Did the Prince George Cougars pay too much to get Devin Setoguchi?
Cougars fans would have said yes in October when he was being hampered by a bad knee, but now they are jumping for joy that the 19 year-old forward is on there team.
Setoguchi was sensational for the Cougars in their opening round playoff series against Kamloops, scoring 5 goals and collecting 2 assists in a 4 game sweep.
Setoguchi was sensational for the Cougars in their opening round playoff series against Kamloops, scoring 5 goals and collecting 2 assists in a 4 game sweep.
It looks like the player they gave up, 15 year-old Stefan Elliott and a first round pick in this summers bantam draft, may now have been worth it.
Cougars Dallas Thompson has made many blunders in his day's as G.M - but this isn't one of them.
Oh sure I've heard rumors all season long that Setoguchi wanted out of Prince George, and that he wasn't happy when he was traded there instead of Vancouver.
Some had even suggested he was faking the knee injury, and that it wasn't as bad as he was making it out to be.
If the rumors are indeed true, it makes his regular season and postseason success even that much more impressive.
To score 36 goals in a place where you reportedly didn't want to play shows Setoguchi is mentally strong enough to focus on the game of hockey and control what he can control - his attitude and his performance on the ice.
Throw in the fact he was cut by the Canadian World Junior team and you have a player that could have been sitting around pouting.
Setoguchi isn't pouting, he's producing, and Prince George Cougar fans are loving it!
Sure the NHL draft is still 3 months away but an ESPN sports writer has a list of some of the players you'll likely see drafted from the W.H.L in the first two rounds.
They include Brandon Sutter of the Red Deer Rebels, who is sited as having the same type of grit and determination as the Sutters, but with a lot more skill than his uncles.
Vancouver's Michal Repik can find seams in the offensive zone. Repik is described as having a deadly shot which allows him to score big goals.
Everett's Zach Hamill is described as having one of the best natural hockey senses in the draft. While his lack of size is a concern, his hockey IQ and his ability to use his teammates is second to none.
Colton Gillies of the Saskatoon Blades plays the game much like his uncle (Clark Gillies) did. He is described as a power forward who needs to improve his skills.
W.H.L defenseman that could hear their name called in the first round of this summers NHL draft include Calgary's Carl Alzner who is suggested to be the best d-man in the draft because of his battle level, and some are comparing them to Wade Redden.
Kamloops rearguard Keaton Ellerby makes very few mistakes, and won't put up points. But NHL teams realize they need a player like Ellerby to win.
John Blum of the Giants is catching the attention of NHL scouts.
If the rumors are indeed true, it makes his regular season and postseason success even that much more impressive.
To score 36 goals in a place where you reportedly didn't want to play shows Setoguchi is mentally strong enough to focus on the game of hockey and control what he can control - his attitude and his performance on the ice.
Throw in the fact he was cut by the Canadian World Junior team and you have a player that could have been sitting around pouting.
Setoguchi isn't pouting, he's producing, and Prince George Cougar fans are loving it!
Sure the NHL draft is still 3 months away but an ESPN sports writer has a list of some of the players you'll likely see drafted from the W.H.L in the first two rounds.
They include Brandon Sutter of the Red Deer Rebels, who is sited as having the same type of grit and determination as the Sutters, but with a lot more skill than his uncles.
Vancouver's Michal Repik can find seams in the offensive zone. Repik is described as having a deadly shot which allows him to score big goals.
Everett's Zach Hamill is described as having one of the best natural hockey senses in the draft. While his lack of size is a concern, his hockey IQ and his ability to use his teammates is second to none.
Colton Gillies of the Saskatoon Blades plays the game much like his uncle (Clark Gillies) did. He is described as a power forward who needs to improve his skills.
W.H.L defenseman that could hear their name called in the first round of this summers NHL draft include Calgary's Carl Alzner who is suggested to be the best d-man in the draft because of his battle level, and some are comparing them to Wade Redden.
Kamloops rearguard Keaton Ellerby makes very few mistakes, and won't put up points. But NHL teams realize they need a player like Ellerby to win.
John Blum of the Giants is catching the attention of NHL scouts.
He loves to jump into the rush and is a quarterback on Vancouver's power play. This kid was great at 16, and is down right solid as a 17 year-old sophomore.
Thomas Hickey of the T-Birds is a player I've loved to watch this season.
Thomas Hickey of the T-Birds is a player I've loved to watch this season.
Even though he's small (5'11 185), he makes smart plays and plays with passion. NHL scouts like his offensive upside and compare him to John-Michael Liles in Colorado.
Eric Doyle in Swift Current is being mentioned. A big kid who skates pretty well, scouts think he has decent poise and his hockey IQ is ok.
Eric Doyle in Swift Current is being mentioned. A big kid who skates pretty well, scouts think he has decent poise and his hockey IQ is ok.
But some scouts aren't sold on him yet. A good playoff wouldn't hurt his cause.
W.H.L goaltenders being mentioned include Regina's Linden Rowat, who is getting rave reviews, and is now poised to go before Vancouver's Tysen Sexsmith.
W.H.L goaltenders being mentioned include Regina's Linden Rowat, who is getting rave reviews, and is now poised to go before Vancouver's Tysen Sexsmith.
Scouts like Rowat's size, and quick glove hand.
Sexsmith and Portland's Kurtis Mucha are running neck-and-neck as scouts contemplate who is better.
Sexsmith is on a pretty team, while Mucha saw more rubber with a Hawks team which was dead last.
His quickness and competitiveness is an attribute, yet he is still rated as the 10th best goalie heading into June's draft.
Sexsmith and Portland's Kurtis Mucha are running neck-and-neck as scouts contemplate who is better.
Sexsmith is on a pretty team, while Mucha saw more rubber with a Hawks team which was dead last.
His quickness and competitiveness is an attribute, yet he is still rated as the 10th best goalie heading into June's draft.
Check out the article at ESPN.COM
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