I wonder if that Gudbranson pick that hasn't quite panned out yet will plant a seed of doubt in Tallon. His history of high picks is very heavy on forwards when there were some opportunities to go with D:
2005 - Skille at 7 (Bourdon, Staal and Lee were on the board)
2006 - Toews at 3 (no debate about this one)
2007 - Kane at 1 (no debate in terms of defensemen worth taking at #1)
2008 - Beach at 11 (Myers, Teubert, Karlsson, Del Zotto all options)
2010 - Bjugstad at 15 after Gudbranson at 3 (Pysyk dropped, although it's understandable to not want to draft 2 D in the first)
2011 - Huberdeau at 3 (could have gone with Larsson)
2013 - Barkov at 2 (could have gone with Jones)
You have to hit on this pick if you're a team like Florida, and Reinhart is like the ultimate safe pick at #1. Do-it-all right-handed centerman with great NHL bloodlines; if there's a safe pick in an NHL draft, this is it. I've never believed in picking for need, especially so high in the draft. You should go for the BPA every time.
Last edited by Thom Yorke; 06-19-2014 at 01:27 PM.
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