I had one major problem with draft, and that was selecting a goalie at #35 with elite hands on the board in Cristall.
Its as much because of who we got in the first round.
The way I see it is if Bedard inspires the kid to add a little strength training and toughness, and Moore can teach him to skate a little, then that would be quite an interesting trio to acquire in one draft.
They may even compliment each other's games and form one helluva scoring line.
I have think the three of them would have enjoyed each other's enthusiasm for hockey and perfecting skills, somebody as obsessed with hand drills as Bedard for road trips. They would have made great roommates.
I don't see the goalie as having the upside of Cristall if he tapped into his potential, and I think there would be no better come up for Cristall then third fiddle behind Bedard and Moore.
Two elite pair of hands, two skaters, two tenacious competitors, two pure point producers, one guy who can breakaway or get back on D, two transition demons and a net killer trailing behind.
We gotta be the ones to count our blessings so far in draft and go for the enigma that might be special but nobody really wants there at that spot.
If not there were some interesting D and legacy studs available there.
A few more upside chances were passed later in draft as well for the team of drone skating robots we are filling.
I know Bedard and Cristall don't fit the molf of our stated approach, but they are interesting change ups to our philosophy with special skills you can't teach.
A 13th fwd to entertain Rockford and throw into NHL mix when points stagnant would have been a nice tool in the shed, and everything he doesn't have to his game is similar physically to Bedards challenges, but a guy who worked obsessively to change his weaknesses into strengths.
I think Cristall could end up as high as the 2nd best player from this draft, though I like Moore, Pelinka D at #17/18, Benson, and the young Russian pro at #7 better if I was betting. And Fantilli obviously.
Still, with Bedard and Moore in the bag, I think you go ahead and stuff the third most skilled stick handler in the draft (Cristall)as a special practice gift to Bedard at worst.
He might end up like that wizard joker bust kid we got from Detroit years ago but he's too perfect not to be curious what a great passer like that could be with Bedard and Moore to pass to.
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