How many junior players actually dominate just because of size? Not many that I can think of, certainly not many that were highly regarded for the draft. You still have to have skill to put up crazy numbers.
Chucko had skating issues and then concussion issues. McNeill's skating was questioned in his draft year even.
As for Tkachuk he's highly regarded as one of the smartest players and best playmakers in the OHL. He has decent size but loves to be in and around the net and that's how to score at the NHL level. I think he'd be a great match for Monahan and I think he could find Monahan in the slot and for tap ins.
Gauthier has skill to go along with his size, very dynamic offensive player. Laine and Puljujarvi are both big and skilled. I mean nobody we're talking about isn't highly skilled. Nylander just happens to be one of the most skilled.
I don't think anybody we're talking is dominating mostly because of their size. It's their combination of skill and size. But size advantage doesn't go away. Gauthier at 6'4, 220 lbs is going to be hard to handle at the NHL level just like he's hard to handle at the junior level. Laine is going to be hard to handle in the NHL at his size just like he is right now in Finland. Tkachuk has the size to survive the NHL and he plays a style around the crease that is going to be involved in offence. Nylander has elite skill but is the smallest of the bunch.
There's no wrong answer really. The top end is so good this year you'd have to go out of your way to pick a bust IMO. If the lottery shafts us and we end up as #6 or 7 and end up with one of Nylander/Dubois/Gauthier or something like that I'll still be pretty dang happy, those are all elite guys. If we pick higher we get the guy the Flames scouts want most or we get flexibility to move down or up.
I know people are complaining about the possibility of moving down two spots in the lottery but luckily in its a draft that has a great top end! No matter how far we move down we get an elite prospect IMO. I'd prefer top 3-5 but anywhere in the top 8 should get us a great piece.
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