Re-Drafting the 2006 NHL Draft

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 24: (L-R) Second overall pick Jordan Staal of the Pittsburgh Penguins, first overall pick Erik Johnson of the St. Louis Blues, and third overall pick Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks pose for a portrait together backstage during the 2006 NHL Draft held at General Motors Place on June 24, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images for NHL) /

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Mar 19, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal (11) celebrates his goal in the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

. Center. Peterborough Petes. Jordan Staal. 5. player. 70

Original pick: Phil Kessel

It feels weird to have the Bruins pick Jordan Staal when Milan Lucic is still on our hypothetical draft board, but Staal would’ve set them up for success a lot sooner. At the time, Marc Savard was still the number one guy at center, but not far behind him was Patrice Bergeron and an up-and-coming David Krejci.

In the real world, Boston selected Phil Kessel to help shore up that position, but he ended up working out better as a winger. When it comes to Jordan Staal, the reality is that he is talented enough to be a first-line center, but you never would’ve been able to tell that when he was playing behind Crosby and Malkin.

Throughout his career, Staal has excelled on the penalty kill, having amassed 13 shorthanded goals and 11 shorthanded assists. He was also the youngest player ever to score a hat trick when he was 18 and a half.

That he was able to have a great impact on the Penguins despite being overshadowed by two generational players speaks to his talent. However, the Penguins trading him contributed greatly to their second Stanley Cup when they received Brian Domoulin and flipped Brandon Sutter for Nick Bonino.

While Staal being worth $60 million over 10 years is debatable, he has proven his worth as a great two-way player who can shut down an opponent’s top line, and he would’ve been a valuable asset for the Bruins.

Next: 6. Columbus Blue Jackets

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