The Official 2011 Tank Nation thread

Falling out of the top 3 would be a little tough to swallow for sure. The bonus in all of this is Col and Edm play each other 2 more times, so there is 4 points The Sens will have to get no matter what.

The good thing is, if they finsih 3rd the chances of them drafting 3rd or better are around 70%.

It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

marakh wrote:It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

If Landeskog, RNH, and Larsson are gone, it HAS to be Sean Couturier. Everybody is massively underrating this guy.

Big Ev wrote:

marakh wrote:It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

If Landeskog, RNH, and Larsson are gone, it HAS to be Sean Couturier. Everybody is massively underrating this guy.

I'm still not convinced that Murray and co. have ruled him out of the top 3, the guy is still a sick prospect. Don't really understand all the hate, I'd be happy to have him.

marakh wrote:It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

I think the same could be said for Couturier. I've made my stance on him pretty clear but I don't think he's a top 5 guy in this draft. He dominated The Q as a 16, 17 year old but he really didn't make all that much noise at the WJC either. I don't think that is a tourny where you can discount a 17 year old for no performing as it is a 19 year olds tourny, but he didn't turn any heads either. It's not like you said "this guy is legit". That in itself hurt his draft status. Also the fact Huberdeau is considered by some the better prospect in The Q right now.

We'll see what happens going forward, perhaps maybe Murray can turn 7 draft picks in the top 63 into 2 draft picks in the top 10. Wierder things have happened.

Big Ev wrote:

marakh wrote:It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

If Landeskog, RNH, and Larsson are gone, it HAS to be Sean Couturier. Everybody is massively underrating this guy.

Or you are massively overrating him.

SDH89 wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

marakh wrote:It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

If Landeskog, RNH, and Larsson are gone, it HAS to be Sean Couturier. Everybody is massively underrating this guy.

I'm still not convinced that Murray and co. have ruled him out of the top 3, the guy is still a sick prospect. Don't really understand all the hate, I'd be happy to have him.

He's domianted a league where very few draft picks come out and actually really turn into good to great NHLers. Bergeron is the last really good one... he isn't even considered by some to be the best prospect in The Q right now.

NEELY wrote:

SDH89 wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

marakh wrote:It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

If Landeskog, RNH, and Larsson are gone, it HAS to be Sean Couturier. Everybody is massively underrating this guy.

I'm still not convinced that Murray and co. have ruled him out of the top 3, the guy is still a sick prospect. Don't really understand all the hate, I'd be happy to have him.

He's domianted a league where very few draft picks come out and actually really turn into good to great NHLers. Bergeron is the last really good one... he isn't even considered by some to be the best prospect in The Q right now.

I've heard that as well, and I know some are saying Huberdeau is better, but I just think this may be one of the cases where a guy is analyzed TOO much and people are trying to rip him to shreds. Personally, I think his poor WJC was overblown, I thought he actually played decently for a 17 year old, considering it's generally an 18 and 18 yo tourny. I do agree though, it's a slight risk him coming from the Q, hard to gage.

Ryan Strome is ranked 19th by NHL central Scoutnig (as of January). Couturier is 2nd.

EJ Mcguire:

"His projected dominance from last year's under-age performance has not rocketed up to expectations for some scouts," McGuire said. "Don't forget now, we're talking about the No. 2 guy overall. We probably expected Couturier to put on more weight and we're attributing it -- although none of us have our MD degree -- to maybe an after-effect of the mononucleosis he dealt with in August and maybe fatigue in playing a ton of hockey in a short period of time."

Still, McGuire considers Couturier a "polished all-round player who has gained another notch of maturity and poise." Most importantly, Couturier might turn out to be a future Selke Trophy candidate as his ability in the defensive zone is impressive.

"He's still a little lean," McGuire said of Couturier. "He was predicted to be this monster power forward, of a Lindros ilk, and he isn't ... yet. But, if in a year or two he is, God bless the team that drafts him, whether it is No. 1, 2, 3 or 6."

Couturier was the only draft-eligible player who survived selection camp to earn a place on Canada's world junior team roster last month. He excelled in three pre-tournament exhibition games, scoring twice while collecting four assists on a line with Zack Kassian and Marcus Foligno, two of the biggest players on the ice.

