{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Kane","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Kane_p_Blackhawks_USATSI.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports Images","published":1598746958,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Same
Where he was originally picked: Same

Notes: No real debate on this one. Patrick Kane has 1,022 points which leads the draft class...by 327 points.

"},{"index":2,"title":"Philadelphia Flyers: Jamie Benn","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Benn_J_Stars_USATSI.jpg","credit":"","published":1598746958,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: James van Riemsdyk
Where he was originally picked: 5th Round, 129th pick

Notes: The fewest goals Benn has scored in a full NHL season (excluding the lockout-shortened 2012-13 and the pandemic-shortened 2019-20), is 22. He's a big producer as well as a leader.

"},{"index":3,"title":"Phoenix Coyotes: Max Pacioretty","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Pacioretty_M_USATSI.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports Images","published":1598746958,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Kyle Turris
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 22nd pick

Notes: Pacioretty has scored 30 or more goals six times in his career.

"},{"index":4,"title":"Los Angels Kings: Jakub Voracek","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/USA_Carter_Hart_Jakub_Voracek_Flyers.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports Images","published":1598746958,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Thomas Hickey
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 7th pick

Notes: With 695 points, Voracek ranks second in the class in points.

"},{"index":5,"title":"Washington Capitals: Logan Couture","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Couture_L_US_14120593.jpg","credit":"","published":1598973751,"caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: Karl Alzner
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 9th pick

Notes: Couture is a top-line, two-way center who can play on the power play or penalty kill and wears the C in San Jose.

"},{"index":6,"title":"Edmonton Oilers: P.K. Subban","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Subban_PK_Devils_USAT.jpg","credit":"","published":1598973963,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Sam Gagner
Where he was originally picked: 2nd Round, 43rd pick

Notes: Subban is the top defenseman in the class, when healthy. He has a lot of personality, but that's not a bad thing and frankly, the NHL could use more of it from its players.

"},{"index":7,"title":"Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan McDonagh","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/McDonagh_R_USATSI_14747222.jpg","credit":"","published":1598974228,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Jakub Voracek
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 12th pick

Notes: A much more traditional defenseman than P.K. Subban, McDonagh is great in his own end and no slouch on offense either with 299 points of his own.

"},{"index":8,"title":"Boston Bruins: David Perron","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Perron_D_Blues_USAT.jpg","credit":"","published":1598974385,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Zach Hamill
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 26th pick

Notes: You almost hate to have a team other than St. Louis draft Perron considering he has ended up with the Blues three times in his career. Perron is a better player than he is given credit for and ranks fifth in the class with 550 points. That's more than Logan Couture, Wayne Simmonds and James van Riemsdyk.

"},{"index":9,"title":"San Jose Sharks: James van Riemsdyk","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/van_Riemsdyk_J_Flyers_USAT.jpg","credit":"","published":1598974527,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Logan Couture
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 2nd pick

Notes: Van Riemsdyk ranks sixth in goals in a pretty heavy offensive draft class. He's a big-time offensive player and goal-scorer.

"},{"index":10,"title":"Florida Panthers: Wayne Simmonds","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Simmonds_W_USATSI_12087925.jpg","credit":"","published":1599073636,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Keaton Ellerby
Where he was originally picked: 2nd Round, 61st pick

Notes: Simmonds is a traditional power forward in a league that is going away from that sort of play which makes him very valuable. He is also durable, ranking third in the class in games played despite his physical style.

"},{"index":11,"title":"Carolina Hurricanes: Kevin Shattenkirk","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Shattenkirk_K_USATSI_14830020.jpg","credit":"John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599073960,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Brandon Sutter
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 14th pick

Notes: Clearly Shattenkirk's value is based largely on finding the right spot. He was great in St. Louis, struggled in Washington and New York, now is good again in Tampa Bay. When he's good, he's a top-four right defenseman.

"},{"index":12,"title":"Montreal Canadiens: Evgenii Dadonov","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Dadonov_E_USATSI_14107016.jpg","credit":"","published":1599074196,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Ryan McDonagh
Where he was originally picked: 3rd Round, 71st pick

Notes: Dadonov would be much higher on this list without a five-year tour in the KHL. He's a tremendous player with 202 points which ranks 23rd in the class...despite playing in only 280 games.

"},{"index":13,"title":"St. Louis Blues: Jake Muzzin","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Muzzin_J_USATSI_14072655.jpg","credit":"John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599074329,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Lars Eller
Where he was originally picked: 5th Round, 141st pick

Notes: Muzzin is a top-pair defenseman for the modern era. He is one of the best puck-possession players in the NHL and decent in the offensive end of the ice.

"},{"index":14,"title":"Colorado Avalanche: Alec Martinez","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Martinez_A_USATSI_14073015.jpg","credit":"Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599074502,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Kevin Shattenkirk
Where he was originally picked: 4th Round, 95th pick

Notes: Most players go their whole career without scoring series-clinching overtime goals. Martinez did it twice in 2014, including scoring the Stanley Cup clinching goal in Game 5 against the Rangers. Oh yeah, he's also a really darn good defenseman.

"},{"index":15,"title":"Edmonton Oilers: Carl Hagelin","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Hagelin_C_USATSI_14086286.jpg","credit":"","published":1599148642,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Alex Plante
Where he was originally picked: 6th Round, 168th pick

Notes: Championship teams need key players like Hagelin. He may not be a great offensive player, but he has great speed and is a tremendous penalty killer.

