MacKinnon vs. Jones

[442]

Just curious if we actually end up with the first pick who folks might want between the 2.

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[HTFN]

I'll gladly take a sure thing at D if he is one, but I haven't seen anywhere near enough to be sure. He underwhelmed me at the WJC from a decision making perspective, but I didn't catch all the games, either.

I'm hoping for Barkov either way though.

 

[TheFountainhead]

Give me the potential superstar center. A Backstrom/Mackinnon combo would be beautiful to watch and would position us to be an offensive powerhouse again shortly with Kuznetsov and Forsberg potentially supplementing that duo and Ovechkin.

 

[brs03]

Tell me how Carlson ends up looking, and I'll tell you who I want. Assuming it's not a slam dunk either way scouting wise.

Alternatively, trade down a spot or 3.

Not like the Caps will win the lottery regardless.

 

[SimplySensational]

Barkov. He's big. He's got good hands. Is considered universally the most NHL ready of all the players, and he won't even 18 until a couple weeks before training camp. Great defensively.

Some people think he's a average skater, Button thinks he's very good and can be explosive. Button is a bad GM, but I can trust his write up on skating over people on this forum.

 

[HTFN]

Barkov. He's big. He's got good hands. Is considered universally the most NHL ready of all the players, and he won't even 18 until a couple weeks before training camp. Great defensively.

Some people think he's a average skater, Button thinks he's very good and can be explosive. Button is a bad GM, but I can trust his write up on skating over people on this forum.

I share it. He doesn't look like a bad skater, he looks like a kid who got really big and needs some more time. You see flashes of it, it's just not consistently there yet. It doesn't strike me as anything that a hard offseason with a skating coach in his early 20's wouldn't fix, when that frame settles down.

Of course, he's got all of the other tools to be a good puck possession player in this league anyway, he doesn't need insane foot speed.

 

[Ajax1995]

Barkov. He's big. He's got good hands. Is considered universally the most NHL ready of all the players, and he won't even 18 until a couple weeks before training camp. Great defensively.

Some people think he's a average skater, Button thinks he's very good and can be explosive. Button is a bad GM, but I can trust his write up on skating over people on this forum.

Plus he's guaranteed to be at least as good as Kopitar. Guaranteed...

 

[thomast]

I share it. He doesn't look like a bad skater, he looks like a kid who got really big and needs some more time. You see flashes of it, it's just not consistently there yet. It doesn't strike me as anything that a hard offseason with a skating coach in his early 20's wouldn't fix, when that frame settles down.

Of course, he's got all of the other tools to be a good puck possession player in this league anyway, he doesn't need insane foot speed.

He isn't an speed demon like you stated but he's pretty underrated skater especially when you consider his frame. His skating stride is long and effective and it looks slow but it's suprisingly effective.



Barkov is the one with the golden helmet. Pretty good clip from his skating. There is smaller guy Chris Connoly who has much quicker feets but isn't much faster if he is at all. There is good sample about his balance and strength fighting against men at the boards.

Potential wise Barkov can be better skater like you said. Once his legs get's stronger. He is carrying 210+lbs frame afterall and he isn't turning 18 until 8 months.

 

[Brad Tolliver]

My guess is Mackinnon will need the least development and have the most consistent career of the top prospects. The other 3 will need development that the Caps will find a way to screw up.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I would always prefer the 100 pt center over the 40-50 pt D-men and in most cases the 80 pt winger (Drouin) over the Dman, but in this case, if have the 2nd pick and Jones is left standing, then I'm picking him over Drouin. It's a crap shoot though. I've seen Drouin play and he has a shot to be the best of the 3. We'll see in 5 years time.

 

[fedfed]

If I'm Caps, here's my strategy:
1. MacKinnon
2. (If MacKinnon is taken) trade down
3. Barkov
4. Lindholm
5. Monahan

Center or bust!

 

[Hivemind]

So the 2nd overall pick is worth the 5th overall, a 2nd, and two future 1st round picks, right?

 

[InjuredChoker]

Caps are one of the few times that could benefit from taking one of the C's over Jones.

Little depends on what the management is wanting now, re-tool or contend till Calgary mode.

 

[breakawaygoal]

I'd prefer Barkov over MacKinnon, even though they're almost the same age Barkov is bigger and has been playing with men for the last 2 seasons. Offensively even if MacKinnon has a higher ceiling Barkov should make up with better defensive coverage, which I would prefer for a 2C (presumably MacKinnon or Barkov would play behind Backstrom).

 

[Hivemind]

If we're going full-on rebuild, I don't know why you'd presume Backstrom would stay in Washington. Or why you'd assume he's going to continue to be an top flight 1C, given that he's one of the biggest reasons for our disappointing start to the season.

 

[I Am Score*]

My strategy for the Caps is simple:

1. MacKinnon
2. Drouin
3. Jones
4. Barkov
5. Trade Down/Pick

 

[um]

best player available, worry about needs later.

 

[I Am Score*]

best player available, worry about needs later.

MacKinnon reminds me of an Eric Staal
Drouin reminds me of a Phil Kessel
Jones reminds me of a Brent Seabrook

Take your pick

 

[Calicaps]

MacKinnon reminds me of an Eric Staal
Drouin reminds me of a Phil Kessel
Jones reminds me of a Brent Seabrook

Take your pick

If Drouin projects as Phil Kessel, no thanks.

 

[Carlzner]

MacKinnon reminds me of an Eric Staal
Drouin reminds me of a Phil Kessel
Jones reminds me of a Brent Seabrook

Take your pick

Lol these are pretty bad comparisons.

 

[Brad Tolliver]

Lol these are pretty bad comparisons.

Yeah I read Mackinnon is a 3rd/4th round pick in NHL 13, so he's more like Jared Staal.

 

[I Am Score*]

If Drouin projects as Phil Kessel, no thanks.

Kessel is one of the most underrated forwards in the game, and those are just what they REMIND me of.

Drouin would be a solid fit if we couldn't get MacKinnon or Jones.

Plus we could use his speed on the first line with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Forsberg and Kuz on the 2nd when they jump ship. Boom.

 

[Calicaps]

Kessel is one of the most underrated forwards in the game, and those are just what they REMIND me of.

Drouin would be a solid fit if we couldn't get MacKinnon or Jones.

Plus we could use his speed on the first line with Ovechkin and Backstrom. Forsberg and Kuz on the 2nd when they jump ship. Boom.

Kessel is not underrated. He's done exactly nothing impressive in his career except get picked high in the draft.

 

[Bethesda]

MacKinnon....but only because it's fun to dream about offense and boring to dream about defense. And also because it might be pretty fun to have a stud center for once.

 

[Ajax1995]

Kessel is not underrated. He's done exactly nothing impressive in his career except get picked high in the draft.

He meant in NHL '13...