This is really funny considering you were supporting master great talent expert Hunter.
Dont complain about people defending Dubas since you would do the same thing if fridge finder Hunter was GM.
And, if you want to defer to Dubas is always wrong. Why did good teams not draft the list you came up with? A bunch of smart NHL minds picked different players, and probably would have taken them near where he did. It doesn't make Dubas right, but its pretty ridiculous to just assume he's wrong and therefore not allowed to be praised.
When did I defend the fridge picks? I've bashed Hunter's picks before. I bashed Korshkov when it happened, I wanted Boris Katchouk. My only defense of Hunter, outside of the 1st round picks, is that hitting on 2 out of 5 picks in the 2nd round in 3 years is an effective rate, when everyone went to town claiming all his picks were gimmies.
He simply stated, I was wrong due to the fact Dubas picked them, and that I should accept them due to that? Its a ridiculous appeal to authority on a message board. I may not agree with people's opinions on prospects when I like a prospect and they don't, but my argument is never going to be, well, Hunter picked him, therefore your opinion is invalid. I'm not going to use a snide remark like "you must know more than someone" else to dismiss their opinion. Now, when someone disagrees, and there is an overwhelming consensus against for something, I'll point to that, but I would never go off just one person.
Dubas had quite a few off the board picks relative to NHL consensus this year. It doesn't make him wrong, but I don't think someone like Holloway and SDA go near where Dubas picked him, which you just claimed. Neither made Bob McKenzie's top 93, neither made Button's list. SDA is just 82nd among NHL Central Scouting for NA Skaters. The only person high on SDA was Pronman. Hollowell is 118th by CSB, and not in the top 120 for any scouting service that I can see. SDA was in the mid-100's according to Hockey Prospect's Black Book, and Hollowell and Durzi were not ranked.
Edit: If you think I'm such a Hunter Homer, here's my opinion of his last draft. See what I said about the fridge.
Timothy Liljegren (17th OA)
Eemeli Rasanen (59th OA)
Ian Scott (110th OA)
Vladislav Kara (124th OA)
Fedor Gordeev (141st OA)
Ryan McGregor (172nd OA)
Ryan O'Connell (203rd OA)
B+
Love the Liljegren pick. He fits the 3 major criteria to make a player a great pick in the mid-first round. He looked to be BPA, he fits a clear need, and he has extremely high potential.
Rasanen I'm indifferent. He's shown enough offense he shouldn't just be considered a big lug, although, like all picks in the late 2nd, he has obvious flaws that could derail him. Skating and inconsistency being the top of that list.
I love the Ian Scott pick. After taking Woll, I didn't want to use our only 2nd on a goalie after taking Woll who is progressing well last year, but did like the idea of getting a projectable one to add to the pool in the 4th or later. Scott seems like a good gamble there.
Past that, I'm indifferent. The odds on picks that late hitting are so small that I can't really get that upset for some outside the box thinking.
I'd give us an A+++++ though if you are including what that 3rd rounder we gave Detroit turned into for us.
2016: I wanted a bunch of people over Korshkov (a shocked of a pick) but would have taken Katchouk or Benson. In hindsight, I'm fine with Korshkov over Benson, but would trade him in a second for Katchouk.
2017: Liljegren was top of my board. Probably would have taken Lipanov over Rasanen but am fine with it in hindsight.
And here is what I said about Durzi mid-year when he was lighting up the OHL.
2018 NHL Entry Draft Discussion: Final Countdown! Tomorrow is the big day!