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S96 - the strongest draft class in top end blueline talent since S90?


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Disclaimer: I'm comparing the players as prosoects on the draft day, without taking into consideration how their careers continued after the draft.

 

What's standing out about the S96 draft class at this moment is the fact that three of the five arguably best skaters in the class are defenders. Hulking offensive juggernaut Pan Daffleck is likely looking like a future 1st overall pick, and very well-rounded two-way defenseman River Harrington projects anywhere in the 2 to 4 range, depending on the drafting team's needs. Will the S90 scenario of defenders being drafted 1st and 2nd overall repeat in S96? Alagsantere Grønvold is a solid consolidation price for a team looking for a blueliner but unable to grab one of the two top names; while he's clearly a step behind Daffleck and Harrington in his overall game, he's starting to look like the best pure shutdown player of the bunch.

 

To me, the S91 and S94 draft classes are the closest ones to the S96 in terms of top-end blueline talent. S91 was headlined by the 1st overall selection, CGY Janser, and 3rd overall, Leif Reingaard—that's your Daffleck and Harrington. But there was no Grønvold-like prospect behind the two. The S94 class was much deeper in defense than the S96 is shaping up to be. At the time of the draft, Jillian Woods was maybe even considered a step above what Daffleck would be, but the rest of the top blueliners were maybe more around Grønvold's level, with Harrington maybe being a few steps ahead of them. That includes Bollos de Trueno, Felicia Hardy, or Lazlo Holmes. 

 

There were many fantastic defenders drafted in other classes as well, but no other 90s draft class has been as strong as a whole as these I'm mentioning.

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1 minute ago, OrbitingDeath said:

Can't go wrong with either selection here, wouldn't even be surprised if you would go before me.

 

No one is taking a goon from Greenland over a fanboying red panda, come on :kekw:

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1 minute ago, VattghernCZ said:

 

No one is taking a goon from Greenland over a fanboying red panda, come on :kekw:

I think it will depend a lot on which teams will be in what position to draft. Daffleck already in contact with a team he wants to play the most for, it could influence things ;) 

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8 hours ago, OrbitingDeath said:

I think it will depend a lot on which teams will be in what position to draft. Daffleck already in contact with a team he wants to play the most for, it could influence things ;) 

Draft scandal??? 👀

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