NHL Redraft: 2005

Jon Quick was the steal of the 2005 draft(72nd overall), where would he be drafted today?

As we barrel uncontrollably toward this year's NHL playoff, we at BDD&C decided to take a step back and see how the 14 lottery teams would have drafted in 2005 with 7 years of hindsight in their possession. I understand 7 years comes off as an odd number but 7 years in an NHL draft is actually more like 5 years because of the redraft policy which allows an unsigned player to re-enter the draft within two years of getting drafted. Here we go:

1. Pittsburgh
Redraft Pick: Sidney Crosby(1)
Original Pick: Sidney Crosby
This one is still a no-brainer even if Crosby's career teeters on the edge thanks to these head injuries. He, when healthy, is a top 3 player, won them a Stanley Cup and was their best player despite Malkin winning the Conn Smythe that year. Easy one here.

2. Anaheim
Redraft Pick: Anze Kopitar(11)
Original Pick: Bobby Ryan
These is a rivalry changing pick. Kopitar would have jumped right into the '06-'07 Stanley Cup winning Ducks team and fit nicely. Could you imagine Kopitar as the Ducks #2 center behind Getzlaf? Talk about zero drop off from line one to two. The Yugoslavian product has only improved since his arrival in the NHL in 2006. He has not only been a consistent 60+ point scorer, but he has really improved his all-around game with a +42 rating in his las three years compared to a -44 in his first three. '09-'10 turned out to be his true breakout year where he had 81 points, a +6 rating and led the Kings to their first playoff appearance since '02. The Ducks are 24th in goals per game and could really need Kopitar's dynamic offensive game.

3. Carolina
Redraft Pick: Marc Staal(12)
Original Pick: Jack Johnson
I'm sure the Hurricanes are regretting not selecting their star Eric Staal's brother for more than just the family ties. Marc Staal, despite a slew of injuries, has become a mainstay on the Rangers #1 blue line unit. He has a nice balance between a "move the puck" game and a defensive game. If the Hurricanes had Staal they could the push the promising, but unexperienced Justin Faulk to the second line as Staal would certainly team up with Tim Gleason forming a solid first line D-pair. Carolina is dead last in the Southeast because they are almost dead last in goals allowed. Staal here would be a major upgrade to a defensive corp lacking depth.

4. Minnesota Wild
Redraft Pick: Carey Price(5)
Original Pick: Benoit Pouliot
Here's our first bust. Pouliot actually has finally found his game with the Canadians this year, but then again Montreal was about as bad as the AHL teams Pouliot has been playing for. Niklas Backstrom, the Wild's current goalie is a solid tender but is not anywhere near Carey Price. Price has led the Canadians to multiple playoff appearances and despite his mental breakdowns from time-to-time, he still is one of the best goaltenders in the league. Bringing in a goalie with hall of fame potential may just be what the Wild needed to break their four year playoff drought.

5. Montreal Canadians
Redraft Pick: Paul Stastny(44)
Original Pick: Carey Price
The Canadians would have loved to selected Price here, but since he's gone they'll settle with Paul Stastny, who becomes our first major reach guy(drafted 44th overall).  I toyed with this one for a while(between Stastny and Bobby Ryan) but I like Stastny's all around game a bit better. Montreal would immediately have their first line center here with Stastny who is a solid guy in every facet of the game. He is also the kind of leader that the volatile Canadians' locker room needs. Maybe having the level-headed Stastny instead of Nutcase Price would have benefited these Canadians more in the playoffs over the years.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets
Redraft Pick: Bobby Ryan(2)
Original Pick: Gilbert Brule
Bobby Ryan is a highly talented player who doesn't always perform and sometimes doesn't give it his all. Ryan and Nash would be a dynamic duo if they wanted to play on the same line, or they would create real depth at the winger position for the Jackets. Some consider Ryan as a 50-goal talent, though I'm not sure he has the head for it. Columbus is 28th in scoring, which means that Ryan's 30+ goal average would really help out their sputtering offense.

