Can't we put aside the squabbling and get back to the draft? If you're so thin-skinned that RB offends you, simply ignore him.
His main point--however it was originally expressed--is that the Habs would be better off swinging for the fences with their 1st-rounder. I, for one, agree. But all home run swings are not created equal. The specific player is still crucial and not every risk is a risk worth taking.
Arguably both Sherbak and Galchenyuk were home run swings in recent memory--both are players with significant upside that were chosen on the basis of a small sample size. We're still waiting to see how they work out. This year, Guryanov is very much of the same ilk and for that reason alone the Habs will probably shy away from him. What's more, unlike the other two, Guryanov is still playing in Russia with all the additional risk that entails. Both Sherbak and Gachenyuk had already crossed the pond prior to the draft. Finally, there seems to be an increasing likelihood that Guryanov will no longer be on the board at 26th.
Then, who will be left amongst the high risk high reward choices? Sprong? Kylington? Yan? Bracco? Ahl? The first two may be already gone, the latter three may be too much of a stretch in the first-round. Trading down may be a way to pick someone like Yan or Bracco or Beauvillier as well as a less-flashy choice at LD such as Gabriel Carlsson. Unfortunately to trade down effectively, you need another team that really wants to trade up and grab a particular player.
I guess the low down is: wait on your pitch. If you get it, take your best cut. If not, just try to get on base. And remember, in the NHL Entry Draft sometimes home runs come on check swings.
