1971 Redraft

[Professor What]

Continuing my recent series, we take a look at the 1971 draft this time. In 1970, we saw an improvement over 1969, and I think that, at least for the first several picks, we see another improvement in 1971. There were three Hall of Famers in each of 1970 and 1971, but I find the 1971 class to be a bit more impressive. We're talking about guys that would go early in an ATD. Anyway, as before, I'll give my order, then I'll open it up for discussion for people to make their own lists.

1. Guy Lafleur, Montreal
2. Larry Robinson, Detroit
3. Marcel Dionne, Vancouver
4. Rick Martin, St. Louis
5. Rick Kehoe, Buffalo
6. Steve Vickers, Boston
7. Craig Ramsay, Montreal
8. Terry O'Reilly, Philadelphia
9. Bill Hajt, Philadelphia
10. Jocelyn Guevremont, New York
11. Pierre Plante, Montreal
12. Murray Wilson, Chicago
13. Bobby Lalonde, New York
14. Tom Wilson, Boston

 

[Staniowski]

Robinson 1st; Ramsay a bit higher.
-------------------------
Non-Canadians:
Salming
Hedberg
Novy
Shalimov

Not sure if I missed anybody...

 

[JackSlater]

I'd take Dionne over Robinson, I don't think Robinson turns out nearly as well without pretty much the perfect development system in place. Ramsay over Kehoe and Vickers too.

 

[Doctor No]

John Garrett's your best goalie:

1971 NHL AMATEUR DRAFT - GOALTENDERS

Which probably matters more if you're doing a color commentator draft.

 

[PistolPete]

1. Lafleur
2. Dionne
3. Robinson
4. Martin
5. Calming
6. Nilsson
7. Kehoe
8. Ramsay

I'm a big fan of Robinson but Dionne was a scoring machine.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

pronger or thornton? i take pronger 100 times out of 100

 

[Staniowski]

Almost everybody will have Lafleur and Dionne #1 and #2 (even in hindsight, wowed by offensive numbers)...so, trade down to draft the best player in the draft (Robinson) at #3, and also get another significant player in the trade.