BC's First Day Winners and Losers (long)

Status
Not open for further replies.
First Day Winners and Losers
Winners:
Anaheim Mighty Ducks – A lot of Ducks fans were praying for A.J. Thelen, but the Ducks chose a much safer defensive prospect in Ladislav Smid with the ninth pick instead. Smid is a very consistent player with great poise. He could use his 6’3†frame better, but perhaps that will come in time. Smid should be a steadying force on the blueline, if he can use his size he could be a Mattias Ohlund type player. Their second round selection, Jordan Smith is a very similar defenseman. Smith is steady and moves well, but doesn’t boast a whole lot of upside. Third round pick Kyle Klubertanz is more of the same, a big defenseman with a good head for the game, Klubertanz is a pretty decent sleeper. Anaheim picked straight to their needs and got decent value.
Grade: B+

Buffalo Sabres – Drew Stafford was a solid choice at thirteen. He’s a real demon on the forecheck and has some offensive tools. Stafford isn’t the most talented guy out there, but he has enough skill to get buy and he’s got the heart of a lion. He was the glue that kept the US team together on their run to the World Junior Championship. Michael Funk is a bit of a project and may have been taken more for his height (6’4â€) than his defensive skills. Andrej Sekera adds to defensive depth, but he isn’t nearly the prospect that fellow Trencin product Andrej Meszaros is.
Grade: B-

Carolina Hurricanes – Andrew Ladd was probably the best player available when the ‘Canes picked at 4th. I don’t know if Ladd was worth trading up to snag, especially considering the fact that a very similar player in Tukonen was available at their original slot. Justin Peters, taken in the second round provides a goaltending prospect should promising Cam Ward falter. Casey Borer is a long shot defensive prospect from the WCHA. I think the ‘Canes would have been better served by staying put and taking either Marek Schwarz or Lauri Tukonen. A solid, but unspectacular showing from the home team.
Grade: B-

Chicago Blackhawks – Chicago did a good job taking the best player available in Cam Barker, despite a good pool of defensive prospects. They followed that up by taking Dave Bolland, Ryan Garlock, Bryan Bickell, and Jakub Sindel in the second round. That second round is nothing short of brilliant. Bolland is an intelligent playmaker who some scouts had as a first rounder. Garlock is a two-way center who had an injury shortened season, but looks to be a reliable guy. Bickell is a big kid who skates very well and has lots of upside. Sindel is a pure sniper, but has been tabbed as soft. All of these selections were great value picks. Adam Berti was taken in the final round of the first day and can be very good when properly motivated.
Grade: A

Colorado Avalanche – Wojtek Wolski fell to the Avs due to legal troubles, but many teams were foolish to pass on the Polish born sniper. The Avs get away with yet another steal. Wolski is very skilled, but needs to add a physical dimension to his game. Second round pick Oreshkovich provides a big body, although he will have to transition from the USHL. The Avs took tiny Denis Parshin in the third round, he has a lot of skill but may never make it because of his size.
Grade: B+


Florida Panthers – I’m sure Florida was happy to see Rostislav Olesz fall to seventh overall. Olesz has a whole lot of talent as a playmaker and enough size to compete in the NHL. Olesz is very solid and should develop into a good two-way player. Some question how well his skills will translate into the NHL and question his ability to produce at the highest level, but I don’t. David Shantz is a good goaltending prospect who had an outstanding post season with Mississauga. Shantz almost single-handedly led the IceDogs to the OHL finals. With Luongo’s emergence as a top goaltender, the Panthers can give him time to develop without a whole lot of pressure. Florida got excellent value with both of these selections.
Grade: B+

Los Angeles Kings – The Kings share award for steal of the day with the Blues. Lauri Tukonen should have been taken in the top five, I have no clue how he was allowed to slip to eleven. He’s a big Finnish forward who has a lot of skill and tons of energy. Tukonen has a skill set very similar to Andrew Ladd’s, which is why I can’t understand how he was available seven slots lower. They also took big longshot prep defenseman Paul Baier. Tukonen was absolute highway robbery, Kings fans should be thrilled. The only thing holding the Kings from a better grade was their lack of picks.
Grade: B+

Minnesota Wild – The Wild took hometown boy A.J. Thelen with the 12th pick overall. The pick may have been motivated by ticket sales, but Thelen was an excellent value selection. Thelen needs a lot of work and hopefully Michigan State is the right environment for him, but he has unlimited potential. Thelen could be a number one defenseman, he has all of the tools offensively and he’s a big kid. The Wild’s second pick was centreman Roman Voloshenko. Voloshenko is an extremely skilled playmaker who was dynamic in international play. Some worry that Voloshenko is too slow of foot, but he was a good risk in the middle of the second round. Plenty of playmaking NHL centremen were chided to improve their skating as junior players.
Grade: B+

