Thomas McCullun??? Another Buffalo Native drafted in the 1st rd?

Question

So the top rated goalie in North America was drafted in the 1st round 30th overall by the Red Wings

1 Was he a good choice for them?

2 What do you think or know about him

3 How long do you think it will take him to make it pro

4

Answer 1

McCollum!

1. Detroit needed goaltending depth. They cut ties with Stefan Liv this yr... so yes Good Choice!

2. Just that he was ranked best goaltending prospect of North Americans and he is as solid positionally in the net as any goalie. Great glove hand! They say he is a perfect butterfly goalie and when he is at the top of his game he is tough to get a puck by.

3. Depends... I think this sets the stage for Howard to come up and backup OZZY.... and Larssen (Swede goalie that signed for this coming year) and McCollum (next year) will both play in Grand Rapids. Eventually one of those 2 goalies will move up to Detroit when Ozzy retires. How well Howard performs will determine what happens with both Larssen and McCollum.

Answer 2

1. Depends, if Ryan Miller accepts less money next summer to come home to Detroit then no it was not a good pick.

2. Started his season out very poorly for the Guelph Storm and then came on at the end of the year.  Has a great glove hand and is being compared to Jimmy Howard which I am not sure that is a positive thing.

3. Won't make it with the Wings if the Miller thing happens.

Answer 3

1- Good Move...Very good

2) I think he just needs expierience judging by his stats, he's had some good GAA in 06-07, and 07-08 so we'll see.

3) Well considering the fact that he's 18-19 he's going to need about 3-5 yrs.

Answer 4

McCollum was the top ranked goaltender in the draft.

Detroit needs a goaltender. Osgood is 36 and Howard  needs to prove he is an NHL goalie this year. Their depth chart at goal is a little weak. But they always have one or two in the system and this was the best.

There is a philosophy in drafting is that you take the best athlete at the time of the draft regardless of need. McCollum fit that philosophy.

In answer to your 3rd question Thomas will turn pro in 2010. He will play 2 years in the AHL. before he plays in the NHL. Detroit is too smart to s***w this up. After all most of their front office are old goalies.

Answer 5

1. Yes.

2. He has a wicked glove hand, and I hear nothing but good about his butterfly position.

3. 3-5 years as goalies are longer to develop then skaters.

Tom - Osgood is not quite 36 yet. He'll be 36 later this year.