Sure. Barzal is a talented offensive center. Was a consensus top 5 pick going into the draft. Hurt his kneecap his draft year, and doubts about his perimiter style got him to drop out of the top 10. Most of us fans, as evidenced by the posts I quoted, felt that his season was an outlier, and that he should be the first pick when he fell to 12, 13 and 14. Indeed, when Boston passed on him, the Islanders quickly traded up to get him. His next year was better, with 88 points and more goals, showing some finish. Last year he started with the Isles, but Capuano didn't play him much, so he was returned to the W. He slumped, only had 10 goals. But now he made the Isles, and Weight has put him on the top two lines, where his skills are better utilized. He just had a 3 point game, points in four straight games, and really seems to be living up to the promise he always had. A flavor of some of the discussion.
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/c-mathew-barzal-seattle-thunderbirds-whl-2015-16th-nyi-iii.2147557/page-15
I still wonder to this day what made Boston and Dallas overlook Barzal. I probably would even throw in 11 Florida(Crouse) into that discussion
There is a story floating around about Barzal's Draft interviews. Barzal stated he didn't want to give canned answers so when a team asked:
"Why should we draft you?" he replied with something similar to: "Don't and we'll see how that works out".
I hope in my bones the team that asked that was Boston.
Barzal is quickly turning into the 2c that the Isles have been missing since Tavares was drafted.
as long as he stays healthy I think he finishes the season as one of the top 3 Calder finalists.
So happy we didn't trade him for Duchene. This kid is going to be an elite player sooner than later.
Connor is a speed kid. As with Barzal, when Boston passed, Winnipeg snapped him up after Barzal. Great freshman year at Michigan after the draft. Signed with Winnipeg but struggled and was sent to minors. He rebounded at the end of last year, and scored well for the Jets. This year he was surprisingly sent to the minors in first week, but has now been called up and as with Barzal, when put into an offensive position, has done the job with 5 points in 8 games.
Here's the discussion on Connor.
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/lw-kyle-connor-2015-17th-wpg-ii.2049493/page-40
4 points in 5 games since his call up. But more importantly he is playing well in all zones. I think it would take a lot to send him back now. Looking more like the player some knew he was when he broke all those records at the U of Michigan.
His style works with Scheifele/Wheeler so well. He plays a very straight game but is skilled enough to make plays with them and fast enough to keep up. A speedy left shot finisher is also exactly the type of player that Scheifs and Wheeler need. I don’t see him coming off the top line, even when Perreault returns
5 points in 6 games now since his call up. He's not going anywhere I presume. Unfortunate it took an injury to Perrault for Maurice and the Jets to realize he was indeed NHL ready at the start of the year.
Hes an awesome player and has so much potential... Hopefully that demotion at the start of the year lit a massive fire under him and he will keep getting better and better. Who knows maybe thats why Jets management did it
In isolation those two are not the end-all 10-year NHL picks, though they are far superior to Spooner, and may well even make an all star team. But the fact that Boston's picks are been so lackluster -- Senyshyn has one goal in 10 minor league games, and his junior career was respectable, but not really "top 15 pick" sort of record. Always a "project" pick (he was ranked a mid-second rounder by the NHL), is seems it will be a while before he can impact the AHL, let alone be considered for a call-up. Zborli the other pick has been brutally bad/inconsistent.
DeBrusk has surprised me, and even though he too was a reach (in the late 20s by Central Scouting), he was a year older, and therefore already has an AHL season under his belt. For now, he seems likely to be the only real impact NHLer from thoser 13, 14 and 15 picks. Considering that they traded Hamilton and Looch for those picks, to springboard the rebuild, the return, to me, does not reflect well on Sweeney.
I thought there was contrast, seeing as two and a half years later the injuries have opened several opportunities, and these kids were not the call-ups, while Connor and Barzal are just earning their wings.
Lastly, I am not typically someone to criticize drafts where the picks are close. But the 13-15 presented two clear cut superior picks. That is why it is frustrating.