Quote:
Originally Posted by afc wimbledon
From a strictly cap point of view it doesn't make much sense drafting high for defence, they will be long past they're ELC by the time they are making a valuable contribution generally therefore you lose the cap lowering effect of a high pick filling up a second line slot cheaply that a decent young forward can bring in his second or third year
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But when you are talking about drafting high for defense, you are probably talking about a defenseman with first pairing potential. In drafts where there is a franchise #1 centre and a franchise #1 defensemen available, the #1 Centre often gets picked 1st overall ,but it is the defenseman that wins more Cups: Lindros vs Niedermayer, Daigle vs Pronger, Stamkos vs Doughty.
I mean since like 2001, has there been a defenseman drafted in the top 8 who has been a total bust besides Cam Barker?