I see it more as this; quality defenseman can and do exist in the later rounds, and the % of top 4 d-men who actually got drafted in the 1st is fairly low. NHL teams now use the Detroit formula for drafting, where players with solid fundamentals and large upside are vigorously scouted and then drafted in the later rounds. The growth of the AHL as a developmental league, and the rise of successful NCAA defenseman (Nick Leddy, Ryan Suter, Duncan Keith, etc) has given teams more avenues with which to gain skilled defenseman. However, teaching offensive prowess is much more difficult a task. That's why choosing the BPA is more often than not choosing a skilled winger/center. They are more "versatile" and have more noticeable and measurable stats to verify their skills, whereas young d-men take time to blossom and reach their potential.
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