Who would you pick if you were Detroit GM?

[dicksmack 33]

Hedman. Tavares is a great scorer to be sure but he doesn't seem that quick a skater, so I wonder about him at the NHL level. I'm sure he will do quite well but I'd scoop Hedman first.

[skacore 2]

Hedman. Tavares is a great scorer to be sure but he doesn't seem that quick a skater, so I wonder about him at the NHL level. I'm sure he will do quite well but I'd scoop Hedman first.

I really doubt his speed will be a factor, he's been scoring at near a goal per game his career thus far so I'm sure he'll find a way to manage.

There seems to be enough concerns about Tavares, is nobody a bit concerned about Hedman? Anytime someone made physical contact with this guy in the World Juniors he dropped like a sack of potatoes, who cares if this guy is 6'5 if he is incredibly soft? I think Hedman will be a fine NHLer, but Tavares will obtain superstar status.

[Guest Shoreline]

I really doubt his speed will be a factor, he's been scoring at near a goal per game his career thus far so I'm sure he'll find a way to manage.

There seems to be enough concerns about Tavares, is nobody a bit concerned about Hedman? Anytime someone made physical contact with this guy in the World Juniors he dropped like a sack of potatoes, who cares if this guy is 6'5 if he is incredibly soft? I think Hedman will be a fine NHLer, but Tavares will obtain superstar status.

I don't disagree that Tavares will make an impact -- ambiguous as to how much knowing how it's either good or flop for picks like that -- but he isn't what the Wings need at all. The Wings have enough scoring and offensive talent, especially concerning the cap. The defense, on the other hand, could use the help.

[skacore 2]

I don't disagree that Tavares will make an impact -- ambiguous as to how much knowing how it's either good or flop for picks like that -- but he isn't what the Wings need at all. The Wings have enough scoring and offensive talent, especially concerning the cap. The defense, on the other hand, could use the help.

when a talent like Tavares comes along, you put aside position, you don't sacrifice that much skill to suite a certain need

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

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.

Yes, sorry. I thought that went without saying. The Wings don't need what either Hedman or Tavares bring to the table. They're pretty much stacked. I'm keeping in mind Ericsson and Kindle, long term deals for Z and Dats and potential deals for Franzen and Hossa. No need for either player in my mind.

I would figure out which guy I wanted, deal down to pick up that player and make certain to obtain something more in the deal, be it a top prospect or a current roster player from the other team. That's the luxury of the #1 pick and such a talent as Tavares being available. If we had the pick and we wanted the power forward at #6, , whoever is picking 6th is pretty much gonna give us whatever we want for Tavares.

[Coolio Mendez 7]

Tavares has been pegged as the first overall draft in the 2009 draft since 2005. He was granted exceptional status which allowed him to join the OHL at 15 years of age.

He's been the talk of the hockey world since 2006.

As for the game against Slovakia, most NHL scouts are still very disappointed in his skating. He still ranks behind Sweden's Victor Hedman on a lot of team lists.

His point totals in the OHL have NOT set the world on fire. He has never averaged more than 2 points a game in the OHL (something that Patrick Kane did as an OHL rookie 2 years ago averaging 2.5 points a game). Taylor Hall and Cory Hodgson are both averaging more points/game this year in the OHL than Tavares

There's a lot to like about Tavares, but there's a lot of room to improve. He's a very good player, but not a great player. You need to wipe out your competition to be considered great. I'm still waiting for him to wipe them out.

[Coolio Mendez 7]

I really doubt his speed will be a factor, he's been scoring at near a goal per game his career thus far so I'm sure he'll find a way to manage.

There seems to be enough concerns about Tavares, is nobody a bit concerned about Hedman? Anytime someone made physical contact with this guy in the World Juniors he dropped like a sack of potatoes, who cares if this guy is 6'5 if he is incredibly soft? I think Hedman will be a fine NHLer, but Tavares will obtain superstar status.

Unless he improves his skating, he's going to find the NHL very challenging. I'm not completely sold on Tavares, as far as superstar status I don't think he has the talent of Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Iginla, Thornton, Lecavalier (shall I go on).

The OHL had an incresae in goals/game this year, and Tavares stayed at the 2.00pts/game. He's been playing at the same level for four seasons, which is a concern.

This doesn't even put him in the top 10 for a 18 yr old

Even Craig Hartsburgh and Brent Sutter have said he's not the phenom that everybody is talking about. Hartsburgh went to far as to say he's a special player on the power play (and he is) but he's just another player on the ice 5 on 5.

As I already said, he needs to work on skating, he needs to work on 5 on 5 positioning. He takes hits well, he has a great shot, he has pretty good hands............and he adapts well. Last year he was a goal scorer, and this year everybody cut that off and he became a playmaker. He's a little weak defensively, but that is on par for the CHL as these are all kids who were the offensive stars of the AAA teams.

He has talent, and he has potential, but doing a quick comparison to OHL stars of the past and looking at their NHL careers, he's not a phenom..

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Jared Cowen. Pretty much a more offensive minded Luke Schenn. Tavares is sick, and I'd love to have him because he's a good kid, but I've watched a ton of Cowen, and he'll make some NHL team very happy.

[Guest Shoreline]

So tell me in 8 years from now who'll be our #1 offensive threat at forward ? Chances are both Dats/Hank won't be quite as productive (age/injuries); after that it's a crapshoot as to what we've got in Grand Rapids, & our Euro scouts will find it more, & more challenging to find players like Dats/Hank in later rounds.

To me it's very obvious; in 8 years Tavares will be a savy vet @ the ripe old age of 26, & quite possibly averaging 95-105 points per season plus being defensively responsible...In other words he'll be another Yzerman/Sakic/Gilmour...Can't pass up on 1 of those guys

Well, it has yet to be seen what Tavares will do at the NHL level. He isn't there yet and there is never a guarantee. Same with Hedman. Maybe though you can tell me who will be the Wings #1 defensive player in 8 years from now. Chris Chelios? At least the Wings look solid with depth for the next handful of years to come on the offensive side. Defensively, there is not enough depth in the near future. Hedman would fill that void, logically, better than Tavares. Kinda silly though, regarding the question, to look 8+ years ahead for a pick that hasn't even drafted or played one single NHL game yet.

I remember one thing, this team is successful and is constantly rebuilding to make up for an aging team or make up for busts. To think (hence, put your pieces in place for) so far ahead in the future is something teams who are starting from scratch do after consistently horrendous seasons.

Edited February 21, 2009 by Shoreline

[TheOwl 77]

Trade it for Backstrom . Seriously though, shopping the pick isn't the thing to do, because instead you could get one of these guys for 1 million a season for 3 years.