I'm torn on this issue. Yes a winning culture is nice, but there is still a serious lack of talent at Centre on this team. Alot rides on Stutzle's potential swap to centre.
- david22

i don't think the answer at center is going to be available in this draft. i think the only way this pick solves that problem is if it's traded for a young center

i don't think the answer at center is going to be available in this draft. i think the only way this pick solves that problem is if it's traded for a young center
- sensarmy_11

Likely not, but as we've discussed, its a crap shoot. Most likely would be a player that comes in in a year or two and steps into the role.

Number 1 centres are very rarely traded. Columbus is already back on the market looking for one since trading Dubois.

Likely not, but as we've discussed, its a crap shoot. Most likely would be a player that comes in in a year or two and steps into the role.

Number 1 centres are very rarely traded. Columbus is already back on the market looking for one since trading Dubois.
- david22

i would rather see Dorion package the pick with something and see if they could get a young guy with #1 C potential (cozens, zegras, zary, etc)

I'm torn on this issue. Yes a winning culture is nice, but there is still a serious lack of talent at Centre on this team. Alot rides on Stutzle's potential swap to centre.
- david22

I have to agree. This is why I'd been advocating so much for Rossi over Sanderson at the 2020 draft... having too many good C is a far easier problem to solve than having too few. I'll concede that Sanderson has so far looked pretty good in the NCAA/WJC, but the Logan Brown situation is starting to look grim. That puts an incredible amount of pressure on Stutzle and Norris to be the 1-2 scoring punch down the middle. Now, they're certainly both showing that they're transitioning well to the NHL (e.g. 2nd/3rd in NHL rookie scoring), but just how effective either will prove to be down the road, or whether both will even play C is very much still in question.

I have to agree. This is why I'd been advocating so much for Rossi over Sanderson at the 2020 draft... having too many good C is a far easier problem to solve than having too few. I'll concede that Sanderson has so far looked pretty good in the NCAA/WJC, but the Logan Brown situation is starting to look pretty grim. That puts an incredible amount of pressure on Stutzle and Norris to be the 1-2 scoring punch down the middle. Now, they're certainly both showing that they're transitioning well to the NHL (e.g. 2nd/3rd in NHL rookie scoring), but just how effective either will prove to be down the road, or whether both will even play C is very much still in question.
- khawk

I've mentioned this before, but I wonder if Dorion is trying to emulate the Predators in many ways.

A budget team that will build from the defence out. If the opportunity presents itself, trade one of those pieces for your centreman.

i would rather see Dorion package the pick with something and see if they could get a young guy with #1 C potential (cozens, zegras, zary, etc)
- sensarmy_11

Right, but this essentially never happens... mostly because if a team just managed to draft a young C with that much upside who's now NHL-ready, there's very little chance that they're already willing to move them along for another high draft pick. So unless that "something" else is a very high-end young D-man like Brannstrom/Sanderson, I don't know what kind of team would be moving a Zegras/Cozens type player... especially a rebuilding team like Anaheim or Buffalo.

No matter how you slice it, high-end scoring C are very difficult to acquire, so I'd be inclined to at least see what kind of potential Stutzle has at C before throwing away multiple high-end assets. That said, I don't think there's much reason to keep him playing at W. Even if they're worried about faceoffs, look at how the Canucks have protected Pettersson in that regard. Horvat, Beagle, and Sutter have 135-190 D-Zone faceoffs each, while the top line has just 71... of which 57 were actually taken by J.T. Miller. Pettersson literally takes 1 D-Zone face-off every 2 games, and hasn't taken a single PP or PK faceoff all year. Personally, I think that's a bit extreme, but there are certainly ways to buffer a young skilled C, as they learn and develop the necessary skill set to be effective as a #1C in the NHL. But you're really not going to learn much about it by playing nothing but LW.

Right, but this essentially never happens... mostly because if a team just managed to draft a young C with that much upside who's now NHL-ready, there's very little chance that they're already willing to move them along for another high draft pick. So unless that "something" else is a very high-end young D-man like Brannstrom/Sanderson, I don't know what kind of team would be moving a Zegras/Cozens type player... especially a rebuilding team like Anaheim or Buffalo.

