nomorekids said:
So, let's say, for sake of argument, that the Sabres desperately needed a defenseman...but they're looking at Thomas Vanek as BPA(which, by most sources, he was, at the time they picked).
They go on and take Vanek...rather than "risk" taking Phaneuf or Suter, who are considered a small dropoff, at the time? See what I'm saying? I'm not talking about stepping two miles outside BPA and taking Sean Brown over Jarome Iginla if you're Dallas in 95. I'm talking about looking at a guy who might go a pick or two later, who might be considered in that same tier, even if it's a small drop-off. If that's not possible, you look at what's on the table, compare it to your organizational chart, and if you can turn one excellent prospect into two great ones, you don't necessarily lose. It can and does happen every single year.
Ahh, but in your example, you conveniently left out Braydon Coburn who many had pegged as the top d-man (though Nashville wound up taking Suter ahead of him). They could have just as easily picked Coburn, filled a defensive need and, assuming the last few years played out relatively the same (which they wouldn't have, so this is a moot argument, but we're dealing with hypotheticals here so what they hey!) ... Anyway, they pick Coburn and wouldn't have had the benefit of him this year, potentially, or Vanek in theoretical 2006, since they opted for defense in 2003.
If we're revising history, we should try to revise it acurately.
I just say keep it simple and love the one you're with.
Your point though, which I took off on a tangent here to amuse myself, is not wrong. There is nothing wrong with looking at your board, looking at the trade options and evaluating the situation. That all seems to be done on a case-by-case basis and usually while the team is on the clock.
For me, sticking with the Blue Jackets as an example, it is hard to evaluate if that strategy works for the Blue Jackets this year because there are factors that still would need to be determined --
1. Who is available at six?
2. Who will be available at spot X?
3. What is the other team offering to drop to spot X?
There are myrid answers to those questions and all produce different outcomes.
Should Columbus consider it? Always, absolutely. Should they do it? Depends.
Looking at this draft and knowing what seems to be known now, I'd rather sit at six and pick one of Backstrom/Mueller/Brassard. The answers to my second and third questions above could easily change my stance though.
