First the mock draft we came up with at the Dutch Pannekoeken house in Calgary (Brian, Bob, Doug, Me);
1. Highlanders - Getzlaf-C Ana (bids on Malkin)
2. Personal Vendetta - Datsyuk-L Det
3. Knights Templar - Parise-L NJ (new FP) (bids on Phaneuf)
4. Great Whites - Lecavalier-C TBay (new FP)
5. Edge - Nabokov-G SJ
6. Ramapithicines - Mason-G Clb (new FP)
7. Wolves - Phaneuf-D Cgy (match)
8. Lost Boys - Savard-C Bos
9. Bladerunners - D.Sedin-L Vcr
10. Shadowmen - Gonchar-D Pit (bid on Carter-C Pha)
11. Scourge - Carter-C Pha (match)
12. Severed Heads - Malkin-C Pit (new FP)
13. Severed Heads - Boyle-D SJ
14. Scourge - Semin-L Wsh
15. Shadowmen - Morrow-L Dal (bid on; Perry-R Ana, Vanek-R Buf, Weber-D Nsh)
16. Bladerunners - Gagne-L Pha
17. Lost Boys - Backstrom-G Min
18. Wolves - Alfredsson-R Ott
19. Ramapithicines - Perry-R Ana (match)
20. Edge - Rafalski-D Det
21. Great Whites - Vanek-L Buf (match)
22. Knights Templar - Weber-D Nsh (new FP, match)
23. Personal Vendetta - Markov-D Mtl
24. Highlanders - Campbell-D Chi
After a couple of weeks of thought, Bob revises the projections slightly;
1. Highlanders - Getzlaf-C Ana
2. PV - Datsyuk-L Det
3. Knights Templar - Lecavalier-C (new FP)
4. Great Whites - Parise-L (new FP)
5. Edge - Kiprusoff-G Cgy
6. Ramapithicines - Mason-G Clb (new FP)
7. Wolves - Phaneuf-D Cgy (match)
8. Lost Boys - Savard-C Bos
9. Bladerunners - Gonchar-D Pit
10. Shadowmen - Morrow-L Dal
11. Scourge - Boyle-D SJ
12. Severed Heads - Malkin-C Pit (new FP)
13. Severed Heads - Nabokov-G SJ
14. Scourge - Semin-L Wsh
15. Shadowmen - Markov-D Mtl
16. Bladerunners - Sedin,D-L Vcr (bid on Perry, Vanek, Weber, Carter)
17. Lost Boys - Alfredsson-R Ott
18. Wolves - Campbell-D Chi
19. Ramapithicines - Perry-R Ana (match)
20. Edge - Rafalski-D Det
21. Great Whites - Vanek-L Buf (match)
22. Knights Templar - Weber-D Nsh (new FP, match)
23. Personal Vendetta - Niedermayer-D Ana
24. Highlanders - Backstrom-G
4 comments:
I had a number of issues with Bob's version of the mock draft, but thought them best moved into the comments section;
- I simply don't see anyway that it makes sense for the Knights Templar to pass on Parise in favour of Lecavalier, even if Mike hates the Devils. Parise is; younger, higher scoring, at a better position, and most importantly, worth more in trade as a result.
- The Great Whites sitting at the four spot are in the worst possible position for replacing an FP (except maybe the Lost Boys at 8). The two best candidates for FP status (Getzlaf and Parise) are highly probable to go in the top three picks along with the decent (if overaged) candidate of Pavel Datsyuk. The first mock draft had suggested that Lecavalier is the door prize for the Great Whites, but that hardly seems very palatable with Big Vinny's team in decline and undergoing an obvious rebuild. Nor are the Great Whites likely to be in love with the notion of promoting from within. Vanek is an option, but he seems a bit over valued as a top four pick. Nor is a goaltender like Nabokov (already well into his prime) likely to be a top contender. All in all, being in the four spot may put the GWs into a squeeze play that forces an off-season trade rather than a new FP pick.
- I have real trouble seeing Kiprusoff going as high as five to the Edge, especially with a more proven commodity in Nabokov still on the board. Yes, I know that Collin likes Flames, and Yes I know that the D in front of him is vastly improved, and Yes, Sutter should have a renewed defensive system in place, but Kipper's save % has declined markedly year after year, and he would be a huge gamble over Nabokov. I bet the Edge take the proven commodity instead.
- Of all the potential new FPs suggested, Mason-G Clb is easily the most controversial, but he does fit the bill. He's young, he's on a defense first squad that is improving, he's got Hitchcock as his coach (someone who stresses defense first last and always), and he looks to have a bright future. But he is in Columbus, a place not typically noted for producing reliable franchise players. That all said, Turco's time is clearly coming to an end, and the Ramapithicines could do a lot worse than gamble on a Calder trophy winning top 5 netminder to replace him.
- My more radical suggestion for the Knights Templar is to hope that Weber does not get bid on, and to rush the process and select Kane-R Chi as their 2nd FP. A pairing of Parise and Kane would be quite the platform to build around - though doing so would potentially cost them the right to match on Weber. If the KT go this route, look to see Weber moved in the off-season for a nice package of stuff to avoid losing him for nothing.
A few comments, I went back and forth on Datsyuk/Getzlaf with the knowledge that Darrell will likely take the other. The debate ends if Datsyuk returns to center as Getzlaf's toughness wins a straight-up comparison hands down. If Datsyuk remains at left, however, this may come down to the draft day.
I tend to agree with Bob on the Parise/Lecavalier debate as far as what Mike does but agree with Cam on what he SHOULD do.
I actually think Dan would prefer Parise to Lecavalier as an FP not because of the reasons Cam cites but because his stable of centers is pretty full with the Staal brothers, Statsny and Tavares. While normally you are looking for an FP on the young side, Tavares' anticipated promotion to FP status in two years makes that less a consideration - a surprise selection here (a Gonchar, for example) would not be a surprise.
I agree that Collin will not want to wait on a goalie and that it will be Nabokov instead of Kipper.
I am increasingly inclined to think that Corey will NOT take Mason as a new FP - the question marks are too big. I like the idea of a new FP goalie, however, and wonder if we might see name like Backstrom in MIN. Backsrom is only 31, young for a goalie - infantile for an Edmonton goalie - and he has a great track record.
I hear rumours that Gaborik's arrival in NY has made his FP demise less sure. I don't know if Phaneuf gets bid on by pick 7 but if he does, I am not so sure that he is matched if not being made an FP. I'll go with the consensus selection here but with much more doubt than I had before July 1st.
Still like the Savard pick from Richard.
Still like the D.Sedin pick for Brian - just don't see him wanting to repeat the Gonchar pain of last year, though I agree it is about where he should be picked.
I like Morrow too but still think that, if Gonchar is available, that is the pick to make. My defense-bias is showing here, I know.
Skipping ahead, I just don't see Cam taking a goaltender in the first two picks. He will take the best of what's left come the 3rd/4th round wrap-around.
On the goalie note, I really can see no scenario whare I take a goalie in the second round - not with Brodeur already on board.
Really going to have to give this all a lot more thought but it is a great way to pass the time.
A few comments to add... Bob and I were brainstorming about FP changes and we figured out Mike's newest FP
David Krejci
Don't know if anyone will see it this late, but Bob's prediction of my second round pick is more accurate. I always have trouble with my RW and am more likely to pick that way.
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