John LeClair -- Evgeni Malkin --- Sergei Makarov
Ilya Kovalchuk -- Bobby Clarke (C) --- Jarome Iginla
Bill Barber -- Adam Oates --- Martin St. Louis
Keith Tkachuk --- Mike Modano --- Daniel Alfredsson
Raymond Bourque (A) --- Chris Chelios (A)
Scott Niedermayer --- Chris Pronger
Kimmo Timonen --- Eric Desjardins
Patrick Roy
John Vanbiesbrouck
PP1
LeClair -- Oates -- St. Louis
Kovalchuk -- Bourque
PP2
Makarov -- Malkin -- Iginla
Neidermayer -- Pronger
PK1
Barber -- Clarke
Chelios -- Pronger
PK2
Modano -- Alfredsson
Timonen --Bourque
Thought I should give this team a full review before voting...
Forwards
1st Line: Since Malkin is your #2 center he is easily the weakest 1st line center in this. As far as #2's go he's also below average considering guys like Yzerman, Forsberg, Crosby, and Dionne are #2's in this draft. Makarov is a solid 1st line RW and the best player on this line. Leclair isn't out of place on a 1st line, but IMO he's below average as well. Overall this is the weakest 1st line in the draft, the offensive chemistry is good in terms of having players that will work well together, but the line is lacking in defense, which could be a problem if they get matched up with other 1st lines in this with more talent.
2nd Line: Well the disadvantage of having your #2 on the 1st line gives you a large advantage with your #1 on this line. Clarke is easily the best 2nd line center in this, and would be a solid 1st liner. Iginla is a great fit next to Clarke...he'll do the boardwork and can stand up for Clarke when he needs it (and he will). Iginla is a great 2nd line RW in this, and wouldn't be out of place on a 1st line IMO. Kovalchuk is always tricky to build around, but his offense is great for a 2nd line LW in this. Clarke is the defensive player you want next to him. Something that could be a problem is that there may not be enough puck to go around with both Clarke and Kovalchuk being guys that like to be the main puck handler of their line. Overall it's still a very good 2nd line with 2 players that could be 1st liners.
3rd Line: This looks to be the line that will primarily face the other teams' best. If that is in fact the plan, I like Modano as the center over Oates. Oates may be the better player overall, but I think Modano is much better defensively. Also, St. Louis and Oates are both primarily playmakers, so I like separating them. Speaking of St. Louis, he is an elite 3rd liner, who is easily good enough to be on a 2nd line. Barber will bring some grit and is also a plus defensively, although not very good or elite. I think with Modano in the middle this would be a good two-way third line that will be a threat to score.
4th Line: The trend continues with a great RW in Alfredsson who should be a 3rd liner (your team easily has the best RW depth in the draft). IMO Alfredsson is a very versatile player who can be either a playmaker or goal scorer, so I think he fits with Oates better than St. Louis. Oates is a great 4th liner, who is not a liability defensively. Tkachuk is a solid 4th liner who brings grit and goalscoring to this line, which is exactly what it needs. Overall a well built 4th line.
Defense
1st Pair: In the running for the best top pair in the draft. Bourque - Chelios will be miserable to play against defensively and will also get the offense going the other way. Also a great fit with eachother, LHS-RHS, Chelios more defense oriented, Bourque more offense, but they each can do both.
2nd Pair: Another very good pairing. IMO Niedermayer was a steal when you took him as he's better than a few guys who went before him. Pronger is a low-end #2/high-end #3 in this. These guys have proven chemistry together and are a strong pair.
3rd Pair: Desjardins is a solid #5. IMO Timonen is a lower end #6, but with such a strong top pair these two won't be playing much and are fine for their roles.
Goaltending
A very strong defense backed up by an elite goalie. As I said before, IMO Roy/Hasek are in a 1a/1b situation for the best goalie in the draft. Beezer is a fine backup that won't be out of place in that role.
Special Teams
PP1: Makarov is the best offensive player on your team, he needs to be on your 1st unit for St. Louis who again doesn't fit well with Oates in terms of too much playmaking, not enough goalscoring. Leclair is a good net front guy, but I like Iginla even better. Up front you're going to be weaker than most 1st units, but you are solid on the blueline...Bourque is one of the best PP pointmen of all time, and Kovalchuk is a dangerous threat as well.
PP2: So if you make the changes I said above I'd go with Leclair - Clarke - Malkin up front on this line. Clarke is too good offensively to leave out, and he's phenomenal at faceoffs which are key on the PP. It feels weird leaving MSL off, maybe put him or Malkin on the point and take out Niedermayer, who I believe didn't play a lot of special teams in his career. Pronger is a great pointman on a second unit.
PK1: Clarke is an elite PKer. I don't know much about Barber's PKing, but a quick hockey-reference check shows him with SH goals almost every year, so he was definitely on the PK. Chelios and Pronger are both great PKers who will make it absolutely miserable for the opposition to be in front of your net. Bourque would be fine here too, but I like having him on the second unit to conserve energy. You need to switch Chelios/Pronger so they are on the correct sides (Pronger-left, Chelios-right).
PK2: Modano is a very good PKer here. Alfredsson is a bit like Barber for me, I know he plays on the PK, but I just don't know how good he is. Either way I think he's fine, just don't know if he's great or not. Bourque is a real luxury on a 2nd unit. From what I remember Timonen is a good PKer, athough he's small, and I just don't think he's as good as Niedermayer. Doesn't matter much though, this will be a solid unit either way.
Overall: A team with great defense and goaltending...the best combination of the two in the draft IMO, but also one of the weakest teams up front, so you're probably going to play a lot of low scoring games. You have a good amount of toughness/grit throughout the lineup which will make this team difficult to play against. I really think Modano should be on the 3rd line. A good entry.
