Jeremy Laura: Draft Options Part 2: Ryan Leonard, Colby Barlow, Zach Benson

Nah, Wings trade both 1sts and Eddy for #2 OA and take Fantilli

I would be happy about that!! Trade their first 5 picks for him!

I would be happy about that!! Trade their first 5 picks for him!
- bluelineenforcer

One of my best friends is a Blackhawks fan. Actually wants him to go first (also a U of M grad)

Nah, Wings trade both 1sts and Eddy for #2 OA and take Fantilli
- HenryHockey

Do you want me to add that to your guesses for the contest?

I would be happy about that!! Trade their first 5 picks for him!
- bluelineenforcer

If Yzerman’s words hold true and you get 1 to 3 out of each draft, go for it. That would sell tickets like the lotto sold tix for the ‘hawks

Yzermans first round picks so far:

Seider-defense anchor for years to come, calder winner,
Raymond- again, in the calder conversation his rookie year, sophmore slump, not sure if he ends up a star though

Jury is still out on Edvinsson,Kasper and Cossa.

team is missing a stud #1 C, sucks that they didnt tank for Bedard.

yeah that worked last time...

Nah, Wings trade both 1sts and Eddy for #2 OA and take Fantilli
- HenryHockey

Personally, I wouldn't even entertain the thought of trading Edvinsson. I have numerous reasons for that. First of all, he is probably already at a point where he can secure a full-time spot on the back end next year. Secondly, with him being a defenceman, we know the learning curve looks much different than it does for forwards and plenty of development still awaits. Also, he is a big man that still has lots of physical development ahead of him and big men usually take longer to grow into themselves as well. There are tons of examples of this with Tage Thompson being the most recent and prominent example.
When projecting Edvinsson's potential, I often look back to Chara's development in Ottawa and the fact that they held onto Wade Redden rather than Chara at the time. I know Edvinsson is a bit of a different player than Chara and a much better skater but I think the comparison is still relevant due to the size and position of these players.
Considering all of these factors, I believe he is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential and that he will find himself mentioned among the elite defenders in the league in the coming years.

Personally, I wouldn't even entertain the thought of trading Edvinsson. I have numerous reasons for that. First of all, he is probably already at a point where he can secure a full-time spot on the back end next year. Secondly, with him being a defenceman, we know the learning curve looks much different than it does for forwards and plenty of development still awaits. Also, he is a big man that still has lots of physical development ahead of him and big men usually take longer to grow into themselves as well. There are tons of examples of this with Tage Thompson being the most recent and prominent example.
When projecting Edvinsson's potential, I often look back to Chara's development in Ottawa and the fact that they held onto Wade Redden rather than Chara at the time. I know Edvinsson is a bit of a different player than Chara and a much better skater but I think the comparison is still relevant due to the size and position of these players.
Considering all of these factors, I believe he is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential and that he will find himself mentioned among the elite defenders in the league in the coming years.
- Diller

I do love his potential. So much of this is just bantering back and forth. The year he was drafted he was my personal pick. It was later revealed that Dallas had him ranked as the #1 defenseman by Jim Nill. His physical growth that continued even after the draft was a bit shocking, and his skating is already impressive. I’ve had 2 fans (one in comments, one outside of them) make the proposal. I think it’s clear Yzerman has put the emphasis on growing the D core. I don’t think he would be on the block but this is just a fun back and forth. As I keep diving through the list each day I’m surprised at how much talent seems to be available throughout the first round this year. I also have some fun because the scouting sites haven’t accurately picked for Detroit in the Yzerman era overall.

yeah that worked last time...
- drrtydan

Do you mean the Cholo instead of Chycrun deal (with Pav’s contract)? That still leaves a bad taste

yeah that worked last time...
- drrtydan

Ah, I think you mean the “tank”. Yeah, we were the worst team in the league and got shoved back 3 spots to 4th pick. Yzerman had a conversation with the league and now you can only fall 2 and a team can only win the lotto so many times over a set period

Ah, I think you mean the “tank”. Yeah, we were the worst team in the league and got shoved back 3 spots to 4th pick. Yzerman had a conversation with the league and now you can only fall 2 and a team can only win the lotto so many times over a set period
- Jeremy Laura

I don't believe cup winning teams need super stars, but they do need that one go-to stud who can occasionally singlehandedly take games over. It also helps to have that player that becomes the face of the franchise. I don't believe they have that player. They usually come from the first few picks. I could be wrong, but I see a lot of future really solid players, but not future stars. Detroit should be at a place in their rebuild that a top 3 pick isn't going to happen. If it they do, everything went wrong. They are either going to have to get that player as a FA, someone who resurrects their career, or they are going to need some luck and find a hidden gem in the draft.

