Who would you take first? That’s the question a lot of scouts have been pondering, but obviously no one would ever dare discuss it because that’s the kind of intel that would get you fired if it every came out. Nevertheless, you can bet your arse some high-ranking hockey ops staff will be making the trek to Moncton this week and Blainville next week to see how these two stack up against each other. With the NHL Central Scouting final list revealed last week and their subsequent placement and proximity within it makes this showdown even more intriguing.
There’s no question these two elite level skating rearguards dazzle and ooze offensive talent, but perhaps the young defender that defends the best throughout the series might in fact come away with bragging rights and top billing on several team’s draft boards.
The fact that no defender under 6’ were selected a season ago in the NHL draft has been talked at nauseum. There’s no question that trend will change with these two and the upside they potentially bring to the game. How many teams in the NHL need a transitional offensive defender? How many teams in the NHL can’t afford to have that type of blueliner on their team? These two will go head to head this series and you better believe there’s going to be a “one-upsmanship” quality to this matchup because both players are the type to know exactly where they stand and are confident enough to elevate their game in hopes of surpassing each other. There’s a lot more than draft ranking at stake over this showdown, but there’s no question you’re going to see some mind-blowing skating, possibly some defensive blunders thrown in there as well, but hopefully we will see how these two offensively minded elite skaters truly defend and carry their respective teams to potential success.
The Quick Shift 