Montreal Canadiens – The Canadiens think they got their future captain in Kyle Chipchura. No one thinks Chipchura will be winning any scoring titles, but he does all the little things well and has impeccable character. Players like Chipchura win championships. Montreal needs hardworking defensively responsible players and Chipchura is certainly that. Alexi Yemelin is a decent sleeper out of Russia, although he may be a little undersized for a defenseman.
Grade: B

Nashville Predators – Alexander Radulov has a whole lot of skill. Nashville doesn’t have a whole lot of scorers. That’s why his selection halfway through the first round makes a lot of sense. Radulov has a reputation for being a bit impetuous and perhaps Nashville is not the best environment for him, but he’s too good not to have gone in the top 15. Vaclav Meidl is a mean and nasty Czech forward who moved to North America to showcase his skills. He has a 6’4†frame and has the makings of a very good checking forward in years to come.
Grade: A-

New Jersey Devils – The Devils aren’t afraid to move up when they want a kid and for the second straight year they traded up to get the player they wanted, Travis Zajac. Zajac played for Salmon Arm of the BCHL, but drew scouts’ attention with his impressive play. It’s hard to argue with David Conte, so I won’t. Zajac is a big centre who has a really good feel for the game. Zajac will have to prove himself against better competition when he enrolls at North Dakota next year, but he has a lot of potential. New Jersey didn’t pick again, but I admire their confidence in grabbing the guy they wanted.
Grade: B

Ottawa Senators – Andrej Meszaros is extremely smart. He plays a mistake free game and isn’t shy about sparking the rush. He even represented his country in adult World Championships competition, an unheard of accomplishment, especially from a tier A nation like Slovakia. He may be a bit small, but he’s far from tiny. Ottawa snapped up an excellent opportunity when Meszaros fell into their hands. Kirill Lyamin was a great choice late in the second round. Lyamin is Tjutin junior and has been consistently underrated all year. He’s very solid with a good physical side. Lyamin and Meszaros may even make a good pairing in a few years. Peter Regin was a rare Danish selection. Ottawa did a whole lot with not a whole lot of assets in this draft, pound for pound the best draft of the day.
Grade: A

Pittsburgh Penguins – Malkin was a common sense selection. He’s a top notch prospect and figures to play on a top line. Pittsburgh claimed Johannes Salomonsson in the second round. The Swede is a great value pick with top line upside, but an injury kept him from showcasing his talents and dropped his stock. Salomonsson was being talked about as a top 15 guy prior to this season. AJHL prospect Nik Johnson and high schooler Brian Gifford round out a very good day for the waddlers.
Grade: A

St. Louis Blues – Marek Schwarz? Brilliant! If I was the Blues’ scouting staff, I’d be laughing my butt off right now. They got the best goaltender in the entire draft and made the best pick of the entire third round. Schwarz us a game stealing goaltender who would be every bit as good as Kari Lehtonen and MA Fleury if he handled the puck better. The fact that he slipped out of the top 10, let alone to 17 is simply astounding. Not only was the value absurd, but goaltending was a major need. Second round selection Carl Soderberg is a big sniper who needs a lot of work, but there’s plenty of upside to justify his selection. Third round choice Viktor Alexandrov is a feisty little guy who has a lot of skill. He was rated 8th among Euro skaters by CSB. Blues fans should drink to their scouts tonight.
Grade: A+

San Jose Sharks – Lukas Kaspar was a decent selection. He has plenty of size and skill, but needs to use both better. He could be coached into a very effective sniper, but it will be a long road to the NHL. San Jose continued their tradition of finding sleeper European goalies, selecting German Thomas Griess in the third round. If the past tells us anything, the kid’s a sure all-star.
Grade: B

Washington Capitals – Ovechkin was a no brainer. I don’t think you could get a scout outside of Pittsburgh to say he wasn’t the best player in the draft. Schultz has a lot of size and skill, but needs to be more a of bull in his own zone. If he can develop into a meaner player he will be real good. Mike Green was a fabulous selection late in the first. He should have been gone ten picks ago. Green is the most well balanced defenseman in the class. Chris Bourque is too small for the NHL and should have fallen another round or two, even his famous dad didn’t expect him to go that early. Michal Yunkov is a playmaking specialist, but is boom or bust. Sami Lepisto was a good pick, eventhough he really only had one impressive tournament. He could be a solid defensman.
Grade: A



