Sensible Commentary
Joined: Jul. 2016
Posts: 910
Likes: 536
man, we're really arguing about minutiae here. but here's my $0.02:
1) Frederic was, if I recall, a reach when he was selected at #29 in 2016 (most rankings had him as a late 2nd/early 3rd rounder), and that probably pissed off a lot of Bruins fans. I think Sweeney also slung around words like "hard work" and other such intangibles when describing Frederic, which didn't help. But he's put up 30+ points in 2 years at Wisconsin; pretty good for a 1st-rounder.
2) The downvoting is probably just trolling. Most people on here rarely rate ELC signings in a negative manner. (Frederic's status as a somewhat-unpopular-at-the-time 1st-round pick might be part of it, too.)
3) I'm ambivalent on the whole "to finish college or not to finish college, that is the question" thing. On the one hand, a lot of hockey players aren't prepared for life after hockey, and the NHLPA does absolutely nothing to help, so having that degree in hand actually gives players a chance at a way to transition to life after hockey. On the other hand, players who go through all 4 years of college in the NCAA have the option to just wait a few months and then become free agents, and most teams aren't interested in losing prospects in that manner. My opinion on the matter consists of a big wet fart noise and "the player's gotta be the one to make that decision, not people like us who fart around on Internet forums."