flames get 1st overall pick, today who would you pick?

[moon]

Mackinnon is best player and Center so I go with him.

Where are reports of Jones being consensus number one pick coming from? I have seen him ranked number one but most reports have scouts split between him and Mackinnon and a consensus not being there at all.

[mustache ride]

Originally Posted by T@T

Sure he did!

You misunderstood the post.

[d_phaneuf]

if it's even close it has to be the center, a much higher success rate in drafting, and they seem to mature faster

A. Look at the TSN top 20 from this year, cutting out wingers/goalies


1. Crosby (1st)
2. Malkin (2nd)
3. Giroux (22nd)
4. Stamkos (1st)
5. Datsyuk (171st)
6. Toews (3rd)
7. Weber (49th)
9. H.Sedin (3rd)
10. Kopitar (11th)
11. Karlsson (15th)
12. Chara (56th)
17. Doughty (2nd)
20. Tavares (1st)

9 centres, 4 d men

if you want to make a list of the top 10 centres you may add the next center from the list (Eric Stall, 2nd)

so of arguably the top 10 centers in the league

1st (3)
2nd (2)
3rd (2)
11th (1)
22nd (1)
171st (1)

adding in the rest of the d men from the top 50 to make a top 8

(adding Suter, Pietrangelo, Letang, Keith)

2nd (1)
4th (1)
7th (1)
15th (1)
49th (1)
54th (1)
56th (1)
62nd (1)

7 of 10 top centers are picked in the top 3

4 of the top 8 d men were drafted in the late 2nd round

top 5 picks from 2006-2010 drafts

d
Erik Johnson
Karl Alzner
Thomas Hickey
Drew Doughty
Zach Bogosian
Luke Schenn
Alex Pietrangelo
Victor Hedman
Erik Gudbranson

arguably only 2 have lived up to the hype of a top 5 pick (Doughty and Petro)

two have been very solid (Hedman and Gudbranson), 1 has been solid (Bogosian)

4 rest of been mildly to severely disappointing

c
Jon Toews
Eric Stall
Nick Backstrom
Kyle Turris
Steven Stamkos
John Tavares
Matt Duchene
Brayden Schenn
Tyler Seguin
Ryan Johansen

6 have lived up the hype of a top 5 pick (Toews, Stall, Backstrom, Stamkos, Tavares, Seguin)

3 are still debatable as to be worth it and couldn't really be judged yet based on a few reasons, mostly consistency or playing time (Turris, Schenn, Duchene)

1 could be classified as a major dissapointment so far (Johansen)

It's just a safer pick to take the center, elite centers are less likely to be found later in the draft and and picking in the top 5 lately you have a much higher success rate in not only picking an elite player but avoiding a bust

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by moon

Mackinnon is best player and Center so I go with him.

Where are reports of Jones being consensus number one pick coming from? I have seen him ranked number one but most reports have scouts split between him and Mackinnon and a consensus not being there at all.

http://www.tsn.ca/draftcentre/feature/?id=11321

[PeteMoss]

I'd take Jones. MacKinnon's stock seems to be fading all year long and that worries me. Jones looks like to me a team changing defenseman.

[Heavy Jack]

You take your most glaring need, or just ask yourself what would Edmonton do and do the exact opposite.

[kirant]

Originally Posted by T@T

Sure he did!

Imaginary MacKinnon said it, not me

[saillias]

Originally Posted by 868904

I can just see this board flipping out after the Flames select Jones, the consensus #1 pick overall, and bypass the top ranked centreman.

The rest of the hockey world will be jealous that we have a stud defenceman prospect and we'll be on this board trashing the GM.

Until he turns into the next Hedman/Hamrlik/Jovanovksi while team B has got the next Seguin, or Staal.

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by moon

Mackinnon is best player and Center so I go with him.

Where are reports of Jones being consensus number one pick coming from? I have seen him ranked number one but most reports have scouts split between him and Mackinnon and a consensus not being there at all.

ISS has MacKinnon at number three now. It makes me wonder why. Probably not much to worry about if you're MacKinnon.

[Caged Great]

I'd be happy with any of Jones, McKinnon, Barkov, or Drouin. They really aren't that far away from each other in terms of potential, so it doesn't really seem like a top pick is actually as important this time.

[dino7c]

its not gonna happen so don't worry about it

[calgarybornnraised]

The new track record of drafting is Hockey Smarts.So who has it in this group?

[Psytic]

Barkov is literally almost a year younger than Jones. He has high hockey IQ plays a good 2 way game and is playing against men already over seas. He is also 6'3 and over 200 pounds. He looks NHL ready all ready even at his young age. I think he would tick all the boxes of Flames management personally for a big skilled center and could probably play the second or third line next year in the NHL. He actually kind of plays a bit like Jankowski lol.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by saillias

Until he turns into the next Hedman/Hamrlik/Jovanovksi while team B has got the next Seguin, or Staal.

The next Hedman would be fantastic. That kid is looking better and better all the time and like a future Norris winner.

[Poe969]

I would take McKinnon if the chance is there but any pick in the top 5 would be amazing! When the "elite" prospects are gone than I think you have to look at the best available player who meets your most glaring need. Defensmen take a long time to develop so that has to be a factor you take into consideration.

I will openly say that if given a chance, I'd take McKinnon over Jones but I would still be pretty damn happy if we got Jones.

[Imported_Aussie]

For me, Barkov looks intriguing, big and still young (though MacKinnon is the same age).
Jones has size, skates well, good vision, would also be hard to pass up.
It seems to me like a draft where it would be better to pick second...

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

The next Hedman would be fantastic. That kid is looking better and better all the time and like a future Norris winner.

This... I am not sure Tavares is going to end up better than Hedman.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

This... I am not sure Tavares is going to end up better than Hedman.

Uhm, really?

Tavares looks this season like he's turned the corner.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

Uhm, really?

Tavares looks this season like he's turned the corner.

Forwards mature faster than Dmen, but Hedman is putting together quite a nice year as well. Who knows if either will keep pace, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that Hedman ends up better. I think due to biases (mainly based on points) that forwards get propped up higher than dmen.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

Forwards mature faster than Dmen, but Hedman is putting together quite a nice year as well. Who knows if either will keep pace, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that Hedman ends up better. I think due to biases (mainly based on points) that forwards get propped up higher than dmen.

Don't get me wrong, love how Hedman is developing this year but Tavares looks to be on the cusp of reaching his potential which is a +PPG centreman. Unbelievably player to watch this year.