At #2, take the best player, agnostic of position.

To me, that means one of Wright, Cooley, Nemec or Slafkovsky.

Usually it is best to take the best player, but they are at a stage where they don’t need more prospects and they shouldn’t be drafting a franchise center when they already have one and a elite 2c. They don’t need wright or Cooley and they would be better off trading them for an impact winger or goalie

I disagree with this analysis of Laine's style. I suggest watching the Flames these playoffs (if they make the 2nd round). They will often hammer home 40-50 shots a game and have less 20 against. Shot generation =/= loss of possession by any means

If Slafkovsky goes #1, do you pass on Wright/Cooley and take the best winger? No way.

This high in draft, take best player, decent chances they will be stars. Can figure out where to put them later. And having three top centers is never a problem.

They can’t wait a couple years there stars are getting older just like every team and they have a core now is the time to build around that core this organization is an embarrassment to the organization it once was. It was once a proud successful dynasty but not it is a orginization that can’t rebuild many teams have crashed and rebuilt during the time the devils have been rebuilding. They need to wrap it up, they are losing fans, if they start the year of badly next year they are gonna have a full year of empty seats and a huge loss of money. There are already season ticket holders canceling because of how unbearable it is. The time is now

Shot generation can often lead to loss of possession so I don’t think that it’s fair to say it doesn’t equal that. But you can’t look past shot generation as a positive impact. Like NHLfan10506 said I think that the negative impact laine would have on defensive play and chances against is large enough to justify just taking slaf at 2 and not trading back while risking losing out on your guy.

As a jets fan I’ve watched laine for years, and continued to watch him in CBJ. He can be an absolute game breaker and offensive dynamo, but that’s only 25-35% of the year. Often he’s a passenger and a puck watcher. He’s not the power forward you make him out to be. Yeah he can sometimes use his size, but again it’s rare. Also you can’t even compare laines shot generation to the flames team offense as a whole as they are vastly different.

I think you are missing my point, yes Laine doesnt use his body enough but I think it's something he is capable of improving. He's certainly not too old to improve.

Im also not comparing him to all of Calgary. Im simply saying that the idea of not shooting to keep possession is counterintuitive to the goal of the game. And that shooting doesn't directly lead to possession changing

End of the day Laine was just an example of an option. I think there will be teams calling about that pick though

If Slafkovsky goes #1, do you pass on Wright/Cooley and take the best winger? No way.

This high in draft, take best player, decent chances they will be stars. Can figure out where to put them later. And having three top centers is never a problem.