Tough round for sure. 3 defensive prospects I really like here and that everyone is arguing for.
I chose Kylington. I think his offensive ceiling is off the charts. Few defencemen in the NHL today can skate like him and create like he does. He also possesses such an underrated cannon from the point, as well as a really quick wrister.
You counter that with some deficiencies in his defensive game. That's fair. However, he is not undersized, and I do think that defence is much easier to teach than offence. He is just not 'offensive'. He is so dynamic in how he creates it. Sometimes pure speed around a player, sometimes a high-end toe drag (though he gets caught too much for my liking, but still!!!), sometimes unleashing his cannon (which is pretty damn accurate), sometimes a smart wrister, and often a hard and accurate pass. I just think he oozes offensive talent. I think the Flames will in time fix his defensive deficiencies, and he doesn't seem unwilling to learn either.
Ask me tomorrow who is ahead out of Kylington, Valimaki and Andersson, and I may have a different answer each day. I think it is that close.
Valimaki is such a strong 2 way guy. So smart in all areas of the ice. I think I have him ahead of Andersson by a hair, even if Andersson is ahead in development. I like how Valimaki is taller (it is an advantage) and is still rather frail - once he puts on some muscle (and he seems well-conditioned so I am assuming he is committed) he will be a beast.
Not much to dislike about Andersson either. If he is really committed to his conditioning, he may end up as the best guy out of the bunch yet. I like him just a little less than Valimaki, but again, ask me tomorrow and I may have these 3 ranked in a completely different order.
Kylington takes this round for me as I see him having a franchise-level type of offensive ceiling. I also trust that the Flames will work on his defensive side. I think it helps with how deep they are organizationally on defence. Kylington will see the more 'reliable' guys get trusted more, and it will further encourage him to pick his spots better. I don't think he will 'just' be a PP specialist. I think he will eventually be a highly offensive defencemen that can be trusted in his own zone. Perhaps not a defensive stalwart, but not a guy that makes you cringe when starting in the defensive zone.
Freak.. this is so tough picking from these 3.
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