1st Round Pick (21), Riley Sheahan

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Well, I don't think you can really compare a bunch of average LGW fans to a guy who's goal is to become a pro-athlete and play in the NHL.

Although the amount of NHL players who drink or have drinked a lot at the high school age is much bigger than most people would think. Not saying it's a good thing, but sometimes you have talent and you can "afford" the drinking. Some players have less talent and they need to work even harder.

Haha yes, I agree.

Dislike those type of comments.

[Rivalred 630]

Article from Mlive (a good read), but also states he is a "pass first, shoot second type of player."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/06/red_wings_select_riley_sheahan.html

Edited June 26, 2010 by Rivalred

[newfy 695]

Well, I don't think you can really compare a bunch of average LGW fans to a guy who's goal is to become a pro-athlete and play in the NHL.

Although the amount of NHL players who drink or have drinked a lot at the high school age is much bigger than most people would think. Not saying it's a good thing, but sometimes you have talent and you can "afford" the drinking. Some players have less talent and they need to work even harder.

Because when they are 17 you really expect them to not drink? A kid who I played on a line with last year is playing with the london knights this season, had 44 goals in like 40 games last season and he still drinks. One of my better friends growing up as a kid, lives 3 minutes down the road, plays for the Sarnia Sting, he'll drink and will throw in a lipper at a party. As long as they aren't drinking the night before a game who really cares?

It seems like the same people who throw this guy under the bus for drinking are the same ones who say "Oh Kabanov was just a young kid when he was a dick to his teammates and allt hat will change" I think being a locker room cancer is much worse then drinking, but some people would rather have alocker room cancer then someone who drinks as a kid.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Because when they are 17 you really expect them to not drink? A kid who I played on a line with last year is playing with the london knights this season, had 44 goals in like 40 games last season and he still drinks. One of my better friends growing up as a kid, lives 3 minutes down the road, plays for the Sarnia Sting, he'll drink and will throw in a lipper at a party. As long as they aren't drinking the night before a game who really cares?

It seems like the same people who throw this guy under the bus for drinking are the same ones who say "Oh Kabanov was just a young kid when he was a dick to his teammates and allt hat will change" I think being a locker room cancer is much worse then drinking, but some people would rather have alocker room cancer then someone who drinks as a kid.

Wow, take it easy man. Where did I throw him or anyone else under the bus about drinking? Drinking is not a good thing for sure if you want to become a better player, but a lot of players do it. It's not exactly "so what?" -thing either, but like I said, if you have talent you don't need to work as hard. I'm not saying he isn't working hard either, but if you have lots of talent you can "afford" to drink. Drinking is a bad thing if you do it too much.

But like I said, he probably becomes a good NHL player even if he drinks. If you have basically no talent and you just need to work hard for everything you can't afford drinking if you want to even get to the NHL. Most NHL players have talent, but there are some who wouldn't probably even be in the AHL if they wouldn't have worked like they have.

You really think drinking only hurts if you're doing it the night before game? Also, what is your source for Kabanov being a dick or a locker room cancer?

Edited June 26, 2010 by Finnish Wing

[Zetts 236]

If you have basically no talent and you just need to work hard for everything you can't afford drinking if you want to even get to the NHL.

...

You really think drinking only hurts if you're doing it the night before game?

We're not talking about alcoholism though. He was caught for underage drinking once. And realistically, 99% of the population has boozed while underage (and probably an even higher percent of athletes - i.e. jocks). I have absolutely zero concern on this one.

Besides, one beer would have qualified as underage drinking. We have no clue what the scenario was. It's not like he ended up punching someone at a house party.

Edited June 26, 2010 by Zetts

[redwingfan19 293]

Wow, take it easy man. Where did I throw him or anyone else under the bus about drinking? Drinking is not a good thing for sure if you want to become a better player, but a lot of players do it. It's not exactly "so what?" -thing either, but like I said, if you have talent you don't need to work as hard. I'm not saying he isn't working hard either, but if you have lots of talent you can "afford" to drink. Drinking is a bad thing if you do it too much.

But like I said, he probably becomes a good NHL player even if he drinks. If you have basically no talent and you just need to work hard for everything you can't afford drinking if you want to even get to the NHL. Most NHL players have talent, but there are some who wouldn't probably even be in the AHL if they wouldn't have worked like they have.

You really think drinking only hurts if you're doing it the night before game? Also, what is your source for Kabanov being a dick or a locker room cancer?

that may be one of the dumbest things I have ever read on here.

[Finnish Wing 110]

that may be one of the dumbest things I have ever read on here.

Yet it's a fact. I said not "work as hard". You still need to work hard. It's just the way it goes. More talented guys can get to the NHL with less working than less talented guys.

I know one Antti Niemi for example who weren't supposed to ever be a starter in the FEL, yet he worked hard all the time. Didn't have nearly as much talent as Tuukka Rask or Kari Lehtonen for example but just worked hard. Kari Lehtonen is an example of talent not working as hard. He's still an NHL goalie, but if he had only Niemi-like talent he would've never been even close to getting to the NHL. Tuukka Rask is both talented and hard worker and that's why he could be the best goalie in the World in the future.

