Potentially Stupid Question About McDavid

[FanIn80]

Without getting into whether or not we'll have the first overall pick in the next draft, the question I have is if we even use it for ourselves.

We have some good, young depth at C right now. I just don't see the need for McDavid, Monahan, Backlund and Bennett all on the same team. Two of those four would wind up centering the 3rd and 4th lines, and I don't honestly view any of them as anything less that a #2C.

Recognizing, of course, the potential "generational talent" that McDavid might be... do we draft him, or do we move that pick for a young, elite player that fills a hole?

At a more granular level... do we take McDavid and then trade one of Monahan, Backlund or Bennett to fill a hole with a lesser return or do we keep Monahan, Backlund and Bennett and instead trade the pick to fill a hole with a much more significant return?

This is interesting to me because the combined talent of our top-three Cs is so much higher than the combined talent of our top-three in any other position. Even if McDavid is the next Crosby, is the upgrade over a Monahan or a Bennett going to worth going that route? Do you draft McDavid and trade Monahan for Okposo... or do you keep Monahan and trade the pick for Jamie Benn?

(I'm not saying either of those trades are valid, nor am I suggesting we want those players, nor am I speculating that those players are even available. I'm just comparing the quality of returns under each scenario.)

[lanny9]

You take McDavid, you can always move guys to the wing, you never give up a generational talent...... ever!

[Oling_Roachinen]

Look at moving Bennett to the wing, keep Monahan as the second line center and Backlund as third would be my initial thought.

If that doesn't work out, look at moving Backlund for help on the backend.

[Caged Great]

Keep McDavid, move one of the other C's to the wing, problem solved.

[dissentowner]

If you have the chance to draft either McDavid or Eichel you do it, no matter what the centre depth currently. You can always move Bennett to RW, I think that would be the best option.

[Coach]

We should just invite him to camp and sign him before he can be drafted. No one would see that coming.

Wait....

[dissentowner]

Can you imagine a line of Gaudreau/McDavid/ Bennett? Sweet Jesus...

[Weitz]

Monahan - 1 NHL Season
Bennett - 0 NHL seasons.

You take McDavid. It's never bad to have too much of a good thing (centers), but you never know what will happen in 2-3 years.

[dash_pinched]

Came into thread hoping to read take McDavid and move Bennett to the wing, leaving satisfied.

[The Yen Man]

I would argue that Flames would probably trade Monahan or Bennett before they trade McDavid if they had a chance to draft him. Realistically speaking though, I don't see them trading any of them.

[Money Baer]

You take McDavid.

The only way i'd trade him is if we got a young #1D + a top 4 pick. (steep, but necessary!)

Example: PHO: 1st overall CGY: OEL + Hanifin/Kylington. Set up your D in one draft for the next 10years!

[nik-]

I think LA is a good example of the "problem" of having too many NHL centers.

[Finger Cookin]

I know the answers to this question and many more, as I have simmed all the way to the end of the 2025 season. However, I don't want to spoil anything.

[DoubleF]

I assume you take McDavid, and trade the "extra" current players for the other pieces you need (ie: A good D prospect).

[bubbsy]

you close your eyes and take mcdavid.

the GM brave enough to be the guy who trades away Crosby is quickly never working in hockey ever again.

this draft has 2 high end guys as eichel is closing in on mcdavid hype, so only way you do it is if you get a massive asset + the 2nd pick...

[FlameZilla]

You can never have enough elite offensive centremen. The idea of adding McDavid or Eichel to Bennett & Monahan is mouth-watering. Any one of the 3 could play wing, but Bennett's game suits LW as much as it does centre. It would be foolish to trade any of those players.

Backlund, Granlund, Arnold, Knight & Jankowski could all factor in as well, but it's apparent that centre ice will soon be a position of strength in depth. I can see a couple of these players traded at some point for a hefty return.

[J epworth]

Elite Center depth is always awesome to have, I mean just look at the iteration of the Flames that won the cup in 1989:

Nieuwendyk
Gilmour
Otto
Hrdina

The only one out of that group that wouldn't have been a top 2 centre on any team in the league would be Hrdina, and even he would be a 2/3 on most teams back then. Imagine having a team good enough that Monahan is your 3rd line centre and Backlund your shutdown 4th line centre? I don't think anyone would be complaining here, all that happens is you end up with 4 lines that can control the play and score, basically have a team that never gives the opposition a break, just comes at you with skill and speed every shift.

[DOOM]

The Penguins had no problem drafting Jordan Staal 2nd overall after they already had Crosby/Malkin. (They could of had Toews or Backstrom also, they were the next two picks)

[HighLifeMan]

You keep the pick and draft Connor McDavid.
After that you convert Sam Bennett back to the wing and reunite him with his former Toronto Marlboro linemate on our first line for years to come...

Easy choice!

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Look at moving Bennett to the wing, keep Monahan as the second line center and Backlund as third would be my initial thought.

If that doesn't work out, look at moving Backlund for help on the backend.

This. Bennett doesn't need to be rushed into the centre ice position. Backlund can hold the fort for a year or two, and we can trade him for an up and coming D.