NHL Draft: You Don’t Need A Top Two Pick
By Adam Savard
2008 NHL Draft
Mar 12, 2015; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) scores a goal against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price (31) during the third period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s start with the obvious. Steven Stamkos is half man, half freak of nature. And Drew Doughty is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. In the third position, Zach Bogosian was recently traded to the Buffalo Sabres in a deal involving the twelfth pick in this draft, Tyler Myers. Both different style of defensemen, both solid if not more and Myers has a Calder Trophy on his résumé.
Outside of the top ten, other defencemen selected were Myers followed by Colten Toubert. The fifteenth pick in the 2008 NHL Draft? Erik Karlsson, He with the Norris Trophy and excellent offensive numbers. How do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs feel about passing on him with the fifth overall pick?
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There are other quality NHL players further down the first round. Jordan Eberle was the first of the parade of Edmonton Oilers forwards selected in the opening round and is putting together a quality career with 279 points in 347 games. The first round from the 2008 NHL Draft is littered with players making contributions on various rosters. Luca Sbisa, Tyler Ennis and Jake Gardiner just to name a few. Outside of the top two picks any team would be elated to have Pietrangelo or Boedker patrolling the ice.
Doughty was considered very good this year but I don’t recall anything referring to him as ‘generational’. Two Stanley Cups later fans of the Kings don’t care if you split those hairs or not. To paraphrase the great Patrick Roy, they won’t be able to hear you with those two rings plugging their ears.
Answer this question: would you take Karlsson, Eberle, Sbisa or Ennis on your team now and expect them to be better? You sure would.
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