Quote:
Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan
I like Butler, has really stepped up his game from last year. I like him as a 5-6 guy. Wideman... He can use work, but we can blame the injuries for this year. I hope he comes back as that powerplay quarterback. He still is managing that .5 PPG, roughly. I guess you can't say he doesn't contribute, but I think he defensive game can use work. Butler is #2 in blocked shots, that's what amazes me.
Back to Ekblad, I just hope that he doesn't turn out too pricey. I would even consider giving a first rounder from next year, with some conditions on it.
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Agreed - Butler has really turned his game around.
With Wideman, his game has dropped off, but people forget how good he was at at the start of the season, and especially how he filled-in for Giordano He was averaging near the top (2nd I think?) TOI amongst defencemen, and was doing fairly well playing the toughest minutes subbing in for Giordano. I am still holding out hope he turns his game around again.
I do think Ekblad will be too pricey to move up into. From picking in the 5th-6th range, Buffalo (or whomever wins the draft) will not want to move that far down. Reinhart, Ekblad and Bennett all seem like a big step up from Draisaitl, but even after that it seems like a bit of a drop from Draisaitl down to Dal Colle. Some organizations might favor some players over others, and the final rankings really aren't finished yet, but I think it will just be too expensive to jump up 5 spots or so. Compound that if Buffalo does hold the #1 (they are very, very thin on offensive forward prospects, and are in dire need of a #1 projected center), and double that for Edmonton who want Ekblad for themselves probably, and are divisional rivals to boot.
Who knows, however. I thought (as many did) that Jones would be taken by Colorado - their need coupled with the history between Jones and Sakic seemed like an absolutely perfect fit. Ekblad may end up dropping anyways - maybe at least to a 'less expensive' spot? More likely that one of Reinhart, Bennett or Draisaitl drop - just need a team or two to favor a couple of other prospects a bit more, or who prefer to select a defencemen and are willing to switch picks for a less expensive price.