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Not in this case. He missed much of this past season, and he’ll be 19 on Oct 2. (He missed the cutoff for last year’s Draft by two weeks). Not his fault, but he’s nearly a year older than some other prospects in this year’s Draft. That would be one thing if the injury was the only concern. But he’s been good — not great, not dominant with any regularity — the last two seasons when healthy. He’s a much-hyped project in a Draft that doesn’t have much superstar talent. He’s all about tools and vital stats (height, weight). Will it come together in a meaningful way? Maybe and maybe not. There is as much bust as superstar potential here. I’m not taking that level of risk in the six spot.
Pass on at 6. What’s he actually DONE when healthy that screams “This is a future number one center”? I know the tools. I know about his frame. But it’s all in flashes. Then add the back injury. Then add fact he’s a late year birthday first-time draft candidate. Not at 6. 16 yes.
There are only a couple of players in this draft that I think have even a 30% chance of becoming 80-plus point guys in the NHL. Misa is one. Hagen is the other.
If Hagens makes it to six, he’s gotta be the pick. I don’t think Desnoyers makes it 6th. However, the more I think about where I think the Flyers may go with this, the more I think it may be O’Brien (who should be there at six). Has to fill out but a taller kid than the 5-foot-10 1/2 Hagens. Both are playmakers. To me, however, Hagens was the consensus 1st overall guy coming into this year and he shouldn’t have fallen THAT much. He’s still one hell of a prospect. So, if he’s there, I’d take him with no hesitation.
York, first and foremost. But also someone like Pelletier, who he didn’t think could play and hardly gave a chance to prove otherwise. Shaw did, thankfully, and then the Calgary version the player soon re-emerged.
