Remember last year kids? We saw Tavares go 1, Hedman go 2, and then Duchene go 3. Guess who probably had the best year? That is right Matt Duchene. The funny part is I can tell you that more than likely Tyler Myers will win the Calder but Duchene did get nominated at least. There is nothing like a little foreshadowing just to generate a little controversy. Well, what do you know, magically in the “mock drafts”, we have some controversy.
Cam Fowler was thought to be the consensus #3 pick behind Seguin and Hall but not any longer. Erik Gudbranson has crashed the party in a big way. The 6 foot 3 defender who plays in the OHL for the Kingston Frontenacs is only 195 pounds but is expected to fill into the 210 to 220 range in the next couple years. Gudbranson is more of a five tool player who was mired on a not so good Kingston team while Cam Fowler has been a bit more high profile to say the least. Florida already has their goalie of the future in Jakob Markstrom and they very well could be set on an offensive defenseman to anchor the blueline in the draft.
With mouth wide open, the world may be wide open for this kid. To me at least, he has the potential to be able to play now for Florida although a season in the AHL could not hurt. The other question is why did Fowler fall a bit? This one is kind of simple. We have been so oversaturated in a sense with Cam Fowler that you can see all his flaws. Erik Gudbranson, from the more limited time we have seen of him, has less flaws. Gudbranson skates more fluidly yet can still finish a check. It is true that Cam Fowler can smash with the best of them but will his defensive deficiencies be exposed early on in the NH:L?
There are so many questions with the #3 or #4 pick but honestly Florida seemed dead on determined in going with Gudbranson. Either defenseman would be a very good choice but to me this may be more intriguing than the Hall-Seguin debate. The thing is which one would your prefer to go with as the top d-man in the draft? It is a fun question to answer and by all means comment away. I am curious to see which one you think stands up to the test better.