If you look historically, they are there, but few and far between. Guys like Stone, Kucherov, Gaudreau, Point, Jason Robertson, possibly even Aho or DeBrincat. Two of them were Yzerman's. Another 2011 draft for him would be great. He's had some really good picks, but he's had some first rounders who didn't pan out. I just hope the "experts" were wrong about one of the Wings picks. It would be awesome to a Mazur, Kasper or Lombardi become a perennial all-star.

Sorry about shifting gears here with the topic but Cossa is looking fantastic during Toledo's playoff run. 43 saves last night and only one goal against in a 2-1 win!

I also agree about not needing a top 3-5 pick to uncover elite talent. A quick glance of these picks in past entry drafts back to 2011 and I'm only seeing Landeskog, MacKinnon and Makar as cup winners. Like I said, it was a quick glance though and I'm probably missing some.

Personally, I wouldn't even entertain the thought of trading Edvinsson. I have numerous reasons for that. First of all, he is probably already at a point where he can secure a full-time spot on the back end next year. Secondly, with him being a defenceman, we know the learning curve looks much different than it does for forwards and plenty of development still awaits. Also, he is a big man that still has lots of physical development ahead of him and big men usually take longer to grow into themselves as well. There are tons of examples of this with Tage Thompson being the most recent and prominent example.
When projecting Edvinsson's potential, I often look back to Chara's development in Ottawa and the fact that they held onto Wade Redden rather than Chara at the time. I know Edvinsson is a bit of a different player than Chara and a much better skater but I think the comparison is still relevant due to the size and position of these players.
Considering all of these factors, I believe he is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential and that he will find himself mentioned among the elite defenders in the league in the coming years.
- Diller

Not sure what you're getting at here with this comparison.

Chara and Redden were both going into their age 29 seasons when Chara left for Boston. Neither player was still developing. If anything you would have predicted both of them to have already played their best years.

Furthermore, Chara finished 7th, 2nd, and 4th in Norris voting his last 3 years in Ottawa. Redden was 9th, 10th, and 5th. Both were considered great-to-elite defenseman, but Chara even at the time was viewed as the better of the two by most (though certainly not all) fans.

I would imagine Ottawa's decision to stick with Redden was mostly about the fact that he was more willing take a team-friendly deal. They might have also believed his game would adapt better to the "new" NHL as he aged, which turned out to be not a great call.

I also agree about not needing a top 3-5 pick to uncover elite talent. A quick glance of these picks in past entry drafts back to 2011 and I'm only seeing Landeskog, MacKinnon and Makar as cup winners. Like I said, it was a quick glance though and I'm probably missing some.
- Diller

That's really the wrong way to go about the exercise.

2022 Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon #1
Makar #4
Landeskog #2

2020/2021 Tampa Bay Lightning
Stamkos #1
Hedman #2

2019 St. Louis Blues
Pietrangelo #4
Schenn #5

2018 Washington Capitals
Ovechkin #1
Backstrom #4

2016/17 Pittsburgh Penguins
Crosby #1
Malkin #2
Kessel #5
Fleury #1

2010/2013/2015 Chicago Blackhawks
Kane #1
Toews #3

Obviously not every top-3 or top-5 pick goes on to win the Cup. But it's almost impossible to win the Cup without elite players. And the most reliable strategy to getting elite players, by far, is picking in the top 3. Certainly not the only way (Kucherov, Keith, Letang, etc.), but the most consistent.

That wasn't really what I was meaning with Chara but I will respectfully disagree with your statement that he wasn't still developing. While he certainly took huge steps forward with his game in Ottawa, especially offensively, to me he continued to evolve into a more physically dominant force during his time in Boston. Your point about his Norris trophy consideration while in Ottawa is certainly valid though.

That's really the wrong way to go about the exercise.

2022 Colorado Avalanche
MacKinnon #1
Makar #4
Landeskog #2

2020/2021 Tampa Bay Lightning
Stamkos #1
Hedman #2

2019 St. Louis Blues
Pietrangelo #4
Schenn #5

2018 Washington Capitals
Ovechkin #1
Backstrom #4

2016/17 Pittsburgh Penguins
Crosby #1
Malkin #2
Kessel #5
Fleury #1

2010/2013/2015 Chicago Blackhawks
Kane #1
Toews #3

Obviously not every top-3 or top-5 pick goes on to win the Cup. But it's almost impossible to win the Cup without elite players. And the most reliable strategy to getting elite players, by far, is picking in the top 3. Certainly not the only way (Kucherov, Keith, Letang, etc.), but the most consistent.
- Sven22

Holy smokes did I ever miss the mark on that one!!! Thanks for clearing that up as I definitely stand corrected.