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Hindsight drafting: 2006

August 14, 2018, 11:21 AM ET [81 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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 ~30 years old).

Today is going to focus on the 2006 Entry Draft, otherwise known as the "Erik Johnson went ahead of who?!" draft. The reason Johnson went so high is because this year was absolutely atrocious for defensemen. It's also a lesson to not draft for need and take best available. Speaking of best available you have some great players at the very top of this draft.

Original draft slot will be in parenthesis..

1. Jonathan Toews (3)

A great and wonderfully well rounded player. It's a shame how he's been covered because getting beat on the head over and over again that he's better than players he's not by certain media types has been a real turn off. He's given the Blackhawks everything they wanted and then some. A legitimate #1 overall pick in a draft that has some top end talent.

2. Nicklas Backstrom (4)

Somebody has had to get Alexander Ovechkin all those pucks and it has been Nicklas Backstrom. The last five seasons he has had at least 70 points in each season. He has a 101 point season to his name. He sees the ice so well and creates so many opportunities for others. He's an unsung hero on what has been an elite power play for years.

3. Phil Kessel (5)

All he does is produce. For years it was in Toronto with a bare bones supporting cast. No matter what is going on with his teams his style and demanor hasn't changed. He is an offensively minded player who puts up offensively favorable numbers. Bonus points for basically never missing a game.

4. Claude Giroux (22)

One of the Flyers all-time greats. His work on the left wall of the power play is sublime. Has had more peaks than valleys and came roaring back in 2017-18 with 102 points while playing predominately on the wing after years of being a center, a move that should extent his effectiveness a number of years.

5. Brad Marchand (71)

This guy can flat out play. He'd be higher on the list if he realized that himself sooner. While he was focused on being a rat for the first half of his career he still put up great numbers. Now he splits his time being a rat and being one of the best goal scoring wingers in the NHL. He's been a superstar the last number of seasons. He just doesn't have a large enough sample of doing so to be higher than some of these other players (he could have).

6. Jordan Staal (2)

After scoring 29 goals in his rookie year he has never sniffed that again. If his offensive game was better (poor QoT or not) his work as a defensive center would have him talked about with the Toews and Kopitars of the league. He drives play against the league's elite and you can't just brush that aside. He certainly isn't a #2 overall pick, but he's a fine #6.

7. Milan Lucic (50)

Before he became another meme in the Peter Chiarelli collection he was a great power forward. He brought ferocious physicality while putting up close to top line offensive numbers at even-strength. Like most power forwards his effectiveness dwindles with age, but before that happened he gave many productive seasons.

8. Bryan Little (12)


Playing for Atlanta and Winnipeg on a lot of bad teams is a great way to never get recognized. He's certainly not a #1 center, but he does give decent enough production in the role he's played in his entire career. Some of his raw point totals in a given season would look more impressive had he not missed time.

9. Kyle Okposo (7)

A nice sidekick for John Tavares for a number of years. He has put up second line depth scoring for a number of years.

10. Derick Brassard (6)

Not quite as effective as Bryan Little and he's played on better teams, but they are very similar. Brassard has been a solid #2 center for the bulk of his career on the teams he's played on.

I don't have Erik Johnson in the top ten. Offensively he doesn't move the needle at all and I would rather draft tangible offense in the top ten of a draft. He's a fine middle pairing guy. Not a top 10 player

Honorable mention: Erik Johnson, Michael Frolik, Nick Foligno, Artem Anisimov, Jeff Petry



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