You're a completely fresh-off-the-street newbie and you
won't finish last. That's a victory! I finished last in my first ATD and MLD but in the 5 years since, I've won one of each, and you're off to a better start than I was.
I think Routh's the best member of your first line. I know it's really hard comparing him to modern players, but he did have a couple scoring titles in the best league in the world (yes, against who exactly and in fewer than 10 games, but still...) Nylander may be the weakest 1st line center. Although he doesn't lag behind the rest offensively by a large margin, he does lag behind them. Neal I also have as a weaker 1st liner. I think what went on in his first 4 seasons is much more indicative of his "true" ability than what happened in 2012. He caught lightning in a bottle and rode the coattails of the MVP. Even if you give him full credit for that season, which you're free to do, his "best 6 seasons" score is not at all good for a first line winger. Although Neal will stick up for himself, I don't really consider him a banger, a guy who will really "spark" a line like an O'Neill or Cole could. So it's a legitimate concern that maybe you don't have an ideal physical catalyst. You are far from alone in this draft in that regard, though...
Jimmy Carson is actually better than nylander. You probably know that too, considering you researched them both. There's nothing that says you have to put your top center on the first line (Billy Harris was my #2 pick and he's on my 3rd line now). As a result, Carson looks outstanding for a 2nd liner. I only like Bullard and my own Jackson better. I see him as a guy who will be somewhat inconsistent and streaky, but by the end of the season he'll be one of the highest scoring 2nd line centers in the league. Anson Carter on the other hand, is not a guy I'm a fan of at all. He's a good deal behind Audette even, who I would put 2nd weakest in the offensive 2nd line RWs. Johnny Sheppard was a very astute choice by you, however, to finish off this line, he was a gritty guy with some defensive ability and actually stands up to other 2nd liners fairly well in offense despite it not being his sole skill (like most of them). Although Carter's a drag, overall you put together a very competent 2nd line.
Rudy Migay, as I said before, would be a really mediocre AAA player if not for the all-star games that he must have played in on the basis of his defense. VI likes to push Migay, I'm guessing he had something to do with this one. He's one of the few best defensive centers on a third line, but as a two way player maybe only a bit above average, because there are guys like Schock and Dahlstrom and Plekanec who aren't far back but can also score. (Greg Malone deserves an honorable mention in that category too, while I'm on the topic). And Goldsworthy? superb. He's more of a Schock/Dahlstrom/Plekanec on the right side. He has great quotes supporting his pretty good defensive ability, while also having a couple of seasons top-20 in goals. He does stand out among 3rd line wingers here. Arvedson might have the best defensive season (from a Selke perspective, if that matters) in this whole draft. He kinda came and went fast, but he was pretty good in the NHL.
On the 4th line, I mentioned before Findlay was getting to the top of my list when you took him... that said, when you took him was at the very end of the draft, so the fact that you got a passable 4th liner at all is good. Mallen was a speedster, one of the 5 fastest players in this thing. Off the top of my head, other players whose speed is in his class are Kessel, Granato, Courtnall, and Reise. (anyone else can feel free to throw their players' names into this group if they can back it up!) Irvine I don't know what to make of. Kinda meh. Not really a standout skill, which I tend to look for on a 4th line (says captain obvious who has a standout offensive player, a standout penalty killer and a standout fighter, haha)
I have Malakhov as your best defenseman overall. Malakhov is a good, solid player whose place in the AAA is not
just on the 3rd pairing and PK. He could handle more. But if he's your
best defenseman he's a little lacking. Boris Mironov is cut from the same cloth and I feel the same way about him. If he's your 2nd best you're not in the greatest shape. However, Snepsts as a #3 and safety valve for Subban is an excellent idea. Rookie move taking Subban so early, but good call putting him down where he belongs and next to Snepsts. Subban may lack a couple of things, but toughness isn't one of them, so this is one TOUGH pairing. Call me crazy, but I think Dmitri and Fogolin are your 4th and 5th best defensemen and you have them on your top pairing. Boris was a better NHL player than his brother, and Fogolin was a guy who didn't last in the NHL very long. Being in the O6 at all back then was an achievement, but he played just 6.2 seasons worth of games, and for quite poor teams as well. See the chart here:
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=74276361&postcount=195 - most O6-era defensemen in this draft I'd prefer over Fogolin. (I'd at least take him over Dewsbury) Your bottom 4 really redeem this defense though. It's a rookie defense, but it's passable. Well done.
I am not a fan of short career guys, but I must begrudgingly admit that in Quick, you have the #2 goalie in this draft. Kudos. Simmons is about average for a backup. Not a huge fan of Hlinka at this level, maybe it's because he failed so badly in the NHL. And there are some really good NHL coaches in this thing. For a newbie without the experience putting together a corps of spares, you did pretty well. Samsonov was close to the BPA on the wing. Beaudro, same thing in a defensive version. Staios and Semenov.... ugh.
You know what? I don't think you'll be 2nd last, either...
