True, yet developed defensive defensemen seem rarely available in trades (and get overvalued in trade conversations on these boards, ala Roy).
Given that, they seem to be somewhat undervalued in the draft. I'm curious where the sweet spot is to draft but not reach for quality defensive D. It seems like the third round might be it, but all those guys below took time and are in their prime now. The top of the second for guys like Sammy and Carlo, and the fourth also produces some guys.
Ekblad (2014) 1-1
Heiskanen (2017) 1-3
Pietrangelo (2008) 1-4
Larsson (2011) 1-4
Nurse (2013) 1-7
Brodin (2011) 1-10
McDonagh (2007) 1-12
Morrissey (2013) 1-13
McAvoy (2016) 1-14
Sanheim (2014) 1-17
Miller (2018) 1-22
Samuelsson (2018) 2-32
Carlo (2015) 2-37
Cernak (2015) 2-43
Lindgren (2016) 2-49
Sieganthaler (2015) 2-57
Severson (2012) 2-60
Pelech (2012) 3-65
Pesce (2013) 3-66
Lindell (2012) 3-74
Parayko (2012) 3-83
Grzelcyk (2012) 3-85
Anderson (2017) 4-103
Toews (2014) 4-108
Graves (2013) 4-110
Brodie (2008) 4-114
Slavin (2012) 4-120
Jensen (2009) 5-150
Gavrikov (2015) 6-159
Weegar (2013) 7-206
Tanev (2010) UDFA
Any of our draftniks have defensive D targets for our picks at 39/45, 87, and 109? Going forward 13 then three D could be ideal.
Part of the problem with just targeting someone to be a defensive defenseman is that it seems harder for a player to not be unproductive offensively at developmental levels prior to the draft or even right after and turn out. It's the art of scouting - how does someone project and will they make it to that tier?
Useful defensemen tend to be molded into roles. For some guys who probably project out as more useful as defensemen, there are so many who look like they might be something in the 2nd-4th rounds but it's going to take work from them and from the organization drafting them.
As an example, I like Brady Cleveland from the NTDP and it's not based on points. He's a hard kid to play against around his net and hits to hurt. His issues are going to be is there enough offense there to make him a passable player? He's way more likely to be Patrick Sieloff than say Will Borgen with the production he had on a good scoring U18 team. Think of the low-production (ie. low skill) guys Botterill went with in the late rounds in 2018. If he's around say in the 5th round, I'd be picking him up and stashing him for later but the likelihood is that he's not going to be one of those guys because he doesn't get offensive situations and doesn't do enough offensively at his development level to get the puck out. If he's around at 109 or later, I might look at him.
Similarly, someone like Axel Landen who is a hard, hard individual physically and is more adept at just muscling up on a shot than any other offensive play could be another one. There might be more there, but that's more for someone whose watching a lot of his J20 games than just me flipping through a bunch of U18 tournaments and thinking - "that guy takes care of his crease with authority". I'm curious about him, maybe an 87, maybe later
A bunch of the Swedes at the U18's impresses: Willander's U18's probably get him pulled into the last third of the first round. Theo Lindstein showed out and I'd have him in the 39/45 talk if he's not already gone. Some of the smaller PMD's did too (Bergstrom more than Wikman who only played in 2 games) but then there is Kristian Kostadinski or Axel Hurtig who are both sizeable and mobile enough against their peers so that's probably 109 or later.
NA-wise in the earlish part of the draft, Hunter Brzustewicz is someone I've really liked in limited OHL viewing in Kitchener. He's probably going in the first half of the 2nd round IMO if not slipping into the late 1st. He'd be one to look at who seems like he's going to be a solid mid-pairing RHD. But he might be a 39.
I'm impressed with Simashev for his age in the KHL. I think he goes before 39 and I'm not sold enough to go there at 13. I've talked about him a bunch - frame and tools, projectability - and who knows if he's there.
Martin Strbak from the Slovak U18 and U20 teams could be one of those 3rd round types who continues to add to his game - his offense in the USHL isn't Cleveland-level low, he's middle of his roster in production on a weak Sioux Falls team but takes care of his own end first. I'm drawn to him when he's on the ice, I like what he's doing most of the time. 87/109 should be a player. Maybe even up to 45, but again, that's maybe more scarcity than merit for me. *shrug*
Gavin McCarthy's a local kid (his brother Case was hurt and couldn't play for BU at the Frozen Four), righty with some physical swagger and skill. There is the possibility of digging up someone who might be game to try to be just a bit more to play for the local team - some teams have that pull on guys and it works to get a bit more out of 'em (and some fail). That's a 109 type.
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