Chicago's last pick comes from Montreal and will slot in as second line Center between Firsov and Martinec forming the FML Line (because that's what opposing defenses say to themselves when they have to line up against them
)!
Chicago selects
Newsy Lalonde, C (Montreal)
Lalonde also completes our trio of big/physical/nasty centers: Messier - Lalonde - Smith, which should take a toll on our opponents, especially over a 7 game series.
(Our 4th line center, Joe Thornton, isn't cut from quite the same cloth as these guys, but he does have size at least)
Not all all who I expected you'd take from Montreal to be your second line center (I guess I can name Henri Richard since nobody can take him anymore even in add/drop) but thinking through what you said and your team build, makes quite a bit of sense lol
Is he better than Gare? I was torn between the two.
I don't really get into that stuff much, as
@zffssk said in a different context which I'll take to a further conclusion, placing the player in context in a team is far more important than individual evaluation (and the types of evaluations here usually aren't just based on talent but on things that cannot easily/at all be separated from their particular contexts). Gustafsson though is a repeat pick of mine for the very reason that he's so versatile, a trained center that ended up playing both wings more. Sublime offensive skill, but played so well defensively in a role as well. Gives me the more counterattack based penalty kill look with Modano as well. With me also usually being the one taking Lindros, I gotta make sure I have guys who can fill in at center in a pinch like Marian Stastny, Walker, Gustafsson.
Interesting to hear you might've picked him, I was sure I'd be the only one interested so I waited for last pick lol
Oh, since we're discussing player positions, Gustafsson has usually been listed as a right wing when I've picked him previously. I am assuming this follows the NHL official position.
While it's true Gustafsson did play on the right side at times, he would play on the left or at center more than that depending on the Capitals needs at various times.
Since all star voting seems to be a big factor in determining position (I don't agree at all, but remember it was bought up when I took Zetterberg before in a previous draft lol), Gustafsson got votes for the all star team at left wing (1984) and center (1986).
As a more precise source, the Hockey Scouting Reports generally listed Gustafsson as Left Wing (1986-87, 1987-88, 1988-89) in his player profile, though 1988-89 in the Washington team profile listed him as a Center. Hockey Scouting Report 89-90 listed him at Center.
Gustafsson is a prime example of recent player who probably deserves the generic Forward/F listing here for these drafts.
