A Bad Weekend
One bad game shouldn’t make or break someone’s draft value, but sometimes it does.
One bad weekend shouldn’t make or break someone’s draft value, but sometimes it does.
I have had two QMJHL scouts say the Q Cup wasn’t the best showcase tournament for the 2024 Atlantic Canadian QMJHL Draft eligible prospects.
We can come up with excuses and probably some pretty damn valid ones on that topic, but a poor weekend or collection of games could potentially be an indicator, but it should never overshadow a complete body of work.
Players fall in draft rankings all of the time, it’s not surprising, potentially they were too high in the first place, perhaps their current ranking is more accurate, who knows, but judging a player on a few bad performances weeks after they haven’t been on the ice and dropping significantly down the list just because isn’t always the best scenario.
Double Standards
There’s a double standard that exists within the game of hockey. It probably happens at every level to a certain extent.
The diminutive skilled player that can skate like the wind and make plays game in game out still isn’t valued.
Organizations and hockey people can say they value them all day long, but when push comes to shove, some in the hockey world want nothing to do with “small players.”
They won’t touch them, they won’t draft them, they won’t even consider them until someone has the guts enough to prove it to them or convince them or the player shows them.
The “it doesn’t matter what size you are” argument doesn’t hold water in some organizations. To be brutally honest it’s probably that way all the way up through the ranks.
If you scout the rinks across North America, you will find some “smallish” player dominating I guarantee it and that “diminutive skilled player was never really given a chance, never really given a fair shake.
It’s total bull shit if you think about it.
“Give me big tall physical players and I’m sure they will wear down their opponent.”
Ok I get it, I’ve heard all the hockey talk and banter, but seriously there’s always the exceptions to the rule. More and more of “those” types of players are excelling at the junior ranks, going on to the USports ranks and parlaying that into a professional career across the hockey world.
You see it’s the “what have you done lately” mentality.
The organizations that finally give those players an opportunity look like geniuses.
“Oh those little players need more time to develop, or they’re late bloomers.”
What a crock of shit lame take that is!
Don’t worry all the analytics types have their programs calculating all of the numbers, height, weight and projections. Never have I seen their computers measure a kids heart, character and determination.
The names and examples are endless. “They will never make it.”
“They haven’t got a chance in hell to make it, they’re just too damn small.”
Well those players are certainly having the last laugh.
I really wish some people or supposed hockey minds would wake the hell up and give these players a shot.
This isn’t about the Q or NCAA route or best option, this is a double standard that needs to be addressed at the grass roots levels all the way up.
Hockey’s double standards are archaic. You see the “real” hockey people understand that and are innovators, the others are just being left behind.
Value is value, a player is a player, it doesn’t matter how old they are or what size they are.
Beware of hockey’s double standards and those that still believe in them.
Ranking young players lower because of their size is tough, especially when their compete level is off the charts and they’re highly effective and contributing in all facets of the game at the U18 level.
Rankings and ratings are somewhat subjective, which in itself could be a double standard all together.
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