[druetetective]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think Barkov is definitely ahead of Monahan at the moment - Barkov steps on the ice, and he does a whole lot to control the game anywhere on the ice.

Monahan I think is a step ahead of Barkov offensively, but two steps behind defensively.

With that being said, Monahan isn't terrible in his own end and I think he is coming into his own. It would not surprise me to see Monahan enter the Kopitar - Toews - Bergeron type of center conversations down the road. Many also think that because Barkov is almost a full year younger, that it means that much more, but Barkov (imo) isn't far off the Kopitar-Toews-Bergeron conversation at the moment.

For me, I had MacKinnon ranked at a whole different level coming into the draft, and then Barkov an inch below him by himself too, with Drouin, Nichushkin and Jones next, followed by another tier with Lindholm and Monahan.

Looking back, I don't know if I would select MacKinnon until 3rd. He was extremely impressive in his rookie year - especially during the playoffs where I thought we were witnessing a beast in the making. Now, I am not so sure. He started off as a winger in his rookie year, and to date it has been his best year. At some point, his higher offensive ceiling becomes something of an afterthought if he doesn't put it together. If he does, then I would give him the proverbial crown for that draft.

Currently for me:
Barkov
Monahan
MacKinnon

Still too early to tell though. Might change every year for a few years, or even always have some sensible argument to rank them all differently until they are all retired. I just count my blessings that the Flames got one of the (imo) top 3 players of the draft. In my eyes, this was very much a complete lottery type pick in drafting a franchise center.

Very good post.
I wouldn't count out Risto and Jones though-D takes longer to develop.