So as rough at it sounds, you don't need to work as hard if you have more talent. Also, you don't need to have as much talent if you work hard. Still the stupidest thing you've heard here? This is the LGW after all...

Edited June 26, 2010 by Finnish Wing

[newfy 695]

Wow, take it easy man. Where did I throw him or anyone else under the bus about drinking? Drinking is not a good thing for sure if you want to become a better player, but a lot of players do it. It's not exactly "so what?" -thing either, but like I said, if you have talent you don't need to work as hard. I'm not saying he isn't working hard either, but if you have lots of talent you can "afford" to drink. Drinking is a bad thing if you do it too much.

But like I said, he probably becomes a good NHL player even if he drinks. If you have basically no talent and you just need to work hard for everything you can't afford drinking if you want to even get to the NHL. Most NHL players have talent, but there are some who wouldn't probably even be in the AHL if they wouldn't have worked like they have.

You really think drinking only hurts if you're doing it the night before game? Also, what is your source for Kabanov being a dick or a locker room cancer?

His teammates in Moncton basically kicked him off the team. He was demanding more minutes and threatening to go back to Russia. Monctons team basically said, we'll help pack your bags if you want to leave. Thats a locker room cancer at its finest and the biggest reason I didn't want to draft Kabanov in the first round.

[Nev 1,085]

Because when they are 17 you really expect them to not drink? A kid who I played on a line with last year is playing with the london knights this season, had 44 goals in like 40 games last season and he still drinks. One of my better friends growing up as a kid, lives 3 minutes down the road, plays for the Sarnia Sting, he'll drink and will throw in a lipper at a party. As long as they aren't drinking the night before a game who really cares?

Making it in the pros - in any sport - is a whole different level. If your mate really knuckled down and dedicated his body to hockey who knows what he might achieve. You don't have to be an alcoholic for booze to derail your career, and it can generally reflect upon your off-ice work ethic in general. As Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the greatest coaches ever, in any sport says "Show me the evidence that beer makes you a better player, and I'll let you drink beer". Many a proffesional sportsman has identified the turning point in their career as the moment they stopped boozing and started looking after their bodies.

It just worries me that in Abdelkader, Smith and Sheahan we have 3 players who we hope to be the cornerstone of our franchise in 5 years that have all had booze related off-ice problems.

[Finnish Wing 110]

We're not talking about alcoholism though. He was caught for underage drinking once. And realistically, 99% of the population has boozed while underage (and probably an even higher percent of athletes - i.e. jocks). I have absolutely zero concern on this one.

Besides, one beer would have qualified as underage drinking. We have no clue what the scenario was. It's not like he ended up punching someone at a house party.

I'm not worried at all. I was just using him an example. I don't really know nothing about his drinking particurarly, but I was talking about athletes drinking in general. Most NHL hockey players have been drinking at least a little at that age.

I was just saying you can't really compare us LGWers to a guy who's goal is the NHL.

His teammates in Moncton basically kicked him off the team. He was demanding more minutes and threatening to go back to Russia. Monctons team basically said, we'll help pack your bags if you want to leave. Thats a locker room cancer at its finest and the biggest reason I didn't want to draft Kabanov in the first round.

I asked a source, but whatever...

[newfy 695]

Making it in the pros - in any sport - is a whole different level. If your mate really knuckled down and dedicated his body to hockey who knows what he might achieve. You don't have to be an alcoholic for booze to derail your career, and it can generally reflect upon your off-ice work ethic in general. As Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the greatest coaches ever, in any sport says "Show me the evidence that beer makes you a better player, and I'll let you drink beer". Many a proffesional sportsman has identified the turning point in their career as the moment they stopped boozing and started looking after their bodies.

It just worries me that in Abdelkader, Smith and Sheahan we have 3 players who we hope to be the cornerstone of our franchise in 5 years that have all had booze related off-ice problems.

My friend goes to the gym twice a day for a couple of hours in the offseason. He's not allowed to have a break from his crazy workout routine on weekends by having some beers with his friends?

Especially in the offseason, I can't see how drinking would affect you any worse then eating fast food or something like that. For all we know this couldve been this guys first time drinking and he didn't know how to hide it so he got busted.

[Guest Heaten]

O*M*G!!!1 Sheahan got caught drinking under age!!!1 God, I sure hope he's not having intercourse with hot young sweeties, too!

What is this world coming too?

Anyways, about his talent. Seems to have all the tools and size to become a force to be reckoned with.

[newfy 695]

I'm not worried at all. I was just using him an example. I don't really know nothing about his drinking particurarly, but I was talking about athletes drinking in general. Most NHL hockey players have been drinking at least a little at that age.

I was just saying you can't really compare us LGWers to a guy who's goal is the NHL.

I asked a source, but whatever...

Okay if you want a source go google that or something? It happened and theyve been talking about it a lot when talking about the draft. Its a HUGE reason as to why hes been slipping. You probably don't get all the hockey stations in Finland or something so you don't see the shows where they talk about the draft maybe?

