[Flames Draft Watcher]

Yeah I think Murray being a left shot played a role. We are deep in right shooters. Plus you've got the instant chemistry with Murray-Jones as a very safe 2nd pairing. Sometimes Canada takes chemistry into account very heavily (see Kunitz on Canada, blech)

I just think right at this moment Murray is playing better in his own zone. It's not so much a matter of resumes IMO, it's who do you think is playing the best right now. I think it's also a matter of roles and strengths. What is Dougie right now really? He's a puck moving, two-way defensemen who likes to jump up and is strong on the powerplay. He still struggles a bit in his own zone and isn't as physical as you'd like him to be. Well we have access to a ton of that type of player IMO. If Dougie was more consistent defensively and more physical then I think he makes this team easily. But right now I think Murray is more reliable defensively and a better choice for the PK. We aren't going to be hurting for PP options IMO.

It's going to take a couple years for Dougie's defensive game to round out. Right now his strength is puck moving, jumping up and the power play and I think that role is being hotly contested with guys like Ekblad (power play point shot), Rielly, Jones, Gostisbehere, and Hanifin all competing with Dougie for that same role. If he was better defensively and more physical I think they take him an instant. But his role (two-way puck mover) and side (right shooter) are what we are deep in. He may still make it but I can see why he wasn't an automatic for those first few slots.