ottawah
Registered User
- Jan 7, 2011
- 3,486
- 617
Paul looked like he had a lot of potential as a top six power forward playing either left wing or centre. He looked like he might turn into a Jamie Benn-Lite kind of player. But since then he has struggled to produce and has fallen down the depth chart.
I think that was only among Ottawa fans.
Fans consistently over value their own prospects well beyond what they have potential for. Pauls OHL production was always well behind what is generally needed to succeed in the NHL. Thus I felt his chances of making it always were suspect. People like to say points do not always matter, but the truth is offensive prowess at the CHL level is a very good indicator of other skills, skating, vision, work ethic etc and few forwards that are not putting up 1.25 PPG by draft + 1 have a much lower chance of making it regardless of where they are drafted. Grinders from the OHL do not go on to become grinders in the NHL by and large. Getting points at the CHL level does not mean you can make the NHL, but a lack of points compared to your peers is a sever warning sign. Paul was putting up Cody Ceci like points in the O, and people thought he would make a top 6 player? Thats just very highly unlikely. Yes it does happen at times, but those are extraordinarily rare.
It is why I am still not convinced on Formenton. His OHL production has definitely been quite sub standard for a "top" prospect so far.