AAA 2010 Line-Up Assassinations

[MadArcand]

Johnstown Jets

Managers: DaveG and Tony D
Coach: Bill Dineen

Petr Nedved - Martin Straka - Darcy Tucker
Geoff Sanderson - Andrew Cassels - Jeff O'Neill
Christian Ruuttu - Mark Johnson - Eddie Wares
Dave Reid - Radek Bonk - Wayne Presley
Bryan Mullen, Aarne Honkavaara

Anders Eldebrink - Keith Brown
Tom Kurvers - Dana Murzyn
Hal Laycoe - Grant Ledyard
Shawn Chambers

Ilya Bryzgalov
Gilles Meloche​

Power Play 1: Petr Nedved - Martin Straka - Mark Johnson - Tom Kurvers - Eddie Wares
Power Play 2: Geoff Sanderson - Andrew Cassels - Jeff O'Neill - Anders Eldebrink - Keith Brown

Penalty Kill 1: Dave Reid - Christian Ruuttu - Hal Laycoe - Grant Ledyard
Penalty Kill 2: Andrew Cassels - Wayne Presley - Anders Eldebrink - Keith Brown

First thing that comes to mind - you certainly managed to grab a lot of guys I wanted before the draft, such as your coach and whole 2nd line.

Second thing that comes to mind - I'm not a big fan of your 1st line at all. Nedved was mostly C, Straka was often enough LW. I'd switch them. Tucker gives the line much needed grit, but his offensive game is very sub-par. Nedved is rather flaky scorer. Straka will have to be the consistent leader on this line - but here arises the question of how much of Straka has been Jagr's doing? His 9 best seasons were all with Jagr on his line. And what's left beyond those seasons isn't really worth mentioning...

On the contrary, I like your second line a lot. It has ton of speed and scoring on the wings. It has playmaking center. Both Cassels and Sanderson can play responsible two-way hockey (albeit Sanderson's two way play came about only once his offensive years were largely behind him). O'Neill can play with a nasty streak.

Don't know much about 2/3rds of your 3rd line, but let's focus on Ruuttu. A very solid performer in regular season, but a playoff disappearance act with few equals. Plus, he's out of position.

Reid is another player I had shortlisted (I took Pellerin over him). The whole line is excellent defensively while possessing a bit of offense too.

Very non-descript defense. Kurvers and Murzyn are fine guys, but how big roles are they used to play? I'd need to check, but I don't think Murzyn was really top-4 most of his career, for example. I like Chambers, though.

Goaltending is quite strong, as is coaching. Mediocre PK in spite of Reid and Presley.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

how much of Straka has been Jagr's doing? His 9 best seasons were all with Jagr on his line. And what's left beyond those seasons isn't really worth mentioning...

I'm pretty sure that in Straka's best season (95 points in 2000-01), the Penguins regularly used a Straka - undrafted - Kovalev line. Jagr had a rotating series of linemates, but it was Mario Lemieux after he came back.

I forgot their lines in 98-99 (when Straka scored 83 points), but I'm pretty sure Jagr played with two total scrubs at even strength.

Straka did probably play a lot with Jagr on the PP (I remember Straka often played the point).

He definitely played with Jagr during his Rangers years.

 

[DaveG]

I'm pretty sure that in Straka's best season (95 points in 2000-01), the Penguins regularly used a Straka - undrafted - Kovalev line. Jagr had a rotating series of linemates, but it was Mario Lemieux after he came back.

I forgot their lines in 98-99 (when Straka scored 83 points), but I'm pretty sure Jagr played with two total scrubs at even strength.

Straka did probably play a lot with Jagr on the PP (I remember Straka often played the point).

He definitely played with Jagr during his Rangers years.

You are right indeed. Here's the paragraph that I included in his writeup that covers it:

Straka's finest season may have been the 2000-01 campaign when he finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the league's scoring race with 95 points with teammate Alex Kovalev and Boston's Jason Allison. With Mario Lemieux returning from retirement and being teamed with Jagr and ******* on the team's first line, Straka was partnered with Kovalev and ******* on one of the franchises' more underrated line combinations of all time. Straka also had two pretty big goals in the 2001 postseason for the Penguins. After stealing the puck off former Capitals defenseman Sergei Gonchar, he scored the winning goal of a 4-3 series-clinching overtime win against Washington in the first round. In the next round, he also scored the winning goal in overtime of a 3-2 win in Game 6 against the Sabres. That goal staved off elimination and allowed the Penguins to claim that series in Game 7. Statiscally, Straka is one of the Penguins all-time greats in the postseason. His 46 career points with the Penguins in the postseason is sixth most in the franchise's history.

