Original Six fantasy draft takeaways: Best picks, funniest moments, more
An analysis of Paste BN Sports' Original Six draft shows teams mirror the identity of the general managers who filled their rosters.
Neil Smith, former general manager of the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers, launched his career as a respected scout. His Toronto Maple Leafs team is rich in young talent.
Doug MacLean has been a coach and general manager at the NHL level. He filled his Detroit Red Wings roster with star power and proven talent.
Tom Laidlaw was a rugged defenseman, and he built his Rangers team under the idea that he wanted to be the toughest team to play against. His Rangers are a massive group, overflowing with toughness and grit.
NBC analyst Ed Olczyk has been a player and an NHL coach, and he believed the strength of his Chicago Blackhawks team needed to be down the middle with centers and defensemen.
Pierre McGuire, a former NHL coach and now a well-known NBC analyst, decided the key was building his Montreal Canadiens team around the best goalie in the game, Carey Price.
Craig Button, one of leading authorities on the NHL draft, is a former general manager of the Calgary Flames. He has been involved in every aspect of team building, and he wanted a team that boasted experts in every role.
“I built (the Boston Bruins) with the idea that I didn’t want to move players,” Button said. “I believe that players excel in their best positions, and while versatility is nice, I want the players to be in positions where they can maximize their abilities.”
Our general managers all built impressive rosters, but here are Kevin Allen's and Jimmy Hascup's review of what transpired over the week-long draft:
Funny moment
Kevin Allen, NHL columnist: MacLean drafting Steven Stamkos and saying he planned to play him on the wing. It’s doubtful Stammer would care, considering that the team’s three centers would be John Tavares, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid.
Jimmy Hascup, NHL editor: MacLean drafting Daniel Sedin in the 15th round ... but not picking brother Henrik. These two have an uncanny sense for each other on the ice. The fact Henrik wasn't selected makes me think the other GMs were being respectful of the Sedins and MacLean. But now Henrik isn't employed in our new Original Six league.
Outlier
Allen: Nothing wrong with the Rangers taking Bobby Ryan in the 11th round. He is the 15th leading scorer in the league. But he didn’t fit Laidlaw’s motive. We thought he would be looking at players like Wayne Simmonds or Ryan Kesler. Laidlaw was buying heavy-duty trucks with all of the accessories, and then he decided to buy a Lexus.
Hascup: Olczyk's selection of Vladimir Sobotka in the 22nd round. Maybe his advanced scouts in the Kontinental Hockey League have told him something we don't know or see in the stat line. Sobotka hasn't played in the NHL since the 2013-14 season when he left the St. Louis Blues prior to arbitration. He has 14 goals and 24 points in 33 games the KHL.
Favorite picks
Allen: Leon Draisaitl being picked in the 13th. We thought he would go much earlier. Johnny Boychuk going in the 19th round to Montreal. He has a Stanley Cup ring, a hard shot and competes like a warrior. I'm bullish on Niklas Hjalmarsson, who went in the 13th round to Chicago. He’s an underrated performer.
Hascup: Kris Letang, in the final (23) round to the Rangers. His injury history played a factor here, but that's no excuse for him lasting this long. Letang is among the best in the game when he's on the ice, able to drive play at an extraordinary rate and produce a lot of offense. I wouldn't mind him on my top pairing.
What surprised us
Allen: Artemi Panarin (10th round to Red Wings) going before Dylan Larkin. Panarin is a fabulous, sparkling offensive player, but Larkin is a full-service player as a rookie. He is a dangerous offensive player with speed, and he is fairly polished defensively. He has a chance to be Steve Yzerman-esque.
Hascup: Erik Karlsson (fourth round to Red Wings) taken as the fifth defenseman off the board. What is there not to like? Karlsson is still young (25) and has 93 goals and 344 points in 435 games. His defensive game is more advanced than you'd think.
Going for it now
Allen: Olczyk took Zdeno Chara, Joe Thornton, Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa on his team. He will worry about tomorrow later.
Hascup: Laidlaw took Henrik Lundqvist in the first round and Shea Weber in Round 2. We don't know what Andrei Vasilevskiy is yet. The bruising style his team will employ does it no favors over the long haul, especially in a league that became faster and more skilled.
Team for the future
Allen: Smith’s Maple Leafs are a quality team now, but they could be dynamite in three or four seasons
Hascup: Agreed. This team has six players who are 21 years old are younger. He's set.
Best late picks
Allen: Morgan Rielly (Canadiens, 21st round), Jake Muzzin (Bruins, 21st), Sam Bennett (Red Wings, 21st) and David Backes (Rangers, 22nd).
Hascup: Mark Stone (Red Wings, 17th), Muzzin (Bruins, 21st), Kyle Turris (Maple Leafs, 22nd), Letang (Rangers, 23rd).
Fun quote
When the draft was over, Olczyk announced, jokingly: “I want to play Pierre’s team.” Olczyk and McGuire work together on NBC.