Losers:
Atlanta Thrashers – The Thrashers made a big splash when they took Slovakian giant Boris Valabik with the tenth pick. Valabik is a boom or bust prospect. Valabik is a less polished version of Zdeno Chara. If he overcomes skating deficiencies and starts to use better judgment, he could become a very nasty opponent and a goalie’s best friend. Second round pick Grant Lewis is an underdeveloped defenseman who will need a lot of seasoning, but he has 3 years at Dartmouth to mature. Third rounder Scott Lehman, another defenseman is not a personal favourite, there are major concerns about his ability to think the game. Atlanta swung for the fences, they could look very foolish in a few years.
Grade: C

Boston Bruins – Boston didn’t have a whole lot to work with, drafting only twice at the bottom of the second round. They took a pair of undersized Eastern Europeans with their consecutive picks. Martins Karsums, their second selection is a crafty Latvian winger who made good progress in the Q this season. David Krejci was an unknown until the WU18 where he tallied a point per game. Boston really couldn’t do much, but didn’t do terribly.
Grade: C-

Calgary Flames – One of the joys of the draft last year was watching Darryl Sutter smother defenseman Dion Phaenuf and run off the stage like he’d stolen something. Sutter’s first selection this year was Kris Chucko, Travis Zajac’s teammate at Salmon Arm. Chuko may have been a reach, but he’s the kind of tough two-way player that Sutter likes. Trading down was a wise move. Dustin Boyd is a solid player, but I don’t know if he has what it takes to make it. Brandon Prust, the London Knight’s centreman is not a barnburner either, but that’s not Sutter’s style. After an incredible draft last year, the Flames disappointed me a little.
Grade: C-

Columbus Bluejackets – The Bluejackets failed to address their needs or get good value from their first pick when they traded down to select Alexandre Picard. Picard is a good player, who should add much needed scoring. However, there were several good defensemen available that would have filled a hole on the Bluejackets’ extremely thin blueline. If they were going to select a forward, they would have been better off staying out at #4 and taking Ladd, Olesz, or Tukonen. Their second round selections Adam Pineault and Kyle Wharton couldn’t be more different. Pineault was a top prospect last season, but failed to earn ice time with Boston College. Pineault has skill to burn and could be a big scorer, but has yet to put anything together. Wharton is a solid defenseman who should have little difficulty adjusting to the NHL. Owen Sound goaltender Dan Lacosta was their third round selection.
Grade: C+

Dallas Stars – Dallas traded down twice from 20 to 22 and then to 28 and still got the player they wanted all along in Marc Fistric. Fistric might have been a reach, but he’s a big mean defenseman who can really lay a hit on someone. Fistric is completely one dimensional, which is why he isn’t the most inventive selection. They would have been better off staying put and taking either Andrej Meszaros or Mike Green to replace the aging Sergei Zubov. Johan Fransson, taken 34th overall is that kind of player, but he’s not nearly as well thought of as Green and Meszaros. Raymond Sawada projects to be a defensive forward, he’s a hard worker and could develop into a big hitter. Niklas Grossman is a huge Swedish defenseman who hasn’t really played against high level competition, a major project.
Grade: C+

Detroit Red Wings – Their first pick was 97th overall, so there was not a whole lot of room for creativity. Their selection, Johan Franzen is a big Swede who can play along the wing. The Wings hope they have seen the second coming of Tomas Holmstrom, but I’m not sold. The Wings got less out of this draft than anyone, not great for a team that’s getting so long in the tooth.
Grade: D

Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers usually surprise people at the draft each year, this year’s first selection was no exception. The Oilers took 6’5†goaltender Devan Dubnyk from Kamloops of the WHL over Czech keeper Marek Schwarz. Dubnyk can certainly fill the net, but his size doesn’t allow for great recovery when he’s caught out of position. The key to his game will have to be discipline. The decision to take Dubnyk rattled me and frankly I think it was downright stupid. Time will tell whether Kevin Lowe made the right choice in goaltenders. Roman Teslyuk was a solid choice and adds to Edmonton’s considerable defensive prospect. Geoff Paukovich was a good risk in the second round. He’s a massive winger.
Grade: D-

New York Islanders – I think Mike Millbury wanted Blake Wheeler (he said before the draft that he was going to make a big splash with an unexpected selection) and was preempted when Phoenix took him in the top five. Instead he took Petteri Nokelainen, a solid forward who has been a pesky defender in Finland. Nokelainen has some scoring potential as well. Sergei Ogordnikov adds to the European invasion.
Grade: C+

New York Rangers – The Rangers took Alvaro Montoya far too early for my liking. Hopefully they won’t ruin him by throwing him to the wolves like they did with Dan Blackburn. A lot of scouts like Montoya more than I do, but not many had him sixth or better. They should have taken Lauri Tukonen. Their second pick first round pick, Lauri Korpikoski has been a little blue and white rocket the last year. He’s gone from unknown to hot commodity as fast as anyone in recent memory. He would not have been available had the Rangers stayed put at 24. Bruce Graham, taken in the second round is a behemoth who needs to assert himself more often. Graham was a good selection. Zdenek Bahensky was also a good pickup. Bahnesky is a sniper who needs some time in North America to get more physical. Dane Byers has some tools, but he doesn’t think the game very well. The Rangers finally have some prospects, but I think they could have done much better.
Grade: C+

