2017 Re-draft #1 Overall

[LokiDog]

132 points in 139 games at 21 years old. Those 7 extra points/.05 points per game really make or break the argument. These board are a sad place some times.

I still feel Heiskanen ends up the best of the bunch. 33 points in 82 followed by 35 in 68 while going point per game in an SCF run and playing all the top matchups the entire way to the Finals. Victor Hedman had 20 in 74, 26 in 79, 23 in 61 and 20 in 44 his first four seasons and I don’t recall him taking the kind of assignments Miro did these playoffs and handling them as well until he was 5+ years in the league.

At 21 Hedman had 69 points in 214 games. Heiskanen has 68 in 150. The kid is going to be the best defenseman in the NHL.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

What argument has Petterrson over Heiskanen? Heiskanen is closer to best Dman in the league than Pettersson is to best center in the league.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

132 points in 139 games at 21 years old. Those 7 extra points/.05 points per game really make or break the argument. These board are a sad place some times.

I still feel Heiskanen ends up the best of the bunch. 33 points in 82 followed by 35 in 68 while going point per game in an SCF run and playing all the top matchups the entire way to the Finals. Victor Hedman had 20 in 74, 26 in 79, 23 in 61 and 20 in 44 his first four seasons and I don’t recall him taking the kind of assignments Miro did these playoffs and handling them as well until he was 5+ years in the league.

At 21 Hedman had 69 points in 214 games. Heiskanen has 68 in 150. The kid is going to be the best defenseman in the NHL.

Heiskanen is definitely ahead of where Hedman was at the same age.

I don’t really see the comparison between Hedman and Heiskanen though. In terms of skating, Hedman is good, but Heiskanen is on another level in that regard.

Hedman’s kind of a unicorn because of his size. At 6’6, 230 there are just some things he can do that other defenceman can’t because of his reach and strength.

If Heiskanen ups his production though he could certainly be in the mix for the top defenceman at some point. I’ve always like the Niedermayer comps for Heiskanen. A lot of similarities in their game.

 

[Xspyrit]

Heiskanen is like Sergei Zubov, one of the most underrated beasts in NHL history IMO.

Heiskanen, Dahlin, Jones, Makar, Hughes, Chabot, McAvoy, Werenski, Theodore, Provorov, Ekblad, Fox

This wave of new young D talent is quite good

 

[LokiDog]

Heiskanen is definitely ahead of where Hedman was at the same age.

I don’t really see the comparison between Hedman and Heiskanen though. In terms of skating, Hedman is good, but Heiskanen is on another level in that regard.

Hedman’s kind of a unicorn because of his size. At 6’6, 230 there are just some things he can do that other defenceman can’t because of his reach and strength.

If Heiskanen ups his production though he could certainly be in the mix for the top defenceman at some point. I’ve always like the Niedermayer comps for Heiskanen. A lot of similarities in their game.

I think he plays a lot like Hedman just obviously in a more compact frame. But honestly, I don’t think Hedman and Neids games are too dissimilar aside from the frame. Obviously Hedman being the size he is brings more physicality, and despite not being as good a skater as those two, his length and reach allow him to close gaps as quickly. I think that’s part of the reason I’m reminded of him. They play similar positionally and Hedman makes recoveries and takes away space by combining good skating with 6’6 reach while Heiskanen does it combining elite skating with 6’2 reach. Mostly I just see him following Hedman as the next best all around D.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

I think he plays a lot like Hedman just obviously in a more compact frame. But honestly, I don’t think Hedman and Neids games are too dissimilar aside from the frame. Obviously Hedman being the size he is brings more physicality, and despite not being as good a skater as those two, his length and reach allow him to close gaps as quickly. I think that’s part of the reason I’m reminded of him. They play similar positionally and Hedman makes recoveries and takes away space by combining good skating with 6’6 reach while Heiskanen does it combining elite skating with 6’2 reach. Mostly I just see him following Hedman as the next best all around D.

Gotcha. Yeah, I could see the similarity in terms of taking away space at the blue line. I think they have different skill sets, but I understand what your talking about in that regard. Certainly the big time upside is there.

 

[SotasicA]

8 shitvotes. Mostly Leaf fans.

 

[Regal]

What argument has Petterrson over Heiskanen? Heiskanen is closer to best Dman in the league than Pettersson is to best center in the league.

Pettersson is also closer to the best defenseman in the league (Hedman) than Heiskanen is to the best center in the league (McDavid) so why does that matter? Pettersson was also quite clearly better in the regular season this year. Heiskanen had a fantastic playoffs but Pettersson was quite good himself.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

Pettersson is also closer to the best defenseman in the league (Hedman) than Heiskanen is to the best center in the league (McDavid) so why does that matter? Pettersson was also quite clearly better in the regular season this year. Heiskanen had a fantastic playoffs but Pettersson was quite good himself.

I’m fine with Petterson being ranked one because of his upside, but was he better than Makar this season?

 

[Regal]

I’m fine with Petterson being ranked one because of his upside, but was he better than Makar this season?

