Confirmed Signing with Link: [WSH] Brett Leason signs his ELC

[hockeykicker]

Can someone fill me in on why he was such a big steal? Wasn't he an overager in the CHL last year?

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/capitals/capitals-get-second-round-steal-brett-leason

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Had a very average 2nd half to his season. Not even sure if he was PPG from the WJC to the end of the year? Very close if so.

Good value pick, but not the biggest steal of the draft.

 

[Brodeur]

is kinda interesting how no one drafted him in 2017 or 2018

It happens, it doesn't click for some guys immediately. Tanner Pearson was picked in the late 1st in 2012 (his 3rd time through the draft) and has done relatively well compared to some of the other picks in the same area. Viktor Arvidsson was drafted in his 4th year of eligibility; I remember arguing with a guy on the Devils board who insisted it was a bad idea to use a late round pick on Arvidsson since there was "obviously" a reason why he wasn't picked previously.

 

[MaxDummy]

That's valuable, but it's far from a steal in the 2nd round. You can find a lot of those guys in the middle rounds or later, they just are not as developed as a D+2 would be.

I see that as something positive for the Caps. Pretty sure they saw it the same way.

 

[BruinsBtn]

Ah right forgot how much stock people put into the WJC. Well I sincerely hope he turns out better than every other CHL over-ager to join the league.

Like Tanner Pearson?

 

[John Johnson]

Like Tanner Pearson?

I guess? Pearson is ok but he's more of a bottom 6, maybe middle 6 player.

 

[BruinsBtn]

I guess? Pearson is ok but he's more of a bottom 6, maybe middle 6 player.

Look at his draft.

 

[John Johnson]

Look at his draft.

Yeah similar production, so he could turn to be a Tanner Pearson?

 

[Unbiased Fan]

Ah right forgot how much stock people put into the WJC. Well I sincerely hope he turns out better than every other CHL over-ager to join the league.

Mitch Marner was a CHL overager. Well 1 year over but there is many cases of great NHL players that took 2 years after draft year to make the NHL.

 

[John Johnson]

Mitch Marner was a CHL overager. Well 1 year over but there is many cases of great NHL players that took 2 years after draft year to make the NHL.

He was drafted before being an over-ager though wasn't he?

 

[avsfan09]

You are far more likely to be NHL ready if you are older and more mature...yes, his age is a massive contributing factor

Yes but being ready after just one year of development is rare even for people drafted in their first year eligible.

 

[mouser]

I remember when Arizona used a 1st round pick on the most NHL ready 20 year old Viktor Tikhonov. Sometimes it doesn’t work out and we discover in hindsight the players were already close to their maximum potential rather then having a lot of untapped upside potential remaining.

 

[EXTRAS]

Drake batherson 2.0, and by 2.0 I mean the second liner version of drake, who will be a 1st liner.

 

[Bevans]

Drake batherson 2.0, and by 2.0 I mean the second liner version of drake, who will be a 1st liner.

Batherson was a single over ager. Leason has gone through twice.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

True that he was one of oldest, nevertheless.... just because you are old, doesn't automatically
make you ready, he ACTUALLY is ready. and its not because of his age.

Huh ?

He certainly wasnt ready two years ago. Of course its because of his age.

That said, the right pick for the Capitals. They are in a winning mode now.

 

[Unbiased Fan]

He was drafted before being an over-ager though wasn't he?

Yes but some great players go undrafted in general

 

[discobob]

I remember when Arizona used a 1st round pick on the most NHL ready 20 year old Viktor Tikhonov. Sometimes it doesn’t work out and we discover in hindsight the players were already close to their maximum potential rather then having a lot of untapped upside potential remaining.

Tikhonov didn't work out, but your point about development is irrelevant to a player being an over-ager. The Caps likely drafted Leason based on his development as compared to other players his age (most of who had been drafted).

The idea of hitting your development ceiling has nothing to do with the age you are drafted.

 

[txpd]

I am not sure what the issue is here. College players go from off the radar entirely as freshman to desirable as juniors to bidding war as seniors. Bloomers bloom when they bloom. Early, late or in between.

 

[Bevans]

I am not sure what the issue is here. College players go from off the radar entirely as freshman to desirable as juniors to bidding war as seniors. Bloomers bloom when they bloom. Early, late or in between.

College players are:

1. Free assets
2. Playing in an older league.

Picking up a 22 year old,who is playing well against 18-22 year olds, for the cost of the contract is very different than paying a 2nd round pick, for a 6'5 20 year old, doing pretty well against 15-20 year olds.

 

[txpd]

College players are:

1. Free assets
2. Playing in an older league.

Picking up a 22 year old,who is playing well against 18-22 year olds, for the cost of the contract is very different than paying a 2nd round pick, for a 6'5 20 year old, doing pretty well against 15-20 year olds.

Is it really? The idea is to get the players you need however, you can get them. As most draft picks are not NHL players and desirable ufa college players are hard to get, using a draft pick on a player you know will play is a no brainer. Imagine using a draft pick on a player who chooses not to sign, goes ufa and is an nhl player.

 

[Bevans]

Is it really? The idea is to get the players you need however, you can get them. As most draft picks are not NHL players and desirable ufa college players are hard to get, using a draft pick on a player you know will play is a no brainer. Imagine using a draft pick on a player who chooses not to sign, goes ufa and is an nhl player.

I don't know what you're disagreeing with? My premise that a 2nd round pick is more of an asset than signing a player for free?

 

[txpd]

I don't know what you're disagreeing with? My premise that a 2nd round pick is more of an asset than signing a player for free?

Disagreeing that's it's not a good use of the pick. Yea free is better unless another team gets the player.

 

[Bevans]

Disagreeing that's it's not a good use of the pick. Yea free is better unless another team gets the player.

I didn't say it was necessarily a bad use of the pick. I was explaining why getting a college player for free is not the same as drafting a double overager in the 2nd round.

 

[bukwas]

I always hope the boys from the dub make it big but for some reason my hopes for Leason exceed the norm.
Show em Brett.

 

[discobob]

College players are:

1. Free assets
2. Playing in an older league.

Picking up a 22 year old,who is playing well against 18-22 year olds, for the cost of the contract is very different than paying a 2nd round pick, for a 6'5 20 year old, doing pretty well against 15-20 year olds.

Yes, but there are usually multiple teams gunning for college free agents, and there is a minimal chance they'll sign with your team. So yes, if you can land them, do it. That says nothing about the value of using a pick on an over ager. Some players develop later, its quite common.

Leason held his own on the Canada U20 roster with same age highly drafted players - that's a pretty good sign, and well worth a 2nd round risk.