Guys Reputed To Be Power Forward Prospects, but Disappointed

[canuckfan]

I saw this thread and the name Jim Sandlak immediatley popped into my head. Canucks drafted him 4th overall in 1985, and at 6'4 220 lbs expectations were pretty high. On paper, it looked like the guy had everything and his presence may have helped the Canucks to decide that Cam Neely was expendable.

The guy's nickname was The House, because he was as big as one. And he moved like one too. Sandlak always looked slow as molasses when he played and consistency and health were huge issues. At times he looked like a capable 20-30 goal scorer - but one 20 goal and 40 point season was as good as it got for House. He could absolutely lay people out, but earth shattering bodychecks were few and far between. He had the size and strength to stick up for his teammates, but he wasn't any good at fighting and didn't seem to like doing it much.

Sandlak appeared to have it all, but in the end he was a big and overrated disappointment. Being drafted 4th overall - in an pretty weak draft class overall - didn't help either, and maybe the Canucks rushed him into the NHL too fast.

Sergio Momesso had the size, skill and temperment to be a top power forward, but consistency was a big issue there as well. What always bothered me about Big Mo was the potential that was there but was never fully realized - too many nights off, gave me the impression of a lazy hockey player. But when he was on and feeling mean, look out!

[26Kocur]

Daniel Dore. This guy was supposed to do it all. Fight, hit and score. I only remember him because he went in the same round as another bust. Kory Kocur. Being a Blades fan is why I remember the draft. Which is now making me remember Scott Scissons another bust.

[Stevens Lindros]

Hugh Jessiman, "the Huge Specimen"

[Viper207]

Originally Posted by Rugged

Shawn Antoski.

Drafted one spot ahead of a prototypical power forward: Keith Tkachuk. Ouch.

I read where Vancouver was all set to pick Tkachuk until a last second change to draft Antoski. And while Antoski had size, strength, and speed; his hands just never developed.

I always liked him though, a true HW who could deliver some entertaining scraps, playing in an era with a dizzying amount of great enforcers. Sadly, his career ended way too soon.

[Phillyfan11]

Pavel Brendl (not a fighter but a big dude who was a bust)

[2,5,10GameMatch]

Rob Pearson!!! He scored like Lemieux in the OHL with he and Lindros totally dominated together in Oshawa but in the NHL he was a hapless, useless stooge.

I'm suprised I have never seen any print on huge Minnesota boy George Pelawa in this forum, who was drafted by Calgary in the mid 80's....he was listed at 6'4", 255lbs but proved a large disappointment when he expired in a car accident shortly after the draft, he bled out from a leg wound apparently, I saw pictures of him and he was a solidly built guy and the heaviest guy ever taken in the draft to that point.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

Hugh Jessiman, "the Huge Specimen"

You know he sucks when both you and I mentioned him! THN warned the Rangers before the draft that Jessiman was not that good but Sather was crowing about him and OOPS!
The Rangers also drafted Dane Byers in the 2nd round and he is a career AHL player and bust!
Years ago they drafted Ray Markham in the 2nd round as a power center and he was a bust!
Daniel Lacroix was another powerforward taken in the 2nd round by the Rangers who was a bust!

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

Brad Isbister

Mark Bell

[Machinehead2k5]

Dave Roche, Kris Beech, Kyle Wanvig, Colby Armstrong (maybe too early?), Patrik Stefan.

Scott Thornton had a long career, but nothing of the numbers of a 3rd overall pick should've had.

[ChiefJunior]

Another guy drafter by the Nordiques, Trevor Steinburg. Drafted in the 1st rd. 15th overall. I believe his claim to fame was getting beaten by Lyndon Byers (who of course was no slouch).

Certainly Quebec seemed to draft some pretty decent sized guys, who just never panned out.

[BENNETTWOLF]

I think Chris Dingman (the infamous "dinger") was seen that way coming up. I recall a writeup on him painting him to be a skill/size combo that would fight as well.

[GOON 21]

Great names mentioned so far


Wheres Todd Bert Bertuzzi? - Maybe not a flop, (solid career) but a guy who should have been a 'meaner more physical' type player for sure. When he came up with Islanders i hear how mean and physical a player he was, but it never happened. ---- The Islanders even resorted to bringing in Clark Gillies to give the kid pointers and make him meaner lol., but it never really happened


Traded with Mcabe a draft choice (turned out to be Jerkky Ruutu) for Trever Linden, OUCH!


Not sure if the Lindros brothers are worth mentioning --- Eric was a helluva a hockey player and 'force' on the ice for sure and even dominant at times, and his brother (Brett) was a tough kid who had some nice 'upside' to his career, (15-20 goal scorer with mean streak) but he retired at the age of 20


Is Louie Debrusk worth a mention? I mean he was part of the Messier trade and always heard about how he "had to be included" in the deal by the Oilers or no trade, the guy was a strong bull but never really panned out by early projections


?

[ewen21]

Originally Posted by 2,5,10GameMatch

Rob Pearson!!! He scored like Lemieux in the OHL with he and Lindros totally dominated together in Oshawa but in the NHL he was a hapless, useless stooge.

All you need to know about Pearson as a fighter:

Brad May vs Rob Pearson - YouTube

[ewen21]

A similar thing happened to Pearson in a fight against Mike Peluso, also when he was a Cap. In that fight he got nailed and went down but when he got up that time the refs broke it up and Pearson was going ballistic trying to continue. I wish I could find that one because Pearson made a total ass out of himself. It was a highlight on ESPN back in the day. Anyone?

Between Keith Jones, Kaminski and Pearson the Caps had quite a bunch back then

[Shoryuken]

Originally Posted by GOON 21

Is Louie Debrusk worth a mention? I mean he was part of the Messier trade and always heard about how he "had to be included" in the deal by the Oilers or no trade, the guy was a strong bull but never really panned out by early projections


?

Not sure Debrusk was really billed as a power forward, more as an upcoming enforcer, he was one of those guys who was seen as the second coming of Bob Probert. Either way never lived up to the expectation even if he did spend a few seasons as a recognised and solid, if unspectacular, NHL heavy.

Eric Lindros is arguable - he was a beast early on in his career, certainly meeting/beating expectations, but on the other hand he never put up the career numbers, cups etc that were projected as he started to pick up concussions, so he is a disappointment in that sense.