Do you remember when the Colorado Avalanche drafted forward Alex Tanguay? He was their 12-overall draft pick in 1998. At the time, he was the highest-ever draft pick Colorado had ever had. The Avalanche have since gone through some Dark Ages and have even had a first-overall draft pick.
In any case, at the time Tanguay was seen much as Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog are seen — as a core young forward.
Alex Tanguay as a Colorado Avalanche
Alex Tanguay served that young core well.