Crawling in the Dark
Yahoo didn't manage to fix their max GP settings in time so RHRS went forward with some additional bench spots and 65 max GP. This means 3 bench spots for skaters are essentially active roster players and then goalies are going to be even more scarce than usual. Even in the previous seasons only about one third of the league hit 164/165 goalie GP and there might not be a single team that hits 130/131 GP this season so I decided to try to get around 110-120 GP from my goalies as that should be good enough for about Top5 finish in W, SV. Optionally attempt to go for 130 GP if one of Gibson, Talbot or Bobrovsky is available around R9/R10.
1. 10 Steven Stamkos TB LW,RW
I did consider Eichel too, but decided to go for Stamkos as he takes decent amount of faceoffs for a winger and any bonus there is just nice to have in the bank and
2. 17 Evgeni Malkin Pit C
Originally I was thinking maybe I could get B.Tkachuk here if I am very lucky, but wasn't even that close. That left me to choose between Malkin, Zibanejad, M.Tkachuk and Binnington. It was close, but in the end decided to go for high scoring forward as making up stats like HIT, SOG is easier later in the draft.
3. 36 Robin Lehner VGK G
I was really hoping to get Hamilton #1D on my list or Pastrnak here, but of course both went just before my picks in addition with M.Tkachuk and Zibanejad. I did consider E.Kane, but thought he just might drop another round so decided to go for a goalie and opted to go for Lehner.
4. 43 Mitchell Marner Tor RW
I had few options here I was considering: Marner, Barkov, Bergeron or possibly Kuemper/Shesterkin/Grubauer if I wanted second goalie. This was pretty close decision, but opted to wait for the goalies as there were still some decent options and take Marner, but it was close.
5. 62 Juuse Saros Nsh G
Lot of goalies went between my picks and felt I had to take Saros as I didn't want to have someone like Bobrovsky, Talbot or Gibson as my 2nd goalie. If I had opted for a skater, but I would have probably taken Larkin or Letang here.
6. 69 Kris Letang Pit D
I did consider RNH as well as he still takes some faceoffs even when playing winger, but thought he was more likely of the two to drop to the next round so took Letang her.
7. 88 Ryan Nugent Hopkins Edm C,LW
Pretty much all the goalies I might have considered in Talbot, Gibson, Bobrovsky, Khudobin went to so decided to be happy with 110 120 goalie GP and hopefully get Ullmark or Koskinen few rounds later, maybe M.Murray if I really have to. RNH was still here so happy to get him.
8. 95 Mark Giordano Cgy D
I did consider Kadri and Horvat as well, but opted to get D and picked up Giordano.
9. 114 Linus Ullmark Buf G
I did consider taking DeAngelo, but decent goalies were starting to get very thin so opted to get Ullmark. It was pretty much coinflip between him and Koskinen though.
10. 121 Tony DeAngelo NYR D
DeAngelo is still here so picked him up.
11. 140 William Nylander Tor LW,RW
I had Cirelli, Nylander and DeBrincat pretty evenly rated. It was close decision, but opted for Nylander as he should bring little bit extra FOW from the wing.
12. 147 Anthony Cirelli TB C
DeBrincat went one pick earlier so fairly easy decision to go with Cirelli and I only had 1 C on team as well.
13. 166 Logan Couture SJ C
I was hoping for Bjorkstrand, Mantha or Pavelski, but all went few picks earlier. I was thinking about Dumba as well, but opted to go for Couture as decent centers can be really hard to get late in the draft with FOW as category.
14. 173 Bryan Rust Pit LW,RW
There were few other options like Ellis, Suzuki, but decided to with Rust.
15. 192 Casey DeSmith Pit G
Some of the platooners/backups started to get picked so decided to get DeSmith as I still think PIT is going to be really good team.
16. 199 Ryan Getzlaf Anh C
I was considering between Dvorak, Getzlaf, Hornqvist and Muzzin and preferred to fill the 4th C slot.
17. 218 Patric Hornqvist Fla RW
Hornqvist is till there out of the last rounds options so picked him up.
18. 225 Corey Crawford NJ G
Yes, I did draft a retired player, at least it was somewhat late in the draft. News came out few hours earlier and I didn't have time to check injury news before the draft and I never pay much if any attention to yahoo markers Crawford was listed as NA at the time of the draft so that's that.
19. 244 Frank Vatrano Fla LW,RW
Vatrano has produced solid multicat numbers, but was little buried in FLA depth chart. With Dadonov and Hoffman out I think there's good chance if him getting bigger role so I think there's some solid upside.
20. 251 Damon Severson NJ D
I was thinking about picking up Borowiecki, but opted for a more scoring oriented option in Severson.
21. 270 Kaapo Kahkonen Min G
22 277 Rasmus Andersson Cgy D
23 296 MacKenzie Weegar Fla D
24 303 Cody Glass VGK C,RW
25 322 Jared McCann Pit C,LW
26 329 Gabriel Vilardi LA C
27 348 Scott Mayfield NYI D
Some late round upside flyers, backup goalie with some upside so nothing special and many of these could end up as a waiver fodder pretty soon.
Relatively happy with the draft outside Crawford pick with a fairly balanced roster although goaltending starts might be hard to get as I didn't get two goalies from any team.