But that's what I don't understand...this is right where he was supposed to go, and with the exception of a handful of other guys here it looks like his upside is the same. You're not getting a top pair defender at 50 and your not getting a top line forward. Ginning has top 4 upside it would appear. Definitely guys out there that I would have preferred but it isn't like Ginning's top is 6/7. That might be where he winds up, for sure, but that is not his ceiling.
This very team found one. Look around the league. Gostisbehere, Parayko, Klingberg, Letang, Byfuglien, Manson, Ekholm, Slavvin, Keith, Muzzin all picked after pick 50. Some of those guys were even passed over the first time they were eligible. It's hard but don't tell me you can't find top pair defensemen past the 50th pick.
He’s not a puck mover so it seems most don’t think he will ever be a top 4. I agree it’s easier to teach a puck mover defense then it is to teach puck skills to someone. I would much rather them drafted a forward but the organization wanted defense.
Well perhaps that should have been phrased differently, but you shouldn't EXPECT to get a top liner or top pair defender so drafting a guy that doesn't have that upside isn't something to get upset about. Certainly possible. You can get a HOFer that goes undrafted and yes you CAN get a top liner or top pair guy at 50, but you should not EXPECT to do so. If we are drafting just on potential a guy like Merkley would be high on everyone's list. It isn't just about looking at potential and saying "PLAYER X looks like a top liner/top pair...let's get him!" You have to look at the likelihood of making it, the floor of the player, etc. Again, there were definitely guys I would have preferred so I understand that idea, but to act like this is some garbage pick is just nuts. Not the best pick in the world but I honestly don't understand the negativity.
And that's fair and that's fine. If he turns into a bottom pair defender that plays the PK, this pick will look like a good pick. Anything more is gravy. Anything worse is a bummer, especially if someone like Thomas or Groulx lights it up. That's the draft though. Educated guessing.
Yes, just thought it was interesting that CSB was so high on him. I absolutely understand the teams, and their fans, need to temper expecations based on their rankings.
Expect it? No, but you shouldn't abandon looking for the qualities that those guys [that turned into top pairings guys] possessed- skill and skating. If you miss, you miss. As long as the process is sound you will come out ahead in the long run. Maybe Ginning's development takes some unforeseen turn for the better, but I can't realistically count on that. He's a January birthday. His frame while big, is close to maxed out so I don't see much physical projection that could unlock another level. I'm not going to predict that this guy will never play in the NHL because this organization and particularly the coach prefers players with this guy's skillset, but I believe the phrase "safe is death" applies here.
Hm. While not Bouwmeester-like perfection, I thought in that video Ginning moved pretty darn well for a freshly turned 18 year old of his size playing on the big ice surface in Sweden’s top pro league.
He's fine in a straight line (good even?) but yeah short area quickness isn't his forte. He's clumsy. He didn't really touch the puck in the video, but when he tries to skate with it (exists/entries) he slows up considerably. Not sure how that's going to look when he loses 15 feet of real estate in NA. But the skating doesn't bother me much. That can improve. Watch those videos and see where ~65-70% of the game is being played when he is on the ice. Scoring chances were a landslide in the opponents favor (he had one of his own though). Just doesn't strike me as a quick thinker out there. Positionally all over the place. Doesn't work to give his partner an outlet. He just skates straight up the ice looking to join the rush that hasn't started. How many passes did he complete? Any beyond his own red line?
It’ll probably end up being one of the forwards that had a lot more potential.
