[Psytic]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

The top ranked guy usually turns out just fine it seems to me.

2002 - Despite some CGY fans hate for his type of game, Bouwmeester turned into a pretty solid top pairing defenseman. Arguably the best player available that year at #3.
2003 - Ryan Suter was solid at #7. Some might take him higher in a re-do.
2005 - Jack Johnson looks decent, not many better players taken after him.
2006 - Eric Johnson has finally turned it around. Injuries derailed his career a bit early. He looks like he may start to justify that pick more. That year I think it was a toss up if you preferred a d-man or a forward.
2007 - Hickey was an off the board pick that didn't turn out. Didn't like that pick at the time and it wasn't supported by any scouting services. The highest ranked d-man Alzner has turned out okay but was never expected to be a star.
2008 - Doughty is obviously good as are most of the d-men taken in the 1st that year. You had Erik Karlsson, Pietrangelo, Bogosian, MDZ, L. Schenn, Myers, Gardiner, Carlsson etc.
2009 - Hedman is looking like a solid pick and potential franchise defenseman.

I think its a bit too early to tell on the rest.

So what are we talking about? That Cam Barker sucked? I wasn't a fan of his in his draft year. That some of the draft years sucked? Sure. Jack Johnson is no Niedermayer, but his draft year wasn't amazing either.

Seems this idea that top ranked defensemen don't turn out is a bit of a myth IMO. Certainly in recent history. I'm not sure drafting in the 90's has much to do with drafting today so I discount the Hamrlik, Redden, Phillips, etc data.

Its not that they "dont turn out". Its that the alternative tends to be a heck of alot better. We are talking opportunity cost. Hedman or Tavares?? Ill take Tavares. Doughty or Stamkos?? Ill take Stamkos. Kane or Hickey? Ill take Kane. It just seems that the forwards are still a better choice. Its harder to find elite scoring forwards in later rounds but its easier to find a top dman.