I think he was, yes. His RAPM and relative numbers all point to him having a greater impact on his team and GF%. Pettersson was clearly more impactful than Hughes this year on the same team imo, and while I thought Makar had a better year than Hughes, it wasn't by that much. Part of that is I think centers have a greater impact than defensmen in general though.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

I think he was, yes. His RAPM and relative numbers all point to him having a greater impact on his team and GF%. Pettersson was clearly more impactful than Hughes this year on the same team imo, and while I thought Makar had a better year than Hughes, it wasn't by that much. Part of that is I think centers have a greater impact than defensmen in general though.

Relative numbers skew towards players on worse teams. I personally think Makar’s production as a defenceman was more impressive than Petterson’s as a forward. I believe Petterson was 25th among forwards in PPG, while Makar was 3rd among defenceman.

 

[Regal]

Relative numbers skew towards players on worse teams. I personally think Makar’s production as a defenceman was more impressive than Petterson’s as a forward. I believe Petterson was 25th among forwards in PPG, while Makar was 3rd among defenceman.

They do, but Pettersson's numbers are really good in raw terms as well. The Canucks had a better CF/60 and CA/60 with Pettersson on the ice than the Avs with Makar, a better GF/60, the same GA/60, a better xGF% and a better HDCF%. This despite the Avs being one of the best 5v5 teams this year and the Canucks being middle of the pack and terrible without Pettersson on the ice. I don't put a lot of stock in comparing forward to defenseman rankings in terms of PPG, since the number of elite offensive defensemen is far fewer and even the best offensive defensemen can't have the same impact offensively as the best forwards. MacKinnon was 5th in PPG among forwards this year, but I wouldn't say Makar was on the same level as him despite the fact that both were top 5 at their positions, because the best forwards just do so much more offensively. And even if we want to say Makar was better offensively at his position, I would say Pettersson was better defensively at his.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

They do, but Pettersson's numbers are really good in raw terms as well. I don't put a lot of stock in comparing forward to defenseman rankings, since the number of elite offensive defensemen is far fewer and even the best offensive defensemen can'thave the same impact offensively as the best forwards. MacKinnon was 5th in PPG among forward this year but I wouldn't say Makar was on the same level as him because they were both top 5 at his position. And even if we want to say Makar was better offensively at his position, I would say Pettersson was better defensively at his.

I agree to an extent, but an elite defenceman in terms of production/play driving brings a great deal of value when contrasted to the replacement level defenceman going in his place.

I probably only saw 15-20 games from Pettersson this year, so I can’t give a firm judgement on the value he brings to the defensive side/faceoff circle, that kind of thing. So, I’ll defer to your judgement there.

 

[Regal]

I agree to an extent, but an elite defenceman in terms of production/play driving brings a great deal of value when contrasted to the replacement level defenceman going in his place.

I probably only saw 15-20 games from Pettersson this year, so I can’t give a firm judgement on the value he brings to the defensive side/faceoff circle, that kind of thing.

There's value in the rarity of players like Makar, I agree, but at the same time I think it's easier to win without an elite offensive defenseman than to win without a number 1 center. I wouldn't fault anyone for taking Makar but I would take Pettersson if I'm starting a team based on just how they played this past season.

As for defense, Pettersson is a bad faceoff man and can get muscled around a bit in the corners at times, but his effort on the backcheck, stick work, anticipation and transition ability out of the zone are elite and his positioning is above average. His impact on the defensive numbers of everyone on the team is great. He's not a Selke level forward by any means, but in terms of top line players who aren't your usual matchup Selke types, he's probably as good as anyone.

 

[Northern Avs Fan]

There's value in the rarity of players like Makar, I agree, but at the same time I think it's easier to win without an elite offensive defenseman than to win without a number 1 center. I wouldn't fault anyone for taking Makar but I would take Pettersson if I'm starting a team based on just how they played this past season.

As for defense, Pettersson is a bad faceoff man and can get muscled around a bit in the corners at times, but his effort on the backcheck, stick work, anticipation and transition ability out of the zone are elite and his positioning is above average. His impact on the defensive numbers of everyone on the team is great. He's not a Selke level forward by any means, but in terms of top line players who aren't your usual matchup Selke types, he's probably as good as anyone.

Nice, and in terms of getting out-muscled a bit, that will most likely stop when he adds some weight to his frame. Faceoff ability also tends to get better as a player ages. Crosby was garbage in the faceoff circle his first couple seasons.

 

[Unspecified]

Miro
Makar
EP

 

[WetcoastOrca]

EP
Heiskanen/Makar

 

[Rob Brown]

Pick your poison between Makar, Heiskanen and Pettersson. Those would be the top 3 in any redraft for sure.

 

[AvsGuy]

Lol

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Makar or Heiskanen go 1st if I'm the GM at the podium.

 

[SNES]

Lol

only lol here is for you necro bunping and thinking you’re clever

 

[34]

Had to look at the date this thread was posted. The poll results don’t add up. Yeah, Pettersson does not go first in any draft.

Easy answer here is Makar. The guy is a weapon.

 

[AvroArrow]

Lol

Nothing to lol at. At the time of the poll, EP was playing like an elite 1C.

Just goes to show how little we actually know after just a couple of seasons. For all we know we re-do this poll again next year and the answer is Heiskanen.

 

[koyvoo]

Lol

When you don’t realize you’ve only made yourself look sad.

 

[Ararana]

The first page was super confusing until I realized it was a necro bump...