"Mononucleosis is one of those things that the expert medical scouts say it takes a full year to get back from that," McGuire said. "Well, if he falls all the way to No. 6, and somebody grabs him and he does recover more fully from his draft year mononucleosis -- I mean, they may have the best player in the draft at No. 6."

Dave Cameron:

"When you're around a guy like that and you watch him, not only in games, but also in practices ... you realize what a great skill set that he has, in terms of vision, in terms of being a step ahead of the play," said Dave Cameron, the head coach of the Canadian junior team. "You can see why he's ranked to go extremely high."

SDH89 wrote:

NEELY wrote:

SDH89 wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

marakh wrote:It's important to be careful not to get carried away by the hype behind some players. Strome is not too popular because he had an average year last year and was undersized. But the guy added 20 lbs in the summer and started dominating. Also, he's 8 months younger than Landeskog...

If Landeskog, RNH, and Larsson are gone, it HAS to be Sean Couturier. Everybody is massively underrating this guy.

I'm still not convinced that Murray and co. have ruled him out of the top 3, the guy is still a sick prospect. Don't really understand all the hate, I'd be happy to have him.

He's domianted a league where very few draft picks come out and actually really turn into good to great NHLers. Bergeron is the last really good one... he isn't even considered by some to be the best prospect in The Q right now.

I've heard that as well, and I know some are saying Huberdeau is better, but I just think this may be one of the cases where a guy is analyzed TOO much and people are trying to rip him to shreds. Personally, I think his poor WJC was overblown, I thought he actually played decently for a 17 year old, considering it's generally an 18 and 18 yo tourny. I do agree though, it's a slight risk him coming from the Q, hard to gage.

Larsson and Landeskog were in the WJC as well (Landeskog's was obviously short) but they have been looked at just as much and their stock hasn't fallen one bit. There's a reason for that.

There is no way unless it was Sidney Crosby coming out of The Q, I would consider any draft eligable player in that league a top 3 pick. Maybe top 5.

I'm not a fan of Couturier in the least and my opinion is a little bias because I don't like his overall game in terms of a top 5 pick. I have a great dislike for the league and the Quebec development system overall as well. Their players are not as good and a player like Couturier may look a lot better against poor compitition then he would in The WHL or OHL. I'm not dismissing him as a potential franchise forward but what I am saying is there are better and safer options with a top 3 or top 5 pick. You can't make a mistake drafting in the top 5 otherwise you end up being Florida, Columbus, and NYI.

Big Ev wrote:Ryan Strome is ranked 19th by NHL central Scoutnig (as of January). Couturier is 2nd.

EJ Mcguire:

"His projected dominance from last year's under-age performance has not rocketed up to expectations for some scouts," McGuire said. "Don't forget now, we're talking about the No. 2 guy overall. We probably expected Couturier to put on more weight and we're attributing it -- although none of us have our MD degree -- to maybe an after-effect of the mononucleosis he dealt with in August and maybe fatigue in playing a ton of hockey in a short period of time."

Still, McGuire considers Couturier a "polished all-round player who has gained another notch of maturity and poise." Most importantly, Couturier might turn out to be a future Selke Trophy candidate as his ability in the defensive zone is impressive.

"He's still a little lean," McGuire said of Couturier. "He was predicted to be this monster power forward, of a Lindros ilk, and he isn't ... yet. But, if in a year or two he is, God bless the team that drafts him, whether it is No. 1, 2, 3 or 6."

Couturier was the only draft-eligible player who survived selection camp to earn a place on Canada's world junior team roster last month. He excelled in three pre-tournament exhibition games, scoring twice while collecting four assists on a line with Zack Kassian and Marcus Foligno, two of the biggest players on the ice.

"Mononucleosis is one of those things that the expert medical scouts say it takes a full year to get back from that," McGuire said. "Well, if he falls all the way to No. 6, and somebody grabs him and he does recover more fully from his draft year mononucleosis -- I mean, they may have the best player in the draft at No. 6."

