Hi VC!
I'm actually in the same position as you, being in a deep 30 team keeper league and holding the 2nd overall pick. I've held onto my team for 4 years and my reconstruction is pretty much over, good luck with yours! It takes patience and a good strategic plan.
Whats your leagues format though? Is it a simulated league? or a multicat scoring league? This makes a big difference.
I can't believe no one has mentionned Adam Larsson in this thread yet. Heres my case for him:
- Out of all the players selected in 2011, I find he has the highest ceiling of them all;
- He will be in an ideal situation in NJ. By that I mean he is on a very good team that had a bad year (Parise was out as well). Clearly the Devils are in dire need for a puckmoving defenceman, and Larsson is the perfect suit for that. What that means is he will get loads of icetime on an already very strong core of players that will help him get tons of assists (Parise if they can sign him!, Kovy, Elias, Zajac).
- He is already NHL ready having played against men in the SEL. Just like his fellow countryman G. Landeskog, his frame is already filled out being close to 200 lbs.
In sumary, I'm giving a long look at Larsson in my league because first of all, I'm in a simulated league where aspects like durability, defensive awareness, speed, passing and shooting are important, not just whats on the statsheets. The fact he can be a Lidstrom-like player is very appealing and a star defenceman plays around 25 mins on your team at the very least.
I'll finish up by taking into account the other options:
G. Landeskog: Fantastic all around player. Does everything very well but nothing exceptionnaly well. His ceiling out of all the top prospects for the 2011 draft is the lowest... but hes virtually no risk. Brings leadership and "warrior" attitude to the table. Kind of guy everyone wants on their team. His pinnacle is becoming a 70 pts player. If not, the very worst he can do is becoming a Holmstrom kind of guy. Very safe pick.
J. Huberdeau: I see a lot of C. Giroux in him. Very elusive, elite vision and passing abilities, very decent shot. Isent particularly physical but clearly dosent shy away from the physical aspects. He needs to fill out a bit more though and is a few years away from being an impact in the NHL. His situation is good on the depth chart as he will have every chance to become their #1 C. My problem rests with Florida management. The only prospect I own in my keeper league is Jacob Markstrom but I usually stay away from the Panthers prospects. I know Dale Tallon is on board now and maybe management won't be an issue anymore. But Florida dosent seem to be able to developp prospects.
R. Strome: Storme is a very boom or bust pick. He either makes it as a top scorer or he dosent make the NHL at all. Great nose for the net, great creative dekes and deadly shot. He is on the smallish side and will need to develop his skating in order to translate his game to the NHL. I'm not saying hes slow, but with his size, will need to be one of the fastest on the ice in order to have success. IMO hes the riskiest of the players talked about in this thread. His situation is interesting. Will he become a winger to Tavares? If so, El Nino becomes his first competiton, a player I really like from the Winterhawks that has a decent chance of securing a roster spot in October.