There’s somebody out there for everyone. The 2013 NHL Draft is no exception.
With a draft as deep and diverse as 2013 has potential to be, it’s hard to imagine any team picking in the top 15 coming away disappointed. An impressive selection of skilled centers, playmaking wingers and mobile defensemen means that most teams should easily be able to fill their most pressing needs within the 1st round. This is my attempt at playing matchmaker.
The Task: Take all the non-playoff teams from 2011/2012 and pair them with the 2013 prospect that best fills their most pressing need. Or in other words, find the best “fit”.
Let me know what you guys think. I'm sure there'll be some disagreements. It's a bit difficult not knowing where teams will be picking. Obviously every team would love to have Mackinnon, Jones, Barkov etc, but I tried to identify the teams that need each player the most or where they would fit in the best.
I would love getting Erne for Buffalo. Definitely the kind of forward we should look to add, especially with our prospect depth really thin on the wings (Foligno, Armia, Tropp is kind of it).
Can't argue with Drouin, he's what Habs fans have been clamouring for since G-d knows how long. If he pans out, he'd fit well with Patches and Galy (if he reaches his potential).
...And Ristolainen's not on there, presumably because his best fit is with Vancouver.
Thanks! There were a couple guys left over at the end like Morrissey and Ristolainen that look like they will definitely be top 15 picks. However, these 15 teams may not be the exact 15 picking in 2013 so another team who needs a mobile defenceman could definitely be in that range at the real draft.
Any Islanders fans want to chime in? Your team was probably the most difficult decision to make. I kept flip-flopping between Nichuskin and a top-4 potential d-man like Morrissey.
In the end, I went with Nichushkin because I think you guys could use a dynamic presence on the wing and his ceiling is through the roof. Also, with the selection of Reinhart last june, that gives NYI Hamonic, De Haan, Reinhart, Donovan in terms of young d-men.
I love how Ryan Murray is apparently the only even slightly decent prospect associated with the Blue Jackets.
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Remember - when you're a hockey fan, it's not "reckless driving", it's "good forechecking".
"Viqsi, you are our sweet humanist..." --mt-svk on the CBJ boards
Thanks, Howson, for cleaning up MacLean's toxic waste. Welcome, Kekalainen; let's get good things built!
You did unless you forgot to add Ryan Johansen, Boone Jenner, John Moore, etc. to the list that Mackinnon would be joining to form a solid core, not just Ryan Murray.
That would be the article talking about "building a franchise" and suggesting that Murray and MacKinnon would be the only significant basis on which such a build would occur. Never mind that Murray is one of four, or that it's a little bit early to write off Johansen. Lemme guess: if Murray hadn't been drafted, the "best fit" would have been Seth Jones, right?
I'm just getting tired of DNDTR draft and prospect articles that all imply that if Columbus somehow doesn't get MacKinnon that it would lead to Horrible Failure because There's Nobody Else. At All. Ever. We have enough gambling idiots out there wanting us to trade everything for MOAR PICKS without this kind of encouragement.
You did unless you forgot to add Ryan Johansen, Boone Jenner, John Moore, etc. to the list that Mackinnon would be joining to form a solid core, not just Ryan Murray.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Viqsi
That would be the article talking about "building a franchise" and suggesting that Murray and MacKinnon would be the only significant basis on which such a build would occur. Never mind that Murray is one of four, or that it's a little bit early to write off Johansen. Lemme guess: if Murray hadn't been drafted, the "best fit" would have been Seth Jones, right?
I'm just getting tired of DNDTR draft and prospect articles that all imply that if Columbus somehow doesn't get MacKinnon that it would lead to Horrible Failure because There's Nobody Else. At All. Ever. We have enough gambling idiots out there wanting us to trade everything for MOAR PICKS without this kind of encouragement.
I think you are reading entirely too far into a 2 sentence blurb I wrote about why I think Mackinnon is a good fit in CBJ. If this was a lengthy in-depth analysis written about the CBJ rebuild, you might have a point. The fact is, all I said was Mackinnon and Murray would be a good foundation for the franchise...how you managed to take issue with that, I'm not quite sure.
Vancouver: Rasmus Ristolainen- Vancouver has never had a truly dominating number 1 defenseman. Ristolainen, is big, talented, and has a right hand shot(an area of weakness for their roster/prospect pool). Ristolainen could very well be that player.
Chicago: Zach Fucale- Not much explanation needed, Chicago needs a legitimate starting goaltender badly, and doesn't have any promising goaltending prospects in their future. Fucale would make a great pickup for them.
Philadelphia: Josh Morissey- With Pronger's time likely up and not much in terms of defense in their prospect pool, Morissey's offensive skill and high end skating would suit Philadelphia's sytem well.
I don't know enough about a lot of the prospects, but still, it's fun to think about who would do well where, even if it's unlikely that each team picks in the range that would allow it to happen. Although if the entire season is cancelled and there's a draft lottery, then you never know.
Vancouver: Rasmus Ristolainen- Vancouver has never had a truly dominating number 1 defenseman. Ristolainen, is big, talented, and has a right hand shot(an area of weakness for their roster/prospect pool). Ristolainen could very well be that player.
Chicago: Zach Fucale- Not much explanation needed, Chicago needs a legitimate starting goaltender badly, and doesn't have any promising goaltending prospects in their future. Fucale would make a great pickup for them.
Philadelphia: Josh Morissey- With Pronger's time likely up and not much in terms of defense in their prospect pool, Morissey's offensive skill and high end skating would suit Philadelphia's sytem well.
I don't know enough about a lot of the prospects, but still, it's fun to think about who would do well where, even if it's unlikely that each team picks in the range that would allow it to happen. Although if the entire season is cancelled and there's a draft lottery, then you never know.
Part of the reason an exercise like this makes some sense this year. I like your picks, especially Morrissey in Philly. Good call there.