Kindof surprised that guy remained undrafted in this draft. Maybe I'm just looking at things with a bit too much of a modern bias but he'd be a good fit for a lot of teams as a #3 centerman if they want an offense oriented 3rd line. Possible candidate for a AA draft first liner for sure.

 

[MadArcand]

I'm pretty sure that in Straka's best season (95 points in 2000-01), the Penguins regularly used a Straka - undrafted - Kovalev line. Jagr had a rotating series of linemates, but it was Mario Lemieux after he came back.

I forgot their lines in 98-99 (when Straka scored 83 points), but I'm pretty sure Jagr played with two total scrubs at even strength.

Straka did probably play a lot with Jagr on the PP (I remember Straka often played the point).

He definitely played with Jagr during his Rangers years.

You're probably right on 2000-01.

98-99 he almost certainly played with Jagr and <undrafted, but hardly scrub>. The three of them are far and away ahead of rest of the forwards in +/- (with similar numbers there) while playing similar minutes.

 

[seventieslord]

I will however consider benching Kea - Weinrich can fill the 2nd PK role well enough, and would help the PP by taking a bit of load off Maciver. I'd like to hear more opinions on this though.

Weinrich over Kea, Definitely.

 

[seventieslord]

Here is my lineup, complete with links to completed bios, the rest of which I am working hard on.

I wouldn't mind getting a couple of reviews; however, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if no one took the time, because I probably won't. Apathetic? No, not at all. But this period of the draft is always much, much too short for my liking, and in this very limited period of time, I'm much more interested in the long-term effects of learning about my players and in turn teaching you all about them, than I am in the short-term effects of hearing what you all think about a lineup that isn't fully bio'd yet, and me doing the same for some of you.

Regina Pat Canadians

Martin Havlat - Jason Allison - Scott Mellanby (A)
Murray Craven - Bill Carson - Alexander Golikov
Dave Tippett - Peter Zezel - Mike Murphy (C)
Dutch Hiller - Pete Stemkowski - Howie Meeker

Jack Ruttan (A) - Randy Manery
Bob Plager - Evgeni Paladiev
Bill Juzda - Vladimir Malakhov

Jiří Králík
Felix Potvin

Coach: Terry Crisp
Associate Coach: John Muckler

Spares: Gary Sargent, D, John Mayasich, C/D

​

PP1: Havlat-Anderson-Mellanby-Ruttan-Malakhov
PP2: Craven-Carson-Golikov-Manery-Malakhov
PK1: Zezel-Tippett-Manery-Ruttan
PK2: Craven-Murphy-Paladiev-Juzda

1939 or earlier - Carson, Ruttan, Hiller
1940 to 1965 - Juzda, Meeker, Stemkowski, Plager
1966 to 1979 - Paladiev, Golikov, Crisp, Muckler, Králík, Manery, Murphy, Sargent
1980 to 1993 - Mellanby, Craven, Zezel, Potvin, Malakhov, Tippett
1994 to 2010 - Allison, Havlat

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

Johnstown Jets

Managers: DaveG and Tony D
Coach: Bill Dineen

Petr Nedved - Martin Straka - Darcy Tucker
Geoff Sanderson - Andrew Cassels - Jeff O'Neill
Christian Ruuttu - Mark Johnson - Eddie Wares
Dave Reid - Radek Bonk - Wayne Presley
Bryan Mullen, Aarne Honkavaara

Anders Eldebrink - Keith Brown
Tom Kurvers - Dana Murzyn
Hal Laycoe - Grant Ledyard
Shawn Chambers

Ilya Bryzgalov
Gilles Meloche​

Power Play 1: Petr Nedved - Martin Straka - Mark Johnson - Tom Kurvers - Eddie Wares
Power Play 2: Geoff Sanderson - Andrew Cassels - Jeff O'Neill - Anders Eldebrink - Keith Brown

Penalty Kill 1: Dave Reid - Christian Ruuttu - Hal Laycoe - Grant Ledyard
Penalty Kill 2: Andrew Cassels - Wayne Presley - Anders Eldebrink - Keith Brown

I can't help but think Straka played LW mostly and Nedved C mostly...

