Quote:
Originally Posted by JiriHrdina
I don't know that I would agree that Yakupov was the consensus BPA. That draft seemed to have a lot of disagreement in terms of who teams would take at the top. Some teams liked Murray, others Galchenyuk, and even the Leafs are on record saying Reilly was #1 for them.
Yakupov was far from a consensus #1.
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I disagree. Yakupov was the consensus BPA (the proof for Edmonton was that he was on THN's draft guide cover).
Really he was considered the consensus #1 pick from pretty much start to finish in his draft year. At the end, THN, ISS, RLR McKeens, Mckenzie, FC, and I am sure other draft guides has Yakupov as #1. Ryan Murray was never really in contention for the #1 pick and he was even battling other defensemen for consensus top defensemen honors. Murray managed to be #2 partly because he was one of the few who managed to stay healthy and partly because he was such a smart defender he was a safest bet out there to end up being a 1st pairing defensemen but he wasn't considered a future superstar franchise type. Galchenyuk was to Yakupov as Malkin was to Ovechkin. Both Malkin and Galchenyuk were centers who were some believed were the most talented player in the draft and potentially the best player in the draft but they suffered injuries in their draft years that made them less "accomplished" than the guy who went #1.
As for the Leafs taking Reilly at #1. I don't believe it for one second. I think they would have traded down to get him. I am saying this having ranked Reilly higher than Murray if I was picking due to Reilly's offensive upside.
A lot of people here like to bash the Oilers for selecting the consensus #1 pick, but I think most teams would either trade down or take whom they picked. Heck, even the old Nordiques took Lindros when who they really needed was Niedermayer.