Appreciate you taking the time and effort.
I got called out for not posting in this thread last draft so this year I posted it early. Now it is not for naught lol
second line
I like Robitaille with Espo, always planned to have him on his line even when I was figuring Espo with Jagr. It would have been very easy for me to just put Tikkanen with Espo for a more "conventional" Espo line (with the plus that Robitaille with Nicholls was obviously a nice pairing in 1988-1989), but I kept it as is because I believe in it.
I can speculate why some people do not like this line at all (perhaps just considering that there are two net front guys), but quite frankly, that is really underselling both players. Robitaille for example was noted for his work in the corners and could shoot from beyond the slot, and it is pretty obvious to me that Espo would not have staggering assist numbers if he could not carry and dish the puck.
In fact, the second line is supposed to be a souped up version of the brief Kings line around the turn of the millennium with Espo subbing for Stumpel. I consider it close enough to be stylistically similar, with the added bonus that Stumpel just did not shoot enough, whereas Esposito won't have that issue. Gives Palffy and even Robitaille more options for their playmaking as well. Not to mention that I'd assume Coffey and Wilson spend a lot of time with these guys.
The line is slow for sure, but hey, Espo thrived in the slower paced seventies and the Kings line thrived in the slower paced dead puck era. There are also the defensemen and other lines that are quick for those matchups, and these guys can be more tactically deployed behind the Lindros line that would just be a killer at even strength or the bottom two which were built for a variegated set of even strength matchups.
penalty kill forwards
For the penalty kill, Gustafsson was a natural center so no issues taking draws.
Tikkanen could play all forward positions and took faceoffs as well (I mean he actually played with Larmer on the penalty kill a bit when they were both in New York).
I was thinking that Backstrom's game and skillset easily suits itself to penalty killing, but
@TheDevilMadeMe pointed out that he rarely killed penalties (and Marshall took draws shorthanded as well). That may have been Toe Blake's decision, and perhaps Sather would want to use him differently though (I still don't get drafting coaches and then setting lines/tactics).
leadership
I don't consider it super important who gets the letters. Leaders are going to be leaders regardless. I just wanted to get letters on the players who would see the most ice time. Gave Espo the "C" cause he's like the oldest member of the core and he has to take a slightly lesser role behind Lindros.
Would have actually given Coffey the "C" otherwise, basically everything I've read about Coffey from his teammates suggests he was a great leader and mentor. I get there's a stigma against him, not on my part though. Last draft in those summary things pretty much everyone and their mama put him for the worst pick of the first round - well I thought he was the best.
goalies
I'm pretty adamant in my view that goalies really don't matter that much after a certain point. Like maybe Hasek would be a differentiator, but beyond that? I'm not even with the general view of gaps between skaters' abilities that some here have, it is much more important to get fit and style right for the team.
Luongo I really like as the guy had to play in various different team situations (mostly not great), and despite that, carved out an incredibly long career as one of the top goalies, including in the current period where many would say goaltending technique has really reached its zenith far more than you can say of other aspects of the game. Vanbiesbrouck was taken obviously cause of the Florida aesthetic, but also because the guy dealt with platooning/sort of being a backup, and not just at the sunset of his career.
spares
Aside from the sentimental family connection, Brett Lindros was drafted as a paradigmatic testament to the way size and strength dominated hockey and scouting for a good period (reaching somewhat ridiculous levels in the mid to late nineties lol)
Although the last spare would have been Kjell Samuelsson if not for Lindros. Wilson seemed to be hurt just as much as Eric, Tinordi tragically more so, Samuelsson and Coffey and Green played hurt a lot too. Harder to make up for a defenseman than a forward in these things, much like in reality.
For the forwards, so many players having to play less than they used to. I already took guys like Nicholls and Backstrom who generally played a level down of where they should have for this very reason. So should Eric and a couple other forwards hurt, ain't no thing, the other guys were used to playing more anyway, just roll three lines with them.
Oh, Tinordi came into the league as a winger too so no biggie lol