"},{"index":16,"title":"Minnesota Wild: Alex Killorn","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Killorn_A_USATSI_14717846_0.jpg","credit":"John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports","published":"","caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: Colton Gillies
Where he was originally picked: 3rd Round, 77th pick

Notes: Killorn was not named a finalist for the Selke, but he should have been. He is a tremendous two-way forward who can give a team 40+ points a season plus strong play in his own end.

"},{"index":17,"title":"New York Rangers: Lars Eller","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Eller_L_USATSI_14184251_0.jpg","credit":"Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports","published":"","caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: Alexei Cherepanov
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 13th pick

Notes: Eller is a fantastic third-line center who can be plugged into the second line when needed. He is the type of key player teams need for the playoffs. See 2018 when he scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal.

"},{"index":18,"title":"St. Louis Blues: Nick Bonino","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Bonino_N_USATSI_13889933.jpg","credit":"David Banks-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599149177,"caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: Ian Cole
Where he was originally picked: 6th Round, 173rd pick

Notes: Pittsburgh does not win the Stanley Cup in 2016 without the postseason that Bonino had. Centering the third line, that line was the Penguins' biggest weapon.

"},{"index":19,"title":"Anaheim Ducks: Sam Gagner","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Gagner_S_USATSI_14168797.jpg","credit":"","published":1599149342,"caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: Logan MacMillan
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 6th pick

Notes: Gagner ranks ninth in points in a loaded offensive draft. He peaked early and declined fast, but there were a lot of good years of consistent production before that.

"},{"index":20,"title":"Pittsburgh Penguins: Kyle Turris","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Turris_K_USATSI_10356741.jpg","credit":"Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599152517,"caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: Angelo Esposito
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 3rd pick

Notes: Turris has never been the same since he was traded out of Ottawa. Maybe he likes being a big fish in a small pond or maybe he just needs the right situation to thrive.

"},{"index":21,"title":"Edmonton Oilers: Mikael Backlund","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Backlund_M_USATSI_14763868.jpg","credit":"Gerry Thomas-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599152676,"caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: Riley Nash
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 24th pick

Notes: Backlund is a strong defensive forward and finished fourth in the voting for the Selke Trophy in 2017.

"},{"index":22,"title":"Montreal Canadiens: Patrick Maroon","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Maroon_P_USATSI_12614121.jpg","credit":"Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports","published":"","caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Max Pacioretty
Where he was originally picked: 6th Round, 161st pick

Notes: Maroon is essentially a first-round pick largely because of the affect he had on the Blues in their Cup run. Otherwise, he may not make this list.

"},{"index":23,"title":"Nashville Predators: Brandon Sutter","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Sutter_B_USATSI_14124790.jpg","credit":"Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599153007,"caption":"

Position: Wing
Original Pick: Jonathon Blum
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 11th pick

Notes: Sutter is a two-way forward who can be a third-line center considering his defensive prowess.

"},{"index":24,"title":"Calgary Flames: Ian Cole","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Cole_I_USATSI_14183595.jpg","credit":"James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599153199,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Mikael Backlund
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 18th pick

Notes: Cole is a dependable defenseman in all aspects of the game and a player who can play a key role on a Cup contender as he showed in two runs with the Penguins.

"},{"index":25,"title":"Vancouver Canucks: Justin Braun","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Braun_J_USATSI_14773734.jpg","credit":"John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599154176,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Patrick White
Where he was originally picked: 7th Round, 201st pick

Notes: Braun was drafted 201st overall in the class, but is a really good defenseman who has averaged 19:41 of ice time in his career.

"},{"index":26,"title":"St. Louis Blues: Paul Byron","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Byron_P_USATSI_14143671.jpg","credit":"Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599154460,"caption":"

Position: Center
Original Pick: David Perron
Where he was originally picked: 6th Round, 179th pick

Notes: Byron is a late bloomer, scoring 20 goals twice once he hit his prime.

"},{"index":27,"title":"Detroit Red Wings: Carl Gunnarsson","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Gunnarsson_C_USATSI_14513903.jpg","credit":"Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599154673,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Brendan Smith
Where he was originally picked: 7th Round, 194th pick

Notes: Gunnarsson is a top-four defenseman on a bad team, a bottom-pair defenseman on a good one.

"},{"index":28,"title":"San Jose Sharks: Karl Alzner","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Alzner_K_USATSI_10758647.jpg","credit":"Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599157210,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Nicholas Petrecki
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 5th pick

Notes: The game seems to have passed Alzner by, but before that he was a top-four defenseman with an iron-man streak. That's value at this point in the draft.

"},{"index":29,"title":"Ottawa Senators: Thomas Hickey","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Hickey_T_USATSI_12627289.jpg","credit":"James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599157503,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Jim O'Brien
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 4th pick

Notes: A dependable defenseman, Hickey has averaged over 18 minutes of ice time per game.

"},{"index":30,"title":"Phoenix Coyotes: Brendan Smith","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Smith_B_USATSI_9882917.jpg","credit":"Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports","published":1599157646,"caption":"

Position: Defense
Original Pick: Nick Ross
Where he was originally picked: 1st Round, 27th pick

Notes: The last pick was essentially a choice between three bottom-pair defensemen as there were a few available here. I gave Smith the nod with a career ice time average of 16:45.

"}]}

Redrafting the 2007 NHL Draft: Do the Capitals choose Karl Alzner again?