Who should the Kraken take with the #2 overall pick?
- Thread starter SoulOfTheSea
- Start date
superdeluxe
NAFO
Weak draft pool and Buffalo can offload a bad contract onto us for a swap. There is no difference between 1 and 5 this draft.
I don't think there is much difference either, but a 6 foot, 5 1/2 inch defenseman who is a unanimous #1 choice among Bob McKenzie's ten NHL scouts? Those guys don't grow on trees.
Here's the thing its buffalo.. The experts can say what they want there is no guarantee buffalo will actually take power. They could but they may not. All i am saying is for certain on what buffalo will actually do with that pick. What if they need a center more than they want a Dman, they could do that.
MattMan
Registered User
- May 31, 2021
- 27
- 27
Didn't Buffalo fire all of their scouts? I think they are very likely to follow pretty closely to the draft boards. I'd love for Power to drop to us, though.
Silkytentacles
Registered User
The problem is who is making the actual decisions here. Its the owner an his wife is team president and the GM is basically a yes sir. i do what ever you want person. I don't trust that the team will actually take power or even keep the pick if someone comes up with an offer.
Taytro
Registered User
I dont think it matters, hopefully whoever they determine to have a higher ceiling. This is an opportunity to have a front man for this team for years to come.
RainyCityHockey
Registered User
Absolutely not.
We should just leave the pick to the scouts and pick who we think is BPA at #2.
Also, Power isn't that kind of a clear cut of a #1 pick as some are trying to tell you.
With the Sabres already having Dahlin as #1 LD and problems at Center(especially if Eichel were to be traded) they might even go ahead and take Beniers at #1.
It's not like their rankings haven't been wrong before and most importantly this years draft class has been really tough to scout and as soon as you go outside of the established McKenzie you'll find out that things are all over the place, even at #1.
And I'm not talking about some online mock drafts but rather other sites(like Dobbersports for example) which are also dedicated to the Draft and have scouts working for them.
BTW: I'm personally looking at Beniers at #2 but I'm actually open to a lot of different scenarios.
I might even be OK with trading down with teams like Columbus, New Jersey or Detroit being in the top six and having multiple first round picks.
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UK Canuck
Registered User
- Dec 27, 2018
- 917
- 1,303
if Power goes #1 as expected any of Beniers, Clarke or McTavish would be great picks IMO, probably in that order
tmlfan98
No More Excuses #MarnerOut
From an upside perspective I would take
Brandt Clarke (potential top pair RHDs don't grow on trees)
Kent Johnson (IMO has the highest upside of any player in this draft and is a C)
Owen Power if the Sabres don't take him 1st for some reason.
Or be bold and swing for the fences with Jesper Wallstedt (some believe he is a better goalie prospect than Askarov, idk where I stand on that but they're both great).
Brandt Clarke (potential top pair RHDs don't grow on trees)
Kent Johnson (IMO has the highest upside of any player in this draft and is a C)
Owen Power if the Sabres don't take him 1st for some reason.
Or be bold and swing for the fences with Jesper Wallstedt (some believe he is a better goalie prospect than Askarov, idk where I stand on that but they're both great).
RainyCityHockey
Registered User
Well, if we're talking upside then Simon Edvinsson is probably the guy to look at.
He's got all the tools(size, great hands, skating, defense) you would want but seems to need a bit more time(than others) to develop.
Just read a pretty interesting article on him by the Athletic.
Anyways, it's going to be interesting what Francis and the scouts/analytics department decide to do at #2.
Beniers is my choice.
But if Powers falls...eh, he looks like a stud Dman.
But if Powers falls...eh, he looks like a stud Dman.
The Marquis
Moderator
I think the first two really ought to be Beniers and Power in either order. I figure with a top 2 pick, either would be great. A lot of people seem to really like Hughes, but I'm not sold as a 2nd overall, same with Edvinsson. Clarke is an interesting thought, but again... 2nd overall... nah.
I suppose it depends on what they think they need after the expansion draft. Not a whole lot of time to figure that out either, but with that being the case, I think it's crazy not to go with one of those two... but I'm no expert like the guys making the pick.
I suppose it depends on what they think they need after the expansion draft. Not a whole lot of time to figure that out either, but with that being the case, I think it's crazy not to go with one of those two... but I'm no expert like the guys making the pick.
Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
I would be surprised if Power and Beniers are not the top two picks. The only thing that could affect that is severity of the recent injury to Beniers. I would be thrilled with either of those two.
Ray Martyniuk
Registered User
- Mar 13, 2019
- 5,275
- 1,316
Since the Expansion draft is practically devoid of top flight,top 6 type forwards,Matthew Beniers is a no brainer that has no 1, no 2 type potential at centre if handled and developed properly
I'd be very disappointed if we take a goalie with the #2 pick. Way too much a roll of the dice. I'd prefer a D or a C that we can build around.
RainyCityHockey
Registered User
The expansion draft should have absolutely nothing to do with the entry draft, IMO.
I also don't expect our first rounder to be a contributor during our first season given that those kids have missed out on at least a year of their development.
Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
Totally agreed on the bolded.
I expect us to pick Beniers who is in college. If he was CHL or WHL I would have expected him to get a few games at the start of the season before being sent down (not burn ELC) but with him being in college that is not an option. I expect him to go back to Michigan and try to win the Frozen Four.
RainyCityHockey
Registered User
Sam Cosentino's(TSN) Top 15 Mock Draft
Has us taking Brandt Clarke at #2.
His top four are all defensmen and Beniers is at #5.
I highly doubt that's happening and it just shows once again that even the guys in the media don't know much about this years draft class, IMO.
Has us taking Brandt Clarke at #2.
His top four are all defensmen and Beniers is at #5.
I highly doubt that's happening and it just shows once again that even the guys in the media don't know much about this years draft class, IMO.
Fistfullofbeer
Moderator
Yeah. Opinions are all over the place this season. Buttons actually makes more sense to me.
Michigan Mock: Button has Power to Sabres; Beniers to Seattle, Johnson a Canuck
