ATD 2022 DRAFT THREAD I

[RustyRazor]

He's back for another stint with the Penguins organization. This time around management will be sure that the coach doesn't play him on his off-wing.

Portland Penguins select Jarome Iginla, RW.

Great balls of fire! Jarome Iginla!

 

[Professor What]

Kharlamov-Gretzky-Kurri would be insanely soft, so I think he did you a favor by scooping you. Kharlamov-Gretzky-Mikhailov isn't exactly a big line and isn't all that great in its own end, but I think it works better. (Either line would obviously be incredible in the offensive zone).

The bolded is what I was going for in both before and after scoop thinking, and also why I wanted to make sure I picked up Langway, as that line and pairing should be out there a lot together. I think with either option, Gretzky's playmaking should be more enough to feed two goalscoring wingers.

 

[tinyzombies]

I'm still not sold on Blake's defensive abilities. I've seen two contemporary quotes and they're both from after his NHL career was over and we was playing in the minors.

Lach on the Punch Line:

"Blake was the backbone of that group," explained Lach. "He was always in position; he was always serious and he was the same when he coached the Canadiens. The three of us did like to win. We made sure that we didn't have any goals scored against us. We hated that more than wanting to score​

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I'll take part in this run on "glue guys" by drafting the player who I'm 100% sure I've drafted more often than anyone else.

The ultimate ATD glue guy,

Sid Abel, C/LW

Abel played LW for a few seasons before World War 2, including an outstanding playoff run in 1943 (I've seen an alternate "retro conn smythe" publication to the SIHR one award it to Abel for that season, though I've since lost the source). He then missed 3 seasons, came back, and was mainly used as a C.

"He was as creative a center as he was abrasive. His passes were crisp and accurate and his body checks were lusty"

 

[Dreakmur]

Lach on the Punch Line:

"Blake was the backbone of that group," explained Lach. "He was always in position; he was always serious and he was the same when he coached the Canadiens. The three of us did like to win. We made sure that we didn't have any goals scored against us. We hated that more than wanting to score​

Good find.

 

[BraveCanadian]

The 2019 Champions Shamrocks were the first team in this draft to select a #2 centre. (Messier is playing LW)

That's a mistake, imo.

Messier has 3 pretty big seasons at LW so to be sure he can play there, but I think he was a lot better and more impactful in more areas of the game as a center.

I'd actually tell LL to consider putting Messier as #1 C and Forsberg as #2C for a one-two punch and to mitigate Forsberg's injury history.

 

[ResilientBeast]

I'll take part in this run on "glue guys" by drafting the player who I'm 100% sure I've drafted more often than anyone else.

The ultimate ATD glue guy,

Sid Abel, C/LW

Abel played LW for a few seasons before World War 2, including an outstanding playoff run in 1943 (I've seen an alternate "retro conn smythe" publication to the SIHR one award it to Abel for that season, though I've since lost the source). He then missed 3 seasons, came back, and was mainly used as a C.

"He was as creative a center as he was abrasive. His passes were crisp and accurate and his body checks were lusty"

So how many seasons was Abel actually a LW?

Based on your old bio I count 3.

 

[BenchBrawl]

I will pick Jari Kurri. Was originally happy with the 86/87 spots and figured Kurri would be gone by then, but as he hasn't been picked yet, and @Professor What has Gretzky and is about to pick (sorry if this was your plan but also lol SCOOPED HARD), was worth a shot to move up to get him. Think I can get my other guy I would pick at 87 at 100 anyway.

Kurri is so perfect for what I'm trying to do with this team, and he's got the Coffey connection as well. To me he's easily the most underrated dynasty Oiler, all of the other guys got their due because they were somewhat separate from Gretzky, Messier was on the other line and different stylistically, Coffey was a defenseman, the goalie, and so on. Not Kurri, who will always be unfairly dinged more than he should as a product of Gretzky.

His scoring is amazing, but the numbers don't pop out to you as much as you'd think someone playing with Gretzky would. Well, a closer look tells you why. Obviously Kurri missed time during his peak, the per game numbers are great. Then there is the very low powerplay numbers, as the Oilers got low opportunities and there were a lot of other guys getting the touches.

Kurri's even strength and shorthanded numbers are staggering. He's one of just six to get 100 even strength points in a season, add shorties and only Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman score more in a year. That's just one year though, Kurri easily paces for above 100 even strength/shorthanded points in 1983-1984, and he would just be at the mark again in 1985-1986. His road stats are excellent as well.

Fundamentally though, Kurri gave up even higher numbers because of the role he played on that team. As Gretzky says "Jari Kurri was one of the most unselfish players I ever played with. He could easily have score 20 more goals a year if he'd been more selfish. It was amazing, especially on our hockey club, the way he always put defense ahead of offense."

Rare skillset; a Selke-contending sniping winger. There aren't many of them.

 

[Sturminator]

Rare skillset; a Selke-contending sniping winger. There aren't many of them.

He could contend for both the Selke and the Richard, though probably not in the same season. Jari was special.

