Actually just as a point and I would have taken him without the second round pick and taking Datsyuk... But the critique on Chychrun and what he was criticized for is something you used to swear off Sean Day for any round. That was that people openly began questioning his hockey sense. Fairly alarming but I am inclined to believe it is more of a Fowler case and he is going to be a good #3 or really solid #2 that is really elevated by OEL.
But the hang up on him is something you generally go bananas over on other prospects. Basically a whole bunch of teams just said he doesn't think the game well enough to be a top pairing guy. Button practically slammed the table at every opportunity to make the point as he was sliding that he was a bottom four guy that is all he was in his opinion and several talent evaluation people he talks to.
If the argument is we don't need another middle pairing guy, given the upside I think we made the right pick, but it is a long-shot. But we went with guys that have considerably more offensive upside in both the first and second round.
Ok, the reason I didn't like Day was the lack of hockey sense coupled (more importantly) with the lack of production. Physically a complete man among boys yet never translates to the box score, and don't think he has nearly the offensive toolbox as Chychrun or others.
I don't think Chychrun has the ideal hockey sense I'd want, I concede that, but I think he makes up for that with being a physical specimen and I think he is very involved at both ends of the ice. Kind of similar to a guy like Phaneuf. He distributes and handles the puck way better than Day, and I think is very poised in the offensive zone.
I don't think he's a guaranteed #1 or anything. But I think he'll be a good #2 or very solid #3, and I don't think he will take that long to get there.
We alternatively took two kids that are 160 something lbs, and are about as raw as you can get. Could bust altogether, and probably don't stiff the league for at least 4 years. Neither have much of a track record of producing offense themselves, and Wright said he is 'hoping' for more offensive flair from Cholowski.
I just thought we had the golden opportunity. Top 10 talent without a bottom 10 finish. Basically what everyone is asking for on here with asking for tanking, but without even having to tank. With McAvoy gone, there was the guarantee of Chychrun or Fabbro. Both guys that received votes from scouts as being the best defenseman in the draft. Doesn't help that Nashville, a team that doesn't need defenseman and also has a great eye for spotting them, took Fabbro at #17 either.
I think it was more about Holland flexing his muscles and trying to make a splash in free agency with declining stars, and 1 year until the new arena opens. Hopefully one of these kids crushes their development. Really like the Sambrook pick, and like that Hronek is playing CHL hockey. Cholowski is intriguing, but not really thrilled he's going to St. Cloud to be perfectly honest. Much prefer the CHL, or a bigger college program with less crowded back end.
