jkutswings
hot piss hockey
- Jul 10, 2014
- 11,126
- 8,918
I'm probably a population of one here, and that's ok, but I definitely do not like the direction thus far.
Zadina will be a very good player. I really really wanted Dobson there, but I can at least understand the logic, thinking his ceiling is an elite scorer, which is also a need. Still don't love it, but I understand it.
But I hate the Veleno pick, and I hate the surrounding comments even more.
Great skater is a plus, but the consistent knock is that he has no high end offensive potential. The projection for this guy is closer to a Darren Helm than another Larkin, let alone a true #1 center.
And the Tyler Wright comments on Twitter? We were targeting centers? How about you address your biggest organizational need - by a wide margin - with a pick that actually has a chance of yielding a top pair kid?
Is it possible to still land 1-2 decent to good defensemen in round 2? Yes. I still like Wilde, McIsaac, and Addison. But I think the most optimistic ceiling on anybody left is a #3, and more likely a #4 .
Heck, I even would've preferred a Noel or a McLeod at 30, because both those guys have higher ceilings than Joe "Jack of All Trades" Veleno.
I guess it comes down to the fact that I don't like their board, I haven't for several years now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. And when there's a big difference in talent evaluation - coupled with a less than stellar development record on defense - I wonder if this tire fire will ever really get fixed. At least, before they get enough forwards to make them a bubble team again, but have zero shot at going anywhere in the playoffs, while having zero chance at landing an impact player on the blue line.
So even if I'm totally on an island, so be it. But I came away from Round 1 extremely disappointed. I hope Round 2 has some pleasant surprises, and they find additional ways to add major long term help on the back end.
Zadina will be a very good player. I really really wanted Dobson there, but I can at least understand the logic, thinking his ceiling is an elite scorer, which is also a need. Still don't love it, but I understand it.
But I hate the Veleno pick, and I hate the surrounding comments even more.
Great skater is a plus, but the consistent knock is that he has no high end offensive potential. The projection for this guy is closer to a Darren Helm than another Larkin, let alone a true #1 center.
And the Tyler Wright comments on Twitter? We were targeting centers? How about you address your biggest organizational need - by a wide margin - with a pick that actually has a chance of yielding a top pair kid?
Is it possible to still land 1-2 decent to good defensemen in round 2? Yes. I still like Wilde, McIsaac, and Addison. But I think the most optimistic ceiling on anybody left is a #3, and more likely a #4 .
Heck, I even would've preferred a Noel or a McLeod at 30, because both those guys have higher ceilings than Joe "Jack of All Trades" Veleno.
I guess it comes down to the fact that I don't like their board, I haven't for several years now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. And when there's a big difference in talent evaluation - coupled with a less than stellar development record on defense - I wonder if this tire fire will ever really get fixed. At least, before they get enough forwards to make them a bubble team again, but have zero shot at going anywhere in the playoffs, while having zero chance at landing an impact player on the blue line.
So even if I'm totally on an island, so be it. But I came away from Round 1 extremely disappointed. I hope Round 2 has some pleasant surprises, and they find additional ways to add major long term help on the back end.