Tv9924
Registered User
If you were starting a team from scratch would you rather build around a #1 center or a #1 defenseman?
Center. It's easier to find a number one defenseman through the draft.
Center IMO much harder to find then a stud #1 d-man
What's the reasoning behind this logic?
I understand that people put more emphasis on centers and this thread is proving it, but I don't know that I buy the line of thinking that it's "easier" to find a number one defenseman.
And before anyone says anything, no I'm not talking about players capable or shoved into playing the number one role. We're talking "franchise", which in my mind (and I think the premise of the thread) is referring to a next level talent or someone you can build a franchise around.
Center. I don't think you can win the cup without one. Teams have won cups without a superstar defensemen more often.
Wouldn't it be fair to say that the defenseman has a bigger impact on the game just by virtue of him being out on the ice more? In the playoffs it's not unusual for a top defenseman to play close to 30 minutes a game.
If you look at some of the best defensemen over the past few years or so, most of them don't come from the very top of the draft i.e. Weber, Suter, Chara, Keith, Karlsson.
Most of The best centers in the league came from the very top and teams had to rebuild to get them.
All that means is that they typically aren't picked at the top of the draft. It doesn't mean that it's easier to pick one in the draft and develop them.
Wasn't that a big conversation with Duncan Keith when Chicago won their first cup? Or was it the 2nd? He played like 30 minutes a game(?)
In fact, it's probably harder.
That's why teams don't waste top picks on them when an 18 year old center is ready to play in the NHL yesterday.
And goaltenders, forget it. I don't think you want to touch them until round three or later, and a goaltender has more ability to impact a single game than anyone.
This has to do with development, not value.