[Street Pharmacist]

The Centre list is quite telling which position is easiest to project.

In the top 5 of the drafts since 2000 20 centres were taken

Here's the list:

2012
3) Alex Galchenyuk

2011
1) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3) Jonathan Huberdeau
5) Ryan Strome

2010
2) Tyler Seguin
4) Ryan Johansen

2009
1) John Tavares
3) Matt Duchene
4) Evander Kane
5) Braydon Schenn

2008
1) Steven Stamkos

2007
3) Kyle Turris

2006
2) Jordan Staal
3) Jonathan Toews
4) Nicklas Backstrom

2005
1) Sidney Crosby

2004
2) Evgeni Malkin

2003
2) Eric Staal

2002
None

2001
2) Jason Spezza
3) Alexander Svitov
4) Stephen Weiss

2000
None


I see at least 10 franchise players there. That's 10/22. Why not go with the center? You are likely to find good defencemen in unexpected places. You have one shot to change your franchise with the first pick. We need all positions, but the safest odds for a franchise changing player is the center. No questions in my mind.


McKinnon