Bjindaho
Registered User
- Jun 12, 2006
- 6,874
- 1,641
How the hell was Viktor Hedman at 2nd overall "draft for need"? He was the total consensus pick for that position, no matter which team had held the pick. Hickey was a classic example of a BPA pick, and also of how unpredictable that can be. The Kings drafted him because they really loved him as a player, not because they really lacked a small, skilled defenseman. As far as I can recall, Klesla was hardly much of a surprise - and what exactly was the acute team need Tampa Bay had to fill by drafting Svitov? That third offensive center every good team needs?
The goalies I'll grant, and goalies are indeed a general exception. Much more difficult to rate against skaters than skaters are to rate against each other. Also, there seems to be more pronouncedly different general philosophies as to how high you're prepared to draft them.
Matt Duchesne was above Hedman on almost every list come draft time. Tampa needed a D.
Hickey had nothing to do with BPA. There was 1 list that had him above the 3rd best D. LA decided that they needed a D and decided to go with their highest ranked D.
Svitov was drafted to be a 2/3 center with grit. Richards was only a rookie and they weren't sure if he'd be a center or winger.