 

[VanIslander]

coach Barry Trotz

Tony Gingras- Mike Walton-Petr Sykora
Yevgeny Mishakov(A)-Art Jackson-Lasse Oksanen
Greg Gilbert-Pelle Eklund-Vlastimil Bubnik
Bep Guidolin-Billy Bell-Paul Holmgren
Jimmy Carson

Curt Giles(C)-Bob Armstrong
Bert Marshall(A)-Jim McKenny
Bill Brydge-Kim Johnsson

Mike Palmateer
Jon Casey​

As I reviewed earlier, the top 6 is heavy on playoff experience and only has questions about whether Gingras brings much needed physicality to that top line (but he's Metis, so probably does) and whether Jackson can handle second line minutes since he only played there during the war years, usually was the 3rd line pivot.

The Bottom-6 has questions of their own. The Bulldogs' third line may score more goals than many second lines in this draft with Eklund's playmaking and Bubnik's Rocket Richard rushes and Gilbert providing the defensive presence to allow the duo to take risks when opportunities arise. But even if Bubnik is just a 1950s Czech big fish in small pond who may or may not struggle against the best in the world in his era, the line will be fine defensively with Eklund an effective penalty killer, so at worst they hold their own.

The 4th line has PIMs on the wing and a defensive specialist in the middle, so obviously an energy line. Holmgren may be too good for this line come the playoffs given his postseason scoring success, and so he might see time with Eklund if Bubnik doesn't erase the question mark concerning level of competition played. In fact, since Gilbert is so playoff experienced, with three cups to boot, a Gilbert-Eklund-Holmgren line has got to be a solid no-doubt contributor to this team in the clutch. Guidolin had some regular season success so he may sub in place of Gilbert when trailing.

Philly's goaltending is a nice contrast between the regular season success starter and the playoff streaky backup. This team could struggle with Oksanen and Bubnik at this level over the long haul, and with Palmateer come playoff time. But with Casey hot, the top-6's playoff experience plus Gilbert, Eklund and Holmgren,... the sky's the limit.

The blueline is the most solid aspect of this team in terms of the regular season. Giles was often the top defender in Minnesota and Armstrong a stalwart in Chicago, both during the high flyin' 80s, so they ought to complement each other well. McKenny is a consistent point producer on the second pairing and Marshall is his stay at home partner. Even the third pairing has Brydge bringing physicality and solid defending alongside the speedy all-situations Johnsson. There are no question marks with this core. They can handle a long season against this level of competition, no problem.

Overall, coach Trotz has a lot to work with, challenged a bit in the regular season in terms of forward line combinations and experience which might mean production issues. Carson might see a lot of ice time as Bell won't help the fourth line provide secondary scoring. If Oksanen or Bubnik falter, Bell can move to right wing and Carson could jump into the line up. Expect Carson to play at least one-third of the regular season games. This team is a seed killer, so if it doesn't win its division it won't mean anything come playoff time. An interesting line-up.

 

[VanIslander]

I'll review Toledo next, in the morning. Then Regina also tomorrow.

Someone assassinate Queen's please.

 

[seventieslord]

I'll just say for now that I also find Philly's defense pretty impressive.

 

[DaveG]

I can't help but think Straka played LW mostly and Nedved C mostly...

Fixed, and added Murzyn to the 2nd PK for the crease clearing presence.

 

[Hedberg]

Queen's University Golden Gaels

coach Jacques Martin

Sergei Shepelev - Billy Barlow - Mac Colville
Nick Libett (A) - Vladimir Golikov - Ulf Dahlen
Randy Burridge - Michal Pivonka - Wildor Larochelle
Dan Maloney - Patrick Sharp - Ken Schinkel
Ron Murphy, Mickey Roach

Chris Phillips (A) - Anton Volchenkov
Sergei Starikov - Igor Stelnov
Frank Eddolls (C) - Igor Romishevsky
Bugsy Watson

