CatchyTune
JOHN TAVARES IS A MAPLE LEAF
Whatever round they were drafted in is completely irrelevant.Again that's fine if you prefer potential over immediate impact. But that's what the whole argument is based on here. Sandin being a first round pick who has massive potential because he's still only 19, and Bear not having that same leeway because he was drafted in the fifth round.
To me the age doesn't mean shit. If a kid was drafted in the late rounds and out of absolutely nowhere elevated his game as a rookie to be reliably used in a top 4 role (Bear was probably the Oilers best dman behind Klef last year) I think he should be granted the same potential to continue to develop as the 19 year old kid being sheltered.
Age wasnt exactly my point, but one player being in his D+2 and the other being in his D+5 reflects their developmental curve. Sandin definitely has more room to grow.
Bear was playing with the Seattle Thunderbirds during his D+2. Not that that really matters for anything, but overcrediting Bear just because he "was a 5th round pick and came out of nowhere" doesnt affect his future potential.
Bear obviously has room to grow. But I think Sandin will definitely be the better player down the line. I dont think Bear has the elite tools to be a top 2 Dman unlike Sandin.