I hear you Z but outside of usually 1-2 guys in every draft class, there are risks with any draft pick, even those rated in the Top 15. I view a worst case scenario for Tkachuk as Tom Wilson and best case....he's like his father. With small defenseman like Hughes/Boquist, or big bodies but slow mind/feet dmen like Bouchard/Dobson.....I think there is as much risk if not more that they bust. Tkachuk has NHL size and I do not see any skating issues with him. He's at worst a 3rd line crash and banger that can score 15 goals. At best hes a consistent 30/30 big, mean and nasty power forward on your top line.
- EnzoD
Valid points Enzo. We actually agree on lots, just different approaches. I do not want Bouchard or Dobson for the same reasons I’d shy away from Tkachuk. Watched Dobson recently at the Memorial Cup. His team won but he didn’t separate himself from anyone. He certainly did not jump out at you as you might think such a highly rated player should.
With high draft choices I would always only draft players with high-end skill and high-end skating as these players will be the ones most likely to really excell, to become NHL stars. This #8 pick is very important to the Hawks. It cannot be wasted. I think you need to draft someone that has a true ability to become an elite player. I just don’t think you can draft someone who could track high up the line-up or could track way down the line-up. We’re just looking at it differently. If Tkachuk has the chance of being a 3rd liner with 15 goals for me that just isn’t good enough for this pick. Also if Tkachuk falls to 8, 7 other teams have said no for a reason.
If you draft a player with high-end skill and high-end skating and it proves to be a mistake it is harder to question the choice. Now if you draft a player without high-end skill and high-end skating and it proves a mistake it is easier to question the choice as one of the possible results going in is that the skillset was not going to transfer to the NHL. If that is the case the player could be a conplete disappointment.
I don’t think the Hawks go for Bouchard or Dobson as they now emphasize skill and skating - if they are thinking about D-Men. I would think that Quinn and Boquist would interest them. I also think the Hawks should do whatever it takes to get Merkley, trading to get in position if necessary. I have seen Merkley in the top 10 on some rating boards. Some team is going to be smart with him. The thinking from many is it would be nice to have Merkley as a 2nd choice - maybe it should be that it would be nice to have Merkley as a 1st choice. He has incredible skills and skating ability and I for one don’t put much stock in a 16 year-old having attitude. Who didn’t?