You are incredibly misinformed. Not just about MCI, but about the draft in central.
If you can get a second pair defenseman with the #10 pick, it's not a bust, it's a slam dunk. Of the 10 players drafted at #10 before MCI, only one (!) became a top-6F/top-4D. Seven aren't in the NHL. this is true for #9 or #11 as well.
But fans only remember when someone succeeds, not the overwhelming majority that fails. Then they ask, "why did we not get Player X?"
The sitting staff isn't there to listen to Central Scouting. On average, they do a far superior job. Stepan also was an off the board pick. Even if the player doesn't turn out to be the best of anyone they could've chosen, it is no reason to whine.
And once more: getting a top-4 defenseman at #10 is a huge accomplished. To expect a start and whine otherwise only displays your lack of knowledge.
well he is not a top 4 dman yet, so lets not act like that is a sure thing. His ceiling is probably top 4. Fowler could be a #1. Tarasenko, Schwartz, Kuznetsov could be 1st liners. I am not saying he is a bust, I just think there were better players available.
Sorry but "Will Dylan McIlrath be one of the worst picks in recent Rangers history" screams you think he's busting to me.
That's nice. He's 21. Brandon Gormley who was #5 ranked NA skater I believe is in the same position, not in the NHL.
Kuznetzov might never come to the NHL.
Fowler was trending backwards for the last two years until this year.
In 2017 if he's still in the AHL the term bust can be tossed around,
This just proves why drafting for need and not talent in the 1st round is a bad idea.
Hugh Jessiman wasn't that long ago.
Neither was Montoya.
Having said that, if we all just say 'yes' does it mean that this topic will stop being brought up?
I did not say he will be just a goon.
Actually, you did say the Rangers drafted "essentially a goon."
Well they did. I don't think he will be just a goon. I think he could be a #4 tough dman.
Hindsight bias makes it harder, but you know there must have been a reason Fowler/Tarasenko fell so low? There's gotta be a reason these obvious picks fell to outside the top 10, and how the Blues and Ducks committed absolute robbery.
Fowler's career trajectory would have been a lot different if he had been drafted by the Rangers instead of the Ducks. He would have never made the Rangers as an 18 year old. He most probably would have gone back to juniors (like Marc Staal did) for the next two years and he would most likely be behind both Staal and McDonagh even today. The Ducks were short on d-men the season he was drafted. It was a major reason why he played in the NHL as an 18 year old. Sometimes opportunity has a lot to do with what happens with a player. There were openings in Duck land that just didn't exit in Rangers land. Playing for Torts would have been another deal. Fowler's defensive issues and soft play would more than probably have made it difficult for him.
Sure, the reason is that most GM's in this league are like Glen Sather and are afraid of players with the label "offensive defenseman" or "highly talented European forward." They're much more comfortable with guys like Hugh Jessiman and Dylan McIlrath.
You could argue that he would have been just as well served by putting in extra time in the AHL. I agree with your point about Torts though. He also wouldn't have been playing the point on the PP with guys like Perry, Getzlaf and Selanne.