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Hindsight drafting: 2007

August 15, 2018, 9:46 PM ET [89 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
I am going to look back at previous drafts and re-draft the top ten with the hindsight we have now. This will value their entire body of work over the years not just where they are in the present moment. I'm looking for who would provide the most value over their careers to this point even if they may be in decline (spoiler the players today are all ~29 years old).

This draft had a USA flavor to it. More of the impact players in this draft were from the USA which hadn't been a regular thing.

Today is going to focus on the 2007. Here is what the actual top ten looked like

1. Patrick Kane (RW)
2. James van Riemsdyk (LW)
3. Kyle Turris (C)
4. Thomas Hickey (D)
5. Karl Alzner (D)
6. Sam Gagner (C)
7. Jakub Voracek (RW)
8. Zach Hamill (C)
9. Logan Couture (C)
10. Keaton Ellerby (D)


Here is what mine will look like

1. Patrick Kane (1)

I honestly struggled with what to do here. The off the ice allegations are brutal and I've never heard anything good about personal interactions people I know have had with him in Western New York. He is the best player of this draft class. He should be easy to root for given his style of play and talent. He's such a loser off the ice though. He doesn't deserve to be here, but here he is.

2. PK Subban (43)

He's electric on and off the ice. A Norris Trophy winner that can skate, provide offense, sell tickets, and give 8 figures to a children's hospital.

3. Jamie Benn (129)

What a steal for Dallas. Jamie Benn has become one of the elite wingers in hockey and even has an Art Ross Trophy on his mantle. A total force to play against while being able to manipulate time and space through skill as well.

4. Max Pacioretty (22)

Wow, Montreal getting these two players in the same draft with Carey Price two years prior must have set the team up for success for a long time...
Pacioretty has been a terrific goal scorer for many years. He's had a great impact on his team in possession and expected goals.

5. Jakub Voracek (7)

Columbus had a good one with Voracek and wasted it on Jeff Carter. What was the Blue Jackets mistake has been great for the Flyers. Voracek has teamed up with Claude Giroux to form one of the best duos in the NHL for years.

6. Logan Couture (9)

Couture has been the guy that gets kind of overlooked in San Jose. With Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Patrick Marleau, and Brent Burns he's just quietly gone about his business over the years.

7. Ryan McDonagh (12)

Montreal drafted this guy too?! That has to be one of the best trios a team has drafted with their first three picks ever. How did anybody ever beat the Canadiens?

I have no doubt that McDonagh's career numbers would have been better if he wasn't glued to Dan Girardi's corpse for the better part of a decade.

8. Kyle Turris (3)

He hasn't lived up to a third overall selection, but he's been a good NHL player for a while. Very similar boxcar stats to the 10th player on my list, but his Ryan Stimson passing data is much better so when tangible offense is a push I like the guy that can help other people more and Turris has done that.

9. Kevin Shattenkirk (14)

Great power play defenseman and is also able to produce offense at even-strength. You're going to get 43 or 44 points from him in most seasons. That's a very good number for forwards these days let alone a defenseman.

10. James van Riemsdyk (2)

Like Turris he doesn't quite live up to his original draft selection, but has also carved out a good NHL career.

He just keeps scoring goals. If he plays a full season you're getting at least 25 goals and sometimes 30 or more. He's a great player to have down low on the power play.

Honorable mentions: Wayne Simmonds (5v5 pts per 60 of 1.57 doesn't cut it), Jake Muzzin, Carl Hagelin, Mikael Backlund, David Perron, Alex Killorn, Patrick Maroon

Thanks for reading!
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