Philadelphia Flyers – The Flyers only picked once on the first day and took someone I’ve never even heard of. That about says it.
Grade: wtf

Phoenix Coyotes – Phoenix obviously saw something in Blake Wheeler that a lot of other scouting organizations didn’t. Wheeler isn’t a bad selection, but The Coyotes had trading partners trying to get the fifth pick in order to select goaltender Alvaro Montoya and they could have picked up some assets and still gotten Wheeler in the teens. Wheeler is a towering forward, but Phoenix did not take advantage of their assets. Enver Lisin was taken in the second round. Lisin is a speedy Russian who has a lot of potential. Phoenix did well to get him at 50, his selection improves their grade substantially.
Grade: C+

Tampa Bay Lightning – I don’t believe Jay Feaster when he says Andy Rogers was rated sixth on Tampa’s draft board. Still, Rogers is a good prospect. He has the hardest shot in the draft class and is a good skater. He would not have been on the board for much longer had Tampa chosen someone else. Second round pick Mark Tobin is a huge winger who is a bit of a sleeper. He was a good value pick late in the second.
Grade:C+

Toronto Maple Leafs – Justin Pogge was their only selection. He’s an athletic goalie with some upside, but he’s not a sure bet to do anything. Not a great day’s catch.
Grade: D

Vancouver Canucks – Cory Schneider is an unproven goaltender who has never faced any sort of competition. A lot scouts say that he has skating flaws. However he interviews well, so he’s a perfectly good first round selection. Schneider is years and years off if he ever cracks an NHL line up. Boston College is a good program, hopefully four years there will turn him into a player who merits first round acclaim.
Grade: C-
 

Fighter

Registered User
Jan 1, 2004
11,687
902
Trieste, Italy
I really like you analisys on the Ducks selection. You have missed Brent, which makes those selection even better. :D

Also you have missed Schremp to the Oilers. I hate that kid, but at 25th or so it's a steal.

Good job! :handclap:
 

Sotnos

Registered User
Jul 8, 2002
10,885
1
Not here
www.boltprospects.com
BrooklynCanuck said:
Tampa Bay Lightning – I don’t believe Jay Feaster when he says Andy Rogers was rated sixth on Tampa’s draft board. Still, Rogers is a good prospect. He has the hardest shot in the draft class and is a good skater. He would not have been on the board for much longer had Tampa chosen someone else. Second round pick Mark Tobin is a huge winger who is a bit of a sleeper. He was a good value pick late in the second.
Grade:C+
First, if there's one thing that Feaster has going for him, it's that he's unfailingly honest, if he says they had the guy 6th, they had him 6th. I don't see how, if as you say they picked guys around where they should have been picked, Tampa can be pegged as a "loser", but it seems like you're a tough grader! ;)
 

dem

Registered User
Mar 17, 2002
6,732
2,584
I dunno how you could give the Oilers a D- when they come out of the first round with Schremp and Dubnyk. Sure I thought the order would be reversed... but I think thats prettymuch what most Oiler fans wanted in the first round.
 

RDriesen

Registered User
May 22, 2002
1,403
0
Visit site
i would give them an F, so be happy :)

dubnyk was taken too early, and is over rated imo, 2 better goalies available when he was picked. and schremp, imo, will never do anything. hes a short forward who is slow. not a good combo. he COULD turn into a very good pick cause of his skill(great hands) but to me, i would have never taken him in the first
 

tripledekehockey

Registered User
Apr 1, 2004
2,256
0
pittsburgh pa
awesome analysis -- very good read and hopefully you will do another one after the draft is complete

blues definately had the best draft as did chicago and wash

some of the moves made by teams were a little goofy and it will be interesting to compare debnyk's career to scharwz

even though the pens got two decent players with their first two picks, i thought there next 3 were no better than average and left a lot of decent prospects on the board, so i would have given them a B+ at best
 

Hossa

Registered User
Feb 27, 2002
9,649
274
Abroad
Visit site
RDriesen said:
i would give them an F, so be happy :)

dubnyk was taken too early, and is over rated imo, 2 better goalies available when he was picked. and schremp, imo, will never do anything. hes a short forward who is slow. not a good combo. he COULD turn into a very good pick cause of his skill(great hands) but to me, i would have never taken him in the first

Well, Schremp is no shorter than Joe Sakic, and no slower than Joe Sakic....he's neither too short nor too slow. This isn't Corey Locke here. Neither is a concern, but rather just not a strength.
 

