#1GuinFan
Registered User
Yeah I'm not saying he was a reach, I am saying using hindsight (which others have done to defend the trade) it was clearly the wrong pick. Not using hindsight, Kessel was the right pick IMO. You already have 2 potentially all world centers and a game breaking goal scoring winger is available to you. That's a no brainer in my opinion.
Yes I know 3 center model and stuff, but I disagree with that team building philosophy. A guy picked number 2 overall isn't likely to want to stay a 3rd line center their whole career. Staal wanting to leave for a bigger opportunity shouldn't have surprised anyone. You don't get many opportunities at a top 5 pick. When you do and there are 4 guys rated pretty evenly, you go for the best fit for the team short and long term. That would have been a winger IMO.
Using hindsight I'd say that Kessel would have been the wrong pick, guys a cancer, he's lazy, and I'd say he'd have been the worst choice given the qualities of each player available and what they bring on the ice. I wanted Toews at the time personally, yes he's a center but attempts could have been made to convert either he or Backstrom to wing. I'm glad we never took Kessel, and wouldn't touch him even today with our need for wingers.