Sorry didnt finish...heres my take..
1. Cam Barker: He’s a very big and talented defenseman. Some say his stock has dropped, I don’t see it. He’s still in the top 5, I have him ranked 4th in the hole draft. No way well a team like the Blue Jackets pass this player up. He’s a wonderful skater, he has a great shot, he passes the puck well. Offensivly he is special, defensivly he neds to work on some things like positioning and awareness. Sergei Gonchar sort of player.
2. A.J. Thelen: he’s my #2 defensman in the draft, although he might not even opt in. I’m completely sold on this guy. He’s a very young freshman. He started off very well and he has improved threw the season. He has very good size. 6-3 220 was the listing on FSN coverage of him this past weekend. Great skater for his size much like Barker. Offensivly he’s very impressive, and he’s already better defensivly then Cam is. This kid really goes for it and joins the rush more often then not. He likes to shoot the puck, and he shoots very well. Has a wrist shot that reminds me of Brad Stuart. Huge offensive upside, he also likes to play physical. He’s a nasty player as well. He’s the real deal. I have seen enough of him to say he well be better then Cam Barker. But Barker has proven more in there young careers. Thelen has to be thought of as a top 10 prospect in the 2004 draft.
3. Mike Green: When I watch Mike Green I feal like I’m watching Scott Hannan all over again. Witch is no bad thing, plus he’s more physical and his offensive tools are already more well rounded. He doesn’t have the size that other defenders in the draft have but he’s not small, expecially if he bulks up. He doesn’t look small in the WHL for Calgary…but when he’s out there with NHL talent it well be more noticible. It’s not all size though I know. Mike Green is a very smart player, with exceptional mobility. He skates very well, and is very tough to knock of his feet. I love the way he battles in the corners and in front. Almost impossible to beat 1-1. He’ll make a great #2-#3 defensman someday. Not a cornerstone player though, he’s a safe pick.
4. Wes O’Neil: He’s getting a bad rap on here it appears. His stock has fallen in my eyes. I agree. I’ve been watching Wes since his days in Green Bay. His offensive game has still not devoloped. He reminds me a lot of Mike Rathje. He’s a huge,smart defensman who doesn’t play very physical in a nasty way. But he simply shuts down oppositions. He well be a guy you put out against oppositions best forwards. He skates very well for a man his size. He’s also very smart, with a great transition game. Safe pick but your not shooting for the moon on this player.
5. Ladislav Smid: This is the part in the draft were teams well take there man, depending on what kind of player there looking for. In this case, I like Smid a lot. His stock has also taken a hit. But he just has to much intangibles to ignore. He’s a huge defensman who can skate like the wind and do damnage with the puck. Amazing PP QB already at this age. Very smart with the puck, very impressive amount of poise. He’s not very strong but he’ll get there and he already likes to hit. He’s a defensman who starts the rush often times on his own. He always impresses me how he can simply just skate the puck end to end with his great skating and stickhandling. He has better hands then most forwards. He’s got a solid shot and really moves the puck well.
6. Boris Valabik: Moose or somone else hit it on the dot. He has Zdeno Chara like potential, but he’s a safer pick at the time then Z was back in 96. Bulking up well help him a lot, and could reach dominate status. 6-6 defensman don’t grow on trees, and the scouts well be oozing over this player. Expect him not to make it past 25 IMO. Excelent positioning and he honestly can move pretty well for his size. He’s a very smart player. I love his nasty approach to the game. He’s pretty mean out there, and if you hit him once he takes your number down…believe me. He’s a giant out there, two guys can sandwich him and he’ll still be standing. Great balance. Not much offensive upside here, his hands are nothing to write home about, and he doesn’t seem interested in the offensive game. But he is very strong and his shot can take off like a rocket at times.
7. Kirill Lyamin: Mabey I keep catching him on good days, but how Lyamin is not listed as 1st round selection surprises me. Here is your man in the 2nd round Washington if he makes it. Kirill is big, nasty, skilled. Standing 6-3 200 pounds. Solid skating ability, But he great mobility. He is one of the most skilled players at doing the poke check correctly. He also plays his man very tough one on one. Likes to hit, and hits hard. He is comfortable with the puck and does not make bad decisions. He has a wicked shot from the point as well. Safe pick, with good upside.
8. Andrej Meszaros: Impressed me this year at the U20. Very talented Slovak, solid size at 6-2 187. Reminds me of Christian Ehrhoff. This kid has great skating ability and is if he sees in opening. He triess to do it himself. Sometimes he gets himself in trouble with doing this though. Very good with the puck. He has great passes, usually on tape to tape and hard. Not a hard shot, but accurate. Lacks all compass mobility. Needs to work on that before the jump to the NHL game. To much work needed for his game to his game to be considered a high draft pick. Give him time to devolope and he’ll be a special player though.
9. Johan Fransson: This player needs to get stronger. He has so much talent though. He has solid skating ability. Such a smooth skater and he’s very quick. Creative with the puck. He makes things happen out there. Defensivly needs to work on some things. His game is coming around very nicely. I last saw him in late January and he has impressed. His defensive game is coming around, he seems to be a leader out there. He has very good offensive game, and he works hard. He has it all to devolope into a very solid defensive player, with great offensive ability.
9. Sami Lepisto: another defensman with very impressive creativity and offensive game. Mature player. Amazing shot.
Especially Suter! Lucky Nashville.
