Lots of thoughts here ....
We outright know our scouting was still completely broken at the time of the 2010 draft. Our draft board for that draft was inadvertently released a few months back, and it was an absolutely horrifying disaster. Like, couldn't be any worse if they tried.
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showthread.php?t=1452789
Literally every player we liked +10 picks over their consensus ranking was a massive bust, while again virtually every player who ended up being a good pick from that draft outside of the top 10 picks, we had rated substantially lower than the consensus. Basically every single thing we took a stand on we got wrong.
Additionally, we can see how utterly broken our QMJHL scouting was at this point. In the worst year *ever* from the QMJHL, with 1 player selected from the first 50 picks, our scouts had 7 players (6 of which would go on to be total washouts) in the top 36 picks. Just a complete farce, and for something like this to happen, something at that point was badly wrong in how we were putting together our lists. Meanwhile, Brendan Gallagher is ripping up the WHL in our own backyard and not even rated - wouldn't have taken him if he was still available in the 7th round.
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So we know our scouting is completely awry as of 2010.
And when you look at that draft board, it's not surprising that the four drafts from 2007-2010 are a total disaster. You reap what you sow.
Two #1 picks (Hodgson and Schroeder) have had mixed returns. But
out of the other 21 players we selected in those four drafts, only two (Connauton and Andersson) have even turned into serviceable AHL players. That's absolutely appalling.
And when you get to the discussion of why our AHL team is so bad, it's those four drafts. Those players should be forming the core of our minor-league squad and system depth right now, and we have zilch to show for it.
As an aside it's interesting how the 2009 draft, which was viewed very positively here circa 2010 or 2011, has gradually declined into another disaster.
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So I guess the question is whether we've fixed things since 2010, and it's hard to tell.
We definitely look like we've sorted the OHL. As we should have, given Gillis' connections to that region. Looks like we've made some good hirings, and our picks from that region - which we'd ignored for a decade - are promising.
Otherwise ... meh. We see the same sort of weird QMJHL stuff popping up in 2011 and 2012. Same guys making WHL decisions. Same head scout. Gradin's drought in Europe is becoming an issue.
2013 does look really good right now. Hopefully that's a good sign moving forward.
But 2011 (aside from Corrado) is starting to go the way of 2009, and as mentioned previously, with the 2009 draft we can see how a 'good' draft can go bad in a hurry and how lower-level production can be a mirage which is exposed when players hit the AHL.
As long as Delorme is in a position of influence, my confidence in our drafting remains low. The guy is a proven fool.
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And I guess my last criticism would be how we use our contract slots. Too many contracts to bad players. Poor signings of veteran AHL players.
We finally cleared some slots this summer, and instead of spending them on quality signings from the NCAA or Europe, or on high-end AHL players to drive success at that level, we're recycling garbage like Sauve and Mullen.
We had great offseason in 2010 to bring in 4 guys (Sweatt, Lack, Tanev, Volpatti) who added a lot to our AHL team and bolstered our system depth. That seemed to bode well for the future.
But since then, we've barely signed anyone. A couple young OHL guys who were longer-term projects (Archibald was a good call), and Kellen Lain. This team should have the money to bring in top signings to bolster ourselves, but we've lost our way recently.
If you're going to trade draft picks to bolster a contending roster (which I have no problem with), you'd better find other ways to build your system.