Forward or Defenceman?

[CaptainYooh]

Moderators, could you, please, attach a poll to this thread? Thank you.

Preamble: Personally, I am convinced that having a top-5 defenceman is much more important to a Stanley Cup contender team than having a star forward. I would like to discuss two possible scenarios to determine where the majority of the forum sits on this.

Before you answer the questions, these read the pre-conditions:

Question 1:

• You are a GM of team that lacks both a star (or rising star) defenceman and a star (or rising star) forward. So, you do need and want them both.
• Both are available on the market and to buy either one you have to pay the market price and issue a long-term NTC/NMC contract. Price/term would be similar.
• Problem is, you can only afford one of them in this scenario and you have to make a tough choice.

What would you do:

1. Sign a defenceman
2. Sign a forward

Question 2:

• You are a GM of team that lacks both a star (or rising star) defenceman and a star (or rising star) forward. So, you do need and want them both.
• You are in a fortunate position to make a draft pick that could get you either a top-rated young defenceman prospect or a top-rated young forward prospect. Both are great kids and their potential is seen as unlimited by all scouts around.
• Problem is, you can only pick one of them and you have to make a tough choice.

Who would you pick:

1. Defenceman
2. Forward

Would appreciate reading people's reasons for either choice/vote.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

It would be a totally different answer if it was a centre vs a winger. And how big the players are. That poll would be too simplistic to tell us much.

[CaptainYooh]

I know. This is purely hypothetical, of course. But it would show the partiality towards people's personal beliefs in the defense vs. offense importance. "Both important" is not an option here.

[troutman]

Defencemen - play the most minutes.

[the2bears]

Best player available, as long as they're on the board.

[saillias]

Question 1: If you went and posed this hypothetical to Minnesota about choosing between Parise and Suter, I think they would have taken Suter, and so would I. Those kind of elite defenders make the difference between a playoff team or not, and a Stanley cup contender or 1st round fodder.

Question 2: Draft the forward, specifically a centre, because the draft is the main way the overwhelming majority of Stanley cup teams find their #1 Cs. They develop earlier, seem easier to project, and rarely become available as free agents.

[the2bears]

I would find it really difficult to decide between a franchise d-man and a franchise center. Wingers make the choice a lot simpler - take the d-man in my opinion.

[wretched34]

Draft one, sign the other???

Preferably, draft the forward, sign the D-man.

[Monahan23]

QUESTION 1
defenceman, defence wins championships.

QUESTION 2
Forward, less risky

[OzSome]

I think I have to pick a defenseman since it is tougher to find a good defenseman than finding a good forward. Also, defenseman have more important role aside from the goaltender and they play a lot of minutes.

[GGG]

Question 1)

If you are truely talking top 5 then I do not believe a top 5 center has ever hit the market as a free agent. A top 5 defensemen has Suter (maybe not quite 5 but definately 8) and Jbo (who Sutter Ruined but seeing him play now puts him in the conversation). So since a top 5 center is never available sign the defensemen. Also a top 5 center will be more expensive for whatever reason than top 5 defensemen. The free agent forwards tend to be more overpaid than free agent defensemen.

The real answer though is you need to trade for or draft both these positions to be a cup contender. I can't think of any who signed there way with free agents for either of these positions. You are better off spending your free agent dollars filling out your second line and second pairing defensemen as you can improve your team better that way then going for a homerun.

Question 2) BPA in the draft in the top 5, if they are near equal I would take any forward (perferably center) over an equal defensemen. If you look at the top scorers in the NHL they come from the top 5 maybe even top 3. If you look at the top defensemen they come out in all rounds. You still take the best available but I take the forward over the Dman in a draft like this.

In the late first round or the second round again BPA but here I would take a defensemen over a similar rated forward as defensemen have a higher chance of being a homerun.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by GGG

...

Question 2) BPA in the draft in the top 5, if they are near equal I would take any forward (perferably center) over an equal defensemen. If you look at the top scorers in the NHL they come from the top 5 maybe even top 3. If you look at the top defensemen they come out in all rounds. You still take the best available but I take the forward over the Dman in a draft like this.

In the late first round or the second round again BPA but here I would take a defensemen over a similar rated forward as defensemen have a higher chance of being a homerun.

I like your logic on this one.

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by wretched34

Draft one, sign the other???

Preferably, draft the forward, sign the D-man.

I think this is the best way, if there was a stud dman to be had then you sign/trade for him but draft the #1C, those are harder and are more expensive to get IMO.

[Enoch Root]

It is easier to acquire elite defensemen than elite centres.

As a general rule, draft the C and go get a D.