another season to see if he can finally come around, but Picard's upside is virtually gone, he's setlled into what he will be if he ever makes it to the NHL fulltime, and this team has more talented guys that do the same thing ahead of him.
I think you're totally off-base. First of all, take a look back at some of your NHL drafts. The 1st rounders are, generally speaking, full-time NHLers, save for your total bust here or there. But most NHL teams have, what, 10-14 1st rounders on their team...obviously not all playing on the 1st line. For example, Manny Malhotra - 7th overall. Now 2nd in NHL face-off percentage, and a 3rd/4th line center of value on any NHL team.
If you're saying Picard is not going to be an 35-40 goal scorer, fine, I'd agree. But to assume his NHL career is over before it starts is simply unfair. He's 22 years old and just coming back from tearing both ligaments in his knee...and he still got the call-up. So maybe he's not your 1st line winger, but I think if you ask any NHL scout they'd tell you Alex Picard will be an effective NHL player in due time.
And he by no means looked out of place vs. Detroit. He threw a couple major body checks and was full of energy and speed. I really think it's premature to say Picard is a bust. Think big picture, when this team is made up of 3+ lines of draft picks. You're going to need someone to fill these spots, and hopefully, they are all former 1st rounders - thats the creme of the crop! 1st rounders dont mean NHL star, 1st rounders are will-be NHLers. Picard is a will-be NHLer...we just don't know when he will be. NOW?? Good work Alex, f the nay-sayers.
I think you're totally off-base. First of all, take a look back at some of your NHL drafts. The 1st rounders are, generally speaking, full-time NHLers, save for your total bust here or there. But most NHL teams have, what, 10-14 1st rounders on their team...obviously not all playing on the 1st line. For example, Manny Malhotra - 7th overall. Now 2nd in NHL face-off percentage, and a 3rd/4th line center of value on any NHL team.
If you're saying Picard is not going to be an 35-40 goal scorer, fine, I'd agree. But to assume his NHL career is over before it starts is simply unfair. He's 22 years old and just coming back from tearing both ligaments in his knee...and he still got the call-up. So maybe he's not your 1st line winger, but I think if you ask any NHL scout they'd tell you Alex Picard will be an effective NHL player in due time.
And he by no means looked out of place vs. Detroit. He threw a couple major body checks and was full of energy and speed. I really think it's premature to say Picard is a bust. Think big picture, when this team is made up of 3+ lines of draft picks. You're going to need someone to fill these spots, and hopefully, they are all former 1st rounders - thats the creme of the crop! 1st rounders dont mean NHL star, 1st rounders are will-be NHLers. Picard is a will-be NHLer...we just don't know when he will be. NOW?? Good work Alex, f the nay-sayers.
I think you're totally off-base. First of all, take a look back at some of your NHL drafts. The 1st rounders are, generally speaking, full-time NHLers, save for your total bust here or there. But most NHL teams have, what, 10-14 1st rounders on their team...obviously not all playing on the 1st line. For example, Manny Malhotra - 7th overall. Now 2nd in NHL face-off percentage, and a 3rd/4th line center of value on any NHL team.
If you're saying Picard is not going to be an 35-40 goal scorer, fine, I'd agree. But to assume his NHL career is over before it starts is simply unfair. He's 22 years old and just coming back from tearing both ligaments in his knee...and he still got the call-up. So maybe he's not your 1st line winger, but I think if you ask any NHL scout they'd tell you Alex Picard will be an effective NHL player in due time.
And he by no means looked out of place vs. Detroit. He threw a couple major body checks and was full of energy and speed. I really think it's premature to say Picard is a bust. Think big picture, when this team is made up of 3+ lines of draft picks. You're going to need someone to fill these spots, and hopefully, they are all former 1st rounders - thats the creme of the crop! 1st rounders dont mean NHL star, 1st rounders are will-be NHLers. Picard is a will-be NHLer...we just don't know when he will be. NOW?? Good work Alex, f the nay-sayers.
Comin' straight from the underground.
(for you N.W.A. fans)
Well said, M89 - give Pic a chance.
__________________
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i like picard but his existance is pointless with the emergance of jared boll
I don't agree with that.
IF Picard plays up to his potential and past numbers...he's a bigger scoring threat and playmaker than Boll. And scoring is what we need.
I'd like to see both Brassard and Picard have another year in the AHL.
Hitch agrees, as he said recently, we need to let our AHL players play in the AHL.
