Every year there are some busts in this league (which is how it should be). Occasionally, there are high picks that don’t quite pan out, but those are pretty well covered and well known. What I’m going to talk about is something a bit different. There are always those players who tell teams one thing but then do another. These are players that teams will take flyers on in later rounds but who will end up being just as disappointing as those high round picks. I’ve seen firsthand in my locker room how hyped up GMs will get, thinking they’ve found the steal of the draft only to see a player fall into obscurity, just like the rest of them.
Last year, there were players for the Yeti who were just this type. Our GMs were so psyched because they had heard from a couple of players who had been inactive. “All I need to come back is a good, active locker room that I can have fun in. Then I’ll be back fulltime and do everything.” It’s a familiar claim, and one that stings when it doesn’t pan out. Does it mean that our locker room isn’t dynamic enough? Personally, I doubt it. I think it’s more likely that these guys have every intention of coming back, but then it doesn’t work out for them. This year sees players that are in danger of becoming exactly the same thing. (I’m looking at you, Stone Hans.) We’ll have to wait and see how it pans out.
Haruki Ishigawa
Word count: 256
Last year, there were players for the Yeti who were just this type. Our GMs were so psyched because they had heard from a couple of players who had been inactive. “All I need to come back is a good, active locker room that I can have fun in. Then I’ll be back fulltime and do everything.” It’s a familiar claim, and one that stings when it doesn’t pan out. Does it mean that our locker room isn’t dynamic enough? Personally, I doubt it. I think it’s more likely that these guys have every intention of coming back, but then it doesn’t work out for them. This year sees players that are in danger of becoming exactly the same thing. (I’m looking at you, Stone Hans.) We’ll have to wait and see how it pans out.
Haruki Ishigawa
Word count: 256