Given the rate at which 2nd round picks turn out, if you get a depth defenseman for your NHL roster, you've met expectations with that pick. Clendening is already there, plus he has great upside to become considerably more.
Very few teams try to draft a depth defenseman with their 2nd round pick. It is certainly not an "expectation" with that pick. You think LA was thinking they traded Vey for to draft someone they expect to be a depth defenseman? No.
I am not saying that Clendening doesn't have upside. He was certainly drafted in the 2nd round because Chicago believed he had top 4 upside. But the way the NHL works is that if you fail to crack the NHL lineup after a few times your value tends to drop. Clendening's top 4 upside in the NHL has taken a big hit from when he was drafted in the 2nd round. Hence he is not worth a 2nd round pick despite the fact he was drafted in the 2nd round.
Saw a lot of people saying that Forsling's hype was more than just a result of a strong WJC and also becuase he had been outstanding in the SHL at a young age. Had a look, and while I don't claim to follow the SHL that closely, it seems that the reports of a bit lesser of a league may be true. First of all, Jeff Taffe leads the SHL in scoring, and there seems to be a boon of teenage defenders in the league...
There are several 17-19 year old defenceman playing in the league and a handful have played a significant role other than Forsling. Some at an even younger age.
Kylington, Aho and Carlsson have been regulars for their clubs and aren't draft eligible until June. HV71's Cederholm is apparently playing a regular shift now and isn't draft eligible till 2016...
Along with Forsling, Pettersson, Johansson, Hansson and Mattsson are all playing in the SHL after being drafted in 2014. There are also 1-3 19 year olds on every team's defensive core. Seems to be a lot more youngsters in that league in general this year.
If we're just going by age/stats in the SHL, look out for Kylington (obviously) and Aho.
Definitley progressed from being a 5th round pick, but I think a guy like Mattsson has done the same after being a 6th rounder (Calgary), minus the WJC peformance. Basically my point is that I don't see Forsling head and shoulders above the rest of the teenage SHL defenders, he definitely increased his stock in a hurry, but I don't think we're talking about a blue-chipper here nessicarily either. Probably an even lower likleihood of being a top 4, PP defender at the NHL level than Clendening, but I would also say his skill set opens the possibility of him reaching star status, which is why Chicago makes this deal.
I think it's not where he currently stands in context that is the concern, but the rate of improvement in the several months from the draft until now.
If he continues to improve at the rate he's improved, he has super high potential.
It could turn out to be an excellent "sell-high" move, or could bite Benning in the butt if his rate of improvement continues.
Well, SHL is more development league than KHL for example. Forsling isn't there any rare talent when we look to his whole overall game, but he is still a good young defenseman with great shot. I really liked watch his game and those young defensemans usually don't play there 20 minutes in night (what Forsling got some night in this season), but in many games he was Linköping 3:rd pair defenseman too. He has still talent, but his NHL upside is full of questions.Saw a lot of people saying that Forsling's hype was more than just a result of a strong WJC and also becuase he had been outstanding in the SHL at a young age. Had a look, and while I don't claim to follow the SHL that closely, it seems that the reports of a bit lesser of a league may be true.
I disagree with this a bit. His value was low because they were going to lose him next year. I don't think Chicago would have taken a second for him if they could have kept him. Value is a relative term. I doubt other teams would have paid a higher price, so his value is or was artificially low.
I don't think we are really disagreeing. The fact that Clendening has thus far failed to crack the NHL full time makes affects his value because he might never and if he doesn't make it next season (which is no guarantee) he may be lost to waivers.
I want to revisit this trade seeing as the season has ended.
Next year Clendenning will require waivers and I don't think he is remotely NHL ready.
Whereas Forsling was the 9th highest scoring under 19 year old in the SHL. (2nd in under 19 defenseman scoring)
Before I thought we won the trade quiet handily, now I'm starting to think we lost this trade pretty bad...
Forsling had a monster WJC and was tearing up the SHL as a youngster, I never understood why we traded him for what would at best, be a lateral move.
It would be one thing if we sold high on him and got someone of higher value, but we simply didn't.
I want to revisit this trade seeing as the season has ended.
Next year Clendenning will require waivers and I don't think he is remotely NHL ready.
Whereas Forsling was the 9th highest scoring under 19 year old in the SHL. (2nd in under 19 defenseman scoring)
Before I thought we won the trade quiet handily, now I'm starting to think we lost this trade pretty bad...
How pissed is Gradin that he has no sway anymore and the great pick he made gets traded for a D version of Vey?
Gradin will probably get the boot similarly to Crawford sooner than later.
Can't have guys who actually know what they're doing on the scouting staff.
How do we know that Clendening isn't NHL ready? He looked okay in his limited games last season, he'll be expected to build on that this season. With another offseason of training to work on his faults, I'm optimistic that he will show himself as a viable NHL defenseman with upside. I think by the end of this season we'll know whether we lost this trade or not, because if Clendening doesn't show signs of top 4 potential then in my eyes we lost the trade regardless of how Forsling does.
I haven't seen any of these guys play except Clendening for a few games. I doubt any of you have either. SO THEY MUST SUCK?! Yes this is logic in Vancouver.