SB Nation Mock Expansion Draft Results

by Casey Richey on Sep 8, 2010 10:08 AM CDT in Opinion

A follow-up on the SB Nation Mock Expansion Draft, here are the Wings that were selected to join the Winnipeg and Quebec teams. We listed our players that we were protecting from the draft in a post last week and here's a quick summary of those left unprotected:

FORWARDS
Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m), Mike Modano ($1.750m), Kris Draper ($1.583m), Patrick Eaves ($0.750m), Drew Miller ($0.650m), Mattias Ritola ($0.516m)

DEFENSEMEN
Ruslan Salei ($1.100m)

GOALTENDERS
Joey MacDonald ($0.550m)

Here's the link to the full post of players drafted for the two fake expansion teams. Quebec GM James Mirtle (Globe and Mail) selected D Ruslan Salei with the 43rd pick while Winnipeg GM Gabriel Desjardins (Behind the Net) selected F Drew Miller.

Quebec's first five picks: Barrett Jackman (D, STL), Scott Gomez (F, MON), Ondrej Pavelec (G, ATL), Antti Niemi (G, SJS), Pierre Marc-Brouchard (F, MIN)

Winnipeg's first five picks: Colin White (D, NJ), Josh Harding (G, MIN), Michael Ryder (F, BOS), Radim Vrbata (F, PHX), Roman Hamrlik (D, MON)

JJ and I were talking about it and (although it's all hypothetical and really doesn't matter) we were a bit shocked Bertuzzi or Eaves didn't get picked. I think Bertuzzi didn't get picked because of his age and the baggage he brings where as Miller and Eaves are very similar players. Thoughts?

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I figure that with the rules limiting them to only taking two from a team, that’s what saved more Wings from getting taken, since all Red Wings are the best players in the league, that’s observable fact ;)

I would agree that Miller and Eaves are pretty similar, but I see more upside in Eaves than I do in Miller. Eaves is a bit faster and has a more dangerous wrister, and can kill penalties as well as Drew can. On the other hand, Drew does have better creativity and can skate better on shootout attempts

by J.J. from Kansas on Sep 8, 2010 10:30 AM CDT reply actions

As I said in the Fanshot I posted yesterday (Is WIIM the only SBN blog that doesn’t have any activity in Fanshots? Jeez), I’m surprised Ritola and Bertuzzi didn’t get grabbed. Bertuzzi is a top 2 liner on pretty much every team in the league still and Ritola is one of our top prospects, and teams pretty much foam at the mouth when they hear a Wing prospect is available (see: Leino)

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Sep 8, 2010 11:22 AM CDT reply actions

What do you mean in terms of activity?

Ritola is exempt because of the games played so we didn’t have to protect him.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 8, 2010 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions

FYI

You’ve got him listed as being unprotected up there – maybe that’s why he thought he could be picked up

"I really like the guys who go for the win in overtime" - HNIC's own Harry Neale

The Hole in the Door

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by Amerinadian on Sep 8, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

This would be it. The list on the page has him as unprotected. If he wasn’t really unprotected, then that would make sense. Otherwise… these guys are idiots if they didn’t grab him. Put him on a third line and surround him with a bunch of vets for a few seasons and I think he could be a good player to build around on a new team.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Sep 8, 2010 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

ohhh

that’s what I get for copying and pasting from the SBNation list instead of my own list.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 8, 2010 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I mean that no one ever posts comments on those and they are generally reposted in the fanposts area within a few days (see 2 of my last 4 shots on Niemi and Lebda, as well as this one to an extent. Though this was going to be posted regardless, I am sure.)

The Fanshots just seem bare, to me. Go look at your Pistons sister blog, DBB. It gets 1-2 fanshots a day whereas WIIM gets 1-2 a week, and they always get quite a few comments. Granted, DBB is the result of merging one of the largest Pistons communities with Motown String Music, but that is beside the point.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Sep 8, 2010 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

ah okay

I’ve been working on something that will HOPEFULLY increase that stuff.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Sep 8, 2010 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

I’m actually more surprised that Modano wasn’t picked. I figured with his salary, “name” and talent that he still has, he’d be a lock to be picked up.

I agree with JJ that Miller has more upside than Eaves, and in a weird way, I’d rather lose Miller. Eaves and Helm seemed to develop some good chemistry on the PK last year, and we could be seeing Draper-Maltby Part 2.

Bertuzzi was likely due to age and his injury history. Remember how shocked we were that he stayed healthy all year? That’s going to scare off people.

With Ritola, there’s always the likelihood the Wings would send him down, and another team would have a shot at him off waivers. When a player like Miller or Eaves is available, take them over the unproven prospect in Ritola.

"I really like the guys who go for the win in overtime" - HNIC's own Harry Neale

The Hole in the Door

Like to keep your communication short and to the point? Follow me on Twitter

by Amerinadian on Sep 8, 2010 11:35 AM CDT reply actions