With the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals being played between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers, there are bound to be plenty of storylines. One of them is the impact the 2007 NHL Draft is having on the series, as the two teams picked first and second overall. Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk were selected by the Blackhawks and Flyers respectively, and both are playing in their first Final.

Because they were selected one-two in the draft, plenty of stories are being written about it. From the Flyers perspective, van Riemsdyk has constantly had to deal with comparisons to Kane since the day the Flyers drafted him. While it isn't entirely unfair due to the selections, is it really just a battle between the two of them?

This isn't an apology for van Riemsdyk - not that he needs one - but the comparison really does a disservice to both players. While it's certainly early to get a full grasp on the 2007 draft, it is worth looking at the paths the two players have taken and how they've performed once there compared to other top-10 picks from that year.

Jump to look at the 2007 draft.


http://www.broadstreethockey.com/201...an-riemsdyk-to