Question Time: Draft Winners

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Alex's question of the week was "out of the top four draft picks, which team will benefit the most?" Damn good question Alex, so let's have a look.

First of all, no team did badly in the draft. At least on paper. So who went where?

1st: Nathan MacKinnon - Colorado Avalanche
2nd: Aleksander Barkov - Florida Panthers
3rd: Jonathan Drouin - Tampa Bay
4th: Seth Jones - Nashville Predators

Colorado Avalanche

The Avs need several good forwards and several good defencemen to be successful. MacKinnon definitely adds strength to Colorado's forward line but one man does not make a team. I think MacKinnon will struggle to post the sort of numbers he's currently scoring in the lower levels. 

Florida Panthers

 Aleksander Barkov has already played against the big boys in the Finnish SM Liiga so he'll have an advantage when he lines up for the Panthers.

 Tampa Bay Lightning

 The Lightning will expect to do well with Drouin. With Stamkos and Filppula to provide experience and teaching, the Tampa Bay faithful know that they will see goals from the new guy. Thing is scoring has never been the team's problem. Last (regular) season, only Chicago and Pittsburgh score more. What the team needs is defense.

Nashville Predators

 Seth Jones may be one of the hottest prospects for a while but Barry Trotz needs another defenseman like he needs a third armpit. What the Preds need is a strength and depth going forward. No doubt Jones will stop shots and drafting Jones was absolutely the right choice.

So which team will benefit the most? Florida. Barkov will be a regular first team player before any of the others. He's also spent the better part of two seasons in the top league in Finland. 


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