If we sign Bleakley, where does he fit next year? Third line center in Tuscon behind Dauphin and MacInnis? Potentially fourth line if Dvorak is in the AHL?
This is part of why I'd let Bleackley walk. You've also probably got Gaudet down there. Those guys have varying offensive abilities, but they're all plenty responsible in their own zone, and I'd expect them to add a veteran center or two on top of that mix (perhaps MacInnis and Dvorak start on the wing). Bleackley doesn't really bring anything unique to the table.
Ok. I've fought the fight forBrown as BPA.
Let's talk about the D.
If we are set on taking a D at 7, what's the best option for this team?
Do we believe Juloevi is Maata part two? Or is he byproduct of a dominant forward group in a powerhouse London squad? I always go back to our drafting of Knyzev in 1999 as he was named top D at WJC as well. Never played a game in NHL.
I absolutely do not want Chychrun at 7. I'm on record about hockey sense issues and concerns about durability given his shoulder surgery last summer. Jovo part 2 for me. Bad Jovo as well.
Fabbro I love and I get you need to overpay or possibly reach to get a top 4 RD but 7!!! I'm expecting impact player at 7. Not 4D. Rt and I argued about Murphy for a decade and I suspect it would be hard to justify 7 just because a guy is right handed.
Sergachev has the body and the offense. Plays RD but is left shooting. Passport will be an issue at some point. Flight risk or premium paid to keep in North America. Can he play the defensive game that keeps him out of Tippetts doghouse. Could be the best package though. Theirs a BPA argument here even at 7.
McAvoy. Wish I saw more of him. But he's in the mix. And some have him as the 1D in the draft. Rd as well. Great development program as well.
Jake Bean. He's Yandlesque in play. Great offensive instincts. He's a legitimate candidate to duplicate Yandles career progression.
I wouldn't touch Bean in the first round. I don't see the elite skating or hockey sense that he'd need to make an impact like Yandle. I think a Michael Del Zotto sort of career is more likely, and given the kinks he'll need to work out of his game, I don't see him even getting there before he's waiver-eligible. He's the player I'm most fearful about the Coyotes reaching for at 7, even more so than McLeod. Even 20 is too early.
I'm repeating myself now, but I see McAvoy turning out to be the best defenseman in this draft. It blows my mind that he's so slept on, given his production this year. Give him another year at BU with this incoming class (Keller, Bellows, et al), then maybe a year in the AHL, and he'll be ready to step into a top four role. He's got top pairing potential long term. Does it all.
Fabbro is my second best defensemen. Not flashy, but extremely heady. All the good things people say about Juolevi seem to apply more to Fabbro.
I've still got Chychrun third on my list of defensemen. I understand the concerns, but I've seen enough good stuff from him to not be worried about his hockey sense. The shoulder is a much bigger red flag to me, but that seems to be in solid shape.
Sergachev is the next guy on my list. I'd have him ahead of Chychrun if he were a little more consistent, but his effort level in the defensive zone came and went. Stupidly high upside though. Subban-esque skill set.
Juolevi is fifth for me. I just don't see the upside. Positionally sound and all that, but just not dynamic enough with the puck on his stick. He seems like a safe bet to be a second pairing guy, but I don't see how he turns into much more than that. I'd like someone with upside higher than Karl Alzner or Kevin Klein.
McAvoy is the only guy I wouldn't be disappointed to take at 7, though there's a few other guys who should be there that I'd rather have (namely Jost and Keller). A few other guys I'd take ahead of Bean (probably not as early as 20, but definitely at 37 if they're still there) include Kale Clague, Sean Day, Libor Hajek, Dennis Cholowski, Cam Dineen and Frederic Allard. I see no reason to reach for a defenseman at 7 or even 20, but if they can grab one in their first three picks, I'll be happy.