After watching the WJC does anybody else think Tavares is severly over-rated? He will be a PP specialist in the NHL and from a 1rst ov pick i want more. Hodgson even though he is a year older was head and shoulders better and got severly jobbed by the media in regards to recognition. Kane also really turned my head this kid is a player and if I'm picking #1 I'd be looking at moving back and grabbing him. Hedman didn't deliver what I thought he would either but I can see him being a guy who after 4 or 5 years in Sweden does become the next big thing but that is a big gamble to be taking at #1.
I think Tavares is a stud who in the mold of a Joe Thornton with his puck possesion skills and size along the wall.. he is alot better finisher tho in tight than thornton. but thornton a better passer but they have similar skating and ability to keep puck away from defenders by using their hips and ass to create the seperation in the offensive zone while still holding possesion of the puck..
I think that JT should go number one and will go number one..
Hodson-Eberle-Teubert-Hickey all impressed me throughout the tourny aswell..
Don't get me wrong, if we were to re-draft and Tavares was available, I wouldn't be taking him before Crosby, Malkin, Ovechkin and many others, but he is the real deal. He will go number one in the draft and will put up 65+ points in his rookie season.
Kirk, did Hickey really impress you, or did you just acquire him from Florida? This tournament was a chance for Hickey to really step it up and in my opinion he did not... Hickey is going to be a bust for a #4 overall draft pick. He'll be a no. 3-6 d-man at best...
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2007-08 - missed playoffs (29th overall) 2008-09 - missed playoffs (26th overall) 2009-10 - 7th place in Western Conference (99 pts), Conference Semi-Finals 2010-11 - missed playoffs (19th overall) 2011-12
Hickey had a terrible tournament and would be one of the first guys I cut if I were re-making the team. He should get a shorter stick, a brain, and a shot to go with his small frame. All Hickey can do is skate.
Kind of suprised nobody else seen huge holes in Tavares game. No chance he is even as close to Thornton down low. He does have great hands and can score in tight but that for a first OV pick I want more than a guy who dominates on the PP. I'd honestly trade back and take Kane if I were holding the 1rst OV pick. He really impressed me and will be what Hodgson was in this years tournament.....Canada's best player.
My predicition for Tavares is a 35 35 guy for most of his career. Not a bad player but not the great things people are expecting of him.
hodson is a fhl scare IMO, i think he will be similar to chris drury.. hodson will be someone who is a very very key player if and when he is in playoffs with canucks(nhl) as he is a clutch guy so far (wjc, etc) who is very good in every aspect of his game but their isnt a "great" skill i think he has.. except that he's clutch which for nhl is huge, but in fhl playoffs nhl dont matter..
as for hickey from everything i read (negative articles) he was going to be a complete bust and non nhl-er,, their are some articles that praise him but still alot of negative ones,, but getting to see him he reminds me of another WHL D-man who was picked very high nhl and to where he was picked is a bust "BRAD STUART" former third overall guy.. i think hickey will be similar but a lil better skater, and not such a big hitter... i am a big stuart fan so i i like what he is in nhl 21 min a night good nhl d-man big enough to play against other teams top line PF's.. he might not be offensive at all now (due to chances as det usually has an ok PP so he isnt used their much).. but he is great to have as a number 3 d-man on almost any nhl team.
Tavares imo is a mix of Ryan Smyth (hand eye in front of cage tipping and gathering rebounds and screening goalie etc etc.) and Thornton's puck possesion in offensive zone and skating in general..
i honestly think.. in general... this team canada got the job done... but i think this could be one of the worst team canada's when it comes to players making it to the nhl level... i think only a group of 7 or 8 guys come out of this with nhl careers and good careers not no one year stints...
does anyone wonder how della rovere made the team lol.... he was worse than jordan tootoo.....
but i guess i can only speak now and wait for the next 3-5 yrs to see if my prediction was right
you can argue that the team is one of the weakest, but keep in mind there are 8 eligible players for canada currently in the NHL... nearly half a squad that could have been in the world juniors...
i'm still not sold on tavares myself, mainly due to all the press he was getting as a 15 year old... although 12 goals in 11 games is great, i see him around toews level of production if he's surrounded by a good team...
really impressed with hodgson in the tourney, looked better than pretty much any player out there for the majority of the time... canucks got themselves a great young player there... would like to see him make the pro team next year...
Tavares imo is a mix of Ryan Smyth (hand eye in front of cage tipping and gathering rebounds and screening goalie etc etc.) and Thornton's puck possesion in offensive zone and skating in general..
