Reordering the 2004 NHL Draft

[Langdon Algur]

With the 2014 NHL draft coming up I thought it would be fun to look back 10 years at the 2004 NHL draft and see who turned into a bust and who turned out to be a draft steal. Knowing what we know now how would you rank the players drafted in 2004. This draft looks like it was full of steals. Which team was the biggest winner? Biggest steal of the draft? My reordered draft is as follows, (brackets indicate spot they were actually drafted):

1) Ovechkin (1)

2) Malkin (2)

3) Callahan (127)

4) Krejci (63)

5) Rinne (258)

6) Mike Green (29)

7) Mark Streit (262)

8) Schneider (26)

9) Dubinsky (60)

10) Ladd (4)

11) Zajac (20)

12) Franzen (97)

13) Versteeg (134)

14) Bolland (32)

15) Goligoski (61)

16) Edler (91)

17) Wheeler (5)

18) Dubnyk (14)

19) Radulov (15)

20) Meszaros (23)

21) T. Micthell (123)

22) Wolski (21)

23) Booth (53)

24) Smid (9)

25) Stafford (13)

26) Hansen (287)

27) Prust (70)

28) Chipchura (18)

29) Brouwer (214)

30) Santorelli (191)

HM: Montonya (6), Karri Ramo (191)

Overall I would say Ryan Callahan was the steal of the draft for the Rangers getting a great two way player and future captain who was later traded for an Art Ross winner. Rinne was a great pick too although Nashvilles defence helps make him look better than he is. 2004 was a great draft for the Canucks (at leadt by Canuck standards) getting a star goalie in Schneider (argulably the 2nd best goalie in the draft), former all-star Dmen Edler in the third round and

Hansen in the last round of the draft.

Thoughts?

[Shinkaruk_9]

Malkin > Ovechkin.

[Beluga Whale]

Brouwer and Wheeler should be a lot higher. I'd also put Kreici ahead of Callahan.

[DeNiro]

I know people love Schneider on here but he wouldn't have likely been a top 10. Goalies don't often get taken that high, let alone two of them.

He belongs in the 15-20 range.

[Langdon Algur]

I know people love Schneider on here but he wouldn't have likely been a top 10. Goalies don't often get taken that high, let alone two of them.

He belongs in the 15-20 range.

So you would be ok if we traded Schneider for Zajac then?

[FlyLow_]

Brouwer and Wheeler should be a lot higher. I'd also put Kreici ahead of Callahan.

[Watermelon]

Edler belongs in the top ten. Well, let me rephrase late, belonged. He was such a beast and I wont give up on him for at least 1 more season

[Time Lord]

Malkin is way better than Ovechkin, especially right now. Points>Goals when judging an player's offense. Also compete level and one-dimensional play is a big concern for Ovechkin.

[-AJ-]

Just my opinions on some ways I would change your list

- Dubnyk would be later

- Wheeler would be earlier

- Callahan would be later

- Krejci would probably move up to #3.

[RonMexico]

Malkin is way better than Ovechkin, especially right now. Points>Goals when judging an player's offense. Also compete level and one-dimensional play is a big concern for Ovechkin.

I find it quite bizarre how the NHL and it's fans are so concerned about the lack of goal scoring yet fans continue to rag on pure goal scorers for being one dimensional. It's a rare forward who can be just as good defensively as they are offensively.

[erkayloomeh]

Who was number 3 ?

[gmen81]

Who was number 3 ?

Cam Barker.

[DeNiro]

So you would be ok if we traded Schneider for Zajac then?

No but I would take Franzen, Ladd, or Bolland in their prime over Schneider.

All of them have played key roles in cup wins. Schneider has done nothing so far.

I'd also take Dubinksy and Wheeler as well.

[Hedman]

No but I would take Franzen, Ladd, or Bolland in their prime over Schneider.

All of them have played key roles in cup wins. Schneider has done nothing so far.

I'd also take Dubinksy and Wheeler as well.

Franzen, Ladd and Wheeler sure. But Bolland and Dubinsky? C'mon. Dubinsky is a mediocre 2nd liner. Bolland is a good 3rd line center. None of them are equal to Schneiders value. Also, which 15 players would you take over Schneider?

[DeNiro]

Franzen, Ladd and Wheeler sure. But Bolland and Dubinsky? C'mon. Dubinsky is a mediocre 2nd liner. Bolland is a good 3rd line center. None of them are equal to Schneiders value. Also, which 15 players would you take over Schneider?

And Schneider is a backup.

Your point?

A goalie who is almost 27 and hasn't been a clear cut starter isn't worth more than a second liner. Bolland was key in both Chicago's cup wins, I think you're undervaluing him. Both of those players provided value to their teams for longer than Schneider did by entering the NHL sooner.

It's who you would draft anyways, not who you would trade for now. I would argue anyone of those players I listed would have helped a contender like the Canucks win 3 years ago more than Schneider.

[Hedman]

And Schneider is a backup.

Your point?

A goalie who is almost 27 and hasn't been a clear cut starter isn't worth more than a second liner. Bolland was key in both Chicago's cup wins, I think you're undervaluing him. Both of those players provided value to their teams for longer than Schneider did by entering the NHL sooner.

It's who you would draft anyways, not who you would trade for now. I would argue anyone of those players I listed would have helped a contender like the Canucks win 3 years ago more than Schneider.

How is Schneider a back-up? Would you also pick Martin Handzus since he won a cup with Chicago? He was their 2nd line center in the playoffs last year. Or Bryan Bickell? He was a big reason why they won the cup last year as well. Schneider could probably win a cup as well if he ended up on a team like the Blackhawks..

Ofc it's about value. Do you prefer a 3rd liner over a starting goaltender? Who would you rather build your team around? Ovechkin doesn't have a cup either, does that mean he shouldn't be number 1/2? And ofc he would help Canucks more since we had both Schneider and Luongo? That's a stupid statement.

[Phil_314]

OP, would you mind posting the originally picked guys at each spot as well? It'd probably make for a better comparison.

[DeNiro]

How is Schneider a back-up? Would you also pick Martin Handzus since he won a cup with Chicago? He was their 2nd line center in the playoffs last year. Or Bryan Bickell? He was a big reason why they won the cup last year as well. Schneider could probably win a cup as well if he ended up on a team like the Blackhawks..

Ofc it's about value. Do you prefer a 3rd liner over a starting goaltender? Who would you rather build your team around? Ovechkin doesn't have a cup either, does that mean he shouldn't be number 1/2? And ofc he would help Canucks more since we had both Schneider and Luongo? That's a stupid statement.

Except Schneider isn't the franchise goalie everyone paints him out to be. Great young goalie but he has yet to take a team on his back like other real franchise goalies.

If the past few years has shown us anything, great young goalies are not hard to acquire. The trade market has proven the value of goalies. A good second line center is something that teams would covet alot more than a goalie.

Schneider could have won a cup, or he could have melted down. You can't say with certainty that he would have won anything. All that's certain right now is that he's almost 27 and is still sharing the net with another goaltender. Surely if he was the next Patrick Roy he would be a clear cut starting goalie right now.

Ladd has two cups. Bolland has two cups. Franzen has two finals appearences and a cup. These are not just plug support players, they're some of the best supporting players in the league when they were in their prime. So yes I would take them over a goalie when goalies are widely available right now.

[Mr.53]

Andrew Ladd should be higher. I would argue top 5. Ladd is one of the best power forwards in the league today, I would argue top 3. 2 time champion, and he knows how to lead. His effort and commitment as well as his skill set, I think definitely top 5. If not 6-7.

[Ghostsof1915]

Is there a point in reordering the draft after the fact?