Mizral

Registered User
Sep 20, 2002
18,187
2
Earth, MW
Visit site
C- is a fair assessment of the Canucks.

I believe there is reason for excitement on the 3rd round selection by the Canucks, however. Edlar is a Gradin pick (Canucks Swedish scout), and Gradin has had a tremendous success rate in picking prospects out of Sweden. A sleeper for sure, and hard to grade, but I'll trust Gradin here.

As for Schneider.. we'll see.. I don't hold out much hope.
 

Rabid Ranger

2 is better than one
Feb 27, 2002
31,014
11,020
Murica
Your comments on Cory Schneider:

Vancouver Canucks – Cory Schneider is an unproven goaltender who has never faced any sort of competition. A lot scouts say that he has skating flaws. However he interviews well, so he’s a perfectly good first round selection. Schneider is years and years off if he ever cracks an NHL line up. Boston College is a good program, hopefully four years there will turn him into a player who merits first round acclaim.
Grade: C-"


I would disagree with you on his level of competition. Yes, he was drafted out of a U.S. High School (where he dominated), but he excelled at the international level, and that is WHY he was drafted where he was. Vancouver wanted a goaltender, and they picked the best one available.
 
Last edited:

Rabid Ranger

2 is better than one
Feb 27, 2002
31,014
11,020
Murica
Hossa said:
Well, Schremp is no shorter than Joe Sakic, and no slower than Joe Sakic....he's neither too short nor too slow. This isn't Corey Locke here. Neither is a concern, but rather just not a strength.


Schremp will be over six feet tall and 200 lbs by the time he plays in the NHL. How people are getting he's "small" is beyond me. I just don't get the mindset where one inch, or 15 lbs is such a differance maker, it's isn't. As for his speed, it's acknowledged he isn't an exceptional skater, merely a good one, what's the problem? There are plenty of star players at the NHL level who fit that description.
 

I_r_1337

Registered User
Jun 10, 2003
496
0
Washington D.C.
Visit site
Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers usually surprise people at the draft each year, this year’s first selection was no exception. The Oilers took 6’5†goaltender Devan Dubnyk from Kamloops of the WHL over Czech keeper Marek Schwarz. Dubnyk can certainly fill the net, but his size doesn’t allow for great recovery when he’s caught out of position. The key to his game will have to be discipline. The decision to take Dubnyk rattled me and frankly I think it was downright stupid. Time will tell whether Kevin Lowe made the right choice in goaltenders. Roman Teslyuk was a solid choice and adds to Edmonton’s considerable defensive prospect. Geoff Paukovich was a good risk in the second round. He’s a massive winger.
Grade: D-



No freakin way.. I'm a Caps fan by all means but they drafted Robbie Schremp at 25..that gives them a B at least.
 

Hunter Gathers

The Crown
Feb 27, 2002
106,463
11,443
parts unknown
Rangers losers?

They are stacked at one position for the first time ever and have some room.

They took some VERY bust or boom picks. Specially Billy Ryan. He looks like the next Ken Roche (#75 last year).

I rate them a B.
 

barnabyrules

Registered User
Apr 29, 2004
159
0
Jay Thompson said:
Minnesota Wild – The Wild took hometown boy A.J. Thelen with the 12th pick overall. The pick may have been motivated by ticket sales, but Thelen was an excellent value selection. Thelen needs a lot of work and hopefully Michigan State is the right environment for him, but he has unlimited potential. Thelen could be a number one defenseman, he has all of the tools offensively and he’s a big kid. The Wild’s second pick was centreman Roman Voloshenko. Voloshenko is an extremely skilled playmaker who was dynamic in international play. Some worry that Voloshenko is too slow of foot, but he was a good risk in the middle of the second round. Plenty of playmaking NHL centremen were chided to improve their skating as junior players.
Grade: B+

The Thelen pick was in no way influenced by the fact that he will sell tickets. The Wild have sold out every game in their history and already have a several year long waiting list for season tickets. Everyone renews their season tickets at the end of the year (I believe it was about 96% this year) and it is pretty hard to find tickets unless you buy them way in advance. Thelen was the BPA at #12 and the Wild made the right choice and took him. That being said I love the pick and I love the fact that he is from Minnesota because lots of time it works out real well when a player plays for his hometown team. Also you forgot to point out that the Wild's selection of Clayton Stoner was a decent sized reach (picked at 79 ranked 111 in NA). I would probally give them a B though because they had several picks in the 3rd and 4th and could have moved up into the late 1st or early 2nd to get David Shantz. But overall that was a very good analysis.
 

