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I have the same boom/bust concern with pretty much every one of the realistic candidates. Hell, I'm not even fully sold on Power or Beniers. Not that either one of those two will be there at 6OA, mind you. Of the guys who realistically *could* be there at 6OA, I'm thinking Hughes or Eklund would probably be the overall "best-value" pick. Luke Hughes maybe isn't quite as electrifying as Quinn Hughes, but he's a comparable skater and a comparable playmaker and a better shooter – and he's taller. Any concerns about his defensive game are rendered moot if Seider is the player we think he is. People are big-time sleeping on how dominant a Hughes-Seider could very easily be. Eklund is basically Raymond. Plays an incredibly mature all-around game. Off-the-charts IQ. Great hands. Great problem-solver and playmaker. As with Hughes and Seider, it's a potential pairing that really gets me excited about Eklund – that pairing being Eklund-Raymond. If we're hoping for a new Datsyuk-Zetterberg...Eklund-Raymond could be it. For whatever reason, a voice in me is still saying we're gonna take McTavish or Lucius. I dunno. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Swede Mafia is a real thing ...

to be fair, he already had an all world D in Hedman a top D on any team in the league, and at the time a #1 Elite C in Stamkos. Sure Seider seems to be a shoe in for a top 2, if not #1 D in the NHL, but, and all due respect to Larkin, we don't have that Top C. Not saying it's available in this draft, we can always hope we win one of the next two lotteries, but I don't see that happening, plus honestly, I'm tired of tanking to get screwed. I want to start looking forward, not at lottery picks. If Yzerman thinks Wall is the guy, I'm on board. I guess it also all depends on who he see's drafting at #22. Maybe we find a C there that is develops into a top 2 C? It all depends on who is on his board and if they fall to #6 or not. Let's say their board is as follows: Power Hughes Beniers Wallstedt Edvisson McTavish ...if Wallstedt is the number 1 guy left on his board when the pick comes up, he's taking him. If any of the 3 ahead of him falls to #6, he's taking them. (I am not saying this is his board, just hypothetically.)

hookers for all of us !

Maybe Rangers take him at 9? They chose another RW in that spot. But you are right on with him falling further than 7 if we didn't pick him. If Detroit took Hughes, I could see Vancouver and Chicago still going D since there were still 3 or 4 good ones on the board.

If Larkin can continue lining up against the best players in the league every night, and bounce back to 60-70 points, he's a 1C. Far from an elite 1C, but a 1C nonetheless... I think that's a realistic bar for Larkin. If we land Wright next year, the rebuild is officially over. It probably should be by then anyway. IF Yzerman does take a center in this draft, that just makes one of (Larkin / Veleno / 2021 6th overall) expendable, or move one of them to wing. A great position to be in. Yeah, I strongly disagree. IF Yzerman were to take McTavish, I think Larkin / McTavish / Veleno could potentially be one of the better 3 center combos in the league.

The part you continue to ignore is that the management who haven't been able to draft a great goalie in 25 years is no longer in place. This same management who couldn't draft a goalie was also only able to produce two top 4 dmen in his tenure in Kronwall and Hronek. Look at how quickly Yzerman changed that. Most teams have success drafting goalies in later rounds and developing them into quality NHL goalies. What Holland has done , or in this case has not done, is irrelevant now. Maybe Wallstedt is the guy. But maybe, just maybe, we have the right people in place now to find success in those later rounds for goalies.

I'm just looking to nag Neo about it ...

I don't doubt McTavish. I'd just prefer that high-end skill from Eklund. Better balance with Larkin's style. He'd also be NHL-ready fall of 22 along with Raymond. PS: I'd still take McTavish or Edvinsson over the goalie. It just wouldn't bother me at that point if the goalie was taken. Now If Eklund was on the board? That would sting.

Yes, but you're betting on us winning the draft lottery in one of those years. Like I said, I'll trust the pick no matter what, but if we're talking odds, I am thinking that McTavish has better than the 18% odds (of us winning the #1 pick) of becoming a top 2 C. Yzerman cannot hedge his draft on that. Even if he picks a C at #6 then ALSO wins next years lottery, he is still taking Shane Wright. Why "hope" you get to draft Wright or Bedard and pass up on a top 2 C? Dunno, like I said, I there with Yzerman whomever he drafts, but I don't see us winning the lottery next year, and we just may not even be a lottery team in 2023.

We have a 1C. His name is Dylan Larkin. The only way we get a center that slots above Larkin, is if we luck out in next year's draft lottery, and land Shane Wright (unlikely). There are 1B's to Larkin's 1A available in this draft, much like any other draft. I trust Yzerman to take the best player available, regardless of position. Even if it's another small, skilled (winger?) in William Eklund...

... in rounds 3+

I certainly hope Yzerman takes a skater. On D, hoping for Hughes, on F, I am gonna go with the rumored McTavish. Obviously I will trust the pick, but I really hope we solidify the D and or the C positions first.

Pronman surveyed 20 NHL scouts about the top players in this years draft https://theathletic.com/2667152/2021/07/06/nhl-draft-confidential-inside-what-scouts-and-executives-really-think-about-the-top-prospects/ Here's the three comments Pronman posted about Wastepick.

speaking of Seattle, I'm guessing they'll get a pretty good G in the expansion draft, but IF Wallstedt is truly a franchise goalie, it might make sense for Seattle to draft him, no? I mean, IF he is all that he is said to be, why not draft yourself a goalie that may be on your team for 20 years? Doesn't matter who they pick in the expansion draft really, they could draft themselves a the rock that will keep their franchise in contention for years and years once he jumps to the NHL and getts the starting position. Especially with this draft not really having a stud, franchise D or F. Even though Power seems to be the #1 pick, I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo went with a C, especially if they trade Eichel. Beniers and Wallstedt going 1 and 2 would really mix things up! As a matter of fact, this mock shows Buffalo doing just that. https://thehockeywriters.com/2021-nhl-draft-the-hockey-writers-mock-draft/ also, I like this: ...I really hope Yzerman does this instead of the G. If Hughes is off the board, and they aren't that high on Edvinsson, I say get that impact 2 way C.

2009?