[saillias]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I just thought about this a little, and the earlier comparisons to Backlund, and I thought I would just check out this line of thinking as it applies to Backlund:

2007 Draft Class by Stats (GP-Pts.) and overall draft order:
1) Patrick Kane: 682-686; 1st overall.
2) Jamie Benn: 532-468; 129th overall.
3) Jakub Voracek: 628-427; 7th overall.
4) Wayne Simmonds: 629-366; 61st overall.
5) Sam Gagner: 635-365; 6th overall.
6) Max Pacioretty: 504-359; 22nd overall.
7) David Perron: 593-348; 26th overall.
8) Logan Couture: 455-339; 9th overall.
9) James Van Riemsdyk: 469-296; 2nd overall.
10) PK Subban: 456-293; 43rd overall.

11) Kyle Turris: 478-270; 3rd overall.
12) Brandon Sutter: 538-207; 11th overall.
13) Mikael Backlund: 406-185; 24th overall.

Backlund was a bit of a late bloomer, but it looks like he has a chance to end up top 10 in his draft class if he has a few more good seasons. Still surprised to see Gagner so high.

Oh, and LOL at Edmonton's draft pick at 15th overall.
Alex Plante: GP-10 A-2 PIM-15.

That's an impressive list of wingers. I don't see Backlund leapfrogging any of those players except maybe Sutter and Gagner. Even though both are outscoring him so far this year.