I am going to look back at previous drafts and re-draft the top ten with the hindsight we have now. This will value their entire body of work over the years not just where they are in the present moment. I'm looking for who would provide the most value over their careers to this point even if they may be in decline (spoiler the players today are all ~28 years old).
Today is going to focus on the 2008. This is the year of the defenseman. An amazing glut of talent came out of this draft. It just wasn't reflected in the original top ten of the draft. It is probably painful for some of these general managers to look back and see some of the misses. Teams fall over themselves for right handed defenseman who can play. This was the draft to get one.
Here is what the actual top ten looked like
Steven Stamkos (C)
Drew Doughty (D)
Zach Bogosian (D)
Alex Pietrangelo (D)
Luke Schenn (D)
Nikita Filatov (LW)
Colin Wilson (C)
Mikkel Boedker (LW)
Josh Bailey (C)
Cody Hodgson (C)
1. Erik Karlsson (15)
A transcending player that fell into the laps of the Ottawa Senators. He does all the things that are actually important in helping a team win. He should have had a Nick Lidstromesque run of Norris Trophies, but a majority of people who vote on that stuff don't know what actually matters.
2. Steven Stamkos (1)
Stamkos is a legitimate #1 overall pick and has lived up to expectations of going that high. I remember the late EJ McGuire giving a talk at the Roger Nielsen Coaching Clinic in 2008 gushing about Stamkos and how great he was. This is the opposite of what the @OldTakesExposed account does.
3. Drew Doughty (2)
An amazing player that could be a #1 overall pick in a different year. Top pairing player for both Stanley Cups and Gold Medals.
4. Alex Pietrangelo (4)
Certainly good enough to be the first defenseman off the board in most years. Being third in hindsight isn’t a slight in the least bit when you consider the other two in front of him. What a great year for franchise right handed defensemen.
5. Braden Holtby (93)
One of the very best goalies in the league. His postseason resume was great even before the Capitals were able to win the Stanley Cup. I am not very big on drafting goalies high in the draft. The exception is when they are one of the very best.
6. Jordan Eberle (22)
He is a top line winger that can produce offense. A dopey general manager that doesn’t understand shooting percentage variance sold him at his lowest point. Imagine if he didn’t have to play on bad teams all the time.
7. Roman Josi (38)
The first left handed defenseman off the board for me. A very offensive minded player that can produce at even-strength. His passing data is very strong as well. Defensemen who can produce offense and help transitionally are the ones you want. Worry about the defending stuff later.
8. Jake Gardiner (17)
People are probably down on him because of his atrocious showing in Game 7 this past spring, but he’s a solid player that can get the puck to those very talented forwards so that they can do things with it.
9. John Carlson (27)
His willingness to shoot on the power play is what keeps creating the Alexander Ovechkin seam on the Capitals power play. His booming shot creates chaos and goals so teams don’t have any choice but to stay honest. Any other year he’d be higher on the list. This year was crazy good for defensemen.
10. Cam Atkinson (157)
A creative and shifty water bug who has been overcoming odds his entire career. He’s a good skater that is a nice option to have on your second line.
Honorable mention: Travis Hamonic, Josh Bailey, Justin Schultz, Marco Scandella, TJ Brodie, Adam Henrique, Gustav Nyqvist
Thanks for reading!
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