Prior to Season 2, I conducted a draft in which the last four old timers with zero games of NHL experience were selected by the teams in my Strat-O-Matic league. For this season's draft, I've rounded up the four Hall of Fame players who have the fewest number of NHL games. The teams selected in inverse order of regular-season points, so the lowly Thistles picked first overall for the second consecutive season.
1. Thistles: Tommy Smith, C
Meet the Anti-Frank McGee. The Comets superstar is all about skating and scoring, and Tommy Smith does everything except skate and score. Smith is an elite defender, a good passer, and (according to the game stats), he'll be the very best faceoff man in the league. In short, he's a toolsy player, and I'm fascinated to see how his skillset will manifest. If the Thistles put him between Alf Smith (his much-older brother) and Tommy Phillips, is he a number-one center? Or does he end up more like Dubbie Bowie -- a solid defensive forward who kills penalties but doesn't add much offensively? Did the Thistles make a mistake in taking this guy with the first overall pick, especially when the two players drafted after him have such clear and obvious value? No matter what, the debut of Tommy Tools (or is it Toolsy Tom?) playing with his feisty brother Alf is going to be a fascinating story to follow in Season 3.
2. Bulldogs: Art Ross, D
This league is thin on steady, stay-at-home defensemen -- especially those who can stay out of the penalty box. (Looking at you, Moose Johnson and George McNamara!) Ross is no wizard with the puck (how ironic, then, that the NHL's annual scoring champion wins a trophy named after this guy!), but he adds depth and penalty-killing acumen to a Bulldogs team that needs serious help on the blueline. Safe, solid pick.
3. Comets: Lester Patrick, D
Ross or Patrick? Patrick or Ross? Lester Patrick's game stats are almost identical to Ross's. If you're looking for defense, you can't go wrong with either one. In Patrick, the Comets have added a true stud to their already impressive squadron of defensemen. Now they can trade a surplus blueliner for more depth at forward.
4. Victorias: Barney Stanley, LW
To my knowledge, this Stanley is unrelated to the cup that shares his name. In game terms, he's a winger with moderate-to-good offensive capabilities, and if he turns into the second coming of Billy Gilmour or Tom Hooper, the Vics will be ecstatic with this pick.
Now that the draft has been completed, the teams will consider trades prior to the start of the season. I suspect there may be a blockbuster involving a Thistles pivot and a goalie...
1. Thistles: Tommy Smith, C
Meet the Anti-Frank McGee. The Comets superstar is all about skating and scoring, and Tommy Smith does everything except skate and score. Smith is an elite defender, a good passer, and (according to the game stats), he'll be the very best faceoff man in the league. In short, he's a toolsy player, and I'm fascinated to see how his skillset will manifest. If the Thistles put him between Alf Smith (his much-older brother) and Tommy Phillips, is he a number-one center? Or does he end up more like Dubbie Bowie -- a solid defensive forward who kills penalties but doesn't add much offensively? Did the Thistles make a mistake in taking this guy with the first overall pick, especially when the two players drafted after him have such clear and obvious value? No matter what, the debut of Tommy Tools (or is it Toolsy Tom?) playing with his feisty brother Alf is going to be a fascinating story to follow in Season 3.
2. Bulldogs: Art Ross, D
This league is thin on steady, stay-at-home defensemen -- especially those who can stay out of the penalty box. (Looking at you, Moose Johnson and George McNamara!) Ross is no wizard with the puck (how ironic, then, that the NHL's annual scoring champion wins a trophy named after this guy!), but he adds depth and penalty-killing acumen to a Bulldogs team that needs serious help on the blueline. Safe, solid pick.
3. Comets: Lester Patrick, D
Ross or Patrick? Patrick or Ross? Lester Patrick's game stats are almost identical to Ross's. If you're looking for defense, you can't go wrong with either one. In Patrick, the Comets have added a true stud to their already impressive squadron of defensemen. Now they can trade a surplus blueliner for more depth at forward.
4. Victorias: Barney Stanley, LW
To my knowledge, this Stanley is unrelated to the cup that shares his name. In game terms, he's a winger with moderate-to-good offensive capabilities, and if he turns into the second coming of Billy Gilmour or Tom Hooper, the Vics will be ecstatic with this pick.
Now that the draft has been completed, the teams will consider trades prior to the start of the season. I suspect there may be a blockbuster involving a Thistles pivot and a goalie...
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