Original pick: Jordan Staal
For a long time, the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins had fallen on hard times. They competed to see who could tank the worst (or best) to save themselves from financial trouble and set themselves up for the future. The Penguins landed Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby while the Capitals landed Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.
With the Penguins now having two cups to Washington’s zero, it’s safe to say the Penguins won the tank battle. However, they did have one misstep along the way and that was Jordan Staal. With Malkin and Crosby already in tow, the Penguins didn’t exactly need a center, but they picked who they thought to be the best player available hoping he could be anything like his brother.
Jordan Staal isn’t a bad player, far from it, but this is all about picking the best player available and both Toews and Backstrom were drafted right after Stall. But since Toews has gone to the Blues in our re-draft, that leaves the Penguins with Backy.
Despite playing behind two generational talents, Staal was able to play a pivotal role in both of Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup Final appearances in 2008 and 2009. With Backstrom, they easily could’ve won it the first time around, and could’ve built themselves into a dynasty before the Chicago Blackhawks.
Even if it created a logjam at center, there were many ways the Pens could’ve used Backstrom – as a third line center, on the wing with Malkin, or they could’ve off-loaded him for a lucrative package. However, depth is key in this day and age, and Backstrom probably would’ve thrived in Pittsburgh just like he has in Washington.
Had the Penguins selected Backstrom, not only would it have taken less than seven years for Crosby to win his second Cup, it also would’ve crippled the Capitals, which they would’ve loved to do back then.
Next: 3. Chicago Blackhawks