Who would you pick if you were Detroit GM?

[wingsdiehard13 33]

EXACTLY!! We have Ericsson, Kindl and Smith coming through in the next few years. The only certain top 6 forward prospect is probably Leino. Then, Mursak and Ritola might deliver.

It makes no sense to take Hedman over a much better player in Tavares ESPECIALLY given our current depth at D. And I assure you, no GM in the league is taking Hedman if they get the #1 pick. Tavares is a 100% certainty to go first.

I don't doubt that. Any team with an actual chance at the pick will take Tavares. However, I could see the Wings brass taking Hedman.

[Guest Shoreline]

For the Red Wings? Hedman. This team is already loaded on forwards. With Lids, Hedman would also have quite a mentor.

Edited February 20, 2009 by Shoreline

[Guest NumbaSixty-Six]

With Lids, Hedman would also have quite a mentor.

+1

[xBrave_Heartx 0]

For Detroit? I'd pick Tavares. I think we've got enough promising Defensive talent.. and not enough highend forwards..

Either way you cant go wrong.. For NYI you'd love to have a pure goal scorer.. But you'd also love to build a defense to help your goaltender.. For Toronto you'd love to get the local goal scorer.. expecially on a team that lacks scoring.. But imagine having Schenn and Hedman? that would be sick.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

So I'm guessing not many here watched the jrs?

My thoughts exactly.

Hedman is a pure goal scorer. He's been the talk of Canada for 4 years now.

[Guest NumbaSixty-Six]

My thoughts exactly.

Hedman is a pure goal scorer. He's been the talk of Canada for 4 years now.

LOL. Shows how much you know. Tavares isn't a pure goal scorer... he is a play maker.

[Doggy 130]

LOL. Shows how much you know. Tavares isn't a pure goal scorer... he is a play maker.

Joe Thornton is a playmaker. Someone who breaks Wayne Gretzky's record for most OHL goals as a 16 year old is a goal scorer.

I'm really starting to think you don't know what you're talking about. Although, I do love Mario so I'll give ya cred for the name.

Edit: I seem to recall a few years ago his offensive ability was compared to Mike Bossy. That screams pure goal scorer to me.

Edited February 20, 2009 by Doggy

[dat's sick 1,002]

I'd pick whoever Hakan Andersson told me to pick.

[up2here 41]

Red Wings GM's dont get first overall picks,not since 1986 anyway when they not so intelligently selected Joe Murphy.

[up2here 41]

LOL. Shows how much you know. Tavares isn't a pure goal scorer... he is a play maker.

I pretty sure Drake meant Tavares was a pure goal scorer which he absolutely is. You obviously havent watched him play at all because he isnt known by anyone as a playmaker.

[BeeRYCE 2]

That is tough actually... Tavares is hella good, but with Z and Dats locked for several more years and Lids to retire before that period... I'd pick Hedman.

[AtomicPunk 296]

Which one of them has the most fighting majors? Take that guy.

Because we need an enforcer here.

(sarcasm)

[SweWings 45]

Hedman is huge and like you guys say would probably develop quite quickly and well in Detroit if given the appropriate ice time. Though the same goes for Tavares as well. Meh if Detroit snagged either one of them it would be wonderful and I doubt it would matter much considering the team is as stacked as it is. But going with my gut I would likely take Tavares and I probably wouldn't be disappointed...

[Guest mindfly]

You can't compare playing in OHL with the SEL, Players in the OHL(CHL) are still kids and huge amount of mistakes every game, a guy like tavares takes advantage of them thats why he has so good stats facing other juniors... I don't see Tavares any better than a guy like Stamkos.

[34Legace34 0]

Ive been able to watch JT alot since he was traded to London. I would take him with the first pick, IMO you can't pass up on a scorer like this.

Weaknesses : You won't get a 2 way game like Crosby gives you. Saves up energy for the offensive end, might struggle with the speed of the NHL game at first. Does not have breakaway speed like Ovechkin.