No matter how you slice it, high-end scoring C are very difficult to acquire, so I'd be inclined to at least see what kind of potential Stutzle has at C before throwing away multiple high-end assets. That said, I don't think there's much reason to keep him playing at W. Even if they're worried about faceoffs, look at how the Canucks have protected Pettersson in that regard. Horvat, Beagle, and Sutter have 135-190 D-Zone faceoffs each, while the top line has just 71... of which 57 were actually taken by J.T. Miller. Pettersson literally takes 1 D-Zone face-off every 2 games, and hasn't taken a single PP or PK faceoff all year. Personally, I think that's a bit extreme, but there are certainly ways to buffer a young skilled C, as they learn and develop the necessary skill set to be effective as a #1C in the NHL. But you're really not going to learn much about it by playing nothing but LW.
- khawk

wouldn't be straight for the pick, but if you include anohter asset or prospect......

like 21 1st and L. Brown or Thomson.....for cozens or zegras (maybe not those exact deals, but something similar).

the only way to address teh #1 center need on this team, in the next 2-3 years, is to hope brown or pinto can play #1C, move Stu over, or trade for one.

wouldn't be straight for the pick, but if you include anohter asset or prospect......

like 21 1st and L. Brown or Thomson.....for cozens or zegras (maybe not those exact deals, but something similar).

the only way to address teh #1 center need on this team, in the next 2-3 years, is to hope brown or pinto can play #1C, move Stu over, or trade for one.
- sensarmy_11

One of top rated centers in this years draft have a better chance of being a #1 centre than Pinto or Brown.

No Idea about 2022 draft class.

One of top rated centers in this years draft have a better chance of being a #1 centre than Pinto or Brown.
- david22

True, however Beniers/Raty look like potentially strong two-way #2C, while Johnson is probably the most likely to have #1C upside, at least in terms of pure high-end offensive skill. They would certainly be far stronger at C for having any of those in the system... but if they're serious about Cup contention, it's not clear that even Johnson has anything close to PPG potential. To the point about a trade being a more likely solution, drafting someone like Owen Power or Brandt Clarke might actually free up the assets required to secure a more legitimate #1C (e.g. Brown, Sanderson, 1st-2021).

True, however Beniers/Raty look like potentially strong two-way #2C, while Johnson is probably the most likely to have #1C upside, at least in terms of pure high-end offensive skill. They would certainly be far stronger at C for having any of those in the system... but if they're serious about Cup contention, it's not clear that even Johnson has anything close to PPG potential. To the point about a trade being a more likely solution, drafting someone like Owen Power or Brandt Clarke might actually free up the assets required to secure a more legitimate #1C (e.g. Brown, Sanderson, 1st-2021).
- khawk

Yup, most of the centers in this draft seem to project as #2 guys. Johnson seems to be a high skill guy, but with a lot more bust potential than Beniers

One of top rated centers in this years draft have a better chance of being a #1 centre than Pinto or Brown.

No Idea about 2022 draft class.
- david22

That is VERY debatable. Brown has more raw offensive talent than any center in this draft.

That is VERY debatable. Brown has more raw offensive talent than any center in this draft.
- sensarmy_11

Lets be realistic, Brown is not going to be a number one center in the NHL.

I'd be surprised by Pinto as well, although I have hopes he could be a decent 2nd liner if he keeps progressing.

It's unlikely for any of the centers in this upcoming draft, but they at least have a better shot, due to age / less being known about them.

Yup, most of the centers in this draft seem to project as #2 guys. Johnson seems to be a high skill guy, but with a lot more bust potential than Beniers
- sensarmy_11

Then we know which one Dorion will prioritize.

I'm being a little facetious though. Pronman has Bernies as a top line potential center, but I Johnson's high end skill potential really makes me want him if it was an option.

Lets be realistic, Brown is not going to be a number one center in the NHL.

I'd be surprised by Pinto as well, although I have hopes he could be a decent 2nd liner if he keeps progressing.

It's unlikely for any of the centers in this upcoming draft, but they at least have a better shot, due to age / less being known about them.
- david22

If you assume Stutzle is a LW, I think Brown has more offensive potential than any C in this org. His issue has always been effort and 2-way play. If he can pull his head out of his ass, he has the potential to be a #1 on this team. Obviously not an elite top line guy, but still a #1