Scobel Wiggins Photography

Whose team is the best?
I feel like I would disrespecting my own team by naming anyone else, but if I have to pick a team to meet us in the finals: perhaps Adam Halverson.

Who drafted best/worst?

Adam Halverson was the best because he seemed to have gotten the very best of the only draft trade. He got Cultimate to overpay for Kurt Gibson (recovering from Injury) by trading world class John Hassell for him. The draft picks that traded hands allowed Halverson to get the useful d-line player Ben Wiggins while Cultimate picked up the very talented but often injured Danny Clark. I think we all understand that reuniting Gehret-Gibson is a good idea, but now I wonder why Hassell-Gehret didn't get a chance to flourish.

In the later rounds, I was impressed with the post 8th round picks The Huddle made. The same can be said for Jonathon Neely. Ryan Thompson picking Brandon Steets with his last selection was potentially a very good move. Steets is a player I admired for his downfield play in the 2004 worlds and his past work with the Condors.

What do you think about the kinds of players that were drafted?
It worries me that so few Canadians were picked. I don't disagree with it. I wonder if the owners were right and Canada will be in big trouble in a few years when Lugsdin, Grant and Hassell no longer carry our hopes.

Players were picked based mostly on their wow factor. On offensively people's comments focused on big throws, ups, or speed. On defence the big guys who make highlight reel grabs or layout d blocks. You also get a significant bump in status if you play on a winning team. I tried to be wary of picking players and falsely attributing their team's glory with their talent level.

From everything I've studied on the link between winning and stats in team sports, it really comes down to overall effiency. I don't care if someone is a "baller" or how they look doing it, I want to know their offensive and defensively efficiency. Athleticism and speed is a growing part of the game but weak on its own.

Steven Trainor runs the blog http://canadaultimate.blogspot.com