06 Draft Class - and the first overall pick is.....

[D-Man02]

Obviously this years draft class is going to have a lot less hype compared to the last where there was all the hype around Sid.

So who goes first this year?

Johnson, Kessel, Toews?

There are some significant prospects out there this year but no clear #1 like that of Ovechkin or Crosby

so whos your pick?

[ITS_ME]

Givent aht the blues have the first pick, I'm betting they go for a center.
Jordan Stall would be my pick, although they may opt for american Jonathon Toews.
NIklas Backstrom  (swe) and Michael Frlik (Czech) may also go first.

Pittsburg drafting second will go for a defensemen which will undoubtedly be Eric Johnsson.

[D-Man02]

Toews isnt american

he was a key piece to canada rescent gold medal team

ill agree that staal has a shot at being taken at 1, great potential but is his ceiling as high as Erics?

[ITS_ME]

Sorry.
I assumed Toews was American because he plays for U of NOrth Dakota.

History would show that the second relative is never as good as the allstar.
Lindros's (Although to be fair Brett was forced to retire before he discovered his true potential)
Bure's (Pavel, Valerie)
Primeaus (Keith, wayne)
Neidermeyer's (Scott, Rob)_

Although in most cases the second brother is still pretty good.

You could maybe argue that Darien Hatcher became better than his brother Kevin. HArd to compare though ebcause Kevin was nearing retirement when Darien made it to the NHL.

[D-Man02]

As much as i hate Eric Johnson and that U-18 program in the States i think chances are high that he could be taken at #1.  The guy is an absolute beast on the blue line and i see a lot of chris pronger in him.  Maybe not the same dominance in size, but the overall defensive toughness and positioning.   

[ITS_ME]

I don;t know much about this years draft class.
Other than Brian Little, as I get to watch a few Barrie Colts games here and there.
I think he'll be the next Theo Fluery, Steve Sullivan type for whomever drafts him.

[D-Man02]

gonna be a lot of big name free agents on the market though this year, some restricted and others unrestricted

would u pull off a sign and trade with a lottery pick

or if you are a bottom feeder like chicago would u make a trade for a proven veteran

[ITS_ME]

If this past year ahs proven anything, its that youth wins.
Teams like Chicago don't have the money to spend to the cap.
I think if they did, they would just go after one of the many UFA's that are out there this year, and keep thier pick.
I don't see any advantage in giving up a high pick this year. Just to many UFA's.