Vlad The Impaler said:
Talent level. I just don't think Chipchura can be more than a very good 3rd liner, while I see Ladd as much more versatile and capable of working with high talent players. He's got a lot of smarts and playmaking for a guy who is seen as a future blue collar grinder.
Plus I really like what I saw of him two years ago. I think there is a nice offensive upside to him that is very understated. He has nicer hands than he has showed this year.
It is unlikely that he will be a 70 point player, but it is still more likely than Chipchura, IMO.
I agree with this statement.
I think Ladd gets alot of heat b/c he is not as flashy as most players drafted that high. He's not known for his big hits like Phaneuf but Ladd hits hard. Nor does Ladd have crazy speed like Ovechkin but Ladd is by no means slow of foot. Doesn't have the offensive vison of Crosby but sees the ice very well.
To me Ladd is just one of those guys that are a really good package that has skill, size and a very good attitude. Dont get me wrong I like Chipchura aswell and was hoping that my team would draft him. But I think that Ladds PowerForward upside should not be disregarded so quickly.
When I think of a safe pick I think of a guy like Eric Nystrom. The guy was drafted 10th overall pretty much b/c his game is so rounded. Of course tehy thought at the time he would be more offensive but they also new that if he didn't pan out offensively he woudl still be a very effective character 3rd liner who comes to play every shift. Maybe thats just the grinder type player that I seem to think of as a safer pick. Hear are a couple more names that I think of as safe picks for whatever reason Coburn, Upshall (dont understand whats taking him so long to make the NHL???), Weber, Chipchura, Richards, Stuart, Kesler and Parise. I dont know I what it is but when I think of role players I always feel as though they are the ones most likely to make it to the NHL b/c they are the ones who dont have egos and attitude problems. They just shut up and listen to what the coach tells them and then go out there and do it. Then if teammates dont do what the coach says they give em heck. Its the offensive types that are always makeing the coaches mad and I think that has alot to do wiht why offensive types are more likely to bust at the pro level. I dont consider elite prospects as safer picks b/c there elite there supposed to be able to make the NHL off of ther e incredible talent. Guys like Ovechkin, Crosby, Lehtonen, Malkin, Horton, Zherdev and maybe even Phaneuf who I kinda have him borderline as a safe pick/elite pick.
I dont beleive though that these so called safe picks are not gonna be very good offensive players in the NHL. I just feel if there offensive game goes in the tanks they will still be important members of a winning club b/c of there other valueable aspects of there game.