Pekka Lindmark
Don Beaupre​

- I'm a big fan of chemistry when it's not dragging down a player (which I think sometimes happens when real-life lines were re-united in the ATD). In this case, I think the familiarity strengthens the defence, making the individuals stronger than the sum of parts
- As a group, the defensive strength of the forwards is very impressive top to bottom. I'd be confident in nearly any one of them killing penalties. You're not going to get a ton of chances against this bunch and the effort necessary to get them will be high
- I'm slightly concerned at the high-end offensive potential of the team. There's great glue guys like Colville, Dahlen, etc, but who are they supporting? Personally, I really like Barlow using the scale that all eras are similar and if Dolly Swift was okay on my MLD team's 2nd line, he should be fine here obviously. Shepelev at his best was tremendous, but how long was he at that level for? If everything clicks, the top line will be one of the deadliest in the league.
- Martin's defensive style is a good type of coach for the group you've assembled. It may have stifled a really good Ottawa team too much, but he should be in his element here.
- Lindmark/Beaupre is a very solid AAA duo
- To sum it up, this will be a frustrating, discipline team that you really don't look forward to playing but in they may be just a bit short on offence to win it all. But, overall, I really like this team.

 

[VanIslander]

As a group, the defensive strength of the forwards is very impressive top to bottom. I'd be confident in nearly any one of them killing penalties. You're not going to get a ton of chances against this bunch and the effort necessary to get them will be high

Indeed, that was the plan, to get defensively responsible players. Martin was the 2nd coach drafted because this squad was designed for him: defense-first dmen and puck controlling two-way forwards. Shepelev and Dahlen won't be on the pk, but most of the others could see some time. Each line is balanced, to get the puck out of our end and to control the puck in the offensive zone.

I'm slightly concerned at the high-end offensive potential of the team. There's great glue guys like Colville, Dahlen, etc, but who are they supporting? Personally, I really like Barlow.. Shepelev at his best was tremendous, but how long was he at that level for? If everything clicks, the top line will be one of the deadliest in the league.

Dahlen is more than a glue guy, he's a 300+ NHL goal scorer with 10+ powerplay goals in 5 of his first 7 seasons and 4 or more game winners in 9 of his seasons. At the AAA level he's a solid goal scorer who brings crease and corner work to boot.

How long was Shepelev on top? Shepelev was 5 years on top, 1980-1984, an all-star in the 1981 Canada Cup (hat trick against Canada) and had three assists in a Soviet win over Canada early in the 1984 Canada Cup tourney. He also was top-3 in Soviet scorers in the 1981, 1982 and 1983 world championship golds, and got Olympic gold in 1984.

V. Golikov was also 5 years on top, 1978-1982, top-3 in Soviet league scoring in 1978, then top-3 in world championship gold medal scoring for the Soviets in 1978, 1979, 1981, and 4th in 1982. 1979 Challenger Cup first game co-MVP with Lafleur and scored the GWG in the second game against the NHL's best in that series! he scored an insurance goal in the 1981 Canada Cup win over Canada.

These two Soviets have shined against the NHL's best and ought to be able to produce on par with other scoring line players in the AAA.

So, Barlow, Dahlen, Shepelev, Golikov are all gonna produce.

Plus on the 3rd line, Pivonka is a skilled passer in addition to physical checker, so he'll get the puck to Larochelle, who was 2nd, 4th, 4th, 4th in Habs goals his best four seasons there, also tied for 1st in assists another season in Montreal, and 4th in Chicago scoring later on. Burridge had five 20+ goal seasons so he will be a secondary scorer as well.

On the 4th line, Schinkel is not just a quality checker but also was 3rd, 1st, 2nd in team scoring his first three years in Pittsburgh. Maloney had six 40+ point seasons including two 66 point years. Sharp has had four consecutive 20+ goal seasons and ought to be a secondary scorer too.

Queen's is a team deep in secondary scorers. In fact, there are no defensive-only forwards (e.g., no Bell, Zamuner, Laperriere, Reid, Jenkins) on the squad. Every Queen's forward is expected to be able to handle the puck, to maintain possession in the offensive zone, as per coach Martin's strategy.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

London Bandits

Managers: TheDevilMadeMe & Dreakmur

Coach: Emile "The Cat" Francis

Red Green - Guy Chouinard - Jiri Lala
Danny Lewicki - Mike Bullard - Alexander Skvortsov
Jörgen Pettersson- Michal Handzus - Steve Sullivan
Colin Patterson - Todd Marchant - Randy McKay (A)
Olli Jokinen, Rob Zamuner


Alexei Zhitnik (A) - Bob Trapp
Mark Streit (C) - Percy Traub
Arthur Moore - Marek Zidlicky
Joel Quenneville

