can you name me one prospect our front office types didn't glow about? That is their job. It is also how they drive up percived trade value. we had all the same things about Kutznetsov, kopescky, Rittola, Lenio, Mursack, Emmerton, etc etc etc....... Nyquist and tatar are 40 point per year guys, just like the title of this thread. Who for his career has just over 400 games played in the NHL and has just over 200 points. Averages 1 point every 2 games. Again, not one of those guys-the forwards is close in any way to be able to replace Z, datsyuk or Filppula. Nor are any of those forwards potential 60 point power forward types.
As for those playing in the pro leagues in europe, so what. That isn't NA hockey and it is a very different game. The list of euro's that have failed in NA is very very long.
Now, I fully understand that there will be a positive surprise or 2. Always is. But at best 1 out of 10 prospects ever pan out, so even the guys we all think will make it, most will not. You see this in every sport. 1st round flops happen all of the time. late round surprises as well.
Glowing reviews on Ritola:
"Tagged as a “lazy” player in his draft year,..."
“Is he one of those guys who shows up at 24 years of age and figures life out and decides he’s going to work hard every night? Or is he just another skilled guy who doesn’t learn to compete and disappears in the wind and plays in Europe the rest of his life?” — Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill (2007) … “Laziness is not a factor at all. You know what? If I hadn’t heard that before he got here, I wouldn’t have known that about him. In the time he’s been with us, he’s worked hard. His upside is probably a third-line guy but he can play the fourth line. He’s probably going to play in the NHL.” — Griffins GM Bob McNamara (2008)
Seriously though, I get what you're saying. Still not sure why you're saying it, except from a desire to be negative.
I think you're underselling Hudler quite a bit. (He has 9 points in 8 games for Calgary, in case anyone's interested.) He's only played 5 years and had 50 points twice. Calling him a 40 point player is like saying Datsyuk was just a 70 point player in 2007. Flip's career PPG is virtually identical to Hudler's. Is Flip a 40 point guy too? So why's he lumped in with Pav and Hank?
Maybe you just mean what Nyquist or Tatar might produce in the near future, in which case I'd agree. I'd expect it'd take a few full seasons before either would start to hit their potential. But long-term, everything from their performance thus far to comments from scouts and coaches suggests they should be similar to Filppula and Hudler. Maybe not the raw skill of Hudler, but both are noted for hard work, good skating, and fine defensive play. Probably closer to Flip all things considered. 55-65 points seems a very reasonable expectation of their peak.
I guess if you want to consider "Hudler 2.0" a bad thing I probably couldn't talk you out of it. But it's not.
