I'm not sweating Iginla being off the board at 10. There are so many good players we can still take. He just fits a need because of Holtz not quite living up to his potential yet. The thought of adding a high end winger or another defensman to the system is fine with me.
Imagine having a trio of Luke , Nemec & Buium and someone like Casey to round out the top 4. There's alot to like about Buium's game. Was watching an EliteProspects video on him , he can make some smooth passes/plays coming out of the D zone and is a strong skater. I don't think he really has any glaring weaknesses to his game.
Cayden Lindstrom is an intriguing one. Doesn't have gaudy numbers for his draft position but you can't teach size. If he puts it all together I would think he has Quinton Byfield like potential. We need a player like that in the top 6. If he wasn't 6 foot 3 would 210lbs at 18 years old would he be getting this much attention ?
Iginla is good prospect to add, he is just isn't the best fit.
1) He isn't very good defensively - Chernyshov, Nygard and Helenius are better.
2) Chernyshov and Nygard are faster. Especially separation speed. Especially Chernyshov.
3) Iginla is better puckhandler than Nygard and Helenius(not so far), but Xhernyshov is better.
4) Chernyshov and Nygard is bigger, both are playing physical, their physical game is more translatable. Helenius is physical too. All four are good forecheckers, but from obvious reasons Nygard and Chernyshov have better potential here. Iginla is very active forechecker still.
5) Chernyshov, Nygard and Helenius are on the level or better skaters.
6) Iginla is very good passer, may be better than Nygard but again - all other three played on higher level. When Helenius or Chernyshov are playing juniors they are looking like great passers. Still think that Iginla little bit more creative as playmaker than Chernishov and Nygard.
7) At least Nygard and Helenius have better iq/decision making. Iginla is playing with his own, two other players are trying to use their partners more, don't hold the puck when they don't need too.
8) Iginla isn't center and on my taste doesn't have potential to be. He is losing the position sometimes, can block space of his partners.
9) Helenius and Nygard are more versatile drivers, Chernyshov has better tools for driving.
10) Nygard is better shooter. I think Chernyshov and Helenius are on the level with Iginla, may be little behind, but overall gap isn't big.
11) Iginla is very good puck protector. But the gap isn't big.
I still think Iginla is a very good prospect to add, just would prefer other three forwards.
Buium would be great to add. Its not even the question. Snartest player, goid enough physically, faster enough, manipulative, physical enough, great playmaker, overall great two way defenseman. Should work on his back skating and some aspects of defensive game, but its not like there are any D who doesn't need to work on some defensive aspects if the fame. Levshunov creating turnovers and playing often by his own, Silayev should work on puck control under pressure in D zone, Dickinson is losing his partners and position sometimes, Parekh isn't defenseman, Yakemchuk is losing position regularly in all three zones,.. Frej... Frej is good but should work on body positioning before puck battles.
Lindstrom is top 3 pick. May be top 4, but the chance is minimal. He isn't Byfield, he is playing different game. He is more interior forward, playing much more physical game, fighting in the tranches, behind and around the net, rare good redirector and tipper the puck. Byfield is better playmaker and build a lot from the rush, he us much better skater. Lindstrom still a very good skater. He has a lot of attention because he still is a very good skater, great shooter, dynamic, manipulative, very physical with one of the best interior game from young player for a long time. If he wouldn't be big he would be different player and he is big. Its an advantage in puck battles he is building for. We heard a lot of the same "critique " of Slafkovsky would he be top 1 if not his size. His size still is his size and overall Slafkovsky is still deserve to be top 1-3. Again different players - Slafkovsky is smarter, better playmaker, Lindstrom is better shooter and much more aggressive in different aspects. But again - top 2/4 pick.
(Sometimes I'm worry about how im betting against Iginla, he is young, made huge step forward, very flashy and annoying, but still I like other players more, its not a problem of Iginla)