August Question: Best Defensive Prospect Pool #1

Big Ev wrote:Phoenix...plus they already have a great young D in Keith Yandle who is very underappreciated. Don't know much about their other D asided from OEL, Gormley, and Goncharov

wprager wrote:OK, let me retract what I said about the spelling of Blade Runner's name. I've seen it spelled (misspelled?) both ways but it looks like Rundblad is the most common.

wprager wrote:Cowen was projected to got top-five if not top-three before his injury. He has now recovered. He lost a year but not his projection -- he's definitely #1 potential.

Karlsson flew under the radar, for sure, but I enjoyed seeing what he did last year. Definitely potential there to be a #1.

Wiercioch is an unknown quantity at this point. The NCAA is not the OHL/AHL and certainly not NHL. He's got great scoring touch but I'll reserve judgment until I see how he skates with another 20 lbs on his frame. Too early to tell.

Runblad (the spelling of his name is actually quite simple -- just think Blade Runner), according to many comments I'd read, mayb not have the offensive potential of Karlsson, but his size may allow him to be a better defenseman, overall.

To me, that's three potential #1s. And while you may say that OEL and Gormley are expected to be #1s, the reality is that they are both prospects with potential. No guarantees. Right now, Karlsson is the closest of all the others mentioned. He outscored Hedman on a team that struggled to score all year -- yes, it's too early to say that he will be better than Hedman, but it's also not too early to say that there's no guarantee that Hedman will be better than Karlsson. Remember when they were drafted -- it was a given that Hedman was above Karlsson in nearly every category. The consensus now is that he is taller.

Tuk Tuk wrote:
Only one or two of ours could really become legitimate #1 defensemen. OEL and Gormley are both expected to be #1s, and Goncharov has the potential.

I'd say Ottawa's Behind Florida, Anaheim, and maybe Nashville.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Tuk Tuk wrote:
Only one or two of ours could really become legitimate #1 defensemen. OEL and Gormley are both expected to be #1s, and Goncharov has the potential.

I'd say Ottawa's Behind Florida, Anaheim, and maybe Nashville.

I don't think Gormley will ever be a number one, maybe a top pairing # 2 guy, but that's a tough call as well. His hockey IQ is amazing, but he lacks in areas that would prevent him from being a number one. Wiercioch comes to mind as a comparable, but I'm on the fence as to who I prefer.

marakh wrote:
Maybe we have to settle on the definition of a N1 defenseman, because in my books there are maybe 10 N1 defensemen in the league right now that we can say have the total package.

marakh wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Tuk Tuk wrote:
Only one or two of ours could really become legitimate #1 defensemen. OEL and Gormley are both expected to be #1s, and Goncharov has the potential.

I'd say Ottawa's Behind Florida, Anaheim, and maybe Nashville.

I don't think Gormley will ever be a number one, maybe a top pairing # 2 guy, but that's a tough call as well. His hockey IQ is amazing, but he lacks in areas that would prevent him from being a number one. Wiercioch comes to mind as a comparable, but I'm on the fence as to who I prefer.

Maybe we have to settle on the definition of a N1 defenseman, because in my books there are maybe 10 N1 defensemen in the league right now that we can say have the total package.

Bass Destruction wrote:I would also include Tomas Kaberle in that list.

SpezDispenser wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:I would also include Tomas Kaberle in that list.

These D have to be stellar defensively as well. I don't think Kaberle is on this list at all personally. And if he is, then Gonchar DEFINITELY is. I think we're talking guys who can put up upwards of 40 points and defend with the big boys. I realize that Streit probably comes out in this equation, but that's the loose definition as I see it.

Bass Destruction wrote:

marakh wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Tuk Tuk wrote:
Only one or two of ours could really become legitimate #1 defensemen. OEL and Gormley are both expected to be #1s, and Goncharov has the potential.

I'd say Ottawa's Behind Florida, Anaheim, and maybe Nashville.

I don't think Gormley will ever be a number one, maybe a top pairing # 2 guy, but that's a tough call as well. His hockey IQ is amazing, but he lacks in areas that would prevent him from being a number one. Wiercioch comes to mind as a comparable, but I'm on the fence as to who I prefer.

Maybe we have to settle on the definition of a N1 defenseman, because in my books there are maybe 10 N1 defensemen in the league right now that we can say have the total package.

That's a very good point. How does one define one. A defensively responsible high point getting guy. Does one have to be defensive at all? How about a solid puckmoving defensive defenseman who does not put up many points, does that count? I think the term needs to be defined before we can debate on who in the league is one.

Big Ev wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:I would also include Tomas Kaberle in that list.

These D have to be stellar defensively as well. I don't think Kaberle is on this list at all personally. And if he is, then Gonchar DEFINITELY is. I think we're talking guys who can put up upwards of 40 points and defend with the big boys. I realize that Streit probably comes out in this equation, but that's the loose definition as I see it.

So then Green comes out as well

SpezDispenser wrote:

Big Ev wrote:

SpezDispenser wrote:

Bass Destruction wrote:I would also include Tomas Kaberle in that list.

These D have to be stellar defensively as well. I don't think Kaberle is on this list at all personally. And if he is, then Gonchar DEFINITELY is. I think we're talking guys who can put up upwards of 40 points and defend with the big boys. I realize that Streit probably comes out in this equation, but that's the loose definition as I see it.

So then Green comes out as well

Yeah, I wasn't sure if he should be in there, but he plays 20+ minutes, is a plus player (unreal) and puts up an ungodly number of points. I'd give him number one status on points alone, but I would totally admit that your number 2 D-man had better be amazing if you're putting Green as #1. Besides the lack of a number 2 center, I think this is the Caps Achilles heel going forward. Carlson can be that guy, but he's a righty as well and it will be a couple of years.