Dave Cameron:

"When you're around a guy like that and you watch him, not only in games, but also in practices ... you realize what a great skill set that he has, in terms of vision, in terms of being a step ahead of the play," said Dave Cameron, the head coach of the Canadian junior team. "You can see why he's ranked to go extremely high."

This is my opinion dude, I don't care what others say. What I see and the past history of players drafted from The Q has formed it. If I had a convo or worked for central scouting I would come in and say the same thing to anyone that would listen.

Not sure where that came from (saying I don't care what others think)...all I'm bringing to this thread is the comments of the HEAD of NHL Central Scoutnig, aka one of the best scouts in the World. Just showing his opinion of SC to others on the site.

If Couturier was Francophone and was developed his whole life in Quebec, I would be weary of drafting him. Snice he is frmo New Brunswick and has been a star everywhere he plays, I am not at all weary of picking him. He is a safe and great pick in my opinion.

Big Ev wrote:Not sure where that came from (saying I don't care what others think)...all I'm bringing to this thread is the comments of the HEAD of NHL Central Scoutnig, aka one of the best scouts in the World. Just showing his opinion of SC to others on the site.

If Couturier was Francophone and was developed his whole life in Quebec, I would be weary of drafting him. Snice he is frmo New Brunswick and has been a star everywhere he plays, I am not at all weary of picking him. He is a safe and great pick in my opinion.

Big Ev wrote:Not sure where that came from (saying I don't care what others think)...all I'm bringing to this thread is the comments of the HEAD of NHL Central Scoutnig, aka one of the best scouts in the World. Just showing his opinion of SC to others on the site.

If Couturier was Francophone and was developed his whole life in Quebec, I would be weary of drafting him. Snice he is frmo New Brunswick and has been a star everywhere he plays, I am not at all weary of picking him. He is a safe and great pick in my opinion.

I meant McGuire, not you. I have literally sat at OHL games with a pro scout that used to be my coach many nights in Ottawa. I've picked up a ton as well and that's what I base my opinion on. Quality of competition is a huge factor in a decision to draft a player.

As for Couturier, he still plays against those players that were developed in Quebec. He is obviously better than the majority in the league, but he would be better than everyone if he played Jr C as well. That's the point I am trying to make.

NEELY wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Not sure where that came from (saying I don't care what others think)...all I'm bringing to this thread is the comments of the HEAD of NHL Central Scoutnig, aka one of the best scouts in the World. Just showing his opinion of SC to others on the site.

If Couturier was Francophone and was developed his whole life in Quebec, I would be weary of drafting him. Snice he is frmo New Brunswick and has been a star everywhere he plays, I am not at all weary of picking him. He is a safe and great pick in my opinion.

I meant McGuire, not you. I have literally sat at OHL games with a pro scout that used to be my coach many nights in Ottawa. I've picked up a ton as well and that's what I base my opinion on. Quality of competition is a huge factor in a decision to draft a player.

I know, but I assume they factor that in when they ranked Strom 19th and SC 2nd.

So why aren't we drafting a francophone again?

Big Ev wrote:

NEELY wrote:

Big Ev wrote:Not sure where that came from (saying I don't care what others think)...all I'm bringing to this thread is the comments of the HEAD of NHL Central Scoutnig, aka one of the best scouts in the World. Just showing his opinion of SC to others on the site.

If Couturier was Francophone and was developed his whole life in Quebec, I would be weary of drafting him. Snice he is frmo New Brunswick and has been a star everywhere he plays, I am not at all weary of picking him. He is a safe and great pick in my opinion.

I meant McGuire, not you. I have literally sat at OHL games with a pro scout that used to be my coach many nights in Ottawa. I've picked up a ton as well and that's what I base my opinion on. Quality of competition is a huge factor in a decision to draft a player.

I know, but I assume they factor that in when they ranked Strom 19th and SC 2nd.

Their opinions don't change much. I have found that when scouts have a hard on for someone it doesn't differ for month to month or even year to year. There is a reason why teams like Detroit, Philly, Ottawa (less Muckler's time), NJ, and Nashville draft so well.

SeawaySensFan wrote:So why aren't we drafting a francophone again?

I would draft a francophone no problem, just not out of The Q unless it was a sure bet (at least much more so than an OHL, WHL, SEL player)