 

[BenchBrawl]

He could contend for both the Selke and the Richard, though probably not in the same season. Jari was special.

His highest Selke and goalscoring finishes were in his prime from 1983-1987. I don't think he's a Yzerman situation.

 

[Sturminator]

No, but I really doubt he'd lead the league in goals if he had enough defensive responsibilities to win a Selke. He frequently had some defensive help from the LW in real life, not to mention the general defensive indifference of his coach and the fact that other teams just couldn't take the puck off Gretzky.

 

[BenchBrawl]

No, but I really doubt he'd lead the league in goals if he had enough defensive responsibilities to win a Selke. He frequently had some defensive help from the LW in real life, not to mention the general defensive indifference of his coach and the fact that other teams just couldn't take the puck off Gretzky.

I see your point. Yeah, to win the Selke is a different story than finishing 3rd-5th.

I wonder if anyone could win a goal scoring title while deservingly win the Selke. Those two things are playing against each other.

 

[Professor What]

I see your point. Yeah, to win the Selke is a different story than finishing 3rd-5th.

I wonder if anyone could win a goal scoring title while deservingly win the Selke. Those two things are playing against each other.

Someone came pretty close once. Can't mention him yet though.

 

[BenchBrawl]

Someone came pretty close once. Can't mention him yet though.

Notice I said deservingly. Someone might win both, but would he deserve it, in the sense of an all-knowing all-seeing God correctly identifying him as the best defensive forward in the league? I doubt it.

 

[Professor What]

Notice I said deservingly. Some might win both, but do they deserve it, in the sense of an all-knowing all-seeing God correctly identifying as the best defensive forward in the league? I doubt it.

Yeah, I saw the deservingly. I think this guy was deserving, as it was a season for the ages kind of thing. But your point that it would have to be extremely exceptional certainly stands.

 

[Sturminator]

I see your point. Yeah, to win the Selke is a different story than finishing 3rd-5th.

I wonder if anyone could win a goal scoring title while deservingly win the Selke. Those two things are playing against each other.

Frank Nighbor maybe...back in the day. In 2022...it would take an immortal performance.

 

[Johnny Engine]

I’m about to run out of phone battery, so I’m going to take the plunge and give Victor Hedman a bump. @Voight is next.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

So how many seasons was Abel actually a LW?

Based on your old bio I count 3.

If we assume he was LW before the war and C after the war (which is probably overly simplistic, my guess is that the transition from LW to C was more gradual during his first year back, and I have read that it was partly due to him returning from the war as a much slower skater than he was before), he would have 3 good full seasons at LW and 6 good full seasons at C. I don't care about his irrelevant seasons as a bit player at the beginning and end of his career, but it looks to me like they are about an even split.

So 1/3 of his relevant career, maybe a little more, was at LW.

His best playoffs were at LW, his 2nd and 3rd best playoffs were at C.

 

[Sturminator]

If @Voight shows up I have @tinyzombies list

I need to confirm with my co-gm before we pick, but I will hand off tiny's list when I go to bed if someone is available.

Very curious to see what happens with your glut of picks here, and which position Cyclone Taylor is playing when it's all said and done.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I’m about to run out of phone battery, so I’m going to take the plunge and give Victor Hedman a bump. @Voight is next.

I just checked his record again - I think this is probably a good spot for him.

 

[BraveCanadian]

I’m about to run out of phone battery, so I’m going to take the plunge and give Victor Hedman a bump. @Voight is next.

With the years that he has been putting up one after another he is definitely going up.

 

[The Macho King]

I’m about to run out of phone battery, so I’m going to take the plunge and give Victor Hedman a bump. @Voight is next.

My favorite player. Absolute stud.

Never having a true all situations #1 in my entire fandom, having him back there now is such a warm feeling.

With his Norris record, postseason, and two way play you get a hell of a out of him. And he is a legit PPQB in this by now in this format as well.

 

[tinyzombies]

My favorite player. Absolute stud.

Never having a true all situations #1 in my entire fandom, having him back there now is such a warm feeling.

With his Norris record, postseason, and two way play you get a hell of a out of him. And he is a legit PPQB in this by now in this format as well. A bit above avg on rush d this year, 83 is good

his rush defense has always been above avg since architecte-hockey has been around. Now his inzone def has slipped to avg and he doesn’t block shots or hit. Offensively a monster of course

• Poor rating < 78
• Good rating > 84

 

[Sturminator]

That screenshit is an abomination.

 

[tinyzombies]

That screenshit is an abomination.

and I was wrong it’s his inzone d that is sometimes an issue the last two seasons , his rush d is fine, not elite but above avg. I just switched back to the iPhone and it’s been painful.

I think lateral skating can be an issue with him, you can shake him. So he doesn’t have a high stick check rating either as a consequence.

he’s adequate inzone and good vs the rush. Of course you might not agree with the stat model. Takes time to see it as you watch with his ratings in mind but I think they are pretty accurate and when not there will be mitigating factors.

• Poor rating < 78
• Good rating > 84