P_B's Mock Draft

[hfboardsuser]

The Edmonton Oilers are overjoyed to select, from Vasteras Jr., David Lidstrom.

 

[Prussian_Blue]

Nice pick - I figured he was going to be gone before too long.

You were right, as usual, IB.

For the Blues' last pick, it was down to LaPoint or Holzapfel. I went with Holzapfel because he was, to me, the best offensive player available at that point, and because it's starting to get to the time in the draft (for me, anyway) when you're looking to fill needs as well as take the BPA.

Every pick the Blues had made up to this point is either a player going to college (Johnson, Lewis) or a European (Kana, Kveton) with the associated question marks surrounding his willingness to come to North America within the two-year time frame.

I thought it was important for the Blues to start focusing on guys who would be, theoretically, ready to make an impact on the organization sooner... thus, I thought it was time to lean more heavily to the side of picking the best major junior player I could find. That was, IMO, Holzapfel, at this point.

Johnson and Lewis may not be in Blues' training camps for another four years.

Kana and Kveton might be in camp in two years... or they might not ever come over.

Holzapfel was the "safe" pick, because a major junior player will be in camp within two years unless he regresses horribly... and may even be in camp as soon as this fall. He might not, and probably will not, stick with the big team, but the Blues can evaluate him against professional competition in camp, something they can't do with a college-bound player like Johnson or Lewis... or LaPoint.

P_B

 

[Prussian_Blue]

The Edmonton Oilers are overjoyed to select, from Vasteras Jr., David Lidstrom.

The 139th-ranked prospect in Europe?

OK, spill it... what do you know about this guy that the rest of us don't? That's a very interesting pick.

Inquiring minds want to know...

P_B

 

[Prussian_Blue]

Also, Colorado has 12 hours remaining on the clock. They missed their last pick, so if there's anyone out there who might like to take over Colorado's draft, PM me with a pick, and if the current GM misses his pick, we'll make the switch.

Thanks,

P_B

 

[hfboardsuser]

The 139th-ranked prospect in Europe?

OK, spill it... what do you know about this guy that the rest of us don't? That's a very interesting pick.

Inquiring minds want to know...

P_B

While David Lidstrom is not related to Nik, it's easy for one to assume they are based on the younger Lidstrom's vast array of talents. The winner of the 2004 TV-Pucken Best Defenseman award, David Lidstrom has a long history of success, but only recently has it come for him offensively.

David's biggest asset is his skating. He is perhaps the most mobile blueliner in the draft, and is without doubt the best backwards skater. He skates better going backwards than most do going forwards.

While he is not the fastest when going in a straight line, Lidstrom has the rarer ability to move very quickly in any direction. This allows him to be more often than not in position. In fact, it is very rare to see the young blueliner caught out of the play. This has been his trademark for years, stretching back to minor hockey.

Also exceptional is his first pass. He dominted games at times with his ability to make tape-to-tape dishes from his own zone, controlling the flow and speed of the contest.
To match his passing ability, Lidstrom also has great patience and a great head for the game.

All three components did not begin to mesh until the second half of the season, when he exploded for 12 points over his final 15 games. Before that point, he had but 8 in 26.

This performance garnered a promotion for two games to Västerås IK's Division 1 squad for two games, where he garnered no points, penalties and no +/-.

 

[Rise from the Ashes]

While David Lidstrom is not related to Nik, it's easy for one to assume they are based on the younger Lidstrom's vast array of talents. The winner of the 2004 TV-Pucken Best Defenseman award, David Lidstrom has a long history of success, but only recently has it come for him offensively.

David's biggest asset is his skating. He is perhaps the most mobile blueliner in the draft, and is without doubt the best backwards skater. He skates better going backwards than most do going forwards.

While he is not the fastest when going in a straight line, Lidstrom has the rarer ability to move very quickly in any direction. This allows him to be more often than not in position. In fact, it is very rare to see the young blueliner caught out of the play. This has been his trademark for years, stretching back to minor hockey.

Also exceptional is his first pass. He dominted games at times with his ability to make tape-to-tape dishes from his own zone, controlling the flow and speed of the contest.
To match his passing ability, Lidstrom also has great patience and a great head for the game.

All three components did not begin to mesh until the second half of the season, when he exploded for 12 points over his final 15 games. Before that point, he had but 8 in 26.

This performance garnered a promotion for two games to Västerås IK's Division 1 squad for two games, where he garnered no points, penalties and no +/-.

The Detroit Red Wings select.......

