Good Article on Devils' Draft Struggles

[Derlique]

From Bleacher Report's Dave Lozo: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2299825-dave-lozos-bag-skate-how-terrible-drafting-destroyed-the-new-jersey-devils#articles/2299825-dave-lozos-bag-skate-how-terrible-drafting-destroyed-the-new-jersey-devils

[oconnellrules]

Even though Dave Bozo is usually a hack it's a good article. Pretty much everything a good devils fan already knows.

Edited December 16, 2014 by oconnellrules

[devilsrule33]

Even though Dave Bozo is usually a hack it's a good article. Pretty much everything a good devils fan already knows.

 

You just just changed Lozo to Bozo....and then called someone a hack.

 

Lozo is a solid hockey writer. He's smart and writes well. He just acts like a complete fool on twitter.

 

The drafting has been bad, but the signings of Greene, Oduya and Clarkson were great. Unfortunately, we haven't seen anything like that for 7-8 years. 

[Daniel]

Meh, I think a ton of context is missing from this analysis with a little bit of goalpost moving.  What goes unmentioned is that there was only one pick in the top 15 during that time.  It's hard to hit it big, which is really what boosts the point totals, when you're generally picking that low.  The writer also omits that the Devils really didn't go for that many reaches.  Players like Tenenby, Larsson, Bergfors and Josefson were drafted around where the consensus was at the time.  Also, from all accounts, you should consider players like Bergfors and Cormier to be successes in that the Devils were able to flip them for Kovalchuk, as they were the centerpieces of that trade.  He moves the goalposts in selecting 2005 as some cut off date.  I imagine if you went back to 2003, which would bring Parise and Zajac into the equation, both of whom are players that are currently pretty close to their prime, the Devils would be doing fairly well in total points relative to other teams. 

 

The thrust of the article should really be that Lou/Conte have been more unlucky than out of their depth since 2005. 

 

EDIT:  Sorry folks, I didn't read the rest of the article.  It actually does address a lot of the points I made, and does flesh out a thesis beyond the simply the results, i.e. focusing on the lack of fresh perspectives in the scouts below Conte.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Daniel

[oconnellrules]

You just just changed Lozo to Bozo....and then called someone a hack.

Lozo is a solid hockey writer. He's smart and writes well. He just acts like a complete fool on twitter.

The drafting has been bad, but the signings of Greene, Oduya and Clarkson were great. Unfortunately, we haven't seen anything like that for 7-8 years.

If you read bleacher regularly you'd know that a lot of people call him bozo. He's not a very good writer....but to each his own.

[Jerzey]

I wonder how much the new owners care about the actual on ice product and if they're willing to clean house. Not saying they should or shouldn't, just wondering if they would.

[mfitz804]

You just just changed Lozo to Bozo....and then called someone a hack.

 

Lozo is a solid hockey writer. He's smart and writes well. He just acts like a complete fool on twitter.

 

The drafting has been bad, but the signings of Greene, Oduya and Clarkson were great. Unfortunately, we haven't seen anything like that for 7-8 years.

Lou used to be great at those type of signings. John Madden was another one if you go back that far.

[CarpathianForest]

Misread the post. I thought it was about Uncle Bozzo.

 

[DevsMan84]

Lou used to be great at those type of signings. John Madden was another one if you go back that far.

I think signings like that are going to be even fewer and far between. When they signed Madden scouting was still pretty much in the Dark Ages. These days with advanced metrics and better evaluation methods these types of players are getting missed less and less by the scouts.