JimEIV said:
We should all have to pick a player and revisit it in 4 years.
This is basically why I'm disappointed but understanding of some of our first round whiffs. My first round "record" isn't anything to write home about. 1997 was probably the first year where I had a (mis)informed opinion of players:
1997: I wanted Adam Colagiacomo who was rated by The Hockey News as a late first rounder. Thought he had some Randy McKay traits from his scouting report. He dropped much later as teams perhaps realized that he was a man child and that might work in juniors but not so much in the pros. Gare Joyce had one amusing story where reporters thought Coliagiacomo was one of his teammate's father since he looked that much older.
1998: I wanted Justin Papineau over Mike Van Ryn and Scott Gomez. Strike two.
1999: I wanted Ross Lupaschuk who was an offensive defenseman with some snarl. He never made it and is most notable for being part of the return that Pittsburgh got for Jagr.
2000: I wanted Martin Samuelsson with the pick. I suppose this why they don't let 18 year old armchair GMs make the picks.
2001: I wanted Lukas Krajicek with our original 24th pick; Devils traded out and Florida took him there. At #28, I wanted Fedor Tyutin. [/blindsquirrelfindsanut]
2002: Jiri Hudler fell unexpectedly and was available at #51. I suppose that was the easiest year to second guess.
2003: With the original #22 pick, I was hoping Robert Nilsson was gonna be available (oops). When we traded up to #17, I wanted Getzlaf to replace the big center void left by Arnott/Holik leaving.
2004: I wanted Mike Green since I had an affinity for RH offensive dmen.
2005: Don't recall much from this draft. I think I may have been in "screw you NHL" mode from the lockout.
2006: I wanted David Fischer but he was taken before our original pick at #25. This was the one draft I deliberately chose to miss. I can remember fumbling with my roommate's VCR trying to record it, but gave up.
2007: We didn't pick until #57, so I don't think I had any particular guys I wanted.
2008: Wanted Carlson, but that horse was beaten dead long ago.
2009: Wanted Calvin de Haan but he went much earlier than expected. When we traded up to #20, I was hoping for John Moore.
