There's nothing weird with letting young kids whose dream is to play in the NHL what you think is best for them even if you do so aggressively. If you're referring to JJ, it's a wholly different situation both in terms of the destination and the stage of player development.
More importantly JJ was never asked to go against his word. He only went on record as saying he had committed to two years at UM after he had left and signed with the Kings.
Indeed, there was talk, while he was still Canes property, that he could end up spending all 4 years in college. Really it was a total unknown at that point in time. As much as I love Gleason and what he's brought to the table, what a royal ****up that draft was for us. The scouts really didn't do their homework with the league in lockdown.
Johnson refused to sign, yet suddenly he changed his tune about how long he would be in college after he was traded to the Kings. While it doesn't prove the rumors that he would never play for a Karmanos owned team it doesn't do anything to refute them either. He's never said anything about it but actions speak a hell of a lot louder then words.
What a ****ing mistake passing on Marc Staal, who half our scouts wanted to draft, to select the kid Karmanos wanted instead. We would have had absolutely no problems getting Marc in here and playing when we needed a defenseman that urgently in 06-07. I still think Gleason may prove to be the best player from that trade in the long run, but I think Staal will be better then either of them.
Hagemo was an extremely talented US National Team/Minnesota product that had a drug problem that ruined his career.
Joe Barnes has been ECHL fodder.
Jakub Vojta, a talented Czech junior defenseman, poorly transitioned to the North American game after coming over to the OHL and never waranted a contract.
Ondrej Otcenas is the exact kind of pick that makes us hate the nepotisim of the organization.
Tim Kunes is an NCAA defenseman that finally got significant playing time as a junior.
Risto Korhonen was much hyped before his draft year and then fell considerably. I still think he was worth offering a contract to but yet another unsigned Euro by our scouts.
The only two picks that look ANY good for us are our 6th and 7th rounders: Nicolas Blanchard, who looks like he could play in the next couple years as a 4th liner, and Kyle Lawson, who looks like an absolute steal and seems to have #2/3 type defenseman upside.
Thank god the last 3 drafts have been a lot better, although after bringing Marshall Johnston onboard after that draft I am begining to think it's not much of a coincidence that our drafting has turned around big time.
