Speculation: Is Lou really all that great.

[SprDaVE]

if you can find 12 Marners that might work but my point is you need a mix of players and loading up on small skilled guys every draft isn't an effective use of your picks

When you're drafting, you're finding the best players available all the time. They won't be ready for years unless you are lucky. Constructing your team by drafting for needs is terrible and a very outdated way of thinking. It's not how it should work.

The last thing I'd look at is the height of a player if they are efficient at their current level and demonstrate potential. If the player is 6'5", then so be it... but forcing that pick just because you need a big player is really terrible.

I sure as hell wish we drafted DeBrincat instead of Korshkov, even if it's a little early to say. I sure as hell wish we could have drafted Mete over Middleton as well and I think you'd be crazy not to be.

 

[hotpaws]

When you're drafting, you're finding the best players available all the time. They won't be ready for years unless you are lucky. Constructing your team by drafting for needs is terrible and a very outdated way of thinking. It's not how it works.

Eventually you'll have a mix because you will be in a position to draft all kinds of players with various size.

The last thing I'd look at is the height of a player if they are efficient at their current level and demonstrate potential.

I sure as hell wish we drafted DeBrincat instead of Korshkov.

outside of the top of the draft there really isn't really a bpa and as you said it's subjective

also i'm not advocating the Burke method of drafting where you keep picking big guys with limited skill and bs ourselves into believing there skill level will rise

i said we should concentrate on drafting a mix of players and you disagreed and then you said we'll going to draft various sized players ? if you also believe we should draft a variety of players what you disagreeing about ?

 

[SprDaVE]

outside of the top of the draft there really isn't really a bpa and as you said it's subjective

also i'm not advocating the Burke method of drafting where you keep picking big guys with limited skill and bs ourselves into believing there skill level will rise

i said we should concentrate on drafting a mix of players and you disagreed and then you said we'll going to draft various sized players ? if you also believe we should draft a variety of players what you disagreeing about ?

I'm saying draft based on actual hockey skills and efficiency regardless of size. Rather a simple concept.

Either way, Hunter doesn't need be taught by Lamoriello how to draft players.

 

[hotpaws]

I'm saying draft based on actual hockey skills and efficiency regardless of size. Rather a simple concept.

Either way, Hunter doesn't need be taught by Lamoriello how to draft players.

yea a simple concept but no one was making the argument that we should draft big untalented slugs

it's not about teaching him how to draft but instead helping him transition into building NHL teams and not jr teams

 

[SprDaVE]

yea a simple concept but no one was making the argument that we should draft big untalented slugs

it's not about teaching him how to draft but instead helping him transition into building NHL teams and not jr teams

First, he doesn't need to know that. He knows how to draft and has been doing it before Lamoriello came on. "Hey Mark... you can't draft a bunch of midgets" "Uh... That's not what I'm doing Lou??" "Ok."

2nd of all, I was asking Mess before you butt in so it's rather bizarre that you're explaining what he means? You said that you can't have a team full of midgets and all I said size is irrelevant when you draft, which is true. It has nothing to do with the team and current needs. We were talking about purely drafting. That's it that's all.

 

[hotpaws]

First, he doesn't need to know that. He knows how to draft and has been doing it before Lamoriello came on. "Hey Mark... you can't draft a bunch of midgets" "Uh... That's not what I'm doing Lou??" "Ok."

2nd of all, I was asking Mess before you butt in so it's rather bizarre that you're explaining what he means? You said that you can't have a team full of midgets and all I said size is irrelevant when you draft, which is true. It has nothing to do with the team and current needs. We were talking about purely drafting. That's it that's all.

i just gave my opinion on what i believed Mess meant , no need to get so worked up

 

[Tak7]

When you're drafting, you're finding the best players available all the time. They won't be ready for years unless you are lucky. Constructing your team by drafting for needs is terrible and a very outdated way of thinking. It's not how it should work.

The last thing I'd look at is the height of a player if they are efficient at their current level and demonstrate potential. If the player is 6'5", then so be it... but forcing that pick just because you need a big player is really terrible.

I sure as hell wish we drafted DeBrincat instead of Korshkov, even if it's a little early to say. I sure as hell wish we could have drafted Mete over Middleton as well and I think you'd be crazy not to be.

Yep - always have to take best player available. If that results in you having a surplus at a specific position, then you now have trade assets.

The Burke/Nonis regime rather regularly drafted by need (Biggs, Percy, Finn) rather than BPA

 

[A1LeafNation]

Lou helped turn this culture around. Smart guy, smart hockey decisions. Love him.

 

[Mess]

i just gave my opinion on what i believed Mess meant , no need to get so worked up

You were spot on to my point.

Drafting 15 years (with growth years ahead) to assemble a junior team playing against other teenagers, is a lot different than drafting 18/19 year olds trying to build a winning NHL team against men and the best players in the world.

 

[Menzinger]

Lou Lam's biggest contribution to the Leafs was educating Mark Hunter and reminding him he was no longer drafting for his junior team but rather an NHL team instead.