 

[Hasbro]

I guess I'm going to have to step in to keep this moving

select Eric Gryba, D Green Bay USHL

 

[Prussian_Blue]

I guess I'm going to have to step in to keep this moving

select Eric Gryba, D Green Bay USHL

Gryba it is... also, Hasbro will be taking over the Avs' draft from this point forward.

The Phoenix GM spot is now vacant; Hasbro mentioned that he might have someone interested in taking it, but if there's anyone else who'd like it, PM me. I'll award the Phoenix GM spot to the first person who contacts me, be it Hasbro's contact or someone else.

Also, I've had a PM from Vancouver... Burke's Evil Spirit is out of the loop for a few days, and so he's asked me to announce his selection.

select RW Rhett Rakhshani from the USNTDP.

are now on the clock.

Thanks,

P_B

 

[Slats432]

Timo Seppanen

 

[Anthony Mauro]

select Felix Schutz.

 

[Prussian_Blue]

select Felix Schutz.

Schutz is an excellent pick. I was hoping that everyone would continue to ignore him, since he wasn't ranked by CSS on their Final rankings. He's been on my radar since about Christmas...

are on the clock...

P_B

 

[Weltsky]

for w.e reason, i cannot access the hockey's future North American or European Skaters list. I am basing my picks on the knowledge i have of the sharks and what I think they need with the prospects ranks. Anyone one know why this is happening or what I can do otherwise or to fix it?

 

[Wonder Boy]

select Felix Schutz.

Very Nice pick. I debated about taking him vs. Nyholm. I was hoping he'd slide to my next pick which is soon....but good on you for making a wise selection.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

Oh guys, stop it. thanks for the props.

With my first two picks being gritty role players, I needed an offensive threat. Schutz is small, stocky, and crafty.

 

[Slats432]

for w.e reason, i cannot access the hockey's future North American or European Skaters list. I am basing my picks on the knowledge i have of the sharks and what I think they need with the prospects ranks. Anyone one know why this is happening or what I can do otherwise or to fix it?

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache...l+css+final+rankings&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache...l+css+final+rankings&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=2

 

[Prussian_Blue]

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache...l+css+final+rankings&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=1

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache...l+css+final+rankings&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=2

El Tiburones / Der Haie remain on the clock for another 7 hours.

Tick, tock...

P_B

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Originally Posted by Balej's Dance
select Felix Schutz.

Well i for one have never heard of him, so where does do he play? What kind of game does he play?

 

[Prussian_Blue]

Well i for one have never heard of him, so where does do he play? What kind of game does he play?

Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL). He's a gritty little sparkplug, good on faceoffs, decent scorer and skater.

P_B

 

[Prussian_Blue]

Bzzz... time's up for the Sharks.

In the interest of keeping this thing moving, I'm just going to assign the Sharks a player without polling the board.

Keeping with the Sharks' trend of selecting at least one decent German player every draft, I'm assigning Marcel Muller (Eisbären Berlin) to them. He's the highest-rated German player available (42nd overall in Europe), LW, shoots left, 6-04, 212 pounds, 9-4-13 with 50 PIM in 9 games for the Eisbären senior team this season. Obviously, he played most of the year in the German junior league, but I've got no stat line for him in that league.

P_B

 

[Prussian_Blue]

I've had a PM from WpgKings13... Los Angeles selects, from Red Deer of the Western League, goaltender James Reimer.

Calgary is on the clock.

Thanks,

P_B

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Originally Posted by Prussian_Blue
I've had a PM from WpgKings13... Los Angeles selects, from Red Deer of the Western League, goaltender James Reimer.

Didn't think id be home today or tommorrow, but i did so anyways.
After picking up a couple of slides in Mitera, and Marcinko, new Head Coach Brent Sutter is really going to push his young goalie, dispite him being still way off the board. After missing out on Varlamov by one pick, i still think Reimer will be a solid goaltender with starting potential.

Originally Posted by Prussian_Blue
Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL). He's a gritty little sparkplug, good on faceoffs, decent scorer and skater.

Thnx for the info

 

[TomahawkSniper]

The Calgary Flames select John Armstrong.

 

[Rise from the Ashes]

The NY Islanders select Nikolai Kulemin

We are extremely pleased to steal Nikolai and have been very impressed with his WJC tournament as well as this past season in the Russian league, he is also doing very well in the WC in Riga Latvia.

 

[TomahawkSniper]

The Calgary Flames select Kirill Tulupov.

 

[DaveG]

select Reto Berra