Quote:
Originally Posted by N26
Liljegren is certainly one of the pre-draft favourites to be a faller and I get the reasons why.
However if he is still available at 16 I don't see any reason for us to be in on him. Almost every profile I read makes me think 'Oliver Kylington II'. Size, skillset, skating, hockey IQ, difficult draft year, same question marks and on and on. Everything really, right down to his nationality.
We've got Kylington I and it may work out very well. We don't need the sequel.
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Liljegren has some similarities to Kylington but
1) He is consistemtly ranked higher than Kylington was, so the risk may be lower. Liljegren is still seen as a top ten prospect, Kylington was seen as a 15-20 pick.
2) He plays more of a physical game like Letang, Giordano, and Doughty. Kylington is pure finesse.
3) Shoots right, which means his only systemic competition for a spot is Andersson (and Fox, who has his own flaws). Top 4 RHD are highly valued in trade... If Liljegren and Andersson (or Fox) pan out, you could get a hefty return, helping fill any future positional need. I believe Liljegren will likely be the best pick we can make at 16 with his upside. You don't let Kylington or Andersson change that opinion.
4) Kylington is no sure thing himself. Having more bullets in the chamber is never a bad idea. And even if he were a sure thing, that's not exactly a strong argument against Liljegren... if you could draft Gaudreau 2.0 wouldn't you jump on it?