Cropduster
Registered User
why was he drafted so high? (I think 8th round)
Seems he did fairly well in juniors
Seems he did fairly well in juniors
He's small for an NHL D-man, and some questioned his skating ability. He didn't really blossom until his last 2 years in the O. Even then, many thought that his numbers were a bit inflated (like Dylan Hunter's are this year) by being on a strong London squad as an overager in 2003-04. He reminds me alot of Matt Kinch, but I think Wideman might get a shot with the Blues someday. Regardless, he's got a cannon for a shot, and is great QB on the PP. The Sabres dropped the ball by letting him go IMO. Look at their defensive prospects, and look at the Amerks struggle on offense this year. Tell me they couldn't use him as a spare part in their system.Cropduster said:why was he drafted so high? (I think 8th round)
Seems he did fairly well in juniors
tuckerdomi said:Pretty Cocky, hes a damn good hockey player, so good at both ends.
KB said:He's small for an NHL D-man, and some questioned his skating ability. He didn't really blossom until his last 2 years in the O. Even then, many thought that his numbers were a bit inflated (like Dylan Hunter's are this year) by being on a strong London squad as an overager in 2003-04. He reminds me alot of Matt Kinch, but I think Wideman might get a shot with the Blues someday. Regardless, he's got a cannon for a shot, and is great QB on the PP. The Sabres dropped the ball by letting him go IMO. Look at their defensive prospects, and look at the Amerks struggle on offense this year. Tell me they couldn't use him as a spare part in their system.
One thing that might attest to that is the fact that he called the Sabres initial contract offer "not even close"....That could come off as a bit cocky for a late-round pick.tuckerdomi said:Pretty Cocky, hes a damn good hockey player, so good at both ends.
KB said:He didn't really blossom until his last 2 years in the O. Even then, many thought that his numbers were a bit inflated (like Dylan Hunter's are this year) by being on a strong London squad as an overager in 2003-04.
He did indeed make huge leaps offensively in his last three years as his playing time increased (not two as I stated earlier), but you can't say that the Knights amassing some serious up-front talent had nothing to do with it. I've always given him his props for being one of the better PP guys on an OHL blueline in years. He was a key piece in the puzzle.Boomhower said:Wideman has put up great offensive numbers in junior hockey since he was 15. Never did it have anything to do with the team around him!
His defensive play in the last two years of his junior carrer was much improved though. The decisions he made with the puck were much more sound and the higher risk passes were weeded out of his game.
Yes I can, it's rare for a 16 year old defenceman to score 36 points in major junior hockey. Wideman's highest points output came on a team that was anything but 'amassed with serious talent upfront'. Again from the age of 15 until now, Wideman has never had a poor offensive year.KB said:He did indeed make huge leaps offensively in his last three years as his playing time increased (not two as I stated earlier), but you can't say that the Knights amassing some serious up-front talent had nothing to do with it.
Well many don't, that's why drafting guys who are mostly offensive defnceman in junior is such a crapshoot.KB said:but he sure as hell better make proper decisions with the puck and eliminate mistakes when he's a 20 year old playing against younger competition.
Boomhower said:Yes I can, it's rare for a 16 year old defenceman to score 36 points in major junior hockey. Wideman's highest points output came on a team that was anything but 'amassed with serious talent upfront'. Again from the age of 15 until now, Wideman has never had a poor offensive year.
Well many don't, that's why drafting guys who are mostly offensive defnceman in junior is such a crapshoot.