Comments on: Another Solid Draft Hauling in Adherence with the Blueprint

By: usiel

usiel — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:09:10 +0000

Thought that GMGM’s candid statement on the lack of late round success was pretty honest. Mahoney & Co much better with early picks so thats fine. IMO it would be far more annoying to have a team that sucked with the higher picks but found a player with a late pick, heh.
I believe it was from the Vogel pod cast draft preview the monday before the draft but the question was asked how man draftees need to be NHLers to quantify as a success. The answer is 3 player out of two drafts combined which is a good way at evuating draft success, IMO.
As far as the Pens they traded their picks for a run at the Cup so I can’t give them too much crap.
Getzlaf slid down in 2003 so he scared me at the time. As with any time a player starts to slide there are those that think it is good pick and others too much of a gamble so pass. Seems like an individual personality perspective honestly.
Fehr followed up his draft with two phenominal years for Brandon and a very good rookie AHL year so he was looking like a very good pick. Of course that injury that knocked of a year of development is making some ready to throw him under the bus this past year even after he came back. Knee jerk reaction. Though I do think this is a gigantically important year for Fehr coming up. Hoping he is having a great off season and comes into camp in good and healthy shape. How great it will be for the Capitals if he takes that 2nd line RW position.

By: pepper

pepper — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:22:47 +0000

Agreed. Signing a Mathieu Perreault (#177) , Andrew Gordon (#197) and Travis Morin (#263) is huge.

By: pucksandbooks

pucksandbooks — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:27:47 +0000

Other than the Wings, no team in the NHL has any business inking 6th-9th rounders to pro contracts, beyond once in ablue moon. That the Caps’ haven’t yet played in the NHL is irrelevant to me. They’re finnding pros deep in the draft in recent years, and that’s just damn healthy for the organization. Some of those guys like Andrew Gordon are going to play, too. You need to hit on your first rounders for sure, and a smattering of your seconds and thirds, but after that, from my vantage, all signings are gravy.
The Fehr pick looked brilliant the first two years after it was made — he potted over 100 goals in the W then — and I’m reluctant to pan it just yet. He needs a healthy -08-’09 with about 20 goals to get his career righted.

By: The Deuce

The Deuce — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:25:52 +0000

I know. But we did reach for him. Getzlaf was rated higher by all the scouting services. And if you look at that draft class and the NHL games played by the first rounders, you have to label Fehr a bust until he proves otherwise. And this is the year he has to prove otherwise.

By: The Editor

The Editor — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:23:55 +0000

Good post! This has been linked at The DC Feed!

By: Capitals Draft Recap : The DC Feed

Capitals Draft Recap : The DC Feed — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:22:37 +0000

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:26:40 +0000

Looking back, it’s easy to criticize Fehr over Getzlaf and Richards, but Fehr was an uninjured (key) 17-year old sniper. Getzlaf was definitely on the radar as I recall; Richards less so. The pick was not outlandish or ill-informed when we made it five years ago.

By: The Deuce

The Deuce — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:01:01 +0000

Did we really take Eric Fehr over Ryan Getlaf, Mike Richards, and Corey Perry in 2003? How did that happen?!

By: The Peerless

The Peerless — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:54:45 +0000

Matt Pettinger.
The lowest drafed Cap who played as many as 50 games with the club…a #43 overall (2nd round) pick.
While the Caps’ sub-25 year old group looks good on paper, I would characterize my state of mind with respect to recent drafts as more “hopeful” than “optimistic.”
Thus far, they’ve done it with first rounders, and that has been a product of the selloff. That well is about dry.
When the Caps have a sub-50 overall pick playing at least semi-regular minutes, I’ll be convinced that scouting has improved.
Until then…

By: Mark Tucker

Mark Tucker — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:36:07 +0000

“They‚Äôve made their share of mistakes…”
Paging Mr. Pokuluk, the Stingray express is about to leave the station.