A year ago, we had this former first round pick that fans wanted to get rid of. He was a sure bust, most of the members wanted to trade him for any willing team, for a bucket of pucks or any other offer.
Today the kid is second best scorer in the team. He's 2nd on time on ice for forwards in the club. After a summer with Hitchcock, the young man is having by far the best season of his career.
Now we have this former first round pick, taken a year later than the other guy. Fans want to get rid of him claiming he has no future in NHL, no trade value etc. How about we give him a summer with Hitch, and see how good he is a year from now?
I think you're totally off-base. First of all, take a look back at some of your NHL drafts. The 1st rounders are, generally speaking, full-time NHLers, save for your total bust here or there. But most NHL teams have, what, 10-14 1st rounders on their team...obviously not all playing on the 1st line. For example, Manny Malhotra - 7th overall. Now 2nd in NHL face-off percentage, and a 3rd/4th line center of value on any NHL team.
If you're saying Picard is not going to be an 35-40 goal scorer, fine, I'd agree. But to assume his NHL career is over before it starts is simply unfair. He's 22 years old and just coming back from tearing both ligaments in his knee...and he still got the call-up. So maybe he's not your 1st line winger, but I think if you ask any NHL scout they'd tell you Alex Picard will be an effective NHL player in due time.
And he by no means looked out of place vs. Detroit. He threw a couple major body checks and was full of energy and speed. I really think it's premature to say Picard is a bust. Think big picture, when this team is made up of 3+ lines of draft picks. You're going to need someone to fill these spots, and hopefully, they are all former 1st rounders - thats the creme of the crop! 1st rounders dont mean NHL star, 1st rounders are will-be NHLers. Picard is a will-be NHLer...we just don't know when he will be. NOW?? Good work Alex, f the nay-sayers.
Spot on Mogilny. Let the young man play & develop into an NHL player. Where he lands is up to him.
The 1st rounders are, generally speaking, full-time NHLers, save for your total bust here or there. But most NHL teams have, what, 10-14 1st rounders on their team...
If you're saying Picard is not going to be an 35-40 goal scorer, fine, I'd agree. But to assume his NHL career is over before it starts is simply unfair. He's 22 years old and just coming back from tearing both ligaments in his knee...and he still got the call-up.
Picard is a will-be NHLer...we just don't know when he will be. NOW?? Good work Alex, f the nay-sayers.
The first rounders are full time NHLers? The only difference is the first round is the ONLY round people associate with Draft Busts, everything there after is considered a "crapshoot" or if the player exceeds expectations, they are called "steals" By that means, there are plenty of first round busts.
I'm not saying Picard should have been or I assumed he'd be a 35-40 goal scorer... But this is a guy that put up the most goals in his draft year, yes more than Ovechkin, Malkin... I'd say if even a quarter of that transferred over to the NHL, I'd be fine with it. Picard scored somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 goals is his draft year....
Picard is injury prone, if that has significantly derailed his development, or slowed it down fine, but he's shown nothing of any value to this team in the future now with Players like Boll and Sestito and Pineault on the horizon. He got the callup pretty much for injury reasons to Boll and Fritsche, they didn't call him up as a replacement for a healthy player who hasn't been getting it done.
I counted about 16 guys that haven't established themselves as NHLers yet.... 6 in the top twelve., Including Picard. I can still remember stilling and watching thr 04 draft and when the jackets traded down, I though, ok what's Doug up to? When Picard's name got called, The first thing I said was "Why?"....
Last edited by KeithBWhittington: 03-24-2008 at 08:22 PM.
I counted about 16 guys that haven't established themselves as NHLers yet.... 6 in the top twelve., Including Picard. I can still remember stilling and watching thr 04 draft and when the jackets traded down, I though, ok what's Doug up to? When Picard's name got called, The first thing I said was "Why?"....
Fair enough, trading down was probably not the best move on our former GM's part. However, if you're counting 16 guys who haven't established themselves, then one of two things is true: either it was just a weak draft year, or, more likely, it's probably WAY too early to be having this conversation about a 22 year old.
I see your point about the drafting, no one would argue that the Jackets were stellar in this department in their first 4 years. But no point in crying over it - we still have a great prospect on our hands, who should crack the NHL line-up full time in the next 2 years.
