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Why? It should always be Best Player Available. We need defensemen, centers and wingers, in that order, but that doesn't mean we should take them in that order. To predetermine that we're taking a defenseman with picks 6, 27 and 35, forwards with picks 37, 68 and 81, and a goalie with pick 87 would be dumb. As long as we take BPA with all of our picks, and we address all positions at some point in the draft, I'll be happy. I'm also hoping we look to trade up with our multiple 2nd's and 3rd's. Someone mentioned trading Svechnikov to Carolina for Hanifin. I'd love that, but no way the Canes give up Hanifin. Maybe a trade for Bean would be doable though. I'd aggressively pursue that sort of trade this offseason. If we could get Bouchard (or Dobson / Boqvist / Hughes) in this draft, trade for Bean, we'd be well on our way to fixing our defense. A top 4 of Bean - Bouchard and Cholowski - Hronek could be pretty damn good.

I recently read an interesting theory regarding Hughes' shot/lack thereof and his goal-scoring prowess/lack thereof. Basically: Hughes uses a long stick (for obvious reasons), which takes a lot off of his shot, because the release point isn't really where it should be. According to the theory, he's well aware of this, accepts the tradeoff, and focuses on passing, skating, playmaking. I was a tall defenseman who used a relatively short stick, so I can't really relate. But it makes sense. I slightly prefer Boqvist, largely because he's so much younger, as @Buppy pointed out. I go back and forth between Boqvist and Bouchard as my top preference. But, really, we could take any of those four defensemen -- Hughes, Boqvist, Bouchard, Dobson -- or Wahlstrom and I'd be happy.

You’re wrong

Tippett would have done better...

I was looking at some stats, I see Rasmussen has 30 pts (15 goals, 15 assists) in 13 playoff games. Gotta love that!

The Wings hate right-shooting forwards. They've only recently warmed to right-shooting defensemen. I blame Samuelsson.

Boqvist and Hughes are in fact very similar players. Primarily offensive guys with a game built around their skating ability. Of course there are differences, but I'd say any team interested in one would have nearly equal interest in the other. For me, the only reason I like Boqvist more is because he's almost a year younger, which could make a huge difference at that age.

Struck by the #90 curse.

Dahlin should pull a Lindros and say that he wants to play for the Red Wings because of the Swedish Mafia.

Well Larsson is definitively that. Hopefully he continues his progression and can help the Wings in 2-3 seasons.

Vilardi too!

I would definitely buy that. Watching him play I was amazed at his lack of scoring production considering how offensively aware he seemed. He does still put up pretty impressive assist numbers, so if it's by design I'm a little less leery of him. Either way, I'd take Bouchard over both Boqvist or Hughes at this point. But as you said, I wouldn't be unhappy with any.

I'd have no problem giving up Athanasiou for a Foote calibre defenseman, but I'm not sure if I'd be willing to give up Athanasiou AND a 1st round pick. Maybe? But if it were a draft day trade and they wanted to make it because a player they really like dropped, it would depend who it was that dropped. Maybe it's a player we're really high on as well. In which case, I probably wouldn't make the trade. I'm also not sure if Tampa would have much interest in Athanasiou. They're loaded with top 9 wingers, and more knocking on the door. If we're looking to acquire a high end defense prospect, Carolina would probably be a better fit.

But doesn't the fact that he plays for Michigan automatically make him eligible for the Red Wings "Hometown Hero", over-hype player package and supreme loyalty for the next seven years??

