RealGM Hockey: Between The Pipes - Be The GM: Matt Duchene Vs. Ryan Kesler

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Be The GM: Matt Duchene Vs. Ryan Kesler

Authored by Nick Obergan - 16th December, 2011 - 10:10 am

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The final matchup of the fifth week of our Be A GM series features two highly-coveted centers, one still on his rookie contract, one in his prime.

Why Matt Duchene Is a Franchise Player

Duchene was the third overall pick in 2009 and looks every bit the sure-fire All-Star that first overall pick John Tavares has become. He was a Calder candidate as a rookie when he put up 24-31-55, and improved on all of those numbers as a sophomore last season (27-40-67), earning a trip to his first All-Star Game in the process.

Duchene is extremely fast, and ESPN writer and hockey expert John Buccigross believes Duchene to have the best feet in all of hockey (I am sure that matters in positioning, stop and start time, etc.). And do not let his slow start to this year fool you, as for some reason him and his coach do not jive; Duchene is the type of No. 1 center every team wants to build around.

Why Ryan Kesler Is a Franchise Player

The 27-year-old Kesler is coming off his best season as a pro. The veteran played in his first All-Star Game, scored a career-high 41 goals (never before had he topped 30) and 73 points (career high is 75), and won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward in the league. While that award is often skewed by offense, there is no doubt Kesler is among the top-5 defensive forwards in the NHL.

Kesler is a No. 1 or 2 center on any team in the league, plays close to twenty minutes a night, and his leadership and two-way hockey are natural traits. He was a key cog on the team that had the best regular season last year, and that made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.

-- Nick is an NHL Feature Writer for RealGM. You can reach him by email nick.obergan@realgm.com or on twitter @NickObergan.

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