Quote:
Originally Posted by djsFlames
I like Ekblad a lot. I'm just not sure if he's that much better or more of a sure thing than the top forwards in this draft. Everyone knows that d-men have historically been more of a risk to take in the top few picks than forwards. I think he's getting even more hype because he's the only top 10 defenseman this year as well.
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The thing with Ekblad is that he has a very high floor. I would be very shocked if he doesn't at the very least become a 2nd pairing defencemen within the first couple of years. It is such a 'safe' pick.
Most of the questions revolve around his ceiling - is he a legitimate #1 defencemen? Is he more of a '#2' guy? Is he a Shea Weber? People do question his offensive abilities and how he will translate into the NHL. I personally think he will be a very good #2 guy. I don't think he is 'mean' enough to be a Pronger-type, and he doesn't have enough vision to be a Doughty type. However, I also acknowledge the fact that defencemen are so very difficult to gauge at this age. I just see him as a guy who is an extremely 'safe' pick to translate into an impact player at the NHL level, but personally feel he is slightly more of a reach to translate into an elite or 'superstar' player than Reinhart is.
If you think he can translate into a #1 defencemen, it is an easy selection picking him ahead of everyone else. If you see him as a #2 or perhaps even a bit lower, than it is a no-brainer selecting Reinhart - and perhaps even Bennett over him. I can't make any sound arguments as to anyone else in the draft being selected ahead of him, however. It would shock me. He has such a high floor, and the top of this draft isn't as deep as the top of last year's draft, even with Seth Jones being an arguably better prospect than Ekblad. There is no way he drops to 4th.