That may still be the case, to some degree, but things are changing. No longer is the game exclusive to bigger players.
As a Canadian Press story pointed out this week, Mini-Me’s like Tyler Johnson and Johnny Gaudreau are proving they’re no flukes, and neither were the smallish players who preceded them, stars like Martin St. Louis, Theo Fleury and, going way back, Yvan Cournoyer and Henri Richard.
Hockey has always had a bit of old-school thinking, and contrary to what some will have you believe, they’re not all geniuses. In many cases, some are terribly overrated for their so-called hockey expertise.
While packing up our old office at the Village Mall a few weeks ago, preparing for the move to our current digs on Austin Street, I came across a few old Hockey News Draft Preview magazines. To look back on the quotes from scouts and so-called “insiders” on draft-eligible players, and see where the players are today, is somewhat laughable.
Consider these quotes. I will number them, and the corresponding player is listed below.
1. “To me, he’s always going to be a second centre on any team. Like Troy Murray to Denis Savard in Chicago, Shawn Burr to Steve Yzerman in Detroit. There’s nothing wrong with that. Every team needs them. In some respects, he reminds me of a young Ronnie Francis. Your classic big, two-way centreman.”
2. “I still worry about his size and skating.”
3. “There are two types of centremen in hockey. There’s what I call the classic centreman. Jean Ratelle’s a perfect example. Then there’s the other type. Dave Poulin would be a perfect example of that. Well, this guy is the classic centre. He’s smooth, he’s got excellent offensive skills and his defensive game isn’t bad, either.”
4. “I don’t dislike him, but I want somebody else to pick him.”
5. “I give him good marks for being smart and his competitiveness, but skating is an issue.”
6. “Skating will never be his strength. If he could skate, he would be a star.”
7. “He will play because he’s a big centre, and people look for those guys.”
8. “He has all the tools to become a superstar. It’s just a matter of whether he wants to do it.”
9. “I see a power forward in the making. If you are looking for an Erik Cole type of player, this guy fits that mould.”
10. “He is light on his feet. He is real small. He’d have a hard time handling traffic in front of an NHL net. He will have a hard time playing pro as a defenceman.”
1. Kevin Miehm (22 career NHL games)
2. Joe Sakic (1,550 career NHL games)
3. Dave Archibald (328 career NHL games)
4. Brian Boyle (546 career NHL games and counting)
5. Ryan Getzlaf (803 career NHL games and counting)
6. Rick Nash (918 career NHL games and counting)
7. Brian McConnell (0 NHL games)
8. Sergei Anshakov (0 NHL games)
9. Barry Tallackson (20 career NHL games)
10. Duncan Keith (872 career NHL games and counting)
Robin Short is The Telegram’s Sports Editor. He can be reached by email [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TelyRobinShort
That may still be the case, to some degree, but things are changing. No longer is the game exclusive to bigger players.
As a Canadian Press story pointed out this week, Mini-Me’s like Tyler Johnson and Johnny Gaudreau are proving they’re no flukes, and neither were the smallish players who preceded them, stars like Martin St. Louis, Theo Fleury and, going way back, Yvan Cournoyer and Henri Richard.
Hockey has always had a bit of old-school thinking, and contrary to what some will have you believe, they’re not all geniuses. In many cases, some are terribly overrated for their so-called hockey expertise.
While packing up our old office at the Village Mall a few weeks ago, preparing for the move to our current digs on Austin Street, I came across a few old Hockey News Draft Preview magazines. To look back on the quotes from scouts and so-called “insiders” on draft-eligible players, and see where the players are today, is somewhat laughable.
Consider these quotes. I will number them, and the corresponding player is listed below.
1. “To me, he’s always going to be a second centre on any team. Like Troy Murray to Denis Savard in Chicago, Shawn Burr to Steve Yzerman in Detroit. There’s nothing wrong with that. Every team needs them. In some respects, he reminds me of a young Ronnie Francis. Your classic big, two-way centreman.”
2. “I still worry about his size and skating.”
3. “There are two types of centremen in hockey. There’s what I call the classic centreman. Jean Ratelle’s a perfect example. Then there’s the other type. Dave Poulin would be a perfect example of that. Well, this guy is the classic centre. He’s smooth, he’s got excellent offensive skills and his defensive game isn’t bad, either.”
4. “I don’t dislike him, but I want somebody else to pick him.”
5. “I give him good marks for being smart and his competitiveness, but skating is an issue.”
6. “Skating will never be his strength. If he could skate, he would be a star.”
7. “He will play because he’s a big centre, and people look for those guys.”
8. “He has all the tools to become a superstar. It’s just a matter of whether he wants to do it.”
9. “I see a power forward in the making. If you are looking for an Erik Cole type of player, this guy fits that mould.”
10. “He is light on his feet. He is real small. He’d have a hard time handling traffic in front of an NHL net. He will have a hard time playing pro as a defenceman.”
1. Kevin Miehm (22 career NHL games)
2. Joe Sakic (1,550 career NHL games)
3. Dave Archibald (328 career NHL games)
4. Brian Boyle (546 career NHL games and counting)
5. Ryan Getzlaf (803 career NHL games and counting)
6. Rick Nash (918 career NHL games and counting)
7. Brian McConnell (0 NHL games)
8. Sergei Anshakov (0 NHL games)
9. Barry Tallackson (20 career NHL games)
10. Duncan Keith (872 career NHL games and counting)
Robin Short is The Telegram’s Sports Editor. He can be reached by email [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TelyRobinShort
