Team Board Mock DRAFT Runoff

[Hasbro]

Runn off between Green Tree and Solberg

 

[Rayquaza64]

don’t entirely understand the solberg hype. seems a bit safe for where we are as far as being competitive

 

[Langway]

A significant part of the thinking for me is whether they can afford to categorically keep targeting wingers that aren't of the overly two-way type. I mean, even the centers drafted early recently are not defensive, competitive wizards. So while they certainly do need offense and premier talent I'm not sure I'd bet on a Greentree or Connelly being foundational type talents. They could be. The fits aren't fantastic I don't think. It probably isn't for Eiserman either but I'd sooner make that wager given the scoring pedigree.

Solberg is one of the more physical defenders in this draft and more from a reliability and competitiveness standpoint doesn't have the same drawbacks. Beyond questions of premium position they also do need significant defensive upside as well. Their lack of that currently isn't simply a function of decline from Carlson and Backstrom. It's also a function of not valuing quality two-way play highly enough and that also hindering their offensive play. Solberg maybe wouldn't be a sexy pick but there's a degree of reliability and some minute-eating upside to make it intriguing. If it's skilled flash they're after then go for the wingers. But foundationally, fundamentally, being driven and engineered more offensively (and lighter) isn't the ticket I don't think. I get BPA and would be fine with a winger if that's the way they go...but I do think their valuation of two-way play needs to evolve. They need offensive upside, sure, but they need upside in a lot of different domains.

 

[wickedwitch]

So my thinking based on his play at Worlds -- and obviously I may be proven wrong -- is besides the obvious defensive skills, he also has significant offensive potential. He's not missing any obvious tools that he would need to be very good offensively. Combine that with excellent D, and he's an exciting prospect to me.