2007-03-28 15:42:19 · 17 answers · asked by rectal_polyp 1 in Sports ➔ Hockey
Sure, he was a great pick. You can't say that he's a terrible goalie or that he didn't deserve to be picked first overall. (Just in general; not saying that you are saying that...) The QMJHL is a lot different than the NHL and it takes some adjusting. Being 22 years old and an NHL team's starting goalie is a pretty good feat.
He's had an inconsistant season, but it will all come together with practice and more experience. What better way to gain that valuable experience than in the Stanley Cup playoffs? I hope that Therrien gives him that opportunity and that Fleury just blows everyone away.
Let's Go Pens!!!
2007-03-28 16:57:52 · answer #1 · answered by Pens4Ever 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Picking a goalie first overall is not an issue in and of itself because look at the Isles choosing Dipietro first and Dipietro is pretty damn good. Fleury is a good goaltender but she should not have been drafted first because 2003 had one of the deepest talent pools in years and the Penguins would have been better off getting Eric Staal who would have been doing phenomenal as a center with the Pens but really they missed out on the real prize of the 2003 draft which was Dion Phaneuf who is the best YOUNG defensemen by far in the game and who would have really been an offensive anchor on the Pens blue line and Phaneuf plus Gonchar both of whom are great offensive puck moving D-men along with Whitney and Brooks Orpik would have given the Pens one of the top blue lines in the league and one to be feared with Phaneuf, Orpik and even Josef Melichar being known for their checking prowess. Fleury is good but not good enough to be a first pick because his game is technically very sound and almost flawless but he has confidence issues that are alot harder to get rid of then problems with his goal tending style which is very effective in and of itself. Goaltending is crucial to sucess but Pittburgh would have been the same if they had Thibault as their primary goalies because he has played so well and even better than Fleury many times this year and he even has alot of playoff experience.
2007-03-29 11:46:55 · answer #2 · answered by Aries 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, look at who they have got since then, Eric Staal is great no doubt, but his brother is as good and looks like he will be better. Its not everyday you come by a goalie like Fleury, sure he still needs some work, but he has the second most wins in a season by a Penguins goalie, second to gut named Barrasso, from what I recall he was pretty good. So, yes he deserved to be drafted 1st and he will continue to develop into one best goalie in the NHL.
2007-03-29 17:05:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No because goalies are just too hard to predict as far as their progression. More "sure - thing" goalies have been complete flops compared to other positions. I'm not comfortable with any goalie taken in the first round...let alone first overall. Although Fleury seems to be working out ok. And this comes from a big Pens fan...I would have rather we taken Phaneuf, Horton or Staal honestly.
2007-03-28 23:10:56 · answer #4 · answered by pags68 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. Pittsburgh desperatley needed young goaltending, and what better way to do it than in the draft. They knew if they we're going to build a team for the future they needed a young goaltender, so they gambled with Fleury, but it seems to be paying off.
2007-03-29 12:45:04 · answer #5 · answered by Jeff E 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
of course Fleury deserved to be picked first overall... he worked hard for that status and respect...
Roberto Luongo was taken 4th overall in 1997. Barrasso 5th overall in 1983. DiPietro first overall in 2000. Lehtonen 2nd in 2002. Thibault 10th in 1993. Fuhr 8th in 1981... were they mistakes? They all seem pretty decent to me..!
Martin Brodeur was drafted 20th overall in 1990. How many of those 19 teams you think could be kicking themselves..? Only 8 prospects drafted ahead of Brodeur had decent NHL careers.
Trevor Kidd was drafted 11th that year... and even he had a longer career then Scissons (NYI 6th), Slaney (WSH 9th) and Berehowsky (TOR 10th)... its all the same gamble. Teams draft positions addressing to their teams needs. The success ratio for goalie first rounders are way better then forwards and defensemen.
Like drafting any position, there are always going to be flops... Storr 7th in 1994, Krahn 9th in 2000 and Fichaud 16th in 1994.
why is everyone so hard on Fluery because he is a goalie?
RE: pags68
Phaneuf is a defenseman, they take even longer to develop then goalies...! Its easy for everyone to praise Phaneuf now, now that he made it to the big leagues and quick to be successful.
Again, The success ratio for goalie first rounders are way better then forwards and defensemen. How many first round goalies can you name that were complete flops???
How would you know if Staal, Horton, Vanek, Phaneuf, Zherdev, etc... are sure shots for the NHL if made the first pick..? you don't, and the Pens felt Fluery was their best option. Here are a few debatable first overall flops...
1999-Patrik Stefan, Atlanta Thrashers
1993-Alexandre Daigle, Ottawa Senators
1983-Brian Lawton, Minnesota North Stars
1982-Gord Kluzak, Boston Bruins
1980-Doug Wickenheiser, Montreal Canadiens
1974-Greg Joly, Washington Capitals
RE: Jeff E
Well said...
2007-03-29 00:13:20 · answer #6 · answered by Virus Type V 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No. For Pittsburgh's purposes, Dion Phaneuf would have been a more solid choice to complement some of the small veteran rearguards that they have now. Considering the size of Pittsburgh's defense and most of its forward lines, it's easy to say in hindsight that the Penguins would have benefitted from the grit and reliability of someone like Phaneuf. Goaltending is an issue that should have been addressed with a veteran netminder.
2007-03-28 23:02:00 · answer #7 · answered by sub rosa 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There's really nothing special about M-AF, at least from what I can see. I'll wager that he's the reason the Pens get bounced from the playoffs (it sure won't be their offense's fault).
Look at it this way:
M-AF: Drafted 1st round, 1st overall
Ray Emery: Drafted 4th round, 99th overall
Ryan Miller: Drafted 5th round, 138th overall
Henrik Lundqvist: Drafted 7th round, 205th overall
and of course,
Dominik Hasek: Drafted 10th round, 199th overall
I'm gonna say that the first overall pick could be much better spent, considering the talent that is available much later.
2007-03-29 09:53:16 · answer #8 · answered by Da Beils 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Fleury still hasn't recovered from his gold medal loss in the WJCHa few years ago in Findland. He blundered a goal cost canada the gold and I don't think he has recovered from that.
2007-03-29 19:57:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope. Rarely are goalies sure things. A first pick on a goalie is a severe waste unless of course there's nothing else out there.
Fleury hasn't shown he was worth it . . . YET.
From what I've seen he has nights where he's just not altogether in the game.
2007-03-29 07:59:36 · answer #10 · answered by PuckDat 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