Whitesnake
If you rebuild, they will come.
- Jan 5, 2003
- 89,427
- 36,751
The BCHL is such an odd league. Two teams churn out some talent, the rest are just ... below average teams.
It's pretty much populated by guys going the NCAA route who aren't pro prospects, correct?
Which are the two teams?
Pretty much. Its for kids that can't make the WHL, or are decent (not great) players that want a free college ride. Pencticton and Victoria turn out the odd player, Vernon used to but its been a while since they have. Prince George has had some good teams the last 4 years as well.
I'm not trying to insult the kids that play there, god knows you have to be a decent player, but the step from the BCHL to the WHL is enormous.
A family friend is playing for Cow Valley as a 16 year old - he was a high pick in the WHL but I don't know if he is on track or not. I get the impression very few kids are sure things to even make the WHL.
I watched a little of Ruscheinski last night vs the Smoke Eaters (great name), he was physical and he's tall.
Was he better than you expected at least?
Wasted late pick... as usual.
I think your expectations for late picks are out of whack or else 99% of them should be considered wasted picks.
Primeau was also a 7th round pick, by the way.
Wasted late pick... as usual.
It was an In Memoriam pick for their deceased scout. I think they should have paid homage to him before announcing the Caufield pick vs. wasting a pick on this guy when you could have taken Hlavaj (one of the best goalies in the Q this year) or Gogolev (a sniper with tons of speed playing with Hillis).
Guys like Primeau are exception but there are plenty of guy that slip or go undrafted every year, and they aren’t hinded gems they are just bypass for what ever reason. There had to be better prospect, this just seem like the wildest most random pick since Conor Crisps...I think your expectations for late picks are out of whack or else 99% of them should be considered wasted picks.
Primeau was also a 7th round pick, by the way.
Well exactly, in recent years a 7th round could be Primeau or Evans, and even Stapley had a solid freshman year and is now PPG in his 2nd NCAA season. It could be locking in a good QMJHL overager like Harvey-Pinard if you don't think there's much left and you want to get his rights instead of gambling on signing him as a UFA. It's not that we should expect every 7th to turn into Primeau/Evans but even if they didn't turn into legitimate prospects at least it's a worthwhile gamble to pick a goalie who scouts well with meh stats or a guy with good numbers in Jr. A.I think your expectations for late picks are out of whack or else 99% of them should be considered wasted picks.
Primeau was also a 7th round pick, by the way.
Wasted late pick... as usual.
If they can find a Primeau or a Halak, they can also do better than this Alberta league kid for sure.
To be fair, Salmon arm is a long ways from Alberta.
That is not unusual in the BCHL, sometimes a drafted WHL player can play there till they get called up etc. I also have a friend of mines kid who is drafted in the WHL but plays in the BCHL to get ice time when possible.
There's not really a template for success in the 7th but Evans/Stapley/Primeau were all good picks and IMO Harvey-Pinard was fine even if he becomes nothing. I'll lump Dichow and Khisamutdinov in as "digging" picks where they went off the board. I don't have any issue if they're digging for Jr. A stars, USHL goalies with meh stats who scout well, good QMJHL overagers, MHL overagers with some KHL games, or big Danish goalies signed to a good Swedish team with good int'l stats are all worthwhile gambles. Guys playing in good leagues or with good international experience and/or interesting tools that are hard to find.What's the profile of a successful 7th round pick?
Is there even one?