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An easier way of saying this is that you're not going to make it through the playoffs with a bunch of 6ft, 190 lb., pantywaists. All of Vrana, Raymond, Berggren, and Zadina are good, or going to be good, NHL wingers. But if those guys, plus Bertuzzi, Larkin and Veleno, are in your top six you're going to get pushed around in the playoffs. We see it every year. There's a reason Tampa went out and got Barcley Goodrow (for a 1st round pick) after they basically got checked to death by Columbus two years ago. My only concern with drafting McTavish is that his playmaking is suspect, and if he's going to play 2C he's going to need to distribute the puck well. Currently it's the weakest part of his game. If he can't make plays he can't be a center, and we REALLY don't need more wingers until we get that figured out. You could always trade a Zadina or Berggren for a power winger down the road but you're not getting a top center in a trade very often. If they think his playmaking will improve and he'll slot in as a 2C down the road then I'm fine with him as a 6th pick. But they better be sure, because if we come out of these bottom out years without another decent center we're in real trouble.

instead of drafting a G at #6 have we forgotten about deals? Not only is Tampa icing a $100m team in the Final's, but they are already over the cap by $5M for next season with only 19 players under contract, a deal like this more than likely will resurface in the coming weeks. https://thehockeywriters.com/the-grind-line-red-wings-goalies/?fbclid=IwAR10xkByIsUe6JIWClAyN4gZsFkRpe7VKFMEdmYYgqmkPtDiHYAxvJuPi3Q

I want Tippett and Hague.

Ah. More rational, big boy fan thinking. I love it!

The points you're hitting on are basically how I rationalized the pick to myself on draft day and how I continue to rationalize the pick here in mid-2021. We can say we made a boring, high-floor pick instead of swinging for the fences on a more high-skill guy. And there's some truth to that. But we can also say Rasmussen is an "If he gets anywhere close to his ceiling, look the f*** out" case. He's not a puck wizard, but he does have soft hands around the net. Combine that with his frame and we have a guy who could be a gamebreaking power play weapon. I think that's still a thing. And he has that scoring potential *while also having Hanzel-esque shutdown potential*. I think that's also still a thing. So, sure, maybe the pick kinda sucked – but maybe the "We only picked him becuse of his size and now look where we're at" narrative is a little dumb. I do think about Holmstrom. I also think about Franzen, who we drafted as an overage shutdown 3C. A key difference, of course, is that those guys were part of crazy-deep ensemble casts with legendary talent at the tops of the lineups...whereas we're currently rebuilding in the Age of Parity™ with zero love from the lotto gods. Still, there's something to be said for having the right mix of player types. Like I said re: McTavish, we have Larkin and Vrana and Zadina and Veleno and Raymond and Berggren and Niederbach. How many hard-nosed power-forwards with laser shots do we have in the system? Maybe this particular hard-nosed power-forward with a laser shot isn't all that special in a vaccum – but maybe he's a fit for what we're trying to build. Maybe we think he could be a great complement to our otherwise smallish, well-mannered forwards. Maybe we think of the power play possibilities. Imagine, for example, Vrana and Raymond working the half-walls with Ramussen as the net-front guy and McTavish as the bumper and Seider running point. Rasmussen Raymond -- McTavish -- Vrana Seider In theory, that's a Zdeno Chara parked in front of the net...and an absolute firing squad in Raymond, McTavish, Vrana...and a playmaking possession monster in Raymond...and a tank owning that middle ice in McTavish...and Seider doing Seider things.

Hey man. I said I was glad to have you back. Sincerely. Fav thing about you is that you don't dissolve into an infant when prodded.

Is everything black and white in your world or what? Seider was drafted because he was the complete package. Size, skill, skating, attitude. Seider will score more in the NHL than Ras... as a dman. Bookmark this comment if need be. Still waiting to see what is so special about Ras to justify his draft position. He was literally drafted because of his size and net front presence. There were far better players left on the table here. This is a fact. But yes, enjoy your large 3C or middle 6 winger, because he certainly doesn't have the skill to be the top 6 center we need. And I say this as a fan of the guy. If you want a special player with size, yes, you have to draft high. Ras is not a special player though. Seider is a special player. Byfield is a special player. Ras is complementary. Oh look, we finally agree on something!

Ah yes. The guy that may never play in the NHL. Good one.

Elmer Soderblom, drafted 159th overall. That's where you get your big man. Not 9th overall.

K. Let's undo the Seider draft? Also Zadina and Raymond are small. Like it or not this team needs a guy like Rasmussen. More than they need a Veleno even! If you want a special guy with size then yes. You need to draft high.

Yeah! Let's keep using top 10 draft picks to draft based on size!! That'll show the league!

And it's a harder hole to fill then some think. Like the kind of player you sometimes burn a top 10ish or 10-20th 1st rounder on. So we're not far off as far as draft value goes. IMO

I'm just saying it because I do remember the Petr Klima heist and also that is why the Russians were all drafted in later rounds, because you never knew if they would be able to leave. Bit after a few minutes of research, I found this from 2011

Perfectly said you sonnofabish

Yeah i'd be happy if we made those offers, Taking Wallstadt at 8th is fine just don't want him with the 6th pick. Getting Wallstadt and one of Robertson/Raty would be awesome.

You think this kid has been putting his career on hold for half a year just waiting to see who Yzerman drafts this July?