I'm not saying Dale Tallon has already worked miracles and constructed a Stanley Cup team through his first couple months as the new GM. But everyone can agree that Dale Tallon has been the most succesfull GM through the draft period. I mean, the Keith Ballard trade for Michael Grabner, Steve Bernier AND! their 1st round pick in 2010. In total Tallon had 13 picks in the draft (out of 7 rounds) and three in the 1st round! So let's go over who Tallon selected and what potential moves Tallon could make.
Florida Panthers 2010 NHL Entry Draft
-Erik Gudbranson 3rd Overall
OHL 09/10 2g 21a 23pts.
NHL 10/11 3g/10a 13pts
Erik Gudbranson will be like the defensive version of former Panther Pavel Bure. In the way that Bure had flair and skill to his offensive game. Gudbranson has equal skill in his defensive game and will obliterate opposing forwards trying to get pass him; they will always be forced to dump and chase. Some say he has potential to get his offensive a game going to in the NHL. That speculation obviously comes from his size and the possibility of playing the point on the powerplay. E.J McGuire of Central scouting compares him to Chris Pronger. That is reasonable with his size and defensive game, but the comparison wont be true till he is able to produce great offensive numbers. Tallon said it himself that every single player in the Panthers system has a chance to crack the roster. Gudbranson expects to patrole the blueline this season and has to have one of the best chances of doing it.
-Nick Bjugstad 19th Overall
HS 29g 31a 60pts
MIN State 30-35pts
I am not sure what to think of this pick. I haven't heard bad reviews of the pick, but for a high schooler hockey player to get drafted in the 1st round you must be an exceptional player. Which he was, scoring 29g 31a 60pts in 25 games (for school standards). He has great size in 6'4 188 Ibs and at 18 definatley still has potential to grow, and has comparisons to Ryan Getzlaf. Even though Tallon said everyone has a shot to make the roster, don't expect Bjugstad because he is commited to Minnesota University. It will be best to keep Bjugstad in in the NCAA to see how good he really is competing against more talented players. Expect Bjugstad to crack the roster in 2-3 years (depending on how long he will be at the University) time and if he plays the way he did in Highschool; he will be not only the Panthers top centre but one of the league's top centers.
-Quiton Howden 25th overall
WHL 09/10 28g 37a 65pts
WHL 10/11 70-75pts
Howden offers something the Panthers have really missed throughout the years, a true two-way guy. Howden showed some great point-per-game play with his 65pts, but Howden is often used on the pentalty kill as well. Howden is a hard player to come by, not the fact that he is a two-way player, but he is also a scorer. Look for Howden to be much like Patrick Sharp (coincidence Tallon drafted Howden and traded for Sharp?). I give Howden a better shot over Bjugstad at cracking the roster because he is proven on a higher level.
One things for sure, every team wished they had the chance to pick the type of players Tallon selected. Don't forget there was 10 other players drafted, John MacFarlan who was ranked in the top 10 but fell. Panthers will have great talent comming into the system this year and years to come.
Acquistions Tallon Will Probably Make
Don't look for Tallon to go out and try and grab a star player. The Panthers would have to give up players Tallon has already acquired to get them. Tallon likes to build within i.e Toews and Kane. You will see Tallon make a trade to get a guy like Sharp was to Chicago. An underrated two-way forward, that only Tallon could knows has potential to greater. Also look for him to go after unwanted 2nd, 3rd or even later round prospects. This is how Tallon got Versteeg from Boston.
If the Panthers end up having a great season and make the playoffs or even if they come close; players will want to join the Panthers. This is because players now know that he can build a champion team. This makes Tallon in the position to sign big name free agents, like he did with: Hossa, Campbell and Huet in Chicago. Now all were really expensive and two of them were good and have fallen off in production right now. But expect Tallon to learn from his mistakes. Here's some next years crop of UFAs; Joe Thornton, Brad Richards, Zdeno Chara, and Patrice Bergeron. I will go out and make a bold statement and say one of those players will sign with the Panthers next offseason.
When the Panthers will win the Stanley Cup? I say 2012-2013 season. And wouldn't it be amazing if the Panthers faced the Blackhawks. Here are the players that aren't on the roster that I think Tallon should have in his lineup when the Panthers make their run.
Gudbranson, newly acquired Grabner and Bernier, Bjugstad and Howden will have made the jump by 2013, Simon Gagne, Dustin Penner, Tomas Fleischmann, Keaton Ellerby, promising young goaltender Jacob Markstrom, prospect John MacFarland should have made the jump and could make other teams pay for not taking him in the 1st round, if the Pathers receive a top 10 pick next year expect to possibly see one of these names Sean Couturier, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Boone Jenner, Victor Rask or Brandon Saad and if Tallon really likes what the Canucks have to offer he will steal another player; Kevin Bieksa.
That's what I think... what do you think?
... and here's who I think Tallon will pursue next offseason or maybe at the tradedeadline... it should make the Lightning Panthers rivalry sweeter.