Draftman

Registered User
Feb 28, 2002
1,111
34
Long Island, NY
Visit site
I agree with most of your grades. First, as an Isles fan, the C+ you gave is a fair grade. A good, but not great first round pick, a terrible one in the second round considering that Grahm, Lyamin, Booth, and Lisin were all still available, and a very solid pick in the third round.

I disagree however with two grades. Montreal's is too high, and the Rangers is too low. I'm not a big fan of Chipchura and believe that he was the most overrated prospect in the draft and I am also not very impressed with Yemelin. IMO their grade should only be a C.

The Rangers (and I can't believe I'm saying this), had a very solid draft with several quality picks. My only gripe is that they should have used a couple of picks for defensemen. They are going to have an organizational need down the line. Drafting seven straight forwards was very foolish. Their grade should be a B.

All in all, a very fine job. :yo:
 

HockeyBurd*

Guest
Reveille said:
Rangers losers?

They are stacked at one position for the first time ever and have some room.

They took some VERY bust or boom picks. Specially Billy Ryan. He looks like the next Ken Roche (#75 last year).

I rate them a B.

They could have done MUCH better. And I'm not even going to complain about Montoya at 6. The second round was just shocking. They players that they passed up for guys who they could have gotten later boggles the mind. And when I say later I'm talking 3rd or 4th round. Olver at 36? Dear lord, somebody explain that to me. I sure hope the scouts know something that the rest of us don't. I agree with the C+. Just look at who was picked after our picks and think about what could have been.
 

UpsideHockey

Registered User
Jan 6, 2004
2,563
106
Calgary, Canada
bit.ly
Hard to shoot down Sutter after the huge playoff run, but what the f^&k?!?! Draft Schremp!!! That's all he had to do to make me happy, but oh no he had to draft Chucko...i doubt he ever makes significant impact...The Flames needed some skill & could of still got it in the 2nd rnd with the likes of Enver Lisin, Sindel & Victor ALexandrov still on the table amongst others...not exactly Sutter clones, but he could work with them & at least have some skill...
 

thestonedkoala

Guest
Who the hell did Minnesota draft in the 3rd round? We can't find any information on the 1st guy. Stoner rocks! Just to have that name...

Burns, Stoner, Stokes...

Hehehe....
 

DJ Spinoza

Registered User
Aug 7, 2003
25,118
3,664
Nice read, BC.

Initially, a lot of Pens fans seemed upset about the drafting. I was extremely high on Salmonsson and was praying that we take him with #31. Getting Salmonsson + Malkin makes this a success for the Pens, IMO.

I must admit, I like Karsums and Alexandrov a lot, and we were all sort of like "what the ...?" with the Gologoski pick (we were in a chat room on a different Pens site, some HF posters and some from that site). A lot of people are still sour on the Goligoski pick, but I sort of like it. Greg Malone compared him to players like Ballard, Leopold, and Paul Martin, all three of whom I like.

Nick Johnson and Brian Gifford I didn't really know anything about but I like sort of what I heard so far.

Anyways, like I said I am 100% content with Salmonsson and Malkin. I hope the Pens continue to take some high reward players tommorow, and hope to see guys like Roman Wick, Jannik Hansen, and Sergei Shirokov picked.


Out of the other teams drafts, I like LA and St Louis a lot for getting players they shouldn't have been able to get, IMO. I like the Rangers for moving up to get Korpikoski, but I did not like Montoya at 6 personally. The scouts obviously felt differently as seemed to be the speculation that McGuire and McKenzie were saying.

I was yelling at the TV for the Pens to trade up and get Korpikoski, but I am happy with Salmonsson. The things I like most about Salmonsson are his work ethic and incredible skating ability. Him being a life long Pens fan is a cool bonus too.

A lot of people seemed to think that this would be a boring draft, I thought it was far from it. I knew a good bit about every first round choice, but I had absolutely no idea who was going where even right before the picks. I thought it was an exciting draft.
 

DFF

Registered User
Feb 28, 2002
22,275
6,525
bobbyorr4ever said:
Hard to shoot down Sutter after the huge playoff run, but what the f^&k?!?! Draft Schremp!!! That's all he had to do to make me happy, but oh no he had to draft Chucko...i doubt he ever makes significant impact...The Flames needed some skill & could of still got it in the 2nd rnd with the likes of Enver Lisin, Sindel & Victor ALexandrov still on the table amongst others...not exactly Sutter clones, but he could work with them & at least have some skill...

yea thats the down side of making to the final...Sutter now thinks he can win it all with no talent muckers...wtf needs skill if you can go to the final with a team full of Villie Nieminen and Shane Donovan
 

Prucha73

Guest
HockeyBurd said:
They could have done MUCH better. And I'm not even going to complain about Montoya at 6. The second round was just shocking. They players that they passed up for guys who they could have gotten later boggles the mind. And when I say later I'm talking 3rd or 4th round. Olver at 36? Dear lord, somebody explain that to me. I sure hope the scouts know something that the rest of us don't. I agree with the C+. Just look at who was picked after our picks and think about what could have been.

