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Islanders Beat Writer Feels Duchene Will Be Taken #1
by Paul on 06/19/09 at 09:02 AM ET
Comments (9)
from Greg Logan of On the Islanders Beat at Newsday,
I don’t think the Islanders are putting up a smokescreen. I believe their interest in Brampton center Matt Duchene is real. At the beginning of the season, I think he was considered a cut below the top two. But as the season progressed and Duchene combined with Cody Hodgson, last year’s No. 10 pick, to lead Brampton to the Ontario Hockey League finals before losing to Windsor, I sensed the stealth pick might be making a run up a lot of draft boards.
Suddenly, Duchene’s comparables became “Steve Yzerman” and “Joe Sakic.” While the critiques of Tavares focus on his one-dimensional play and less than stellar skating ability, Duchene now is portrayed as the “most complete” player in the draft….
My gut feeling is that the Islanders will pick Matt Duchene and worry about the fallout from the fans later.
Filed in: NHL Teams, New York Islanders | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Matt+Duchene,
Comments
Since it’s the Isles, nothing would surprise me with the #1 Overall pick. They might try drafting Alexander Ovechkin…
Posted by Primis on 06/19/09 at 10:20 AM ET
Personally, if I was in Islanders’ shoes, I would draft someone capable of selling tickets assuming all else is equal. In other words, Tavares. Hedman or even Duchene could be the better longterm strategy, but they something to excite the fans.
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 06/19/09 at 10:33 AM ET
Is this a case of Tavares’ flaws being more obvious just because he has been seen so often?
I think they really have to take him - it isn’t as though they are taking a bad player to make a splash and sell tickets, and no one will blame them if for some reason it doesn’t pan out. Sometimes the safe pick is the best choice.
I don’t see them taking a defenseman just because it takes longer for them to develop, usually, and unless they are a Mike Green they don’t really pull in many fans by themselves.
(Although it they do take Duchene, I hope Tavares goes to the Lightning and Colorado (I think they are 3rd?) takes Hedman, just because I think it would be funny to continue to keep all the best defensemen in the Western conference.) 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/19/09 at 11:16 AM ET
(Although it they do take Duchene, I hope Tavares goes to the Lightning and Colorado (I think they are 3rd?) takes Hedman, just because I think it would be funny to continue to keep all the Swedes in the Western conference.)
Corrected your post. 
Posted by Moq from Denmark on 06/19/09 at 11:44 AM ET
Wow, and here I thought it was clear-cut all along, with Tavares going first, Hedman second and Duchene third. Draft intrigue? Yes, please.
Posted by JG on 06/19/09 at 11:51 AM ET
@ Moq -
That, too. This is why the Sedins must resign with Vancouver - stay West, young Swedes, stay West.
(Although the Toronto Maple Leafs can’t draft that Swedish kid with about six names, either.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/19/09 at 12:05 PM ET
since when is Tavares a bad skater and whats the empirical proof that he is comparably to other guys in the top 10.
if he’s really that bad, and cant improve, i want some youtube evidence - or it coming straight out of multiple scouts mouths.
Posted by Death Metal Nightmare from MKE on 06/19/09 at 03:34 PM ET
Honestly I think the Isles will murder whatever talent they draft and trade them away anyways… Milbury or no Milbury.
Posted by Primis on 06/19/09 at 03:41 PM ET
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Maybe I’m missing something here, but it just seems to make sense that the Isles would take Hedman. Big, puck-moving D are a rarity in the NHL. Why not take him and build out from the blueline?
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/19/09 at 10:20 AM ET