7. Chicago Blackhawks
Redraft Pick: Jonathan Quick(72)
Original Pick: Jack Skille
If the Blackhawks had drafted Quick instead of Skille, we might be talking about two or three Stanley Cups for Chicago. Quick has been solid over his career, but has become an absolute stalwart in net the last two years. Right now Quick has a 1.92 GAA and a silly .930 save percentage. If the Blackhawks had Quick they wouldn't have wasted money on Ray Emery and had to call up the overwhelmed Corey Crawford. Despite the Stanley Cup victory a few years ago, this bust pick might have costed them more serious success. Quick might just take over Miller as the USA's goaltender in 2014.

8. San Jose Sharks
Redraft Pick: Kris Letang(62)
Original Pick: Devin Setoguchi
Kris Letang has truly come into his own as one of the best in the game. He's a move the puck defensemen who makes very few mistakes. Last year he put up a sensational campaign of 50 pts and a +15 rating. Letang would fortify an already strong D corp and make a phenomenal pairing with Dan Boyle who fancies himself a lot of points as well. Setoguchi, the Sharks original pick, has been in and out of the lineup his whole career with injuries and while he has showed promise, Letang is a much more formidable pick here.

9. Ottawa Senators
Redraft Pick: Keith Yandle(105)
Original Pick: Brian Lee
Yandle is one of the premier offensive defensemen in the league and is a huge reason for the Coyotes success over the last few years. Yandle would team up nicely with the budding star defensmen Erik Karlsson and create a great D pair. The Senators rank 24th in GAA, though they are currently 7th in the East. Yandle would definitely create some depth on the blue line and add even more firepower to one of the league's best offense. Brian Lee has been in and out of the AHL and hasn't yet found his game in the NHL.

10. Vancouver Canucks
Redraft Pick: T.J. Oshie(24)
Original Pick: Luc Bourdon
The Vancouver Canucks are already an elite team in the NHL, adding Oshie instead of Bourdon would have been a major upgrade to their scoring depth. I'm not sure Oshie could crack the Canucks second line, but he would be surely be a threat on the third line. The North Dakota product is a pure energy player, who has sweet hands and is a consistent 20 goal scorer. Oshie has showed some immaturity on and off the ice, but I think we'll see his true colors this playoffs. The Canucks aren't killing themselves for not drafting Oshie here, but it definitely would've added fuel to an already burning fire.

11. Los Angeles Kings
Redraft Pick: Jack Johnson(3)
Original Pick: Anze Kopitar
Well the Kings knew what was good with both of these players, getting a steal with Kopitar at the 11th pick and acquiring Johnson for a fading Eric Belanger and a lesser defensemen in Tim Gleason. These two players are a big reason to why the L.A. Kings are no longer the laughing stock of the Western Conference.

12. New York Rangers
Redraft Pick: James Neal(33)
Original Pick: Marc Staal
James Neal had been a solid NHLer for the first three years of his career, but this year he has exploded. Neal has 80 points and though it's 100% because of Evgeni Malkin's phenomenal season, his offense would definitely help out a Rangers squad contending for a title. Neal would fit in perfectly on the Callahan and Dubinsky line. Unfortunately not being able to draft Marc Staal might seriously hurt their defensive prowess, but at least they'd be a bit more exciting to watch.

13. Buffalo Sabres
Redraft Pick: Mason Raymond(51)
Original Pick: Marek Zagrapan 
Raymond hasn't put up the greatest scoring seasons, but that's mostly because of his relegation to third and fourth lines on the scoring heavy Vancouver Canucks. Raymond's soft hands would fit perfectly with Derek Roy or Tyler Ennis at center for the Sabres. Marek Zagrapan on the other hand, had his try in the NHL and has proven that he is just not worthy of an NHL roster spot. The Sabres could really use a high IQ two-way forward like Raymond.

14. Washington Capitals
Redraft Pick: Niklas Hjalmarsson(108)
Original Pick: Sasha Pokulok 
The Washington Capitals always need stay at home defensemen and this guy is exactly what they need. I think he would be a perfect fit with the run-and-gun happy Mike Green. Hjalmarsson isn't going to blow you away with his stats but he works hard and brings a great attitude to the game. Attitude problems have been one of the Capitals biggest downfalls, leading them to disappointing early playoff exits. Sasha Pokulok, their original pick hasn't even touched the NHL ice let alone played on it.