McDonagh had one year where he was insanely good, 2016. I do think Guhle has more than McDonagh in him. He faster, bigger, stronger, has a better shot and hes just a more poised player.
I really see Weber-level upside now more than ever. If we can count on him for 50-60 points, leadership , and a solid defensive presence, then this was a homerun pick.
Then again, Weber was never the skater Guhle is. Sky is the limit.
I gotta say most people here were shitting on this pick draft day. We're never happy about drafting dmen. I don't think I'd take anyone drafted after him over him now. Mercer is not an impact player. Getting 50 points on a team with Jack Hughes is just a thing that will happen. Toffoli is looking to have a career year after displacing Mercer out of the Devils top 6. Mercer hasn't gotten a single point.
For me I think it's more just how high do you go in that draft before finding someone you take over Guhle? For me he's top 5 at worst. Sanderson has the experience over him because Guhle has hit several injuries. Stutzle is the only no-brainer in the entire class. This is one of the first times we hit hard on a first rounder in a long time.
I was probably the most vocal one. Feels so good to be wrong. I kept saying that you didn't need a guy like Guhle in the top 20, that there was a lot of similar player to him later, Schneider, Barron, Faber, etc.
I was just wrong on my evaluation of Guhle or whatever, he's a top pair D. Stutzle is the only one I'd take ahead of him. Sanderson played more games and produced more points but his totals are mega inflated vs Guhle who has lower totals because he's on a worse team/not as lucky. Even counting this year and adding it to last, with injuries, Guhle has more primary 5v5 points than Sanderson.
12 5V5 primary points vs 13 for guhle. 85 games vs 48 games.
21 even strengths vs 19.
We also hit like this the year before though, Caufield goes up really high, but there's more competition because that was just a better draft. He probably ends up top 5 regardless.
