What Would You Rather Have?

[toby91_ca 620]

I'm not sure why the poll is so close, I think it should be closer to 68-0 in favour of the #20 and #30 picks in each round. The absolutely only benefit of the other option is getting the #1 pick in the draft, after that, what's the difference other than getting twice as many chances at landing a good player?

The only way the 1st option is really attractive is if you have a surefire star who is going to be drafted 1st overall....and there are not a lot of those examples around.

[imisssergei 0]

I'm not sure why the poll is so close, I think it should be closer to 68-0 in favour of the #20 and #30 picks in each round. The absolutely only benefit of the other option is getting the #1 pick in the draft, after that, what's the difference other than getting twice as many chances at landing a good player?

The only way the 1st option is really attractive is if you have a surefire star who is going to be drafted 1st overall....and there are not a lot of those examples around.

But with the number 1 pick, the Wings would be able to take players that are higher up on their draft board. Selecting the first overall pick isn't the only benefit. With the way the Wings scouts seem to find people with late picks, it'd be amazing to see who they could find with earlier picks.

[toby91_ca 620]

But with the number 1 pick, the Wings would be able to take players that are higher up on their draft board. Selecting the first overall pick isn't the only benefit. With the way the Wings scouts seem to find people with late picks, it'd be amazing to see who they could find with earlier picks.

I don't understand your logic.....the first overall pick is the ONLY benefit.

First picks:

1st

31st

61st

91st

121st, etc.

20th and 30th picks:

20th

30th

50th

60th

80th

90th

110th

120th

140th

150th

Please explain how there are more benefits in the first scenario other than getting the 1st overall pick

Edited June 2, 2008 by toby91_ca

[Real1 2]

10 players vs. 5. I would rather toke the late picks.

[imisssergei 0]

I don't understand your logic.....the first overall pick is the ONLY benefit.

The first overall pick is the most obvious benefit. But you are looking at it wrong. Look at it round by round. The Wings have the first opportunity each round to select their guy.

The first overall pick is also a HUGE benefit. It's the difference between Crosby and McArdle (20) and Mihalik (30). Ovechkin and Zajac (20) and Rogers (30). Fleury and Burns (20) and Belle (30). Kane and Esposto (20) and Ross (30).

Look at the Wings roster right now. In the last 10 years, they have 3 late round picks that turned out to be gems Hank, Pav, and Mule.

Look at it year by year, 04 Ovechkin was #1, 99 Stefan was #1, and 98 it was Vinny at #1. There is no question I trade Pav Hank and Mule for Ov, and Vinny, not to mention the chance at selecting one of the Sedin twins.

The first selection each round increases your odds of getting a better player in each round.

[toby91_ca 620]

The first overall pick is the most obvious benefit. But you are looking at it wrong. Look at it round by round. The Wings have the first opportunity each round to select their guy.

The first overall pick is also a HUGE benefit. It's the difference between Crosby and McArdle (20) and Mihalik (30). Ovechkin and Zajac (20) and Rogers (30). Fleury and Burns (20) and Belle (30). Kane and Esposto (20) and Ross (30).

Look at the Wings roster right now. In the last 10 years, they have 3 late round picks that turned out to be gems Hank, Pav, and Mule.

Look at it year by year, 04 Ovechkin was #1, 99 Stefan was #1, and 98 it was Vinny at #1. There is no question I trade Pav Hank and Mule for Ov, and Vinny, not to mention the chance at selecting one of the Sedin twins.

The first selection each round increases your odds of getting a better player in each round.

The first overall pick is the ONLY benefit, not the obvious benefit, the ONLY benefit. You have not even attempted to explain the other benefits yet. The examples you provided attempt to point to why the 1st overall pick is a huge benefit, but nothing further.

Why on earth would I look at it round by round vs. simply looking at draft order. I'm sorry, but on what planet would someone rather have the 31st pick than the 30th?

After the first overall pick, the difference between the two scenarios is that you are shifting each pick one position later in the scenario you prefer, plus the other scenario throws in an extra pick each round as well.

[toby91_ca 620]

The first selection each round increases your odds of getting a better player in each round.

Thought about it some more and if you really want to look at it on a round by round thing, think about this:

Yes, with the first selection in each round, theorectically, you get to pick the best player available each round.....HOWEVER, if I have picks 20 and 30 in each round, I get to pick a player better than the best available player each round by having the last pick in the previous round (plus the other additional picks each round).

The only time that doesn't hold true is with the 1st overall pick....which is why that is the ONLY benefit of that scenario.

[Opie 308]

You forgot Homer(257th 10th round), Flip (3rd round 95th), and also the potential players like an Ericsson, Quincey, Meech, it may be true that recently the wings have had success early (because they barely ever had early picks before the lockout), however they still have many late draft or undrafted signings that are still gems!

However;

I think this is not a subject that you can look at in a vacuum, as some have said if it is AO or Crosby or MAF you probably jump all over the number 1 pick. However if it is Kane (Highly touted but not AO or Crosby) you may be more inclined to take the 20 and the 30. If you are a team with a lot of confidence in your scouting department the late picks may look better than a team that has had a lot of draft day busts. If you are the Pens this draft year you may be wanting to save some loot and not pay another top draft pick or maybe you don't need a top prospect and instead see a great checking line guy who can pot 15 goals and you take him.

I think a lot of variables would have to be taken into consideration and your strategy would change year to year based on need and talent available.

BUT for any other team besides Det I am with imisssergei and others that you take the first.

[06TJSport 0]

1st overall pick, end of story.

Sure you get more picks the other way, but the Red Wings have proved time and time again that they get the most out of the picks they do get. Someone mentioned 02 where the wings didn't pick until #58 and picked Hudler, Fleischmann (traded for Lang), Filppula, Meech, and Ericsson

I would rather have all those players plus Rick Nash. You think just because they pick early doesn't mean they wouldn't be able to pick those same players late in the draft? Yeah right.

I'm far too lazy to look it all up but if you took a list of all the players picked with the #1 pick in the first 5 rounds of each draft for the last say 10-15 years and all the players taken with the #20 and #30 picks in the first 5 rounds of the same time frame, my team would ruin the other team.