Churla going to be missed. We drafted much better with him organizing the draft. He took over in 2017. He ran a good draft.
Started to see it in the bubble with Koktaneimi maturing. He is going to be a good player. Romanov will be shot in the arm this season. Caufield at end of season also. Makes 3 big additions less than a year. Another 3 be coming within next year or two. Norlinder, Guhle, Primeau.
He did better job than other guy. From 2008 to 2016 we drafted poor. Timmins traded up later in first round to get Tinordi. He must been big on him to give up a 2nd to move up 4 slots late in first. Galchenyuk had no work ethic. Leblanc didn't like hockey. Many mistakes.
While Churla does deserve credit, Timmins is the one who truly runs the amateur scouting and drafting. So since 2017, Timmins also deserves credit.
And the reason the team has been drafting better since 2017 is that the organization changed their plan. They went from trading picks for immediate help to moving pieces and banking more draft picks.
Also the "other guy" didn't exactly have many choices for many years.
2008: No 1st round pick. His first pick was at 56th with Kristo.
2009: One 1st round pick (Leblanc) and then picking again in the 3rd round. No 2nd round pick.
2010: One 1st round pick (Tinordi) and his next pick was in the 4th round. No 2nd or 3rd round picks. He got Gallagher in the 5th.
2011: One 1st round pick (Beaulieu) and his next pick was in the 4th round. For the second year in a row, he had no 2nd round pick or 3rd round pick.
2012: Galchenyuk in the 1st, that brought them Domi and now Anderson. Collberg who brought them Vanek in 2014 where they reached the ECF. And Hudon who has been depth.
2013: Lehkonen in the 2nd. Reway in the 4th (unfortunately had health problems but until then, he looked like he was going to be a good one).
2014: Evans in the 7th
2015: Juulsen in the 1st (hope he stays healthy), Vejdemo in the 3rd, who is depth. Simon Bourque in the 6th that although he wasn't the coveted prospect, he was used to acquire Armia.
2016: Sergachev in the 1st. Mete in the 4th.