Comments on: RAKHSHANI TO RETURN FOR SENIOR YEAR AT DUChooses chance of ‘C’ and a title over turning pro

By: FIsles

FIsles — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 05:38:39 +0000

(32) By that logic Ness, Trivino, and Hamonic should also be “slam dunks for NHL stardom”, right? The truth is that not one of them is a slam dunk to even be a regular NHL player, never mind a star player. There are 12 forward and 6 defense positions open at any given time on game day. Most draft picks never make it. It’s just a simple fact of life. Islanders prospects are not only competing against each other, they are competing against established Islanders players, free agents, and undrafted late bloomers as well. Most players are not going to be stars, so they have to find a niche to make it. Look at Richard Park and Andy Hilbert, both 2nd round picks. Park was a high scorer in OHL, Hilbert scored 64 points in 42 games in his second season in college (and over a point per game in the minors), and both had to work hard to carve out a niche to become NHL regulars. It’s a dog-eat-dog world if you don’t have very high-end ability. Jon Sim was the #2 goalscorer in OHL in his draft year, and eventually finished with 165 goals in 211 career OHL games plus 21 goals in 31 OHL playoff games.

By: 19 ISLE in NJ 22

19 ISLE in NJ 22 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:59:52 +0000

I think it will be great for Rhett’s development … another strong development season for Captain Rhett … and we’ll have another strong prospect ready to fill in the ranks at the Bridge with home grown talent.
***
CB .. I see that you ranked Kirill Petrov as the #4 prospect … and you’ve already made it know that it’s a 100% chance that he will NOT come over next season … I know he’s under contract this season with Kazan … but … how is the KHL panning out? I see he had a strong finish and is performing outstanding in tournaments .. a 5g-5a performance in a 5 game winter tournament this past Feb … Does this have anything to do with your #4 ranking? I’d think to be ranked that high you have to be a slam dunk for NHL stardom … but there are still questions to his game… aren’t there?

By: Swan

Swan — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 21:44:07 +0000

Rhett is one of the more immediate prospects in the system. Far more than fan favs like DiBo, Martin, etc. Rhett will have an excellent chance for a pro career regardless if waits another year to complete his last year of college.

If KO waited to finish his four years of college, he would still be a NHL Top 6 player. He wouldn’t have “given up his place in line”.

Being Captain of a NCAA Championship-competitive team will be as good of a development environment as playing a year in a choke-artist, character-lacking Bridgeport team.

By: kreatiiv

kreatiiv — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:57:45 +0000

i like the fact that snow and wang are perfectly fine with rhett finishing off his career in denver after pulling okposo from school because of development issues…. kyle has certainly blossomed quicker in the nhl than he would have in college and a year at BP. two different players, two different school programs and two different decisions on how to let the kids move forward seems to be a nice indicator of serious consideration of players development as opposed to desperation to fill seats/positions/headlines. folks can knock the goale-to-GM thing all they want, but so far snow has stepped up the hockey decisions in this organization from milbury by a thousand percent, and to all intent in purpose, seems to be doing a decent job handling himself well among the tenured hockey operations folks he pits against throughout the league. unlike milbury, he is making noise for seemingly the proper calls not the stupid ones. hopefully he will be as smart come draft time and take tavares with the first pick and move on from there!

By: Fist of Gillies

Fist of Gillies — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:48:18 +0000

Great picture.

But I’m curious.

Did he put the biscuit in the basket?

By: jonsson3

jonsson3 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:32:08 +0000

go CAPS!!!

By: kabbage

kabbage — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:10:14 +0000

Yes, Bob S (16) What about Shea Guthrie? Six foot three, 207 lbs and can skate. Do we have plans for him?

By: Nick Classic

Nick Classic — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 19:00:34 +0000

DU kids usually stay all 4 years. I’m not surprised by this move – all the best to him as long as he’s not playing my alma mater.

CB – your take on Trivino is dead right. He will be at worst 2nd line center next year, and if Nick Bonino signs with Anaheim he could slot in at the first line. He’s undersized and needs to add about 10-15 pounds of muscle over the next year or so to really take his game to the next level.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:56:05 +0000

(24) 0% for the first question. I doubt it, but not completely sure for the second…CB

By: Streit Blast

Streit Blast — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:52:43 +0000

CB – What is the chance Petrov comes over to play in the Bridge next year (if there is any)? Or comes over for summer or training camp?

By: KevinT123

KevinT123 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:47:26 +0000

I heard Petrov was the 2nd best european player in the draft last year, and that getting him in the 3rd round was risky, but could be a huge steal…I hope that works out.

By: dank516

dank516 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:37:59 +0000

I am thankfull that Snow and Jankowski are going to pick the players because if we left it up to everyone on this blog we would have over 250 players to develop next season.