Reggie Lemelin
Niklas Backstrom​

PP1: Red Green - Mike Bullard - Jiri Lala - Mark Streit - Guy Chouinard
PP2: Danny Lewicki - Steve Sullivan - Randy McKay - Alexei Zhitnik - Marek Zidlicky

PK1: Todd Marchant - Colin Patterson - Alexei Zhitnik - Bob Trapp
PK2: Michal Handzus - Jörgen Pettersson - Arthur Moore - Percy Traub
PK3: Steve Sullivan - Danny Lewicki - Alexei Zhitnik - Bob Trapp

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Philadelphia Bulldogs
Coach: Barry Trotz

Tony Gingras- Mike Walton-Petr Sykora
Yevgeny Mishakov(A)-Art Jackson-Lasse Oksanen
Greg Gilbert-Pelle Eklund-Vlastimil Bubnik
Bep Guidolin-Billy Bell-Paul Holmgren
Jimmy Carson

Curt Giles(C)-Bob Armstrong
Bert Marshall(A)-Jim McKenny
Bill Brydge-Kim Johnsson

Mike Palmateer
Jon Casey​

1939 or earlier-Gingras
1940 to 1965-Armstrong
1966 to 1979-Palmateer
1980 to 1993-Eklund
1994 to 2010-Sykora

PP1

Gingras-Walton-Sykora
McKenny-Eklund

PP2

Oksanen-Jackson-Bubnik
Brydge-Johnsson

PK1

Bell-Gilbert
Giles-Marshall

PK2

Mishakov-Eklund
Armstrong-Brydge

PK3

Jackson-Holmgren
McKenny-Johnsson

Whenever I see Sykora, my first thought is "product of Elias," but then I remember that he was a very good offensive player before Elias was anything special. Still though, the guy is really soft and always needed a big tough player on his line (first Bobby Holik, then Jason Arnott) to produce. Will his linemates open up enough space for Petr to use his speed and blistering shot?

Jackson is a good two-way player, probably best for a third line, but solid if you want your second line to be better on both sides of the ice. The Russian is a decent scorer and apparently doesn't mind dropping the gloves. I don't know what I think of Oksanen, because I have no idea how to put accomplishments in the Finnish leagues in context.

Eklund is another good two-way center and Gilbert is a good defensive player with a winning pedigree. Bubnik will probably be able to score some goals at this level of competition.

Guidolin and Bell seem like good bottom 6 forwards. Holmgrem is slumming it on a 4th line, though he seems to have the intangibles to make it work.

Excellent shut down first pair. Gillies can move the puck out of trouble, but neither guy provides much offensive support.

McKenny is a great offensive defenseman at this level and his partner is a rock who isn't devoid of puck skills, himself.

Brydge seems good all-round. How the hell did we let you get Kim Johnsson as a #6 here? What makes him any worse than any of the bottom pairing guys in the MLD?

Palmateer is one of the best regular season goalies in this. Casey is nothing special in the regular season but had a few really good playoffs and could spell Palmateer if he falters. The compliment each other well.

Trotz is a great regular season coach, unproven in the playoffs.

First PP unit is solid, but just like your first line needs grit, is Gingras (I assume) tough enough to be a net presence?

Same thing with the 2nd unit - who is the net presence?

I would consider moving Holmgrem up front on one of the PP units - he was a tough, clutch scorer who didn't seem to mind taking a beating.

I don't know if he did it elsewhere, but Sykora played the point on the NJ PP for much of 2001-02, utilizing his big shot. It's probably an option for you.

PK is solid, but I don't know if McKenny belongs there.

 

[BillyShoe1721]

Whenever I see Sykora, my first thought is "product of Elias," but then I remember that he was a very good offensive player before Elias was anything special. Still though, the guy is really soft and always needed a big tough player on his line (first Bobby Holik, then Jason Arnott) to produce. Will his linemates open up enough space for Petr to use his speed and blistering shot?

Jackson is a good two-way player, probably best for a third line, but solid if you want your second line to be better on both sides of the ice. The Russian is a decent scorer and apparently doesn't mind dropping the gloves. I don't know what I think of Oksanen, because I have no idea how to put accomplishments in the Finnish leagues in context.

Eklund is another good two-way center and Gilbert is a good defensive player with a winning pedigree. Bubnik will probably be able to score some goals at this level of competition.

