SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
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Honka is one guy I wouldn't mind the Leafs take a flyer on with their 1st round pick. Offensively, he is one of the best defenceman in the draft (one of the few with top pairing offensive potential).
If the Leafs could work on his defensive game to make it passable, which should be possible due to his above average skating and hockey IQ. He could become a very good late round pick.
tl:dr one of the best offensive defenders in the draft, and one of the highest raw talents in the draft. Needs some serious defensive training however.
He would be an awful 1st round pick. I do not think you should select anyone with more defensive liabilities than Liljegren in the first round (you should have a high standard for 1st round defensemen), even if you have top 5 offensive skills from the back end (see Merkley). Honka's offensive game may be 1st round quality, but not exceptional 1st round quality, and his deficiencies bring him down a lot.