2006 NHA Draft

[icedragonsgm]

I'm oh so happy to have grabbed the #1 pick in the upcoming NHA Draft and thought I would start a thread to find out who other GM's in the league would take if they had the first overall selection in the 2006 Draft.

I am for the moment focused on two players and it's going to be a tough decision either way I think. The most obvious choice would probably be Erik Johnson. After all he was taken first overall by St. Louis in the NHL '06 draft and is the only highly rated defenseman in the top ten if not top fifteen. Johnson is everything you could wish for in a defenseman. He's strong, has good size, scoring ability, passing ability and reliable. Another possible choice that I'm considering is Jordan Staal (bit of a surprise) because of his incredible poise and maturity, not to mention the fact that he's big, can score and if I'm not mistaken, was the Penguins top penalty killer last season, which is saying something for his young age.

Let me hear your thoughts! Oh, and not the thoughts that would send the first overall pick to your hockey club.

[Vampyre]

Actually, I don't think any other d-men besides Johnson are in the top 15 from this draft.

Honestly, there is no clear-cut #1 choice and any of the top 5-6 players are on par with each other in terms of value.

It very likely will fall to need for the determination of what to pick, as BPA is debatable.

[omskgm]

I'm just content i'm in the top 5.

To be honest I was thinking of trading down a few spots if I landed the 1st overall because that's how close everybody is in my projected top 5.

It's gonna be interesting to see who falls to me at 4th overall.

[Commish]

You certainly have a tough decision to make, especially since every single guy in the top four or five (Staal, Backstrom, Johnson, Towes, Mueller) may be worthy of the first overall pick. These five guys all have enough talent to propel them to superstar status one day.

It may be a simple matter of decided what the needs of your team are. Do you need another center with Sedin and Kopitar already in the mix, or would a top pairing defenseman to play with Green, Regehr and Boyle be more help.

[vancouverhotheads]

ha, not even close to being interested in this draft. no picks this year hurts. but i'm in the conference finals so it can't be considered a mistake.

for the record, i'd take johnson. when you have a chance to get a defenceman of his stature and with his skills, you can't pass him up. at least i wouldn't be able to.

[ssidestorm]

I have always been a big fan of the Staal family, but Jordan is being molded into a shutdown guy, better suited for the 3rd line. Seeing that Crosby & Malkin are ahead of him. This hurts him, I think.

Toews, Mueller & Backstrom are the big offesive guys, I'd say. Sheppard even looks like he is going to take a big step this year in Minny. And then there is a franchise goalie in Bernier.

If I could pick, it would be:

1) EJ
2) Toews
3) Mueller
4) Backstrom
5) Bernier

Who will I get at 6th, and I'd like another top pick too.

[Vampyre]

I thought you were collecting Staals, like they were chase cards.

[ssidestorm]

Oh, I'd still like to get all of the Staal's(I have them all in another league.), but I'd rather Toews, Mueller or Okposo. They will get the chance to develope more offensively then Jordan will. So better scoring rerates. I need to 2 scoring wingers to finish my top 2 lines.

[Vampyre]

Guess I'm not likely getting Okposo then, eh.

[ssidestorm]

Probably not, he will be playing with Cammer & Getzlaf soon, maybe.

[norsemangm]

Not sure I'm going to draft a goalie with my # 5 pick overall if Bernier is still available.

[Vampyre]

I wasn't analyzing that you would pick Bernier at #5, just that a goalie like that would be a prime consideration for a team in your situation.

Who knows, maybe you trade up or down, or wait until #12, right.