Rabid Ranger said:
Right. I'm sure he talks to *some* scouts, and *some* teams, but not all. As has already been mentioned Johnson is now up to #2 on the ISS list, so Brule being the "consesus" #2 isn't true.
This is very reasonable to say.
The two individuals who I have spoken to in regards to the top end of the 2005 draft have been a Hockey Canada official who is involved in the junior program (that was this summer) and a scout whose primary territory was Atlantic Canada.
Obviously I assume that the scout networks with associates.
From what acquaintances of mine have said who are in Vancouver, they feel Brule is being greatly underappreciated because of Crosby.
Of course nobody talks to every team, and nobody sees every player of course. With all due respect to Johnson and everyone else, I remain confident that come draft day the order will be Crosby, Brule......everyone else. I'm not going to come out and say everyone else is wrong, because anything can happen. I 100% respect what other people interpret. I've never seen either player play a full game and am going solely on the reports I personally have had.
However, one thing that I do warn, and by no means do I mean to suggest that this is a bias that I'm "above" in any way, but there is also a possibility that some guys are bigger on Johnson because they see them often. ISS has recognized Johnson, with that said. (just FYI, my own personal 'favourite bias' is Adam Pineault).
Thanks guys, I look forward to hopefully being able to see both of these guys in the WJC for a few games.