Seriously? Mother of god Holden the Atlanta system in 2011 was a complete joke. Laughable. We'll have to disagree. I don't even get overly high on prospects given the amount that don't pan out, but what we've got as a whole today is BEYOND better than Atlanta 2011.
Add in Trouba seeing as he is just a rookie, even Scheifele. Morrissey too as he is in the pipeline. Lowry looks like he could be a 3rd line forward, maybe 2nd line complimentary player (tho i doubt it). Most say O'Dell has 3rd line scoring potential. Lipon likely just a checking line forward. Kosmachuk has top 6-9 potential. Lodge top 6-9 potential. Comrie looks like a solid goaltender prospect. Petan has top end offensive skill by the looks of it, perhaps a top 6 forward projection wise. Etc.
Even in 2011 my opinion is/was Machacek, Maxwell, Cormier, Klingberg, Kulda were bottom end prospects. I never believed in any of them to amount to much. Mostly AHL'ers here.
In terms of a system, prospects, potential, estimates and projections given what we know today, this system as a whole is leaps and bounds better than the one that presented itself in 2011.
Compare it to others around the league, it's not to shabby. Some may make it, others clearly will not, thats just how it goes.
Which comparaison is not apt.
Lipon v Machacek = Both 3rd round picks who projected to gritty 3rd line guys with some offensive potential. Machacek had 3 straight 20 goal AHL seasons. Lipon is currently on pace for 11 goals, 31pts in rookie AHL season (23g, 48pts for Mach). What's difference? If anything Machacek was a higher potential player as the "C" on a Mem Cup team.
Kichton v Postma = Basically clones. These has been shown several times, they have almost identical developement (Kichton this year is same age as Postma 2nd year in AHL)
Lowry v Cormier = Cormier was a 2nd v Lowry's 3rd. Cormier was the captain of Team Canada WJC, Lowry never made it. Both big strong twoway centres, Lowry showed more offense in 19 year old year. Real close though.
Kosmachuk v O'Dell = Both scoring players in junior game. Both have slight question marks with skating. Both are considered top 9 or bust players in an offensive role. Similiar stats all the way through.
Comrie v Pasquale = Pasquale got better every year in junior, well regarded goalie coming out junior. Comrie still appears to have the advantage with what seems to be higher potential, but in 2011 Pasquale for sure had legit starter potnetial.
Petan v Burmistrov = Both smaller prolific scoring players with unreal hands. Burmistrov in 2011 much higher regarded than Petan 2013 though.
Kostalek v Kulda = Both smooth skating positioning first pass defensive defensemen. Both projected to be safe bottom pairing defensemen with perhaps middle pairing potential as safe players.
Lodge v Telegin = Both are good junior scoring players. Not much known past that.
All are pretty much equivalent. We still have a few of the 2011 players though. And added a few other players like Morrissey, Trouba. It's better. It's not like it's miles better, we won't know that until we start seeing some results of it.
But really the Thrashers would have added those top picks anyways right? People like to talk about how much better we are doing than the Thrashers. I am not seeing it by any means.