alexander daigle

[theman19 47]

I was going through some old hockey cards and they had Daigle's junior card, talking about all his records in qmjl. The way the card was worded it gave me the general feeling that most people had him labeled a guy who would break Gretzky's records. i know the story, about how he had zero work ethic and was just another example of how talented a player could be and never quite make it.

I guess what i'm getting at is why would you have that much talent and still not make it. What clicks in a players head to have an unbelievable hockey career up to the nhl level and then,..nothing.

[Kp-Wings 3]

One of the things that triggered the 1994-1995 lockout was the huge contract Ottawa threw at Daigle. Being that Daigle was also only a rookie made it that much worse.

He almost got himself back to respectability with Minnesota in 2003-2004, but fell back to his same ways last year and is now playing in Europe. Reading past and even recent nterviews with Daigle showed that he had almost no or very little desire to play hockey. According to some sources, he wanted to become an actor, which is why he retired for a brief period after the 1999-2000 season to persue it. It didn't work out, so he attempted a comeback, and now he is gone from the NHL again.

[eva unit zero 271]

Just for the record...

Daigle has played 200 more games and scored about 200 more points than Dan Cleary.

So to say he 'didn't make it' is misrepresentative.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

nevermind

Edited March 25, 2007 by WhiteLightning91

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I was going through some old hockey cards and they had Daigle's junior card, talking about all his records in qmjl. The way the card was worded it gave me the general feeling that most people had him labeled a guy who would break Gretzky's records. i know the story, about how he had zero work ethic and was just another example of how talented a player could be and never quite make it.

I guess what i'm getting at is why would you have that much talent and still not make it. What clicks in a players head to have an unbelievable hockey career up to the nhl level and then,..nothing.

I think sometimes with the most gifted athletes, they've had things come so easily to them for so long at the lower levels of the sport, and had so many people sucking up to them for so long, that they never really had to develop a strong work ethic. They didn't need it to succeed and no one demanded it of them.

Then when their natural talent alone doesn't carry them to the top, they have no foundation to fall back on. It's no coincidence that the marginal players are often the ones with the most hussle and hardest workers game in and game out. That's probably how they got where they are.

Granted, the great players are the ones who have that natural talent and still bust their ass to be the best.

Edited March 25, 2007 by haroldsnepsts

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

Just for the record...

Daigle has played 200 more games and scored about 200 more points than Dan Cleary.

So to say he 'didn't make it' is misrepresentative.

First, Cleary wasn't touted to be "the next big thing", second- we'll see where Cleary is in 200 more games.

[theman19 47]

Just for the record...

Daigle has played 200 more games and scored about 200 more points than Dan Cleary.

So to say he 'didn't make it' is misrepresentative.

i realize you don't know me personally, and i didn't represent it that way. But i know that.

But he didn't make it, he was the next great hockey player, he was the chosen one. The man who'd shatter all the records and be the guy we would say "gretzky was great, so was howe, but Daigle,..he was something" and he just flat out wasnt.

First, Cleary wasn't touted to be "the next big thing", second- we'll see where Cleary is in 200 more games.

i know alot of people don't know cleary's history, but he really was touted like that. Not as much as Daigle but he was the blackhawks first pick in i believe the 98 draft i'm to lazy to go check,..someone will correct me if i'm wrong and he was supposed to be a highly gifted offensive specialist,..well he totally floundered, and now he's a highly touted work a holic the absoutly opposite of daigle.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

First, Cleary wasn't touted to be "the next big thing", second- we'll see where Cleary is in 200 more games.

if you think cleary is gonna go a point per game for the next 200 games you're nuts.

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

if you think cleary is gonna go a point per game for the next 200 games you're nuts.

Um, I didn't say that he would. I can guarantee that Cleary won't be 200 pts behind "The Next Big Thing" by the time he's played equal games, though. That would classify Daigle as a BUST.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

But he didn't make it, he was the next great hockey player, he was the chosen one. The man who'd shatter all the records and be the guy we would say "gretzky was great, so was howe, but Daigle,..he was something" and he just flat out wasnt.

i know alot of people don't know cleary's history, but he really was touted like that. Not as much as Daigle but he was the blackhawks first pick in i believe the 98 draft i'm to lazy to go check,..someone will correct me if i'm wrong and he was supposed to be a highly gifted offensive specialist,..well he totally floundered, and now he's a highly touted work a holic the absoutly opposite of daigle.

Cleary had a few great years in the OHL, then a crappy last year there before he was drafted midway through the first round by the Hawks. He was a disappointment for sure, but he didn't have the expectations that Daigle did.

Daigle was drafted first overall and expected to be a franchise player.

[eva unit zero 271]

Cleary had a few great years in the OHL, then a crappy last year there before he was drafted midway through the first round by the Hawks. He was a disappointment for sure, but he didn't have the expectations that Daigle did.

Daigle was drafted first overall and expected to be a franchise player.

The expectations of Cleary were to be a speedy scorer who produced 30-40 goals and 100 points.

The expectations of Daigle were to be a top notch point producer who would ut up 60 goals and 150 points.

I would say Daigle came closer to meeting those expectations than Cleary.

[Kp-Wings 3]

The expectations of Cleary were to be a speedy scorer who produced 30-40 goals and 100 points.

The expectations of Daigle were to be a top notch point producer who would ut up 60 goals and 150 points.

I would say Daigle came closer to meeting those expectations than Cleary.

It's a tough competition. Who ended up being the biggest bust.

Considering Daigle highest point totals were 100 off from what was expected of him, while Clearys were more in the 75 to 80 points away from getting what was expected to him.

That being said, Daigle was indeed the bigger bust.

[eva unit zero 271]

It's a tough competition. Who ended up being the biggest bust.