Funny, I’d say thebpst two draft cycles for the leafs (first round aside) look pretty underwhelming.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Lou has all his picks in the first three rounds of the draft. Calgary has none. Is Burke all that great? Ha

Actually we still own every pick for 5 years straight except our 6th roundet this year that went for Calvin Pickard. Thats a great trade for the Marlies.

 

[realgoodleafs]

When you're drafting, you're finding the best players available all the time. They won't be ready for years unless you are lucky. Constructing your team by drafting for needs is terrible and a very outdated way of thinking. It's not how it should work.

The last thing I'd look at is the height of a player if they are efficient at their current level and demonstrate potential. If the player is 6'5", then so be it... but forcing that pick just because you need a big player is really terrible.

I sure as hell wish we drafted DeBrincat instead of Korshkov, even if it's a little early to say. I sure as hell wish we could have drafted Mete over Middleton as well and I think you'd be crazy not to be.

Middleton was taken after Mete. We would have had to take Mete instead of Brooks so I don't think it was a height thing.

 

[Coachcorner]

He a Master. Just like Kane in kung fu. He just walked the earth and took it over. Lou did that.

In the future we need a couple of big bodies to play with the kids nylander marner etc. Simmonds, Tom Wilson, Neely, Clark, Roberts, even Joe Thornton type of sucka here. We need that big sucka type more who can also play some. Y'all don't have to be heroes like bonnie tyler sang but y'all gotta be even that Tom Wilson type of sucka who can do dat dere.

 

[Crease Master]

You guys getting ready to crown Dubas need to slow your rolls
The guy is responsible for one of the most lopsided deals in junior hockey history when he traded for Jack Campbell, all Lou did when he wanted a top goalie is get one at a good price. At least know what you are talking about, Dubas is no superstar yet.

 

[ULF_55]

He has a tonne of experience so the active members of management can bounce ideas off his grey matter.

Never hurts to have more knowledge.

 

[SprDaVE]

Middleton was taken after Mete. We would have had to take Mete instead of Brooks so I don't think it was a height thing.

Oh, I know. The point was more about them being on the opposite side of the "midget" meter. One is a NHLer and World Junior gold winner, while the other is on the verge of being left unsigned.

 

[ACC1224]

You were spot on to my point.

Drafting 15 years (with growth years ahead) to assemble a junior team playing against other teenagers, is a lot different than drafting 18/19 year olds trying to build a winning NHL team against men and the best players in the world.

I'm surprised that never came up in Hunters interview. Did Shanahan drop the ball there and need to bring Lou Lam in to correct this oversight?
Thankfully it was only one draft before Hunter was made aware of this.

 

[LeafFever]

it means a forward group consisting of skilled midgets isn't going to get you anywhere

Yes because building with size in the Burke years worked so well. The NHl has changed a lot.
Our softest forward might be JVR one of our biggest.,

 

[Mess]

I'm surprised that never came up in Hunters interview. Did Shanahan drop the ball there and need to bring Lou Lam in to correct this oversight?
Thankfully it was only one draft before Hunter was made aware of this.

If you review Hunter's 1st draft (before Lou) and then the last 2 (after Lou) you would think 2 different head scouts made the selections.

A dramatic and noticeable change happened after Lou became GM.

 

[hotpaws]

Yes because building with size in the Burke years worked so well. The NHl has changed a lot.
Our softest forward might be JVR one of our biggest.,

since when are these the only only 2 options to building a team ? i specifically said you need a mix of players

also the butt lickers were all behind Burke and his truculence building model while having a good laugh at the Habs and there smurfs

 

[mammothCacti]

Since we are talking about drafting and type of players, I would definitely prioritize speed and hands over anything else. Have you noticed what this new NHL is trending towards, it's more than small vs big: Barzal, Gourde, Connor, Boeser (which I would admit is an anomaly, but he makes up for it in his shot), Heinen, Butcher, Debrusk and like all of the Vegas rookie are fast and have good hands. Look for that, especially one that plays hard and you can always hit on the pick.

 

[LeafFever]

You can add size later. The blue chip talent is the hardest to get. The Leafs did a great job in adding that.

 

[ACC1224]

If you review Hunter's 1st draft (before Lou) and then the last 2 (after Lou) you would think 2 different head scouts made the selections.

A dramatic and noticeable change happened after Lou became GM.

Do other Teams draft the same type of players each draft? I would think it would be pretty common that things change from year to year.

 

[Faltorvo]

If you review Hunter's 1st draft (before Lou) and then the last 2 (after Lou) you would think 2 different head scouts made the selections.

A dramatic and noticeable change happened after Lou became GM.

BUT one has to fairly ask

would we have seen the change if the organisation had not already filled out it's skill quota

almost all of our skilled players could be listed as "not big" and that being the case

it does not hurt to draft big guys IF they only major difference between two potential picks, is their size.

 

[Menzinger]

since when are these the only only 2 options to building a team ? i specifically said you need a mix of players

also the butt lickers were all behind Burke and his truculence building model while having a good laugh at the Habs and there smurfs

Funny that those Smurfs Habs teams constantly made the playoffs while Burke’s truculence continued in mediocrity