[Zetts 236]

It just worries me that in Abdelkader, Smith and Sheahan we have 3 players who we hope to be the cornerstone of our franchise in 5 years that have all had booze related off-ice problems.

Did I completely miss this? What happened with Abdelkader?

[Finnish Wing 110]

Did I completely miss this? What happened with Abdelkader?

Some bar fight, if I remember right.

Okay if you want a source go google that or something? It happened and theyve been talking about it a lot when talking about the draft. Its a HUGE reason as to why hes been slipping. You probably don't get all the hockey stations in Finland or something so you don't see the shows where they talk about the draft maybe?

I though the problems he had was more with the coaches and staff.

And I wouldn't have taken him over Sheahan anyway.

[titanium2 867]

I though the problems he had was more with the coaches and staff.

And I wouldn't have taken him over Sheahan anyway.

No no... His teammates really hated him for taking bad penalties and pretty much his overall sense of entitlement he got from his father, Sergei.

[Nev 1,085]

My friend goes to the gym twice a day for a couple of hours in the offseason. He's not allowed to have a break from his crazy workout routine on weekends by having some beers with his friends?

Especially in the offseason, I can't see how drinking would affect you any worse then eating fast food or something like that. For all we know this couldve been this guys first time drinking and he didn't know how to hide it so he got busted.

I've heard top dieticians say that it can take up to a fortnight to work booze out of the system....if drinking weren't such a big deal, why did he fall from a predicted 5th to 21st? That's the difference between being a sure-fire NHLer and could end up playing in the British Elite League (as happened to my wife's ex, who was drafted 15th overall IIRC).

And for what its worth, I wouldn't want any of our players eating fast food either. I used to cringe when I'd read Kronwall talking about heading to McDonalds. Thankfully he's not said that for a couple of years, so I hope he's had that beaten out of him.

Proffesional sport is a short, highly competetive career with enormous rewards. If it were me I wouldn't do *anything* to jeopordise that.

[hooon 1,089]

I'm excited! Welcome to the Wings family, Riley.

The alcohol thing doesn't bother me one bit, as long as he doesn't beat up any old men. Sometimes getting caught can be the best thing for you, a wake up call to work harder and be more responsible.

He's incredibly young, so he has many many years to develop.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I must be becoming a grit slappy, because I got excited just to see he's 6'2" and 200 lbs. It's hard to know who's going to develop into an NHL caliber player, but it's nice not to have to wonder right out of the gate if their talent can overcome lack of size to compete at that level.

[WingsallTheway 383]

Cheers to Abby, Sheahan and Smith for their alcoholic habits!

[Casey 145]

Yet it's a fact. I said not "work as hard". You still need to work hard. It's just the way it goes. More talented guys can get to the NHL with less working than less talented guys.

Get to, sure, but...

What's the LGW battle cry for Williams? Lazy and sucks? Ton of talent, no work ethic?

[Earthhuman 8]

He is in the top 10 in upper body strength this draft year, the stats are on the first or second page if you missed them. I don't think his "rampant alcoholism" is affecting his work ethic. Not to mention, it sounds like he was somewhat away from the middle of civilization, standing in a truck, spending time with his friends over summer. As long as his conditioning doesn't take a hit (he's 18, after all, he's not going to feel it the next day), then where is the problem? This feels like a nearly Cherpanov-level steal to me. (Rest in peace).

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

I've heard top dieticians say that it can take up to a fortnight to work booze out of the system....if drinking weren't such a big deal, why did he fall from a predicted 5th to 21st? That's the difference between being a sure-fire NHLer and could end up playing in the British Elite League (as happened to my wife's ex, who was drafted 15th overall IIRC).

And for what its worth, I wouldn't want any of our players eating fast food either. I used to cringe when I'd read Kronwall talking about heading to McDonalds. Thankfully he's not said that for a couple of years, so I hope he's had that beaten out of him.

Proffesional sport is a short, highly competetive career with enormous rewards. If it were me I wouldn't do *anything* to jeopordise that.

He was never anticipated to be 5th overall, your facts are misconstrued. He was at one time ranked the 5th overall NA Skater by one of the mid-season rankings, but most others had him far lower, and even then it didn't account for players like Granlund.

Also, your estimate of young hockey players who drink is staggeringly low. I would be shocked if ANY of the North American prospects had never gotten s***faced at least one night. It's part of Triple-A and Junior culture. I've drank with Cam Fowler underage multiple times, and my Junior day's were pretty much a booze fest. I'm not saying they are alcoholics, but seriously, do you really think Teenage North American Jocks with an already secure future don't party?

[RusDRW 155]

I just hope we drafted our own Brendan Morrow. If this is true be ready for really long development period...

[Carman 387]

Drinking and hockey go hand in hand.

As long as he wasn't doing anything stupid like driving or fighting it's literally nothing.

And from the reports it looks like he was just along for the ride as a freshman, and the person he was with caused the trouble.