HF's top 50

So what do we think about this then? Perry, Ryan and Getzlaf are on there. And Getzlaf is all the way at the top of the list at number 5!? Do we really think he's that good right now?

1 - 10 (http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=9081&mode=threaded&order=0)
11 - 25 (http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=9078&mode=threaded&order=0)
26 - 50 (http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=9068&mode=threaded&order=0)

My opinion:

Ryan is too high, Perry is too low, Penner should be on the list.

Both Ryans are too high, Perry could be a little higher (just inside top 25), but I think Penenr is fine as an HM.

Frankly, I like Penner better than any of the Ducks prospects. I think the fact that he has risen from almost total obscurity in such a short time makes the experts a little prejudiced against him. There's no doubt in my mind that Penner's the real deal. This is not intended in any way to be a criticism of Getzlaf, Perry or Ryan---although I am a bit disappointed in the latter thus far.

I agree with what others have said, both Ryans are a little high (Not much though, few spots), but Perry should be higher. I thought Penner would make it.
Smid finally made it, but on a different team....

Yeah I was thinking it was funny how Smid didn't even get HM last time, yet now he's on a Canadian team he jumped up all the way to the bottom-middle of the list. I still think Smid is a little low... but amazing how much more exposure the same prospect gets once he's out of market.

Frankly, I like Penner better than any of the Ducks prospects. I think the fact that he has risen from almost total obscurity in such a short time makes the experts a little prejudiced against him. There's no doubt in my mind that Penner's the real deal. This is not intended in any way to be a criticism of Getzlaf, Perry or Ryan---although I am a bit disappointed in the latter thus far.


+1. Penner looks like he might have the highest big reward potential out of all of them and he was about as low risk as they come having not even used a draft pick on him.

Frankly, I like Penner better than any of the Ducks prospects. I think the fact that he has risen from almost total obscurity in such a short time makes the experts a little prejudiced against him. There's no doubt in my mind that Penner's the real deal. This is not intended in any way to be a criticism of Getzlaf, Perry or Ryan---although I am a bit disappointed in the latter thus far.

I've been wanting to say this for a while now, but I still think it's kinda crazy calling him a better prospect than Getzlaf.

I really like Penner too... he's my favorite prospect in terms of who I'm rooting for (just such a good story). But in terms of a league-wide top 50... there's plenty of guys who should probably be above him who also aren't on the list... such as Howard, Setogoguchi, and Tlusty just from the other honorable mentions. Penner has great upside, great hockey sense, great passing ability, but he sort of came out of nowhere. He doesn't have the proven pedigree in terms of being able to do it for many years, which probably factors in most of the prospects being above him. All he has is one decent year in a top college, one decent rookie year in the AHL, and last year as his first great year.

I've been wanting to say this for a while now, but I still think it's kinda crazy calling him a better prospect than Getzlaf.
Agree, I've been on the Penner bandwagon for 2 years but I still like Getzlaf better. I wouldn't have Getzlaf at 5, maybe 6 or 7. I'm still unsure about Bobby Ryan he showed last year he could dominate the OHL but he only did it for half a season his problems are correctable if he's putting the work in, the talent and the work ethic is there.

I also do think it's funny Smid makes the list after going to a Canadian team(which happens to have loads of posters here) when he couldn't even crack the HM list, all the way up to 31. He deserves to be there but what all of a sudden clicked besides him going to Canada?

I'm also surprised Setoguchi didn't make it.

Cam Ward at 7#...

Sorry guys, but this list has a major problem if a Stanley Cup winner and reigning Conn Smyth Trophy is just seventh on a prospect list.

What else could you ask to a player besides what Ward accomplished in his rookie year?

Higher upside blah blah yada yada, Ward has achieved what 95% of NHL players dream of, take him off the list or put him 1# and screw "65-45 games rule" and so on.

Oh yeah, Getzlaf is okay at 5# (he will get us some Stanleys and a pair of Conn Smyth I guess), Ryan too high, Perry okay, Penner deserve a top 50 spot.

I really like Penner too... he's my favorite prospect in terms of who I'm rooting for (just such a good story). But in terms of a league-wide top 50... there's plenty of guys who should probably be above him who also aren't on the list... such as Howard, Setogoguchi, and Tlusty just from the other honorable mentions. Penner has great upside, great hockey sense, great passing ability, but he sort of came out of nowhere. He doesn't have the proven pedigree in terms of being able to do it for many years, which probably factors in most of the prospects being above him. All he has is one decent year in a top college, one decent rookie year in the AHL, and last year as his first great year.

" he [Penner] sort of came out of nowhere. He doesn't have the proven pedigree in terms of being able to do it for many years. . . ." I see your point, but it's a double-edged sword. The guys who have been on the radar screen since Bantams have had the best coaching, the highest level of competition, the best equipment, etc. Obviously, some of them will continue to improve . . . a few to the point of NHL stardom.

But Penner has improved by leaps and bounds over the past two years or so and he has every right to make another quantum leap improvement-wise. He's still learning. The sky's the limit, guys.

" he [Penner] sort of came out of nowhere. He doesn't have the proven pedigree in terms of being able to do it for many years. . . ." I see your point, but it's a double-edged sword. The guys who have been on the radar screen since Bantams have had the best coaching, the highest level of competition, the best equipment, etc. Obviously, some of them will continue to improve . . . a few to the point of NHL stardom.

But Penner has improved by leaps and bounds over the past two years or so and he has every right to make another quantum leap improvement-wise. He's still learning. The sky's the limit, guys.
He has improved by leaps and bounds (I believe he was voted the most improved player on the team the 2 prior seasons in Maine and Cin), and the sky may be the limit. In fact I pretty much agree with everything you've said. But I still believe that from a league-wide top 50 point of view, which includes liklihood to reach the potential, we have no idea how much more he'll improve, while others on the list have been increasing steadily all their careers. If I were a betting man, I'd bet on the steady improver over the recent surger. But we'll just have to wait and see.

I also do think it's funny Smid makes the list after going to a Canadian team(which happens to have loads of posters here) when he couldn't even crack the HM list, all the way up to 31. He deserves to be there but what all of a sudden clicked besides him going to Canada?

Its kind of like the Hollywood scene. Publicity will do more for your career than talent will ever. Smid got the boost because he was traded for Chris Pronger, one of the best blueliner in the game. And also, he was traded to Edmonton where those people are hyping him up to be the next Norris Trophy winner.

Its kind of like the Hollywood scene. Publicity will do more for your career than talent will ever. Smid got the boost because he was traded for Chris Pronger, one of the best blueliner in the game. And also, he was traded to Edmonton where those people are hyping him up to be the next Norris Trophy winner.

plus......he really does have some talent.

plus......he really does have some talent.
That he does, but no one in the media gave a crap before. Lupul's benefitted from the same phenomenon. How many talking heads up north are nodding sagely at each other and saying "that kid will score 40 pretty soon" all of a sudden?

How long before they get frustrated with "high and wide" Lupul.

But hey, the puck makes a neat sound when it hits the glass real hard.