07 Centers? (Rankings)

[Cush]

How would you rate the centers for the 07 Draft, in terms of Two-way ability, playmaking and goal scoring? And how do they compare with the past couple of drafts?

thanks

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[hawksfan50]

Goal Scoring: #1 Kyle Turris #2 Joakim Andersson #3 Lars Eller

Play-making: #1 Sam Gagner #2 Lars Eller #3 Kyle Turris #4 Logan Couture

2-wAy: #1 Joakim Andersson #2 Kyle Turris #3 Sam Gagner #4 Lars Eller


Speed: #1 Lars Eller #2 Angelo Esposito #3 Kyle Turris #4 Gagner

Shot: (overall =selection/release/accuracy/fastest):#1 Turris # 2 Couture #3 Eller

Shot (fastest): #1 Kevin Veilleux (98mph) #2 Logan Couture #3 Turris


Vision/hockey sense: #1 Turris #2 Gagner #3 Andersson #4 Logan Couture

Shot blocker: #1 Couture

Hitting: #1 Couture #2 Esposito

Puck Control : #1 Gagner #2 Eller #3 Turris

Digging pucks out of the corners/boards: #1 Couture #2 Esposito --though possibly
Veilleux may turn out the best ofthe bunch with his size ...


Biggest flaws/need to improve:

Couture=skating
Andersson=Skating
Esposito = consistent intensity + hockey sense
Eller= not sure if there are any=perhaps more "edginess"...
Turris=needs to fill out +get more strength
Gagner: Balance--he can get knocked around at times...
Veilleux= with that huge size needs to be physicall all of the time ...


Note: Couture's assessment I have based a lot on last year when he played in good health...this year has been down,up down due to his mono before the start of the year...so it is hard to judge him solely on this year's play as a result.....after sitting out the first month and a half due to the mono--he was slow to play well until December--when he showed great form and looked like he was fulfilling the promise we all thought he had last season--but there was a relapse into lethargic play again in Jan and so far in Feb. --and now he hurt his knee so he is out of Ottawa's lineup last ame and who knows how long?

 

[chaosrevolver]

Cameron could be considered for faceoffs and speed

 

[Boocock]

Great analysis hawksfan50. Do you have stuff on stay-at-home defenseman that are going to be available in the 15-25 range?

 

[timlap]

Cameron could be considered for faceoffs and speed

Bryan or Randy?

 

[JEI]

Eller I think is slated for 2nd round? Whoever gets him is getting a very solid player.

 

[BlueJays]

WOW, according to Hawksfan50, Turris is a LOCK to be the top centre chosen in this draft as he tops the charts in almost every one of the categories he provides rankings for!

You obviously weren't at the intrasquad games for the Team Canada Under 18 camp last July or else you would rank Couture and Gagner ahead of Turris in many of those categories, including playmaking, hockey sense, vision, 2-way play, and face-offs (which you forgot to mention).

That was where those 3 were last on the ice together and where real accurate comparisons could be made. Prior to then it was the Under 17 tournament last year. It can be argued that since then those three have either progressed as Gagner surely has, or stalled as Couture has as most expected due to his untimely and unfortunate sickness/injuries.

With Turris playing in the comparatively-speaking watered-down BCJHL, it is bewildering how you can confidently rank him at the top of almost every category over centres who are excelling in certain areas of the game in the CHL.
Many of us like certain players, for example I like Couture, others like Gagner, and obviously you really like Turris because your posts always mention him & most favourably compare him to others, but that's your opinion.