Jovanovski = Norris said:
It is pertinent to track the development of the class of 2003 if Flamber is to herald it as the deepest draft ever. The class of 2003 started off strong but some of the members of the top 10 never really stayed on track as guys like Michalek and Horton succumbed to serious injuries, Coburn and Kostitsyn never really developed accordingly, and guys like Fleury were overwhelmed.
While the class of 2005 didn't really have the impressive stats the class of 2003 did in their draft year, there are several guys with intriuging potentials and the aura and mystique of their future upsides builds by the minute.
Since being drafted, guy like Pouliot, Johnson and Bourdon has surprised immediately. Guys like Lee, Ryan, Price, Pouliot and Johnson have potentials that simply shoots through the roof. Crosby is supposed to be an immediate star and Brule is also seen as a lock for a top 6 NHL spot. Guys like Skille and Setoguchi are very solid too. Even a young star like Anze Kopitar, who would normally go top 5 in any other draft, fell out of the top 10.
I definitely think the top 10 in the class of 2003 and class of 2005 are comparable. Give them each a couple more years and I think the top 10 from both classes will be similar in impact.
They aren't even close. Only two years after the 2003 draft here is what some prospects are doing this year.
MA Fleury - 3 games played
Eric Staal - 8 points in 5 games
Nathan Horton - 4 points in 6 games
Nikolai Zherdev - 3 points in 6 games
Tomas Vanek - 4 points in 6 games
Milan Michalek - 5 points in 5 games
Ryan Sutter - 3 points in 5 games
Braydon Coburn - 1 point in 6 games
Dion Phaneuf - 3 points in 6 games
Kostitsyn - 0 games
Jeff Carter - 1 point in 5 games
Dustin Brown - 3 points in 6 games
Brent Seabrook - 5 points in 6 games
Robert Nillson - 1 point in 5 games
Zach Parise - 3 points in 5 games
Ryan Getzlaf - 1 point in 5 games
Brent Burns - 2 points in 6 games
Ryan Kesler - 1 point in 6 games
Mike Richards - 5 points in 5 games
Corey Perry - 4 points in 5 games
This is unheard of...that doesn't include Fritsche and Bergeron in the 2nd.