Jon Prescription said:
I think Lee is a 9D for a rating. He could drop down to a 6 (just your average 3rd string guy -- a "Delmore-esque" kind of player) or hit his potential of being one of the best offensive d-men in the league.
Saying Lee has a potential of 9 is about the most ridiculous thing I've seen in this post yet.
The point I'm trying to make is that giving Bourdon and 8.0c and Lee and 8.5c is an oversight on the part of HF.
Bourdon is much closer in his development. From what he has shown in the preseason, he could play on the 3rd pairing, Lee is more of a project, amazing RAW skill, but probably 2-3 years away from the NHL. Bourdon will play in the NHL next year, and can say that with as much certainty as a person in my situation could.
HF has effectively ignored canucks prospects for some time, and it's not surprising.
I believe a more accurate rating would be an 8.0B for Bourdon, and an 8.5C for Lee. HF's rating suggests that Bourdon and Lee are at the same level developmentally, which, with what has been shown in the last few weeks, is factually incorrect.
I think Lee has a better chance at a Norris, but Bourdon has a better chance at a long career in the NHL.
Lee could bust, although unlikely, Bourdon could play this year, and is unlikely to bust. Lee was not rated over 15th in any pre-draft ranking I've read, Bourdon was a concensus top 15 pick, as high as 9, and low as 15. Ottawa took Lee at 9 because they saw a lot of him, and thought he was a good enough prospect to use their pick on. Vancouver took the best/safest pick available.
A high risk / High payoff prospect like Lee isn't usually drafted until near the end of the 1st round. Bourdon has an amazing skillset and is very close to NHL ready. Lee wasn't really a surprise, but it showed that Ottawa isn't afraid of developing a prospect.
I think Lee may score more points, but I think Bourdon will make the bigger impact on his team, he is too well rounded. SUPERB skating, great hitting, offensive ability, defensive awareness, nearly NHL ready.
Both are excellent prospects, and I think, for where they were drafted, they are both steals, and both teams should consider themselves lucky for the position they drafted at, and that such excellent prospects were available.
Yes, I have seen Bourdon play many times, and saw the WJC.