I agree I think Rangers really screwed up what they should have done is:

Olesz at 6
Meszaros at 19
Lewis at 36
Garlock at 37
Soderberg at 48
Graham/Lyamin at 51

That would have been great.
 

X-SHARKIE

Registered User
Solid overall...but I disagree in many respects.

New York Rangers put together one of the best, if not the best drafts of the day.

I had Schwarz over Montoya but no one can deny this guys talent, and his smarts of the game. He can win big games, he is so mentally strong, he has the ability to steal a game, he plays the puck well, and Schwarz doesn't completely blow his reflexes away or anything.

Lauri Korpikoski was an excelent pick up. He has solid size, and sick talent. Why the Islanders passed up on him for Petteri...IDK. Rangers are getting a player with some top 10 skill, who just IMO, went under the radar for some teams.
Getting Bruce Graham at 50 was brilliant.

I love what the Rangers did at the draft table.

I also think Andrei Meszjaro's is a better player then Smid. Why is Smid the most liked player in this hole article? Mezjor's is more mature mentally, right up there physically, and the upside is the same IMO.

Viktor Alexandrov is not a feisty player, I don't see where you got that from? He isn't afraid to get hit but he's the least of feisty. Only makes a hit when it's the smart thing to do, I don't see the Jam in his game you speak of. But the Blues arguably got the steal of day one in Viktor...So no knock on him.

Kyle Klubertanz is not a big player, That's really the only knock I had on Kyle is that he is only 6-0 and skinny. You got his smarts right, and his vision is awesome. But saying he's a big defensman is wrong.

I agree that the Blackhawks walked from day one as the champs. They were very smart, kept the 3rd and took Cam Barker, I also love the Bolland,and Sindel picks, and taking Garlock was a great great move, and adding Bickell a boom or bust giant could be a great move.

I really liked the Blues draft, But I didn't like the Preds draft, I think Radulov well be a player, but Meidl....blah. Actually it's not that I didn't like their draft, it's just that it didnt' warrant a A-

I have seen Corey Schneider and I would've been hard pressed to say, if I like him or Dubnyk more. To say he has had "no" competition is wrong. He absolutely was amazing at the U-18's. He dominated his high school.
Radulov, Korpikoski, Nokelainen, Tukonen, Just to name a few of guys who stocks sored after the U-18...Yet the best goaltender of the tournament, who stole a game away from Canada, never seen competition? What?

I also really liked Bostons draft. Martin Karsums is going to make alot of scouts eat crow IMO. I really liked that pick, in fact I loved it. I also like what I hear about Gracik.

I also liked what the Oilers did at the table. Landing a top 5 talent in Robbie Schremp... Who IMO is not a headcase, and alot of teams well regret letting him go...I also think that Dubnyk ...although I like Schwarz more....Is going to be a starting goalie and give players fits..much like Burke. I really liked their 2nd round picks. Especially Tesliuk. Geoff Paukovich was in my top 60, and I really think he is worth the risk....I agree with your assumption on the Oilers, except the fact that Devan is a very good goalie, and Robbie Schremp is an amazing talent who picked that late, was a steal.
I want to echo your thoughts and say Lauri Tukonen at 11th is insane, and congrats to the Kings for taking him.

I actually liked what the Blue Jackets did. Obviosly i'm one of Picards biggest supporters here, and I think in a average draft like this year, where alot of these kids are just inconsistant...a guy like Picard who shows good skating ability, a hell of a release, underated hands, great charector, goes to trafic, uses his size, competiviness ....Reminds me of...well..IGINLA!... Kyle Chipchura, you say he's what makes teams champions, but so is Kyle Wharton....I love this pick, if he stays healthy, witch he will, he'll devolope into a very dependable defensman with captain qualities and unmatched toughness and charector. Picking Adam Pineault was a great pick, because I think he's worth the risk.... I like Adam alot and to see him fall to the 46th was a surprise.

I gotta give props to the Capitals. Kudos to them for taking Mike Green. Alot of scouts well cringe when they see how good he got. Stars should've selected him.

Wild had a great great great day, A.J. Thelen was the the 2nd or 3rd best defensman in this draft....I had Barker #1 but after that it was a toss up between Meszaros and him. Smids a fine defensman but I like these two more. Voloshenko was a great pick up, two years in a row they get arguably the most offensively gifted players in the draft in the 2nd round.

Panthers got a great goaltender prospect, a very very good one, and Olesz is going to turn heads when he shows offensive skills in the NHL. I like Olesz ...ALOT!

