We all love to talk about the times we called it right about a player's development/impact with the Devils, but what about the other side of the coin? Who are your three biggest cases of blown player predictions as a Devils fan?
Here's my three:
1) David Hale: There was a time when I was convinced he was going to be a "poor man's Scott Stevens" - the kind of D who could play that rangy, physical, shut-down game as at least a solid 2nd-pair D. Didn't think he'd ever be as good as Stevens, (who is?) but thought there would at least be a valid style comparison. In the end Hale had a rather short NHL career as a soft, reluctant NHL defender who couldn't be confused with "self-confident" on the best of days.
2) Andy Greene: I admit it. For about the first 2-3 years of Greene's NHL career, I didn't like the guy. He seemed to me like a smallish, unimpressive Jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none kind of defender that could be had at a bargain price anywhere in the league. He just never really impressed me, and I really complained about him continually getting minutes over other Devils D prospects. Just didn't see him as having much potential for growth. Of course, the last few seasons have totally changed my mind. Greene has obviously become an excellent defender who can also chip in offensively. He's a major building-block long-term as well as probably our best overall D now.
3). Barry Tallackson: There was a time when many of us foresaw Tallackson replacing Holik as our prime power forward. After all, he had an impressive college career, and even seemed to play well initially in the AHL. Of course, none of that lasted, as Barry became less and less relevant every year, until the point that he could no longer earn a job...in the German league....
Honourable? Mention: Christian Berglund. At one point he seemed like a future top-6 player for us. Put up good number in international leagues and also in the AHL. Then he got to New Jersey and quickly showed he had virtually 0 hockey sense. Oh well, you live, you learn.
Here's my three:
1) David Hale: There was a time when I was convinced he was going to be a "poor man's Scott Stevens" - the kind of D who could play that rangy, physical, shut-down game as at least a solid 2nd-pair D. Didn't think he'd ever be as good as Stevens, (who is?) but thought there would at least be a valid style comparison. In the end Hale had a rather short NHL career as a soft, reluctant NHL defender who couldn't be confused with "self-confident" on the best of days.
2) Andy Greene: I admit it. For about the first 2-3 years of Greene's NHL career, I didn't like the guy. He seemed to me like a smallish, unimpressive Jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none kind of defender that could be had at a bargain price anywhere in the league. He just never really impressed me, and I really complained about him continually getting minutes over other Devils D prospects. Just didn't see him as having much potential for growth. Of course, the last few seasons have totally changed my mind. Greene has obviously become an excellent defender who can also chip in offensively. He's a major building-block long-term as well as probably our best overall D now.
3). Barry Tallackson: There was a time when many of us foresaw Tallackson replacing Holik as our prime power forward. After all, he had an impressive college career, and even seemed to play well initially in the AHL. Of course, none of that lasted, as Barry became less and less relevant every year, until the point that he could no longer earn a job...in the German league....
Honourable? Mention: Christian Berglund. At one point he seemed like a future top-6 player for us. Put up good number in international leagues and also in the AHL. Then he got to New Jersey and quickly showed he had virtually 0 hockey sense. Oh well, you live, you learn.