Guidolin and Bell seem like good bottom 6 forwards. Holmgrem is slumming it on a 4th line, though he seems to have the intangibles to make it work.

Excellent shut down first pair. Gillies can move the puck out of trouble, but neither guy provides much offensive support.

McKenny is a great offensive defenseman at this level and his partner is a rock who isn't devoid of puck skills, himself.

Brydge seems good all-round. How the hell did we let you get Kim Johnsson as a #6 here? What makes him any worse than any of the bottom pairing guys in the MLD?

Palmateer is one of the best regular season goalies in this. Casey is nothing special in the regular season but had a few really good playoffs and could spell Palmateer if he falters. The compliment each other well.

Trotz is a great regular season coach, unproven in the playoffs.

First PP unit is solid, but just like your first line needs grit, is Gingras (I assume) tough enough to be a net presence?

Same thing with the 2nd unit - who is the net presence?

I would consider moving Holmgrem up front on one of the PP units - he was a tough, clutch scorer who didn't seem to mind taking a beating.

I don't know if he did it elsewhere, but Sykora played the point on the NJ PP for much of 2001-02, utilizing his big shot. It's probably an option for you.

PK is solid, but I don't know if McKenny belongs there.

Not all that much that I can disagree with. One thing, would it be a better idea to switch Eklund and Jackson? Jackson has the better finishes, but has an asterisk attached to them. Eklund is a more talented player, but a combination of playing in an extremely high scoring era and sort of underachieving considering how talented he was didn't allow him to have the top 10s.

I'm going to attempt to dig up some more stuff on Gingras and Oksanen to justify their position in my top 6. Good power forwards are almost non-existent in this draft, hence the lacking of grit in my top 6.

I'll probably put Armstrong on the 3rd PK unit with Johnsson and remove McKenny. I'm not sure why nobody picked Johnsson, he's got great TOI finishes on a very good early 2000s Philadelphia team, and a couple good point finishes.

I think Gingras can do the dirty work in front of the net and in the corners, and I may have to take your suggestion on Holmgren, I'll think it over. I appreciate the review.

 

[seventieslord]

I'm not sure why Eklund is getting so much credit as a two-way player here...

 

[BillyShoe1721]

Gingras:

Tony Gingras, one of the most colorful hockey players of Winnipeg hockey history and among the first French-Canadian stars of the game...

Gingras was an outstanding right winger with Winnipeg Victorias in 3 invasions of Montreal at the turn of the century.

Determination of the Winnipegers...

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAIBAJ&pg=2691,3659587&dq=tony+gingras&hl=en

The sturdy French Canadian played in Stanley-Cup competition for six years as right-winger for Winnipeg Victorias, 1901 world champions. He was even a "colorful" performer in 1888.

Gingras was in the thick of it then as they fought for the puck, made from a lacrosse ball.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAAIBAJ&pg=4084,6664889&dq=tony+gingras&hl=en

for him to be classed in the same league, along with his matinee idol left winger, Tony Gingras. The fast ice made the game even rougher, with players colliding at full steam, and "nearly all suffered injuries."

http://www.google.com/search?q=tony...7lweVoonpCA&start=10&sa=N&fp=9114c2c782809519

the Winnipeg ace, Tony Gingras

http://www.google.com/search?q=tony...7lweVoonpCA&start=10&sa=N&fp=9114c2c782809519

To his right was the dazzling Tony Gingras, a honey of a skater with the finesse to match almost any man in hockey.

http://www.google.com/search?q=tony...=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=9114c2c782809519

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

The fast ice made the game even rougher, with players colliding at full steam, and "nearly all suffered injuries."

This quote made me laugh.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I'm not sure why Eklund is getting so much credit as a two-way player here...

I skimmed his profile and found:

Though he never fit the Flyers stereotype, even Keenan could not deny Eklund's natural talents. Perhaps the most talented of all Flyers players (quite a claim considering the likes of Brian Propp and Mark Howe were around), Eklund was an elegant skater and was a surprisingly good defensive center and would become a good penalty killer. But playmaking was his forte.

Also another quote about his good PKing ability.

Perhaps Billy should switch Eklund and Jackson?