Bob McKenzie Craig Button Jeff Marek ISS NHLCS 4 Brady Tkachuk Brady Tkachuk* #2 Brady Tkachuk Brady Tkachuk Brady Tkachuk #2 5 Evan Bouchard Evan Bouchard Adam Boqvist Oliver Wahlstrom Evan Bouchard #4 6 Adam Boqvist Adam Boqvist Noah Dobson Evan Bouchard Noah Dobson #5 7 Oliver Wahlstrom Barrett Hayton Oliver Wahlstrom Quinn Hughes Quintin Hughes #6 8 Noah Dobson Noah Dobson Evan Bouchard Noah Dobson Oliver Wahlstrom #7 9 Quinton Hughes Oliver Wahlstrom Quinton Hughes Adam Boqvist 10 Jesperi Kotkaniemi Adam Boqvist #2 11 Bode Wilde 12 Quinn Hughes McKeen's Hockey Future Consid. Hockey Prospect Cam Robinson Peter Harling 4 Quinn Hughes Brady Tkachuk Adam Boqvist Quinn Hughes* #3 Brady Tkachuk 5 Brady Tkachuk Adam Boqvist Brady Tkachuk Adam Boqvist Adam Boqvist 6 Evan Bouchard Quinton Hughes Oliver Wahlstrom Oliver Wahlstrom Evan Bouchard 7 Oliver Wahlstrom Oliver Wahlstrom Quinn Hughes Noah Dobson Noah Dobson 8 Adam Boqvist Ty Smith Joel Farabee Ty Smith Quinn Hughes 9 Joe Veleno Evan Bouchard Noah Dodson Brady Tkachuk Oliver Wahlstrom 10 Noah Dobson Joel Farabee Jesperi Kotkaniemi Joel Farabee 11 Noah Dobson Grigori Denisenko Evan Bouchard 12 Rasmus Kupari 13 Bode Wilde 14 Ty Smith 15 Evan Bouchard Sam Cosentino Steve Kournianos Chris Peters Ryan Kennedy Scott Wheeler 4 Brady Tkachuk Adam Boqvist Brady Tkachuk Brady Tkachuk* #3 Quinton Hughes 5 Adam Boqvist Joe Veleno Quinn Hughes Adam Boqvist Adam Boqvist 6 Oliver Wahlstrom Brady Tkachuk Adam Boqvist Oliver Wahlstrom Ryan Merkley 7 Noah Dobson Oliver Wahlstrom Oliver Wahlstrom Quinton Hughes Evan Bouchard 8 Evan Bouchard Ty Smith Evan Bouchard Barrett Hayton Oliver Wahlstrom 9 Quinton Hughes Joel Farabee Ty Smith Evan Bouchard Brady Tkachuk 10 Quinn Hughes Joel Farabee Isac Lundestrom Joe Veleno 11 Rasmus Kupari Barrett Hayton Joel Farabee Jesperi Kotkanieni 12 Jesperi Kotkaniemi Joe Veleno Bode Wilde Noah Dobson 13 Barrett Hayton Isac Lundestrom Noah Dobson 14 Noah Dobson Mattias Samuelsson 15 Bode Wilde Grigori Denisenko 16 Akil Thomas Noah Dobson 17 Evan Bouchard Tkachuk 4.79 Boqvist 5.57 Wahlstrom 6.93 Hughes 7.14 Bouchard 8.57 Dobson 9.71 A collection of rankings with averages at the end. Almost everyone had Dahlin, Svech, and Zadina as the top 3 so I eliminated them, a few exceptions are noted. Focusing on just the 6 guys we've been discussing. Other guys are left in there just out of laziness. I think Arizona goes with a defenseman. Ottawa could go either way; I'd guess forward if they're confident they'll hold on to Karlsson (or get a big enough return in trade). Boqvist is currently my top choice, but I think one of those two will take him. Really been liking what I've seen on Dobson lately, seems like the most complete of the four, even though he looks so ungainly in his highlight reels. Of course, my opinion will probably change with the next scouting report I see. So much to like about all of those kids.

Where do u think Nashville got one of theirs?

In the rankings I'm following Huges is ranked lower than, Dahlin, Boqvist, Dobson and Bouchard in that order... the only way we draft him IMHO is if they pull the ole he's from Michigan so we'll draft him trick... which is a fireable offence. Hate this ^^ LOVE THIS ^^^^

#6 is basically #3. Dahlin and Svech will be gone. We are guaranteed one of Boqvist, Hughes, Bouchard, Zadina, or Tkachuk. Nothing to complain about here. Pretty sure we go D.

It would have been great to win the lottery, but at #6 we can get a really good defenseman. I'd be happy with Dobson or Bouchard. I'm happy for Buffalo. I live an hour away from Buffalo, it's a great town, with great hockey fans, who've been through a lot. They deserve a break like that.

Tatar is a top 6 player. He has been playing bad since the trade and Vegas has zero reason to make line up changes right now.

Brian Burke stepping away from Calgary Dean Lombardi joining NYI as president Ray Shero cleared to spend with NJ to the cap