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Top Four Picks

5K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  marsalbd98 
#1 ·
Going in to this draft, the top four picks could be franchise changing and anyone of them could go 1st overall. After that, the players go down hill in which is a pretty weak draft class.

Based on the standings now, I'm just wondering what everyone thinks the team's choice will be based on the needs of the team.

1st Overall: Edmonton Oilers

I say they would draft Adam Larsson, they have a lot of youth up front and no real #1 defenseman on the back. Ryan Whitney is good, but for a kid in Larsson to already be getting compared to the likes of Lidstrom, pretty hard to pass up.

2nd Overall: Ottawa Senators

Although as much as I say that we will get Landeskog because I want him the most, I say the Sens go with Sean Couturier. He's a big bodied centre who plays a two-way game, perfect 1-2 punch for our centres with him and Spezza. Fills in the hole that Fisher left and will hopefully do a better job. And I pick him over Nugent-Hopkins for the Sens because he is more NHL ready and could jump in to the lineup right away.

3rd Overall: New York Islanders

Islanders jump on Landeskog because they need wingers and this is a role player kind of guy. Adds grit and character to the line-up right away and he's the kind of guy that can help a hurting franchise like the Islanders right away and could potentially cause future sellouts for a no-fan base team like Ovechkin did for Washington.

4th Overall: Florida Panthers

Well it seems like the Panthers pick top 5 every year, and are still getting no where. They pick the last guy left in Nugent-Hopkins who looks to be the most offensively talented but probably turns in to a bust because of the Panther's organization.
 
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#2 · (Edited)
I have a much higher opinion of Jonathan Huberdeau than a lot of people do. Very talented, very smart and his development curve has been absolutely amazing, much better than Couturier and Nugent-Hopkins. If one of those teams want a center, I really wouldn't be shocked to see them consider him as an option.

Then again, I did have Fowler in my top four heading into the draft last year, so I've been wrong before.

As far as Larsson being compared to Lidstrom, no. As much as I like both Lidstrom and Larsson, Larsson's a much better skater and uses that to defend more than air-tight gap control like Lidstrom. I see more Edler in him than Lidstrom. Every young Swede gets compared to Lidstrom. I mean, who remembers Stralman being compared to Lidstrom?
 
#3 ·
Huberdeau looks good, I still think those are the set top four though.

And I mean the strong defensive and offensive play for Larsson, and the fact that he's Swedish. Not the exact same style of play. Also the difference is that Larsson could be going 1st overall and may be considered the best player available in this draft, I can't think of a Swedish defensemen that has done that in a long time, if ever.
 
#4 ·
Huberdeau looks good, I still think those are the set top four though.
I don't see much of a gap between the big four and Huberdeau in terms of talent level, and Huberdeau's development curve just sticks out for me. I wouldn't be shocked if he doesn't, but I also won't be shocked if Huberdeau breaks into the top four with a strong finish to the season and strong playoffs.

And I mean the strong defensive and offensive play for Larsson, and the fact that he's Swedish. Not the exact same style of play. Also the difference is that Larsson could be going 1st overall and may be considered the best player available in this draft, I can't think of a Swedish defensemen that has done that in a long time, if ever.
I don't really see the point of making comparison to Lidstrom if he doesn't really play a similar style, but okay. :laugh:

It's rare for defensemen to go 1st overall, let alone Swedish defensemen. The only ones off the top of my head are Hamrlik, Jovanovski, Berard, Phillips and Erik Johnson. I think that's it in the last 20 years.
 
#7 ·
If this is how the draft order stays I think it goes Larsson, Landeskog, Couturier, and RNH. I think the best overall player available IMO at least is Landeskog, but the Oilers are riddled with talented forwards and I think a guy like Larsson would relly fit in there. Averaging about 19 minutes on ice last time I checked as an 18 year old he's got a great reach at 6'3 and he can move the puck, but he's no Lidstrom.

I think the Sens would flip flop between Landeskog and Couturier but I just think I'd take Landeskog. I'm very high on him and it's not very often you get a power forward with that much skill set at his age. he also already has a pretty solid frame to work with and gets into the tough scoring areas very well. I think he has a great future ahead of him and he'd be hard to pass on if he was here.

I think the Isles take whichever one of them is left and for now I'll say it's Couturier. Plays a pretty solid two way game and he impressed me in the World Juniors being the only undrafted player on team Canada and played very well. He's another guy who is pretty tall and has a good reach and if he can fill out he could be a real solid player at the next level.

And last but not least I think the Panthers take RNH at four. I like his game as well and he has some sick hands and is a tremendous skater. But at the moment he is really really small. I feel like he's only about 5'11 and he can't weigh more than 165 pounds. I understand he will probably beef up but so will everyone else. Not to say he won't be good, because I think he will be but I think he might take a while longer.

Just my two sense.
 
#9 ·
Flyers fan here and i can't believe that Couturier went down to the 8th overall pick. What a steal. I wanna see him playing with Schenn this year sometime. Kid has amazing hands.And i think Couturier is just as NHL ready as Landeskog.
 
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