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Queen's University Golden Gaels

coach Jacques Martin

Sergei Shepelev - Billy Barlow - Mac Colville
Nick Libett (A) - Vladimir Golikov - Ulf Dahlen
Randy Burridge - Michal Pivonka - Wildor Larochelle
Dan Maloney - Patrick Sharp - Ken Schinkel
Ron Murphy, Mickey Roach

Chris Phillips (A) - Anton Volchenkov
Sergei Starikov - Igor Stelnov
Frank Eddolls (C) - Igor Romishevsky
Bugsy Watson

Pekka Lindmark
Don Beaupre​

First off, I could give a more detailed review if you linked their bios to your roster post. That aside...

I see a team loaded with two-way puck-possession type forwards, who are a great fit for Jacques Martin's defensive-minded system. These guys can sit back in a trapping defense until they force a turnover, then hold onto the puck for a long time themselves. My only concern is that other than Shepelev (for a few short years only), they seem to be lacking in the gamebreaking offense that teams usually need in the playoffs.

Speaking of Martin, I had identified him as the best modern coach available before this draft. Definitely the best defensive-minded coach, and this team is a good fit for him.

Phillips really shouldn't have slipped past the MLD. He was on my radar for a long time, but there kept being "just one guy" I wanted more. When you said you wanted to pick two guys together, I actually wondered if you meant Phillips and Volchenkov. Jarek and I briefly thought about using them as our bottom pair in the MLD. They won't provide you with much offense, but should PK well together. Volchenkov on his own, is probably a bottom pairing guy at this level, but has good chemistry with Phillips. Those guys were great together in the 2007 playoff run.

Lindmark is a very good goalie at this level; likely one of the better ones. I would love to see a more detailed comparison with Kralik - too bad you and 70s are in different divisions. Beaupre is an ok backup - nothing special.

You didn't make special teams, but judging from your personal, I'd guess that you should have a very good PK and mediocre PP.

 

[seventieslord]

Who's Chapman?

I'll have to check the scouting reports on Eklund because they're not shy about saying when someone's even a little bit good defensively. His PK% of 13% is below average for a forward, though. (average would be about 17%) - I do remember reading his profile when researching a different Flyer and it was his finesse skills that the book raved about.

I wish there was more info on Gingras, because what Billy has is pretty weak, no offense, Billy.

 

[seventieslord]

Lindmark is a very good goalie at this level; likely one of the better ones. I would love to see a more detailed comparison with Kralik - too bad you and 70s are in different divisions. Beaupre is an ok backup - nothing special.

Funny you should say that. I was thinking the same thing. Our backups, Potvin and Beaupre, have been compared to death already. I'm delighted with Jiri Kralik and I'd love to put him and Lindmark side by side and see what they've each done.

Two more guys I want to compare side by side - Bugsy Watson and Bob Plager - two guys who are far too easy to dismiss as dime-a-dozen thugs but actually have a lot of redeeming qualities. (Plager is the better player though! )

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Who's Chapman?

I'll have to check the scouting reports on Eklund because they're not shy about saying when someone's even a little bit good defensively. His PK% of 13% is below average for a forward, though. (average would be about 17%) - I do remember reading his profile when researching a different Flyer and it was his finesse skills that the book raved about.

I got Art Chapman and Jackson confused. Oops.

Weird that he has 2 quotes about his PKing ability from 2 different sources. Maybe they just didn't have him PK as often because he was too good offensively to "waste" his talents there? I don't know.

I wish there was more info on Gingras, because what Billy has is pretty weak, no offense, Billy.

I agree. It's enough to show he wasn't exactly soft, but I don't think it's enough to make up for his relatively soft linemates. (Full disclosure - I'm a bit biased against Sykora due to the reasons surrounding his trade from the Devils).

 

[BillyShoe1721]

Who's Chapman?

I'll have to check the scouting reports on Eklund because they're not shy about saying when someone's even a little bit good defensively. His PK% of 13% is below average for a forward, though. (average would be about 17%) - I do remember reading his profile when researching a different Flyer and it was his finesse skills that the book raved about.

I wish there was more info on Gingras, because what Billy has is pretty weak, no offense, Billy.

There's plenty of vague quotes, but nothing direct and specific. All we know is he was a good skater, and had some good puck skills, but it comes with the territory of selecting a player that old. Mike Keenan also hated Pelle Eklund for his first 2 years there, and even after he still wasn't a "Mike Keenan player". His PPGA in his first 3 years (5) pales in comparison to his next 3 (38), and the next 3 years (31).