There may or may not have been a thread about this already, but I don't know.
In 2006, five pretty good players were picked in the top five. Even though Erik Johnson is a solid player, I'd say St. Louis still ****ed up. Here's how I see it:
1-St. Louis, with the first pick takes Nicklas Backstrom.
It would really solve some of the forward problems they've been having, especially at centre. A PPG guy would really help them.
2-Pittsburgh takes Phil Kessel #2.
Imagine a Crosby-Malkin-Kessel power play. The other team would **** their pants. Plus how good do you think Kessel would be doing if he had one of those to guys on a line with him?
3-Chicago still takes Toews third.
4-Washington takes Jordan Staal fourth. Staal can dish out the puck decently well, not as well as Backstrom but well enough to get Ovechkin 50 goals a season while he was still good. Washington solidifies the PK.
5-Boston take Erik Johnson.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, that would mean they wouldn't get Seguin. But they do get another shut-down defenseman.
What? Staal passing abilities are as good as Semin's fighting abilities. You may be thinking of Eric.
And Pens would take Toews or Giroux over Kessel, AINEC.
St. Louis- Toews
Pitt- Giroux. Him and Malkin would be dynamite.
Chicago- Backstrom
Washington- Kessel
Boston- Staal/Johnson/ Lucic
Last edited by Ziggyjoe21: 02-07-2012 at 01:01 AM.
St. Louis didn't **** up in drafting Johnson. He was the consensus first overall pick that year. Any of the 30 teams would have taken him there.
That's how the draft works. Sometimes players end up being better than others.
In hindsight, Teows is the 1st overall in this draft.
While Johnson was the most popular #1 pick, it was hardly by a landslide. Any of the top five could have gone 1st overall. In fact, each of the top four teams got "their guy."
impossible to say, Giroux didn't put up huge points in 08-09 but if he'd been on the Pens he'd have probably played with Crosby or Malkin.
Crosby and Malkin lines did pretty good that run. But the 3rd line without Staal would hardly help that lot. So I think there wouldn't be the Cup for Pens. But they'd sure be the different team right now - much better.
Crosby and Malkin lines did pretty good that run. But the 3rd line without Staal would hardly help that lot. So I think there wouldn't be the Cup for Pens. But they'd sure be the different team right now - much better.
maybe but they could have brought someone in for the 3rd line.
Maybe in another year or two but right now backstrom, Toews, Kessel, all pretty solid competition...maybe over Kessel. Don't know too much about Johnson because I rarely see him and I'd say giroux is prob better than Staal now.
While Johnson was the most popular #1 pick, it was hardly by a landslide. Any of the top five could have gone 1st overall. In fact, each of the top four teams got "their guy."
Agree on this, I remember that Kessel was predicted to go first whole year, but couple of months before the draft he's stocks went down a little. Can't recall why but eventually there was no consencus on how the first 3 or 4 drafts will go.
If we're re-doing the top five of the draft:
1. Toews
2. Giroux
3. Backstrom
4. Kessel
5. Staal/Lucic/Stewart/Johnson could all reasonably go in the five slot.
You're presented the prospect of drafting what appears to be a #1 dman for your franchise. They are big, physical and play both dynamic offensively and solid defensively.
You're presented the prospect of drafting what appears to be a #1 center for your franchise. They are big, but not overtly physical. They are very creative and expected to put up 1st line points throughout their career. Defensively sound and a solid leader.
You're presented the prospect of drafting what appears to be a #1 center for your franchise. They are average in size, not very physical, but extremely offensively gifted. You could be looking at franchise offensive production from them while not a liability in their own end.
Which option do you take? What are you expectations early on in their career?
In hindsight, most people would take option #2 (Toews or Staal)
Some #3 (Kessel or Backstrom)
Even fewer #1 (EJ)
But if you didn't have hindsight and you had no reason to rush their development, you'd be a fool to not take option #1. Especially in 2006, since the great dman draft of '08 hadn't given out an additional 5 young #1/2 defenders to the NHL yet with an additional 5 young gems.
Its a very simple concept and people are still ****ing up The question is what would the top 5 look like now if the draft was redone and the same 5 players were picked? Giroux doesn't apply to the question but should be 2nd overall.
Relevant to this discussion. Here's part three (of 4), since it's the most interesting.
The noteworthy moment comes towards the end where Boston offers the 5th + 37th pick to Washington in exchange for the 4th pick. McPhee asks who they want to pick, and Boston responds "the Swede." How different things might have been if Backstrom went to Boston and Kessel to Washington. Fun to imagine.
Interesting video. The 37th pick turned out to be Yuri Alexzandrov for Boston. I wonder who the Caps would have picked. Interesting to note as well that Boston picks Lucic and Marchand with picks 50 and 71.
Really makes you wonder who the Caps would have taken and how it would have effected the rest of the entire draft.
The question is what would the top 5 look like now if the draft was redone and the same 5 players were picked? Giroux doesn't apply to the question but should be 2nd overall.
Dog fight with Giroux
