2006 Draft, consensus #1?

Is there a consensus #1 for the 2006 draft yet like Crosby and Ovechkin were 2 years prior?

Can anyone give me the top 10 names for that draft at this point (obviously this will change over the next 2 years). The only name i've read are Bryan Little and Kessel from the US.

Thanks

 

I don't think there's really a consensus #1, rather a group of players that could go #1. That group includes Kessel and Little, along with Alexander Vasyunov from Russia, and Jesse Joensuu from Finland.

Personally, I've only seen Kessel play, and he's the most explosive US prospect out there, IMO. Even over guys like Parise, Schremp, and O'Sullivan. He just flies.

 

One of my friend may be drafted, he is a stay-at-home dman, who was taken in the 7th round of the OHL draft last year.

 

I think Kessel will drop far.

Sounds like a very soft, defensive liability, Tim Connolly type player.

 

Which is why you shouldn't go off what you hear. From what I heard before I saw him, everyone on these boards said Schremp was slow, wasn't physical at all, etc. Well when I saw him, I saw that he's not slow, he's quick, but has average skating speed. He still gets around pretty well though, and when he's on his game, he goes into the corners, hits, etc.

The same with Kessel. There's a few on these boards that said he was soft, avoids physical contact, plays on the perimeter, etc. That couldn't be further from the truth. He's fearless around the net, drives to the net hard, takes the hit to make the play, and is a very fast/shifty player. He's not big right now, but he's only 16 years old. He's stocky though, and very solid on his skates. Not a Tim Connolly player AT ALL.

 

Good. I cant stand wimpy players.

 

I have seen both play, though I really like Sheppard and think he will be a top 10 pick in the draft. Breault was really ranked to go 1st overall, but had some off ice problems which caused him to drop. Breault is ultra talented in the offensive zone and is arguably the best offensvie talent for his age in Canada. Sheppard is great as well, but he does not have the offensive game that Breault plays, Sheppard does all the little things right on the ice, plays two way, super strength and great passing and offensive capablities but Breault has that extra offensvie jolt that should put him in the top 3 scorers in the QMJHL soon.

Just like in the past drafts, for the Moose Jason Troini went in the 1st round of the QMJHL draft and Alex Tanguay went in the 2nd round of the QMJHL draft, Jason now coaches the Macs AAA team here in Halifax and Tanguay is pretty much an NHL all-star. Draft position means nothing IMO. Sheppard is also the local kid and has top 3 talent in the draft and is huge, I am a big big Sheppard fan, but if Breault never had the off ice problems he would have went 1st overall.

 

I absolutely love what I've heard about Jesse Joensuu. If I had to choose first today, he'd be my pick. He seems like a strong candidate to be a Sundin or a Roenick; not a guy who's ever going to win a scoring title, but a guy who will lead the team both in points and in personality.

As for who's going to rise/fall, who knows there's two years to find out. I bet you 2 or 3 guys from that top 10 don't even go in the first round. That's just the way things work.

There's no consensus, but I like Joensuu.

 

I guarantee you that Zach Hamill will be a top 5 pick.

 

Ben Maxwell will be WHL rookie of the year - mark my words.

 

I'm going with Jesse Joensuu. I've heard a lot of good things about him.

 

Benjamin Breault managed to play top minutes in a really deep CCL team. Him and Francis Pare were great. I think he's a bit smallish though, might pull off a Marc-Andre Cliche for Baie Comeau next year.

 

I hope you weren't referring to Sundin when you said lead his team in personality.

 

I was reading through this entire thread looking for Zach Hamill's name- I can't believe it didn't come up earlier. He is one of the best 16 year olds in the CHL this year.

 

Michael Frolik a C/LW from the Czech Republic is considered one of Europe's 'Big Three' (at this point) for 2006- along with Vasyunov and Joensuu. Frolik has been playing on Nat'l teams two years above his age group for awhile now. These three, plus Kessel and Little might be considered a very early top 5 by many.

 

Bryan Little is a brilliant hockey player. Haven't seen anyone else.

 

Zach Hamill is a late '88 birthdate so he isn't eligible until the 2007 draft.

 

My pick is of course Joensuu who will play in seniors next season (with a little icetime though). He seems to go lot ahead every summer and he tackles older players like he was 25 years old. His skating is not brilliant, it looks like a moose on ice, and of course he has not equally strenght like older players. But he is a lot movable and has more skills than players of his size mostly.

(A picture from www.kiekkogalleria.com attached, Jesse is the player in the middle)

 

Thanks for the info, I was hearing from a source in Ontario that Hughes was awsome and in better than McDonough. I never really had Hughes to begin with even in my top 10 picks but I thought I would put him hear because I said, a strong OHL draft year he was first I will put him there incase he turns out.

 

whats a M-A Cliche??????????????

I know who he is but what did he pull off, if you mean season wise Cliche never had a great season in the Q last year. I am expecting at least 50 to 60 points from Breault this year.

 

I like Kessel..He was explosive in the U-17's here in Newfoundland. He was my favourite player there. Well, beside Ryder and Mior(hmm...I wonder why?)

 

And there is also the difference between watching a 16 or 17 year old in the OHL and projecting them out as a pro. Tim wasn't at all shy about traffic in junior. Not in the least....