Strengths : Few are better from 25ft in (roughly the top of the circle to the goal line). Has the ability to score in tight, and can find the open man when you think that there is no option. Can score lots of goals without being a puck hog. Goal totals have dropped off since 2006 when he raked 72, but the Apples have increased, which shows he likes to create.

The top 2 are similar to last year, where Stamkos is the elite scorer and Doughty is the shutdown D with some playmaking ability. Doughty could have easily gone #1, and Hedman could also go #1 with no complaints. Either way you are getting someone that helps your club immediately, but in this case I take JT.

[egroen 384]

I just value defenders higher, and someone with that size and skill on defense, with the maturity to compete for an NHL position right away, would be too much to pass up. We very well could have Datsyuk/Hossa/Zetterberg playing at a high level for the next 4-6 years -- probably not so with Lidstrom.

[bellarina 1]

I pick Tavares. Then trade him for Hedman and a second round pick.

[Hank 0]

Tavares. That was easy.

I know that there's an excellent chance Hedman will be a better pro but the Wings desperately need a North American offensive superstar. Tavares has potential to be that.

If we had Tavares, attendance and TV ratings would go way up.

[Hank 0]

Its hard to develope a player to be 6.6 and 250 pounds.

Just like it's hard to make a Jason Bonsignore into a Steve Yzerman.

Just because you're big doesn't mean you're automatically going to be better than a smaller player.

Size is the reason why Tampa Bay took Chris Gratton over Paul Kariya. How did that work out?

I'm sure you can come up with examples of a bigger player outshining a smaller player.

But in my mind, the Wings need a potential 50 goal scoring North American star more than another big, skilled European.

The ticket sales and TV ratings say as much.

[Guest mindfly]

But the bottom line is, i cant see detroit getting the 1st overall pick in a century or so why even have a discussion about it?

Edited February 20, 2009 by mindfly

[HomeNugget 2]

I'd take Hedman. Presently, we already have enough offense, and I trust management to find us more offense by the time Datsyuk and Zetterberg start to decline. On the other hand, while Kronwall shows flashes of greatness, and Ericsson, Kindl, and Smith appear to be great prospects, we don't have a sure fire, elite level defenseman in our system after Lidstrom retires. An elite defenseman is the one thing every Red Wings Stanley Cup champion has had in common: Goodfellow, Stewart, Kelly, Konstantinov, and Lidstrom. Hedman has the potential to be elite.

[glasgowcelticwing 18]

I'd pick Tavares out of the two.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Lol. I found it a bit of a headscratcher too. Hedman over Tavares LOL.

That's because he's the next Nick Lidstrom. No doubt he's good but I'm not sold on him.

Given the OP's choices I would take Tavares.

But given any choice, I would take somebody much tougher. A big, physical winger or a big, tough defender like a Phaneuf. I know neither grow on trees but there's bound to be some in this year's crop. Just haven't read the scouting reports to know who is who yet. But for me, definitely somebody with physicality, aggression, offensive ability but more of a power player than a finesse player.

A young Phaneuf or Bertuzzi mold type player would be my pick.

[Guest Shoreline]

But the bottom line is, i cant see detroit getting the 1st overall pick in a century or so why even have a discussion about it?

It's like Batman vs. Superman debates. Pointless but fun to argue.

[Doggy 130]

That's because he's the next Nick Lidstrom. No doubt he's good but I'm not sold on him.

Given the OP's choices I would take Tavares.

But given any choice, I would take somebody much tougher. A big, physical winger or a big, tough defender like a Phaneuf. I know neither grow on trees but there's bound to be some in this year's crop. Just haven't read the scouting reports to know who is who yet. But for me, definitely somebody with physicality, aggression, offensive ability but more of a power player than a finesse player.

A young Phaneuf or Bertuzzi mold type player would be my pick.

So you'd deal the pick then? It'd be a complete waste if you used the #1 pick on someone like that. You could three or more early picks for JT.