I never seen their third selection but IMO the Sens are the winners of the day 1 draft...Meszaros was a huge steal in the early 20's. Lyamin late 50's.... Steal of day 1 arguably IMO. I thought he would be their first round pick, then Meszaros fell....They get Lyamin in the 2nd...great pick up..Ignoring the fact that they have Chara and Redden, Meszaros and Lyamin IMO could be a great 1-2 defensman combo. Thats how high I am on them

Devils always seem to make the right calls, for the most part, I never seen Zajac play, so I wont judge, but kudos to them for moving up.

I won't judge it, but a month ago I said I hope the Sharks take Kaspar, then it was Graham, then Green yada yada yada, but i'm stoked about having such a talent like Kaspar in the fold..I love the pick. Thomas Greiss, could end up like Ehelechner, who drafted in the 4th round, was a steal.... Two years in a row Sharks take a goalie just by his skill, not his #'s from being on a bad team, should work again.


BIG Steals.
Viktor Alexandrov St.Louis Blues......Kirill Lyamin Ottawa Senators. Bruce Graham New York Rangers, Robbie Schremp Edmonton Oilers, Marek Schwarz St.Louis Andrej Meszaros Ottawa Senators, Mike Green Washington Capitals, Martin Karsums Boston Bruins, Wojtek Wolski Colorado Avalanche,

Overall I loved the Senators, Penguins, Blackhawks, Blues, Oilers would be on the list of they took Schwarz, I really liked the Rangers draft, Capitals took some risks but I really liked what they did, I also like the Coyotes, I think Wheeler well be a hell of a player...in 4 years or so, and I also like the Pick of Lisin at 50.

Stars and Leafs had the ugliest day one IMO. But who can blame the Leafs...They got one pick, but I think they should've addressed another position. I never seen the guy play though so i'll bite my tounge lol.

It was great to see the complete first round shown :)

Also...It was nice to see such class from Mike Keenan, it was very thoughtfull of him to thank the workers at holiday inn, the waitress at the Olive Garden, along with the cooks, Reggie Thomas, Dale Griffey and Jack Tanner, and it was great to see somone finally give their personal trainers some credit, the list of people Keenan thanked or congratulated went on and on but these were some that really touched my heart.

Bring on the (much better) 2005 NHL Entry draft!
 

Don'tcry4mejanhrdina

Registered User
Aug 4, 2003
11,329
2,089
This space.
MrKnowNothing said:
Nice read, BC.

Initially, a lot of Pens fans seemed upset about the drafting. I was extremely high on Salmonsson and was praying that we take him with #31. Getting Salmonsson + Malkin makes this a success for the Pens, IMO.

I must admit, I like Karsums and Alexandrov a lot, and we were all sort of like "what the ...?" with the Gologoski pick (we were in a chat room on a different Pens site, some HF posters and some from that site). A lot of people are still sour on the Goligoski pick, but I sort of like it. Greg Malone compared him to players like Ballard, Leopold, and Paul Martin, all three of whom I like.

Nick Johnson and Brian Gifford I didn't really know anything about but I like sort of what I heard so far.

Anyways, like I said I am 100% content with Salmonsson and Malkin. I hope the Pens continue to take some high reward players tommorow, and hope to see guys like Roman Wick, Jannik Hansen, and Sergei Shirokov picked.


Out of the other teams drafts, I like LA and St Louis a lot for getting players they shouldn't have been able to get, IMO. I like the Rangers for moving up to get Korpikoski, but I did not like Montoya at 6 personally. The scouts obviously felt differently as seemed to be the speculation that McGuire and McKenzie were saying.

I was yelling at the TV for the Pens to trade up and get Korpikoski, but I am happy with Salmonsson. The things I like most about Salmonsson are his work ethic and incredible skating ability. Him being a life long Pens fan is a cool bonus too.

A lot of people seemed to think that this would be a boring draft, I thought it was far from it. I knew a good bit about every first round choice, but I had absolutely no idea who was going where even right before the picks. I thought it was an exciting draft.
I was very happy with Pittsburgh's picks, even Gologoski who I never even heard about looks very interesting, Pittsburgh's scouts must know something. I was hoping Pittsburgh would trade up abd draft Schremp, but I am very happy with Salmonsson (I actually wanted Lisin, but Sal is almost as fast and more complete it seems.) :)
 

monster_bertuzzi

registered user
May 26, 2003
32,733
3
Vancouver
Visit site
Brooklynn, I dont see how you could give Vancouver's pick a C-. We need a project/potential franchise goalie type, and after the 26th pick, the talent pool was thin with guys like Schultz,Fistric, and Rogers makin' the 1st round.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

-->