What if Winnipeg drafts Puljujarvi instead of Laine?

[Axeman33]

Has anyone given any thought to the possibility that Winnipeg drafts Puljujarvi instead of Laine?

Lately, there is plenty of love going around for Laine and plenty of threads of Laine vs PlayerX, or placing these guys in Dobbers current prospect list; and pretty much everyone assumes Laine is going to the Jets, but what happens if the Jets draft Puljujarvi instead and Laine slips to third in this years draft?

I know many of you are going to say "there's no way Winnipeg passes on Laine", but do we really know that the Jets don't value Puljujarvi just as high or higher? It's certainly a possibility and one that cannot be discounted.

My question, hypothetical as it may be, if Laine ends up in Columbus, do you think he goes down a notch in your rankings?

[CascadeFilly]

It would not completely shock me if the Jets went with Puljujarvi. They may well determine that he has the better skating and hockey sense (two things they highly value when drafting) and that that is more important to them. They're not afraid to go against popular opinion on draft day (see Scheifele), so it's possible. I'm still hoping for Laine, because you don't see a shot like that every day, but I trust the Jets' scouts and Chevy to make the right call (not that there's a bad one).

To answer your question, I think it would have to drop Laine's value a bit. Going from linemates like Scheifele/Wheeler/Little/Ehlers/Connor to Foligno, Saad and company is a drop off. While it would lessen his value, I'm not sure it should change his ranking. He's still going to pot a pile of goals, especially on the PP.

[Bass56]

...then Columbus celebrates!

[havanablast21]

...then Columbus celebrates!

THIS RIGHT HERE!!!...

But they're still in tough for a quality Center to play with him.

[BradyJets]

Has anyone given any thought to the possibility that Winnipeg drafts Puljujarvi instead of Laine?

Lately, there is plenty of love going around for Laine and plenty of threads of Laine vs PlayerX, or placing these guys in Dobbers current prospect list; and pretty much everyone assumes Laine is going to the Jets, but what happens if the Jets draft Puljujarvi instead and Laine slips to third in this years draft?

I know many of you are going to say "there's no way Winnipeg passes on Laine", but do we really know that the Jets don't value Puljujarvi just as high or higher? It's certainly a possibility and one that cannot be discounted.

My question, hypothetical as it may be, if Laine ends up in Columbus, do you think he goes down a notch in your rankings?

Oh, Axe...stirring the pot a little bit haha
Still, a good point.

[Axeman33]

Oh, Axe...stirring the pot a little bit haha
Still, a good point.

LOL! Just thinking out loud more than anything.

[JagrBomb]

Whoever gets selected by Winnipeg is the guy I'd rank higher short term. Long term my pick is Puljujarvi regardless.

[gainerama]

Whoever Winnipeg selects at #2 is a guy they didn't deserve.

[Pengwin7]

I'll say this... I would've loved to have seen CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen (Finnish) forced to make the pick at #2.
Now we may never know who he actually prefer(s) - as he'll have to throw his support behind the guy who falls to him.

[Mr. Guru]

What if Tkachuk goes second?

[Mr. Guru]

I'll say this... I would've loved to have seen CBJ GM Jarmo Kekalainen (Finnish) forced to make the pick at #2.
Now we may never know who he actually prefer(s) - as he'll have to throw his support behind the guy who falls to him.

Good point.

I'm sure he'll be saying the "We had him first on our rankings", like the year Burke drafted Rielly and said that. Funny enough, Rielly might have been the best that year.

Yakupov
Murray
Galchenyuk
Reinhart
Rielly
Lindholm
Dumba
Pouliot
Trouba
Koekoek

round out the top 10

[franklin]

I think Laine will produce wherever he goes. He's that good.

But Columbus is a good fit for Puljujarvi. The Blue Jackets will make some noise in the next 2-3 years. It will not be easy to play against them they have a good mix of talent and grit.

[Mr. Guru]

Any of the top 3 this year will be good regardless of where they go.

[rtstr]

If they do, then they're taking the better player. I think Puljujarvi is faster, smarter, has better vision, and is more responsible in his own zone. I think the way he plays is more easily translated in the NHL. Nowadays you need the full package to be an effective first-line NHLer. I, personally, think Puljujarvi is a better all-around hockey player than Laine without question. Kind of reminds me of Barkov getting drafted ahead of Drouin. Maybe not best for fantasy, but definitely the way I'd go if I'm building an NHL team.

[Fast Tony DeNiro]

It's certainly possible Winnipeg take Pulju. I don't think it would change Laine's value too much as I think he's the kind of player who can drive the offense on his own. Doesn't necessarily need to rely on a center to feed him constantly.