Tim Panaccio: They Have to Go Defense, Right?

Best player available. End of discussion.

Tim Panaccio: They Have to Go Defense, Right?
- tpanaccio

No, best player available, regardless of position...not much depth anywhere.

Can't pass up a potentially great player because they need a defenseman...they drafted 4 last year and traded for Mark Alt.

As a wise man once said, "Best player available. End of discussion."

Unless a top guy like monahan falls, I'm for Ristolian or Pulock. Zadrova has size but we need some puck skillz from someone who isnt undersized.

BPA, end of discussion.

Unless a top guy like monahan falls, I'm for Ristolian or Pulock. Zadrova has size but we need some puck skillz from someone who isnt undersized.
- flyler

Zadorov seems like he should be a Flyer. He's mean, has a good shot and can demolish people.

Zadorov seems like he should be a Flyer. He's mean, has a good shot and can demolish people.
- tomburton99

Zadorov would be a fine pick up at 11, depending on who else is on the board.

Flyers should take Pulock if he's there at 11. They NEED a player like this on defense.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SpCGb35m46g

Best player available. End of discussion.
- Moose_15

A team's idea of who they think the "best players available" (for their team) may be in any particular draft takes many things into account. Team need is among them. That said, it's not like they'll just pick a D man they have ranked behind 10 forwards because they need high quality D prospects. Depending on the draft and the team's draft position there could very well be a few choices in the position of need that are consistent with their rankings. In this particular draft there are a group of D men that could reasonably be picked at 11. Nurse, Zadorov, Pulock...all are pretty highly ranked by various sources and could justifiably be picked by the Flyers...throw Morrissey and Ristolainen in there too. That said, if a few select forwards slip, and are there when they pick (Lindholm, Monahan, Nichushkin) they would probably have to take one of them as the "best player available"...my gameplan looks something like this:

Not going to happen:

Drouin
MacKinnon
Jones
Barkov
------------


Probably not going to be there, but would have to take as BPA if they fell:

Nichushkin
Lindholm
Monahan
-------------


The kill zone (one or more of these guys should be there at #11):
------------
Nurse (D) - this is probably wishful thinking...he probably goes top 8.

Zadorov (D) - Not a bad consolation prize if Nurse isn't there. 6'6", very mobile and skilled, plays with an edge...has only scratched the surface of his potential as a two way, top pairing d man.

Pulock (D) - Converted forward, not big but not small a6 6'1"...a RH, puck moving, offensive D man with high hockey sense and a big time shot... a developing defensive game.

Morrissey (D) - Has proven his abilities and value in the W and international play. Very good puck mover.

Shinkaruk (F) - skill level on par with top 5 types...a touch undersized, but quite strong on his skates...will probably play at 5'11" 185...
------------

Trade down scenario/2nd rd hopefuls:

Horvat
Shea Theodore
Samuel Morin
Ristolainen
Hagg
Gauthier
Mantha

Pick a defenseman, or trade multiple assets - almost certainly including a previous BPA - for 1.

Drafting a defenseman is without a doubt the smarter move, just not the quickest (short-term) solution for getting NHL-ready defensemen.

A team's idea of who they think the "best players available" (for their team) may be in any particular draft takes many things into account. Team need is among them. That said, it's not like they'll just pick a D man they have ranked behind 10 forwards because they need high quality D prospects. Depending on the draft and the team's draft position there could very well be a few choices in the position of need that are consistent with their rankings. In this particular draft there are a group of D men that could reasonably be picked at 11. Nurse, Zadorov, Pulock...all are pretty highly ranked by various sources and could justifiably be picked by the Flyers...throw Morrissey and Ristolainen in there too. That said, if a few select forwards slip, and are there when they pick (Lindholm, Monahan, Nichushkin) they would probably have to take one of them as the "best player available"...my gameplan looks something like this:

Not going to happen:

Drouin
MacKinnon
Jones
Barkov
------------


Probably not going to be there, but would have to take as BPA if they fell:

Nichushkin
Lindholm
Monahan
-------------


The kill zone (one or more of these guys should be there at #11):
------------
Nurse (D) - this is probably wishful thinking...he probably goes top 8.

Zadorov (D) - Not a bad consolation prize if Nurse isn't there. 6'6", very mobile and skilled, plays with an edge...has only scratched the surface of his potential as a two way, top pairing d man.

Pulock (D) - Converted forward, not big but not small a6 6'1"...a RH, puck moving, offensive D man with high hockey sense and a big time shot... a developing defensive game.

Morrissey (D) - Has proven his abilities and value in the W and international play. Very good puck mover.

Shinkaruk (F) - skill level on par with top 5 types...a touch undersized, but quite strong on his skates...will probably play at 5'11" 185...
------------

Trade down scenario/2nd rd hopefuls:

Horvat
Shea Theodore
Samuel Morin
Ristolainen
Hagg
Gauthier
Mantha
- exlund

I'd add Alexander Wennberg to the "kill zone"... he has a chance to be a very good NHL player. Excellent playmaker, solid two-way player. I saw some of his DIF games on Viasat this year and was very impressed.

I'd add Alexander Wennberg to the "kill zone"... he has a chance to be a very good NHL player. Excellent playmaker, solid two-way player. I saw some of his DIF games on Viasat this year and was very impressed.
- bmeltzer

Wennberg shows a lot of "No Quit".

Nurse...ehhh he has a lot of work to do, very raw. Hitch in his skating and everything he does is throw and wish, got to be better in the CHL to be better in the NHL.