Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolven
I would definitely rather see the Flames coming out of the draft with an ELITE center above all else. We just had a decade and a half of having a team with an elite winger and a non-elite center and it was frustrating constantly praying for an elite center to show up.
MacKinnon + Zykov > Drouin + Gauthier
Since MacKinnon was producing at a high pace before Drouin showed up, I would guess that Drouin's success as a high scoring winger is probably impacted by MacKinnon being a successful center. Drouin's production went up 20% when he started playing with MacKinnon. That could be as much an indication of MacKinnon's ability to make other's better as it is an indication of Drouin's growth as a scoring winger.
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I get what you are saying, and I myself hope for MacKinnon, but when MacKinnon was out, Drouin's point production actually increased as well. Drouin wasn't playing as many minutes and in as many situations until he started playing with MacKinnon. Drouin is 'the real deal' skill wise. It really is tough to rank either one ahead of the other at this point.
A team should always draft BPA, and if there are times when an organization ends up splitting hairs between prospects, then they should pick by position - a rare luxury in a draft. So, the consensus SHOULD be on MacKinnon.. but then you have to factor in that Drouin played center up until this year.
I really think that at this point, the Flames have their list, and all that is left to do is the combine/interviews and so on to see who they feel the most comfortable with.
I keep thinking that with MacKinnon's speed and motor, plus his skills - should be the wise pick. Then you think of how important and dominating an elite defencemen is out on the ice for (30 minutes a game almost) and that makes sense. Then you think of all the skill and astounding IQ a guy like Drouin can bring to a franchise (and still play center) and you hop on his bandwagon. Then you think of Barkov and his size, maturity, two-way play and that he is a center - you can hop on his bandwagon.
I myself keep flip-flopping the more I hear and see them. They are all awesome, with potential franchise player statuses. Each brings different aspects to an organization, and each can be real difference makers out there. I can't remember another draft where they had this many 'possibilities' as 1st or 2nd selections. I put Nichushkin right in the mix as well, and he may very well end up being the best player out of all of them - but that KHL contract scares me.
It will be really curious to see how the draft goes from 1-8 this year, and probably more than any other year in recent memory.