Burke sold on Tavares as top pick; Hedman fails to impress for Team Sweden
03.01.2009. McGran, Kevin. Toronto Star

 As far as Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke isconcerned, there is no longer any debate over who ought to be the No.1 pick in this summer's NHL draft. It's John Tavares.

"He's proved it at this tournament as far as I'm concerned," said Burke. "He's scoring different goals, power goals, finesse goals, running the power play. He's a special player.

"No debate anymore. Not for me."

The other player in the debate is Swedish blueliner Victor Hedman.

But while Tavares has been Canada's best player at the world junior hockey championship, many believe Hedman is not even Sweden's best defenceman.

That would be Erik Karlsson, an Ottawa Senators draft pick, who has two goals and four assists to lead the Swedish attack. Hedman has two assists.

That may be why Sweden coach Par Marst called out Hedman, saying he needs more from his 6-foot-6 defender, who has drawn comparisons to Chris Pronger, Nicklas Lidstrom and Mattias Ohlund.

"He can play better," said Marst. "He can do better. He should control the puck better, set the other guys up with the good passes, that's the main thing Victor has to do."

Hedman, who has missed most of the season in the Swedish Elite League with a shoulder injury, agrees with his coach.

"I can be better," said Hedman. "I can be more creative with offence. I think I play a good defensive game. It's not every game you can play at your top level."

The Swedes take on Slovakia today in the semifinals.

Hedman's slower-than-expected start at this tournament aside, Marst says the defenceman is the complete package, the kind of player a general manager can build a franchise around.

"Some guys are better than him in certain things, but as a whole package - he's strong, he's a good skater, a good shot - he is at that franchise-player level," said Marst.

Burke said it would be a mistake to take Hedman just because you need help on the blue line.

"Otherwise you pass on a guy who becomes a star," he said. 

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