Sidebar- Watching the game tonight, I really enjoyed seeing the young guys play. I mean, at this point in the season we all know it's an audition, but even still, I really thought they brought a lot of energy. I think we're very close to turning the corner with these prospects and it may be time to make some room for these guys. I say retool, and send Brule back down, bring the more seasoned AHLers in, like Lindstrom (love him), Picard, Rome, Methot, etc. Get the guys in here that have paid their dues and we may have more poise as a group, which is one thing I think these young players lack, especially when having not spent any significant time in Cuse.
The first rounders are full time NHLers? The only difference is the first round is the ONLY round people associate with Draft Busts, everything there after is considered a "crapshoot" or if the player exceeds expectations, they are called "steals" By that means, there are plenty of first round busts.
I'm not saying Picard should have been or I assumed he'd be a 35-40 goal scorer... But this is a guy that put up the most goals in his draft year, yes more than Ovechkin, Malkin... I'd say if even a quarter of that transferred over to the NHL, I'd be fine with it. Picard scored somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 goals is his draft year....
Picard is injury prone, if that has significantly derailed his development, or slowed it down fine, but he's shown nothing of any value to this team in the future now with Players like Boll and Sestito and Pineault on the horizon. He got the callup pretty much for injury reasons to Boll and Fritsche, they didn't call him up as a replacement for a healthy player who hasn't been getting it done.
I counted about 16 guys that haven't established themselves as NHLers yet.... 6 in the top twelve., Including Picard. I can still remember stilling and watching thr 04 draft and when the jackets traded down, I though, ok what's Doug up to? When Picard's name got called, The first thing I said was "Why?"....
It'd be nice if we had Radulov right now and Nashville with Picard.
we should've just stayed where we were and picked.... Trading down and still getting a guy that can't cut it does nothing for us....
That Fedorov deal was pretty one sided. We could have traded for a pick at the very least. Feds has what, 6 points in 13 games for the caps? We had other offers, meh...
That Fedorov deal was pretty one sided. We could have traded for a pick at the very least. Feds has what, 6 points in 13 games for the caps? We had other offers, meh...
We essentially got a 2nd round pick for him. Most Washington fans don't even have this guy back in their lineup for next year.
The bottom line is that Feds just wasn't worth much. Its not like Howson said nah, keep your first round pick, we want this dude from Notre Dame. There is no doubt in my mind he took the best offer out there.
I thought he'd be worth more but was wrong. I know I haven't lost an ounce of sleep over the return we got for him and quite frankly I think the split was admirable and handled well by both parties. I wish him luck.
We essentially got a 2nd round pick for him. Most Washington fans don't even have this guy back in their lineup for next year.
The bottom line is that Feds just wasn't worth much. Its not like Howson said nah, keep your first round pick, we want this dude from Notre Dame. There is no doubt in my mind he took the best offer out there.
I thought he'd be worth more but was wrong. I know I haven't lost an ounce of sleep over the return we got for him and quite frankly I think the split was admirable and handled well by both parties. I wish him luck.
Well, don't get me wrong, we kind of needed to get Feds for something, but I think Howsen just traded for someone he intended on drafting over this past summer, I think he overlooked possible better deals. I know Detroit was interested, despite Babs not wanting him, but nothing was settled. That being said, I look at this trade deadline as being a bust all together really. Even as sellers, we didn't get much to be admired in return.
The Detroit papers said that Howson asked for a first from Holland and Ken didn't bite.
I blame everything on Bob Gainey, though. Had he not tried to sneak Bushman down to the AHL before the lockout he never would have been on waivers, never would have picked by Doug, never would have been dealt for Fedorov.
Yah, and thats all he is being allowed to be right now. It could be that that is all he will ever be, but how can anyone tell with the ice time he is getting? He is getting played much like Shelley was. His line skates out and as soon as there is a stop in play he is back out again. I could see this in a way with Shelley because he could be a liability out there, but why even call Picard up if he isn't going to get the chance to show anything? Heck, if he is up let him play on a line that is getting some time so you can see what he has. It almost seems like they are casting him as a grinder before seeing if he might be more. Could he do any worse than Brule right now?
On the positive side .. his skating seems to no longer be an issue .. sure he's awkward looking with that hunched over stride and galloping first few steps .. but he gets were he needs to be without issue.
He's a gritty and combatitive player .. good away from the puck, and is willing to pay the price to score .. quick shot as well.
But! He will likely ultimately never amount to a top six winger because he lacks poise with the puck, and seems to brain cramp with the puck. I question his anticipation and hockey sense. Not a savvy player by any means and some times the game moves too fast for him.
