Are WHL prospects a waste of a pick?

[BanTSN]

Historically, yes.

Recently, no.

Same with Q picks.

Since the lockout and salary cap early player development has become of paramount interest. This is why you rarely see kids being underdeveloped these days, at least physically, by the time they're ready to be drafted. But in weaker draft years these kids can climb.

[Langdon Algur]

Looking at draft year stats is a little silly, most of those players are playing against guys 2 years older than them.

[roland]

I think some people are missing the point. What he's saying is that talented WHL players are too few and far between to be using your #6 pick on. He used draft year points as an example. Personally, I would have probably looked up the top WHL players that were drafted, and how successful they were.

Also, people need to stop repping people using unfunny memes and one-liners on the first page. Your only invoking them to do it more and it's annoying when half of the first page is full of dbag comments on a lot of threads.

[D-Money]

How many of those players are overagers? Even for the drafted guys, was that their draft year?

My guess is, with the focus on defensive and physical play, guys with the benefit of extra years succeed better.

Also, players in a defensive league are probably more NHL-ready, and move on young rather than sticking around to be top-10 Junior scorers.

[oldnews]

If the crux of your point is to simply attempt to devalue Shinkaruk, which appears to be some kind of argument you think is qualified by these mere tendencies, then I'd agree with many that your thread is a fail.

[Angry Goose]

Everyone still stoked about Shinkaruk?

I merely pose the question based on the facts... are WHL players a waste of a pick?

CDC and statistics is a bad mix

[sharnhayre]

You could do the same thing with the QMJHL and the OHL as well... Then also look at how many drafted Russians actually come over to play in the NHL compared to how many stay in Russia for tax free bigger dollars.

Every pick is not a guarantee. Patrick Stefan went 1st overall and regardless of what league he came from.. he was a bust. You can then go on and find gems in late rounds too. I think every drafted player has a chance to make the NHL. It all depends on his dedication and his development.