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I hope she was hot

Based on what? Larkin is waaay ahead of Zetterberg at the same age. Zetterberg didn't crack the NHL until he was 22 year old, in the bottom six, albeit on a stacked team. Larkin cracked the NHL when he was 19 years old, as a top line forward, albeit on a bad team... Larkin, to this point (age 23) has played 389 games, and has 266 points (0.684 points per game). Zetterberg, at the same age, had played 140 games, and had 87 points (0.621 points per game). Zetterberg didn't break out until he was 25. Larkin is currently 24, poised for a breakout, after a down year. By the way, that down year that Larkin just had, 53 points in 71 games (0.746 points per game), Zetterberg had 43 points in 61 games (0.705 points per game), at the same age... Zetterberg was never on a bad Red Wings team until the last couple years of his career. Every other year, the team was considered a legit contender. Larkin has never really been on a good Red Wings team, and hasn't had close to the same supporting cast around him. Zetterberg was never expected to be "the guy", again, until later in his career, after all the future hall of famers had retired. Larkin was immediately expected to be "the guy", (captain or not), as soon as Zetterberg retired. I'm not going to say Larkin will have a hall of fame calibre career (he could when it's all said and done), but to say he definitely won't, or that "he will fall way short of Zetterberg", at this point is dumb... And you rag on me for calling a 4th line winger (who is older than Larkin) "replacement level"... LOL

Ehn seems like a good dude. I like that he's got a big frame and that he skates well and that he plays a defensively responsible game. I can't look someone in the eye and say, "Yes, I am absolutely certain that if 24-year-old Christoffer Ehn is playing on a team with Lidstrom and young Datsyuk and young Zetterberg and young Kronwall, he does not become the player Johan Franzen became." Franzen projected as a checking-line center. No one -- NO ONE -- expected him to become a gamebreaking playoff scorer. I'm not going to get my hopes up, though. Ehn might go on to have a long, impactful career as a(n) Red Wing/NHLer. He might pot 15 goals next season and never look back. ...But I could just as easily imagine him being traded this summer to make room for, say, Rasmussen, or maybe even Pearson, or a UFA signing. Speaking of Franzen and Swedish UFAs, the Sharks just signed Fredrik Handemark, who I was kinda hoping we'd sign. An SHL guy I like even more than Handemark? Gustav Rydahl. I think we should also be looking at left-handed KHL defenseman Mikko Lehtonen. https://dobberprospects.com/2020-european-free-agents/

I don't even wholly disagree with where you're coming from every time you go out of your way to tell us all how much you don't want the guy that everyone else wants. I just think it's kind of funny that you're as zealous about this as you claim people like me are about consensus 1st overalls. Yeah, I think Lafreniere's the best, safest pick at 1st. Not because I've been brainwashed into building up media darlings, but, rather, because I've seen these players, I know the sorry shape our team is in, and I think Lafreniere best fits the "gamebreaking cornerstone guy you can build a winning team around" profile. I get that elite centermen are extraordinarily valuable. That's one of the reasons I like Hughes as much as I do. I'm on record saying multiple times over the years that nothing gets my hockey d*** harder than outrageous center depth. I loved the thought of having Larkin and Hughes at center. You weren't quite as high on that idea...and now you're explaining to everyone how important great centermen are. I dunno, man. You do you. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

The same logic you're applying to Larkin v. Zetterberg I'm applying to Draper v. Ehn. You can't have it both ways. It's straight up cognitive dissonance. Larkin could be Zberg but Ehn can't be Draper: Cause narratives. Plenty of folks = Mackel and CRL Everyone knows who you're talking about, don't be coy I think it's hilarious that everyone here knows Mackel and I don't regard Zadina as someone who's not going to make NHL, but the strawman is so easy and irresistible you can't help but use it. I hope it continues.... Cause Zadina = bust. You're literally describing the NPC meme. Human1: What if Lafreniere isn't the best in the draft? Human2: Interesting thought. Who would be better? Human1: Rossi + reasons why Human2: Lafreniere + reasons why *A deeper understanding of Rossi and Lafren is reached* vs Human1: What if Lafreniere isn't the best in the draft? NPC: LOL that's stupid, you're stupid Human1: Care to explain why? NPC: No

So if he doesn't match Auston Mathews' rookie season, he automatically can never be as good as Auston Mathews. Gotcha. I'm excited about the possibility of Lafreniere based on what he'll be capable for many years. Not just his first. How closed-minded does one have to be to think a rookie season will make or break a player? Oh right, basically half of LGW.

It was merely a jab at those who consider players a bust after their first season. It happens far too much. Look at all the flack Jack Hughes gets for god sakes. Folks will call Lafreneire a bust as well if he doesn't put up a point per game in his debut season.

I'm not really excited about either option. Either way, I think we're missing one more high end forward. We could draft another one next year, assuming that we're a lottery team again. But I think I would go D next year. I think LD on the top pair becomes the biggest need. If Toews can be a 1C with Kane on his wing, Larkin could be a 1C with Lafreniere on his wing.