GDL5 - Player by Player Draft Analysis

[smozoma]

{draft.position} {name} ({past draft positions} - {past average draft position})

Draft Thread: http://forum.nhl94.com/index.php?showtopic...amp;#entry53056

1.1 - WSH - Jeremy Roenick - (3, 4, 1, 2 - average: 2.5)

wags : Roenick

This is the 2nd time Roenick has been drafted 1st, and, if you ask me, that is 3 times not enough. The only other option for #1 is Belfour, if defense is more your style; but then Roenick is the embodiment of the saying, "a good offense is a good defense." Plus he's one of the best backcheckers in the game. It's hard to say what Wags should go for next, since Roenick can do so much himself. A good passer could be good, to feed him for one-timers. Wags will probably see a great improvement over previous years' points totals.

Edited October 2, 2008 by smozoma

[smozoma]

1.2 - PHO - Pavel Bure - (7, 2, 6, 7 - 5.5)

XdeathsbloodX : Bure

If you can't have Roenick, and a goalie isn't what you want, then Bure is your 16-bit man. GDL's all-time leading goal scorer goes 2nd for the 2nd time. He should never have been out of the top 5.

1.3 - HFD - Patrick Roy (5, 9, 5, 5 - 6.0)

Sdogg : Roy

This is the first time Roy has been drafted before Belfour. It's hard to say if this is the right move by Sdogg, but I think Roy's 99 glove ratings could make him a better goalie than Belfour, who only has 99s down low. Getting some offense next round will be key for Sdogg.

1.4 - MIN - Steve Yzerman (6, 13, 3, 3 - 6.3)

Jtakkunen : Yzerman

Stevie Y drops to 4th after two seasons at number 3 (this is starting to sound like Casey Kasem's weekly top 40). This is another solid pick; no mistakes so far this season.

1.5 - L.A - Alexnder Mogilny - (2, 5, 8, 9 - 6.0)

EnsuingFracas : Mogilny

At number 5, this might be a bit too soon. Mogilny has a bad reputation for not getting the job done when it counts, which hurt his ranking in the past two seasons (8th and 9th). Hopefully Fracas can keep the reins tight on him and deliver a playoff season.

1.6 - TOR - Teemu Selanne - (8, 10, 9, 4 - 7.8)

smozoma : Selanne

Time will tell whether this was the right choice for smozoma. Belfour would have been a great pick for a coach who has trouble scoring, but plays tight D; however, having Roy in GDL3 didn't spell playoffs, so maybe an elite scorer will do the trick.

1.7 - CHI - Ed Belfour - (4, 3, 4, 1 - average: 3.0)

Last season's number one falls drastically to number 7, and in fact this is the first time The Eagle has been outside the top 4. minddefect is probably extremely pleased with this pick, as he should be. Being relatively late in the first round also means he'll get the chance to get a respectable forward in the 2nd round. Things are looking promising for Minddefect in GDL5.

1.8 - COL - Theoren Fleury - (1, 6, 11, 12 - 7.5)

Boknowsnhl94 : Fleury

The game's most feared checker breaks back into the top 10. Wielded properly, Fleury is probably the best shut-down forward in the game, with his insane skating and checking skills. The same skills make him very hard to defend against. His only weakness is that his shot isn't particularly hard or accurate. Whether or not this is a good pick depends on how well bo can make use of Fleury.

1.9 - PIT - Mike Gartner - (25, 12, 12, 14 - 15.8)

MattHurray : Gartner

I'd been pushing for Gartner to break the top 10, and he finally did. He is one of the games best pure goal scorers, and has an uncanny ability to chase down free pucks under AI control. 5/5 speed and a surprisingly accurate 5/3 shot, his one weakness is that he doesn't help out much defensively. MattHurray is usually a defensive-minded coach, so it will be interesting to see how this pick turns out. Can Matt embrace Gartner's run-and-gun philosophy, or will their strengths and weaknesses average out to nothing special?

1.10 - ANH - Doug Gilmour (12, 8, 13, 10 - 10.8)

EvitageN : Gilmour

Gilmour goes 10th again, and I think this is his place. There are certainly a couple other options still available, but Roenick-lite is a good choice (and the same choice I made last year with the 10th pick!). He plays well at both ends, though defense is more his game than offense.

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Edited October 2, 2008 by smozoma