BPA and all but BUF need D above anything else, Habs need C or D and AVS certainly don't need another RHD.
We fans always draft for need. The truth is GM's want immediate impact players, or the closest thing to it.
How a defenseman holds a stick would never stop a team from drafting a player at the top of their draft board. Winnipeg didn't need a winger, but took Laine anyway. Carolina certainly didn't need a defenseman, but took Bean anyway. Buffalo didn't need a center, but took Mittelstadt anyway. The Rangers didn't need Chytil, but took him anyway.
Did the Canucks need a winger like Pettersson? They already had Boeser and acquired Dahlen, plus had a void at center. IIRC, Glass, Mittelstadt and Vilardi were the popular names the fans wanted. It appears as though Benning drafted the biggest impact player with the shortest route to the NHL.
We acquired 1 defensive dman (Lindgren but he’s not just a defense first kind of guy)
Hajek/Rykov are 2 way guys
Lindgren is also the worst out of them 3 and I don’t see top 4 upside in him as much as Rykov and Hajek, taking Merkley wouldn’t be a good idea and the Rangers have this character thing going on and want guys with leadership and work ethic etc which Merkley doesn’t fit. I’m willing to bet serious money we don’t draft him and I’m not a fan either
Well the character thing didn't stop them from acquiring DeAngelo, who you used as a reason to not draft Merkley in the first place. Plus they drafted Day who was lazy and out of shape in his draft year.
I'm not saying it's a lock they draft Merkley. Far from it. But the Rangers are playing themselves out of the running for one of the elite puck movers and the extra late pick could be used to gamble on a player with elite skills.
What makes Boqvist better (in perception or reality) than Quinn Hughes? For a "fantastic offensive defenseman," I don't see fantastic results.
Boqvist is destroying the J20. Easily the league's most dominant defenseman.
I like Boqvist better. Taller, harder shot, smarter reads, higher upside. I'm not big into the age thing for first-year eligibles but in this specific case, Boqvist is almost a full year younger than Hughes. That also plays into it.