Jonathan Toews, is, in my (particularly biased) opinion, the best two-way center in the NHL – if you look at his stats, the only category he is routinely beaten by Bergeron in is faceoffs. That’s why Bergeron has one more Selke. Faceoffs. I’ve discussed this.
He was taken third overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2006 draft, and that was, besides having a ready to go defense with Keith, Seabrook, and Byfuglien, the start of the empire that is now the Chicago Blackhawks.
But what if it wasn’t. What if, instead, Toews had gone before the now known to be inferior Jordan Staal and Erik Johnson. What if Toews went number one overall to the *gulp* St. Louis Blues. If he never became a Blackhawk, instead becoming their most despised foe, the center who the Blues built around and got Tarasenko for? Let’s answer it.
So the first three picks fell like this:
1. Erik Johnson, D, St. Louis Blues (now the Colorado Avalanche)
2. Jordan Staal, C, Pittsburgh Penguins (now the Carolina Hurricanes)
3. Jonathan Toews, C, Chicago Blackhawks (now the Chicago Blackhawks)
What if, instead, it fell like this:
1. Jonathan Toews, C, St. Louis Blues
2. Jordan Staal, C, Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Nicklas Backstrom, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Yes, Backstrom was the pick right after Jonathon Toews. The Penguins had their choice of Staal, Backstrom, and Toews, and went with the worst one. Good thing Crosby was an automatic.
Alternate World time:
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks fall to the number one overall still. They still select Patrick Kane, they still play their young center with their young right wing – but this time, they’re never seperated. Backstrom is a complimentary center – his work has made Ovechkin better than he would have been without him, and he could do the same thing for Kane. Kane becomes a perennial threat to the Hart and Ross, but wins them much sooner. The real impact is felt, however, in the playoffs, as the Blackhawks don’t win as many championships as they have with Toews, because Backstrom and Kane remain one line, and it’s been proven that you can’t win with one line. Because they’re never separated, the best defenses are always put on our line ones, and while the opportunities are there, the rest of our lineup is unsuccessful. Teams respect the Blackhawks ability to separate and/or team Toews and Kane, without that same ability we’re simply not the same team.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues get a franchise center, who learns from Backes, plays a smart game, and makes the Blues top 6 better for years to come. He gets to play with the young Alex Steen, and when Tarasenko is being recruited, Toews plays a role as the center ‘Senko would get to play with. The Blues build around Toews, something they didn’t do with Johnson, and become the best team in the Central, complete with a good defense and some goaltending. But, like the Blackhawks, they don’t find playoff success to come easily – because Q and Kane were vital necessities to Toews. Toews and Kane are better together, simply put, and separated they remain dominant players, but not to the same extent. Over time, they develop a bond, and in their later years they form a super team in South Beach – that’s right, they’re taking their talents to Sunrise – the Florida Panthers ultimately win this “what if?”.with a super team of Kane, Toews, Phil Kessel, Derick Brassard, and other members from the 2006/2007 NHL Drafts.
Is it bad I really want this to happen now? Just 37 year old Toews, Kessel, Brassard skating around with 36 year old Kane, JVR, and Jakub Voracek. #oldmansquad
And yes, this does make Toews/Kane/Kessel the NHL’s Banana Boat.
Oh, and because this article isn’t long enough and I have fun with these:
THE 2006 FIRST ROUND REDUX:
- St. Louis Blues, Jonathan Toews, C
- Pittsburgh Penguins, Claude Giroux, C
- Chicago Blackhawks, Phil Kessel, RW
- Washington Capitals, Nicklas Backstrom, C
- Boston Bruins, Kyle Okposo, RW
- Columbus Blue Jackets, Milan Lucic, LW
- New York Islanders, Derick Brassard, C
- Arizona Coyotes, Brad Marchand, C
- Minnesota Wild, Nick Foligno, LW
- Florida Panthers, Steve Mason, G
- LA Kings, Nikolai Kulemin, LW
- Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, Artem Anisimov, C
- Toronto Maple Leafs, Erik Johnson, D
- Vancouver Canucks, Bryan Little, C
- Tampa Bay Lightning, James Reimer, G
- San Jose Sharks, Matt Beleskey, LW
- LA Kings, Michael Frolik, RW
- Colorado Avalanche, Michal Neuvirth, G
- Anaheim Ducks, Seymon Varlamov, G
- Montreal Canadiens, Leo Komarov, C
- New York Rangers, Mathieu Perreault, C
- Philadelphia Flyers, Michael Grabner, RW
- Washington Capitals, Jordan Staal, C
- Buffalo Sabres, Jeff Petry, D
- St. Louis Blues, Trevor Lewis, C
- Calgary Flames, Jonathon Bernier, G
- Dallas Stars, Cal Clutterbuck, RW
- Ottawa Senators, James Sheppard, LW
- Arizona Coyotes, Mike Weber, D
- New Jersey Devils, Chris Stewart, RW
And yes, I didn’t do the right positions – look at this draft and tell me it’s good defensively. The Blues selected Johnson because he was the best available defenseman, so, good on them filling a need. This redo is based on best available.
There were probably better undrafted free agents than the last five picks and most of them were high picks.