Quote:
Originally Posted by dammage79
I think I'd rather take Nylander than Tkachuk. But that's just me.
Honestly, I think most of us have really only seen most of these guys at the WJC with a smattering of people seeing them once or twice, but I was not really too impressed with Tkachuk in the WJC. Especially as Nylander just did exactly what Tkachuk did but better, score goals in/near the crease. My eyes told me Nylanders just better.
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I think they will both be great players. But I take the power forward every time. So rare to be able to draft a 1st line power forward. Preference for sure. I know some fans would take the more flashy guy.
Did you watch the Tkachuk highlight package a few pages back?
In my opinion power forwards become even more valuable in the playoffs when it gets tighter checking and less penalties are called. Guys like Tkachuk can fight through checks, muck in and around the crease, screen goalies, make little plays around the goal. Sometimes softer skilled European players can be shut down physically by big defensemen or they fade to the perimeter (obviously not all, the best fight through it.)
I mean how quickly have we forgotten getting physically dominated by the Ducks? They were bigger, stronger and more powerful than us. Our best player is one of the smaller guys in the league, ideally I'd wanna surround him with big, strong, physical, skilled guys to make room for him.
Nylander is sublimely skilled and I won't be disappointed if we take him but a guy like Tkachuk could be a warrior out there and allow us to play a power forward on each of our top two lines. I think some fans underestimate the impact of power forwards and how hard it is to physically check them and shut them down, especially in the playoffs. They make room on the ice by powering through checks, drawing defenders to them and then dishing it off.