Quote:
Originally Posted by GranteedEV
Okay, then to play that game, first strip the team roster of:
Johnny Gaudreau
Sam Bennett
Sean Monahan
TJ Brodie
Mark Giordano
Dougie Hamilton
Brian Elliott
Mikael Backlund
Now, which individual player has the most potential to help impact a stripped-bare team? Is it really Tkachuk? I mean, it's fair if it is, but maybe the potential star goalie Gillies has the most ability to help that remaining roster float a la Cory Schneider in New Jersey. Maybe the two-way centremen with offensive upside Jankowski has the most potential to help that team akin to what Ryan O'Reilly rapidly improved in Buffalo. Or maybe the defenseman Andersson has the most potential to help the team like Ekblad did in Florida. I don't know, and I'm absolutely not making direct talent comparisions because if we had those three NHLers in our prospect pools we'd have a better prospect pool than Winnipeg or Toronto - and maybe it really is Tkachuk who most helps a team. But I do think you have to look at the players' value from the perspective of a team with absolutely no "starting point" rather than the perspective of whether "we" would trade Tkachuk for anyone else.
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I would pick the guy that combines the highest likelihood of success with the highest ceiling. For me, Tkachuk's ceiling is slightly lower than Jankowski's but mainly due to the position Mark plays. However, I think Matt has a MUCH better chance of reaching his ceiling. I also think Tkachuk's floor is higher. I think at worst, he will be a 3rd line winger in this league, but there's a good chance he's a top 6. For Jankowski I think it's equal chance at 2nd/3rd line as he has at bust, but there is a small chance (insert Jim Carrey pic here) he could be top line quality.
It's too hard to compare a goalie but I feel unless it's a young Price or Fleury, you go with the position player... even if the high-end potential is comparable. Goalies are too much of a crap shoot to trade for a 6th overall pick unless they are established.
I think if any GM was afforded the opportunity to pluck one of the guys on this list, they would universally pick Tkachuk. He is probably one of the five best prospects we've had in this century IMO.