Considering Daigle highest point totals were 100 off from what was expected of him, while Clearys were more in the 75 to 80 points away from getting what was expected to him.

That being said, Daigle was indeed the bigger bust.

Daigle was expected to povide 50% more offense.

He provided that,at the very least.

[WingMachine91 0]

who drafted daigle? and who went after him in the draft?

[Kp-Wings 3]

who drafted daigle? and who went after him in the draft?

Ottawa Senators

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Just for the record...

Daigle has played 200 more games and scored about 200 more points than Dan Cleary.

So to say he 'didn't make it' is misrepresentative.

You couldve brought up alot more players that were busts , but you chose a Red Wing , having a great year , who is a fan favorite. Classy.

Daigle was touted more highly then Lindros , and dissapointed way worse then Lindros.

You want to compare Daigle to somone , how about Pat Faloon , 2nd or 3rd overall by the NYI , never did a freakin thing

Edited March 25, 2007 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[Kp-Wings 3]

You want to compare Daigle to somone , how about Pat Faloon , 2nd or 3rd overall by the NYI , never did a freakin thing

Falloon still had a few decent years in the NHL. His rookie season he scored 25 goals, and had a few 20 goal seasons after that too.

I agree though, there are way better choices to compare as busts than Cleary. At least Cleary has become a solid NHL player. Take a look at these three, all drafted #4 overall in their respected drafts.

Pavel Brendl: 78 career games, 22 career points.

Jason Bonsignore: 79 career games, 16 career points.

Alex Volchekov: 2 career games, 0 career points.

As I already stated, these are much better choices to consider as a bust or compare to Daigle than Cleary. There are plenty of others I imagine too.

[JeeSpot82 10]

You couldve brought up alot more players that were busts , but you chose a Red Wing , having a great year , who is a fan favorite. Classy.

Daigle was touted more highly then Lindros , and dissapointed way worse then Lindros.

You want to compare Daigle to somone , how about Pat Faloon , 2nd or 3rd overall by the NYI , never did a freakin thing

Pat Falloon was drafted 2nd overall by the Sharks, not Islanders, in the 1991 Draft - immediately after Lindros. And one before Scott Niedermayer if memory serves correct.

[theman19 47]

i'm totally aware of when, by who, and what was expected of daigle, therein i started the topic and did some research,...my point in all this is why does daigle have high expectation and plays like crap, but say,.....sidney crosby has same expectation (a little less believe it or not) and does in fact not play like crap.

[Lilja 0]

Its easy to sit here and judge, say that Daigle was a moron not to work harder. But I think alot of people dont understand how much the players at elite level have had to sacrifice to get where they are.

[eva unit zero 271]

You couldve brought up alot more players that were busts , but you chose a Red Wing , having a great year , who is a fan favorite. Classy.

Daigle was touted more highly then Lindros , and dissapointed way worse then Lindros.

You want to compare Daigle to somone , how about Pat Faloon , 2nd or 3rd overall by the NYI , never did a freakin thing

I brought up Cleary because people on here seem to think that because he had a good first half that he is going to be a 20-30 goal scorer for several more years, rather than the defensive grinder he is.

Saying Falloon, who was a much bigger bust than Daigle, wouldn't have made my point. Cleary was supposed to be an offensive player and never came close, and he's not considered a bust.

Also..Daigle was not more highly touted than Lindros. Lindros was as clear a number oen as Crosby or Ovechkin. There was argument as to whether Daigle was even the best prospect available when he was picked.

Want a bust? Try Ryan Sittler. THERE's a bust. Drafted 7th overall by the Flyers, and never dressed for an NHL game.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Daigle and Cleary were (are) both busts....but Daigle is the obviously the bigger one.

[Systemfel 33]

who drafted daigle? and who went after him in the draft?

Chris Pronger was the #2 pick that year.

[eva unit zero 271]

i'm totally aware of when, by who, and what was expected of daigle, therein i started the topic and did some research,...my point in all this is why does daigle have high expectation and plays like crap, but say,.....sidney crosby has same expectation (a little less believe it or not) and does in fact not play like crap.

Crosby had way more expectations than Daigle.

Daigle was labeled as the next superstar....but Crosby was labeled as the next Gretzky, and the man who would break gretzky's records. Daigle never had that (except by Ottawa).

Crosby also had teammates to work with. As bad as Pittsburgh was, they weren't an expansion team and had some good players to help Crosby adjust.

The only skilled teammate Daigle had was fellow rookie Alexei Yashin. That would be akin to Pittsburgh replacing their first three lines of players with guys who should be on the fourth line, dumping Gonchar, and Crosby and Malkin playing on the same team as rookies. Crosby is better than Daigle ever was, but you have to remember that the highest point total any linemate of Daigle ever had in his CAREER was Randy Cunneyworth's 36 in 1997. Crosby had two linemates break that mark in half-seasons in his rookie year.

A better comparison for Daigle is Vincent Lecavalier. Daigle was the better player for the first four years of their respective careers, and expectations were similar. The difference? After that four year period, Daigle was dumped off as a 'bust' while Vinny thrived with several teammates of comparable or greater skill.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

A better comparison for Daigle is Vincent Lecavalier. Daigle was the better player for the first four years of their respective careers, and expectations were similar. The difference? After that four year period, Daigle was dumped off as a 'bust' while Vinny thrived with several teammates of comparable or greater skill.

Actually no, Daigle wasnt the better player.

First 4 NHL seasons of their career:

Daigle 263gp, 156 pts (or .593pts per game)

Lecavalier- 306gp, 183pts (or .598 pts per game)

Vinny had 81 goals (or .264 per), while Daigle had 67 (or .254 per).

Just sayin'....