Saturday, May 30

Neil Parker

2015-05-30

 

 

Brandon Saad praise, Tampa Bay advances and more …

 

In 2010, Brandon Saad was considered a top-five selection for the 2011 Entry Draft. The United States National Team Development Program product signed with the Saginaw Spirit and posted 55 points — 27 goals — over 59 games during his draft year, and he experienced a freefall in draft rankings.

 

The Chicago Blackhawks plucked Saad at 43rd overall during Day 2 of the draft.

 

At 22, Saad already has 126 regular season points in the NHL, which is more than everyone from the 2011 draft class not named Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Gabriel Landeskog.

 

If the draft were done over today, it is tough to see a case for Saad slipping past the fifth pick. Is there a case for him at first overall?

 

Dougie Hamilton may be more valuable, and Nugent-Hopkins has more offensive upside, likely. However, a case could be made for Saad over Landeskog and likely everyone drafted in 2011.

 

Chicago’s reliance on him is telling, and no one else from the draft class has played any meaningful hockey to date, except for teammate Andrew Shaw, of course. Also, a trio of Tampa Bay Lightning picks stands out and are key cogs now, but we’ll look at them next.

 

This Saad recap is a response to a forum topic, where it has seemingly become unanimous that Evgeny Kuznetsov is a better fantasy player. Perhaps, I’m a Saad homer, but I don’t see it.

 

Saad’s 19 goals in five-on-five situations this season was a top-15 mark in the league, and his 38 points at five-on-five topped Alex Ovechkin‘s 37 and tied with Zach Parise. Saad’s lack of high-end offense is the result of limited power-play production. He had just two goals and eight assists with the man advantage last season.

 

And there is this:

 

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