All hockey experts seem to agree that you need size to win in playoffs. Andre Tourigny, Danny Dubé, Pierre Mcguire among some. Vegas' blueline is averaging 6'3, Boston Bruins had an all time reccord season with a big strong puck possession team. St-Louis Blues won a cup with a huge mobile blueline, Habs reached the Stanley cup finale with a meciocre foward crop and a big strong blueline + elite goaltending. Tampa won cup with Hedman 6'6, Sergachev 6'3, Mcdonagh 6'1, Ruuta 6'3, Cernak 6'4. Yeah they were pretty skilled up front, but their blueline was huge and talented.
We are drafting 5th OV and some folk want a 5'9 160 lbs winger or a soft playmaking center who will likely end up on the wing? I dont get it. Yeah Marchessault is pretty good, so are other undersized fowards, but you cant have too many of them on your team, we already have Caufield on our top 6 who has an elite trait, his goalscoring skills. Small skilled fowards are also easier to get later in the drafts, I mean Marchessault was not even drafted.
We have the opportunity to draft a big, smooth skating top RD with great puck poise, passing skills, physicality who is elite at breaking plays and who can generate offense by rushing the puck up ice or great outlet passses. We have the chance to add a big strong 2-way center with deadly shooting and puck possession skills. We have the opportunity to draft a great scoring powerwinger with deceptive speed, great hands, high end motor and competitiveness, but yeah, go for the sexiest picks that will wow you at times, but get crushed hard in playoffs...
Have you watched him play this year?