Then maybe you can explain why Schroeder played for the USDT and was an NHL 1st round draft pick and Geudreau never played for the USDT and went 3rd round (was probably passed over by every team in the NHL more than twice)?
Maybe you missed my post above where I said I think one of them has overachieved and the other underachieved?
I mean AJ Thelen was a 1st round pick and was on the USDT, he must be more talented than Byfuglien, who was taken in the 8th round and never was on the USDT.
Schroeder had a fantastic draft year that helped him be a 1st round pick, but that year also was pretty much his peak. His skills aren't good enough to be more than a AHL/NHL tweener. Why did Gaudreau not get picked higher is a layered question, but I'm guessing his listing at 5'7" ~155lbs when he was drafted was a big reason. Schroeder was listed as 5'8" and had 30lbs on Gaudreau.
It has nothing to do with over/underachieving. Gaudreau's shot is
miles better than Schroder and his puckhandling is so much better. And Gaudreau's shot has
always been better than Schroeder's, Gaudreau had a 0.65 Goals/game pace in college (Schroeder=0.31). Schroeder played in 3 WJC-20, had 7 goals in 19 games, Gaudreau had 7 goals in 7 games at his one WJC-20.
Schroeder's skill plateaued when he turned 19, while Gaudreau got better and better and put up 0.99pts/game season last year in the NHL.
Maybe their skill level was similar when they were both 18, but by the time they each turned 19 Gaudreau was the superior player at that age.