The 10th Annual Jason Bonsignore Award

[db23]

I am getting a lot of flack for suggesting that certain top 10 picks could turn out to be total flops, so I went back 10 years in the draft to check things out. That led to the "Jason Bonsignore Award" in honour of the 4th overall pick in the 1994 draft. I offer some annual nominees for the award, suggest your own.

1994 - Jason Bonsignore
1995 - Terry Ryan
1996 - Alex Volchkov
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1998 - Jeff Heerema
1999 - Pavl Brendl
2000 - Lars Jonsson, Brent Krahn (tie)
2001 - Pascal Leclaire
2002 - Peter Taticek, Eric Nystrom (tie)
2003 - Andrei Kastitsyn

The worst offenders at the draft board seem to be Canadian teams, interestingly enough. Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, along with the Rangers.

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[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

I am getting a lot of flack for suggesting that certain top 10 picks could turn out to be total flops, so I went back 10 years in the draft to check things out. That led to the "Jason Bonsignore Award" in honour of the 4th overall pick in the 1994 draft. I offer some annual nominees for the award, suggest your own.

1994 - Jason Bonsignore
1995 - Terry Ryan
1996 - Alex Volchkov
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1998 - Jeff Heerema
1999 - Pavl Brendl
2000 - Lars Jonsson, Brent Krahn (tie)
2001 - Pascal Leclaire
2002 - Peter Taticek, Eric Nystrom (tie)
2003 - Andrei Kastitsyn

The worst offenders at the draft board seem to be Canadian teams, interestingly enough. Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, along with the Rangers.

I know I won't be the only person to say this, but don't you think its a little early to start labling guys from the 01 draft on as busts?

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

2002 - Lee Farlardeau

The Rangers strike again!

 

[leafaholix*]

1995 - Terry Ryan, Steve Kelly
1996 - Alexandre Volchkov, Johnathan Aitken
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1998 - Michael Rupp, Manny Malhotra, Rico Fata,
1999 - Brian Finley, Tim Connolly, Kris Beech, Pavel Brendl
2000 - Brent Krahn
2001 - Stanislav Chistov
2002 - Scottie Upshall
2003 - Braydon Coburn

 

[db23]

I know I won't be the only person to say this, but don't you think its a little early to start labling guys from the 01 draft on as busts?

They are only "nominees" remember. History shows that at least one top 10 pick every year is a major bust.

 

[E-Train]

2002 - Lee Farlardeau

The Rangers strike again!

I believe the award is for 1st rounders. Sather took a dumb gamble with Falardeau but didn't do too badly later in the '02 draft.

 

[King of Stankonia]

I'm not quite ready to declare Pascal Leclaire as the winner in 2001. I think that one could make a very strong case for Mikko Koivu or Fredrik Sjostrom.

As far as 2003 goes, I'd like to make Tomas Vanek, Hugh Jessiman, and Steve Bernier all early candidate for the award.

 

[TheZodiac]

Does anyone know why Daniel Tkaczuk just couldn't make the jump to the NHL? This kid was amazing, he had it all. I don't get it.

 

[leafaholix*]

I think this is a list of top 10 busts.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

I'm not quite ready to declare Pascal Leclaire as the winner in 2001. I think that one could make a very strong case for Mikko Koivu or Fredrik Sjostrom.

Koivu maybe but Sjostrom?

Leclaire was my bust of the draft since day one and he hasn't disapointed.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Wait until Koivu comes over and Sjostorm is just getting started in the NHL.

 

[riles]

Does anyone know why Daniel Tkaczuk just couldn't make the jump to the NHL? This kid was amazing, he had it all. I don't get it.

I'm pretty sure he was having some success in Calgary but sustained a concussion, and wasn't the same player afterwards. I could be wrong about that though.

 

[bleedgreen]

before brendl got hurt this season - he looked awesome. he was working hard and doing a good job of fighting to loose pucks - as well as scoring some pretty amazing goals. if you want to call him a bust at 22, fine. i know carolina fans think he's doing just fine.
pascal leclaire looked great in the game i saw him play. upshall seems right on track.......coburn a nominee for bust? you should cut the years off at 1999, anyone after that still can avoid the tag.

 

[GKJ]

no mention of Nikos Tselios?

 

[bleedgreen]

no mention of Nikos Tselios?

huge bust, right next to hereema for carolina.

 

[PhoPhan]

I'm not quite ready to declare Pascal Leclaire as the winner in 2001. I think that one could make a very strong case for Mikko Koivu or Fredrik Sjostrom.

Koivu maybe, because he was so highly touted and all, but Sjostrom has been playing on the Coyotes almost all year, even seeing first line minutes.

 

[KallioWeHardlyKnewYe]

They are only "nominees" remember. History shows that at least one top 10 pick every year is a major bust.

i see where you're coming from now. my bad.

 

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Extremely premature to be judging some of those years. I would say that 97 or 98 is probably the earliest year we could be giving out a "bust" award.

Nystrom's developing nicely for the Flames actually and Krahn is far from being a bust yet.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Its quite laughable to hear peopel calling Pascal LeClaire a bust.

The guy turned 21 half way through this year. And he is a goalie. Havent we learnt anything with goalies??? They take long to develop and you need to be patient.

It cost Calgary AND Hartford/Carolina when they both dealt JS Giguere when he was in his early 20's.

Turco didnt even play in the NHL until he was 25.

Kipper this year is ANOTHER example of late bloomers.

I dont think you can classify ANY goalie a bust at age 21.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Extremely premature to be judging some of those years. I would say that 97 or 98 is probably the earliest year we could be giving out a "bust" award.

Nystrom's developing nicely for the Flames actually and Krahn is far from being a bust yet.

I agree 100%!

You cant call 22 year olds busts.

 

[LaLaLaprise]

Koivu maybe, because he was so highly touted and all, but Sjostrom has been playing on the Coyotes almost all year, even seeing first line minutes.

Well i dont agree that either are busts as of April 2004

BUT Sjostrom played in PHX but so did a bunch of other players this year thanks to injury, and compared to some rookies Fredrick only played average.

But i still like him so dont jump all over me

 

[Epsilon]

Some people are unbearably impatient. Do this poll in 1991 and you would have probably seen a bunch of "Teemu Selanne is a bust" posts...

 

[leafaholix*]

Some people are unbearably impatient. Do this poll in 1991 and you would have probably seen a bunch of "Teemu Selanne is a bust" posts...

What?

Selanne was tearing up the Finnish league in '91... none of these players are dominating any league.

 

[Epsilon]

What?

Selanne was tearing up the Finnish league in '91... none of these players are dominating any league.

It's more of the "omg this guy isn't over in North America yet - BUST" attitude that you see frequently, as if bringing a guy along slowly nowadays automatically makes him junk.

 

[SmokeyClause]

1995 - Terry Ryan, Steve Kelly
1996 - Alexandre Volchkov, Johnathan Aitken
1997 - Daniel Tkaczuk
1998 - Michael Rupp, Manny Malhotra, Rico Fata,
1999 - Brian Finley, Tim Connolly, Kris Beech, Pavel Brendl
2000 - Brent Krahn
2001 - Stanislav Chistov
2002 - Scottie Upshall
2003 - Braydon Coburn

I think Taticek or Nystrom have a better chance at the Bonnie award than Upshall.