QOTD: Where would Bennett have gone in the draft with a healthy shoulder?

[spuzzum]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I voted 1 but I meant to vote 2. Bennett is the best forward from the draft but Ekblad is a beast and Florida would have picked him regardless.

Draft is less than a year old. Bennett is tearing it up in junior. I seem to recall our Swiss prodigy doing the same in his last year. Bennett should turn out rather well but let's not count our chickens before......

[IgiTang]

The Oilers already ruined Draisaitl by bringing him up and not letting him go to WJC. (In terms of desire to strive in Edmonton).

If the Oil would have drafted Bennett, I could see them wanting him to play out the season on a bad shoulder and then wait til they were eliminated from the playoffs before having surgery.

My only pont here is, Edmonton is no good.

[Five-hole]

2nd. It was neck and neck between the Sams and Drai (or at least between the Sams). Without a bum shoulder you'd have to think that Sam B would have differentiated himself.

[Stay Golden]

To the Flames it was destiny

[Ulrith]

I said 2nd, but I think it's still pretty subjective.

We don't really know how long his shoulder was injured and how much of an effect it had on point totals/combine results.

That said, with the Panthers picking first, I think he was destined to be #2 or lower. With a different team picking first that might have changed though.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

The only place he could have moved to was 3rd. Reinhart and Ekblad were rightly going 1-2 regardless. And since his injury status probably wasn't the decider on Mactavish's crush on Leon, it wouldn't have bumped him to 3.

Ekblad, I get. But you imply by this that Reinhart was on another level than Bennett, and I disagree. Especially in the event that he played with a good shoulder in his draft year, the two players were close enough all season that I think it is reasonable to believe that Bennett would have been picked ahead of the other Sam.

Oh, and I picked #1.

[Gaudfather]

I voted #2.

I still expect the Panthers would have taken Ekblad at #1.

With a healthy shoulder Sam would have had not only more points, but scouts would have taken more notice of his play making ability and capability to drive the net. This would have likely resulted in Buffalo grabbing him at the #2 spot.

[Resolute 14]

Probably third with an outside shot at second.

Bennett did finish atop CSB's ranking, but he was also very much a late developer. If Bennett had broken out in 2012-13 instead of 2013-14, then he very much could have been in the conversation for first overall.

[N-E-B]

I don't think much would have changed. Maybe he swaps places with Reinhart, but Reinhart's playoff performance was probably what solidified Buffalo's choice, and Edmonton is Edmonton so they still would have screwed up their pick.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I don't think much would have changed. Maybe he swaps places with Reinhart, but Reinhart's playoff performance was probably what solidified Buffalo's choice, and Edmonton is Edmonton so they still would have screwed up their pick.

Yeah, I distinctly remember Reinhart absolutely destroying the Hitmen in the playoffs last year. Based on that series alone, I'm not surprised Buffalo picked him.

[squiggs96]

A sub-debate of this QOTD could be what would have happened if Bennett went second overall to Buffalo, assuming Ekblad went 1st overall to Florida? Does Edmonton still take Leon which would leave us with Reinhart, or do they pick Reinhart and leave us with Leon?

I'm really glad we got Bennett, and I'd have been happy if we had the other Sam, but I'm not sure I'd be anywhere near as excited if we were left with Leon. Obviously I'd have loved Ekblad, but that was never a possibility.

[Obsidian]

Bennett > Ekblad >> Reinhart > Draisaitl

Is how I think it'll shape up.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Obsidian

Bennett > Ekblad >> Reinhart > Draisaitl

Is how I think it'll shape up.

I'd switch Ekblad and Bennett around. Ekblad is doing amazing things.

[Vulcan]

Ekblad and the two Sam's had been ranked #1 at times but I think Ekblad was the right choice. I was hoping we'd get Reinhart as he had the better pedigree and I'd seen him a lot more than Bennett. The thing with Bennett is he was younger and his status was rising. I don't know if his injury effected him much but having seen more of Bennett, he looks like he could have been taken second and I'm glad we got him.

As for trading McKinnon for Monahan, I wouldn't do it. Monahan plays centre, has far more responsibility and he's outscoring McKinnon by 10 points this season.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is clearly crazy in respect of the Mackinnon draft, but just with respect to last year, do people really think that if the draft were done again today the top 5 would go significantly differently? I don't, aside from maybe Dal Colle swapping for Nylander or Ehlers.

Mackinnon is suffering from the sophomore slump, while Monahan has actually considerably improved since his rookie year in addition to taking on much higher defensive responsibilities. Plus he's a full time Center and is becoming a very solid in the face off dot. This isn't homerism, I'd take Monahan over Mackinnon every time right now.

[Matata]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I'd switch Ekblad and Bennett around. Ekblad is doing amazing things.

A few months ago, I was more then ready to declare Ekblad the God-King of the 2014 draft, but his scoring has cooled off a whole lot (6 points last 18 games). He's dropped off from 3rd in rookie scoring to 7th and what looked like a 50 - 60 point season might not even break 40 now.

The path has been cleared for Bennett to smite the usurper and claim his rightful place as best of his draft class.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Mackinnon is suffering from the sophomore slump, while Monahan has actually considerably improved since his rookie year in addition to taking on much higher defensive responsibilities. Plus he's a full time Center and is becoming a very solid in the face off dot. This isn't homerism, I'd take Monahan over Mackinnon every time right now.

Yeah another deal by Feaster that thankfully didn't happen.

[automaton 3]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Ekblad, I get. But you imply by this that Reinhart was on another level than Bennett, and I disagree. Especially in the event that he played with a good shoulder in his draft year, the two players were close enough all season that I think it is reasonable to believe that Bennett would have been picked ahead of the other Sam.

Oh, and I picked #1.

Not sure if Reinhart is just marking time, but he is not racking up the points like last year for the Ice.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

This is clearly crazy in respect of the Mackinnon draft, but just with respect to last year, do people really think that if the draft were done again today the top 5 would go significantly differently? I don't, aside from maybe Dal Colle swapping for Nylander or Ehlers.

"Clearly crazy".
Why?
Monahan has scored more goals than anyone in that draft including Mackinnon. He's second in points. He's doing it this season while playing a strong two-way game and facing tough competition. He's showing himself to be a great leader on and off the ice. He's scoring big goals - already with an impressive number of GWGs and overtime goals under his belt.

So why crazy?

I suspect most teams take Mackinnon because of his huge upside but is it "clearly crazy" to think that based on progression so far in their early careers that Monahan would be a consideration. I don't think it is.

[Keselke]

I think the top 4 would of been the same regardless of his health