2015 AAA Draft Thread

[tony d]

Draft is started now, here's the order:

1. VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen
2. ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings
3. seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts
4. BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers
5. chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls
6. tony d - Rum River Renegades

1 1 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Victor Hedman, D
1 2 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Anton Stastny, LW
1 3 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Brad Marsh, D
1 4 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Dave Christian, RW/C
1 5 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Art Moore, D
1 6 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Ted Graham, D
2 7 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Don Raleigh, C
2 8 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Billy Reay, C
2 9 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Ivan Tregubov, D
2 10 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Kelly Kisio, C
2 11 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Haviland Routh, RW
2 12 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Rick Green, D
3 13 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Bob McDougall, F
3 14 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Robbie Ftorek, C
3 15 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Viktor Konovalenko, G
3 16 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Josef Cerny, LW
3 17 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Clare mckerrow, C
3 18 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Bill Ranford, G
4 19 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Blaie Stoughton, RW
4 20 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Billy Nicholson, G
4 21 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Jiri Novak, C
4 22 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Olli Jokinen, C
4 23 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Bohuslav Stastny, LW
4 24 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Bob Carpenter, C
5 25 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Phat Wilson, D
5 26 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Keith Carney, D
5 27 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Bruce Driver, D
5 28 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Jim Mckenny, D
5 29 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Bert Marshall, D
5 30 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Doug Lidster, D
6 31 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Jeff Friesen, LW
6 32 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Vincent Lukac, RW
6 33 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Ray Sheppard, RW
6 34 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Joe Lamb, RW
6 35 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Mac Colville, RW
6 36 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Billy Breen, C
7 37 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Steve Payne, LW
7 38 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Anders Eldebrink, D
7 39 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Cully Dahlstrom, C
7 40 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Vladimir Myshkin, G
7 41 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Alex Smith, D
7 42 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Chris Phillips, D
8 43 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Michal Pivonka, C
8 44 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Mark Hardy, D
8 45 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Behn Wilson, D
8 46 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Jeff O'neil, RW
8 47 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Eric Brewer, D
8 48 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Bert Lindsay, G
9 49 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - John Sorrell, LW
9 50 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Jim Morrison, d
9 51 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Scott Hannan, D
9 52 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Don Smith, Rover/Centre
9 53 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Charles Tobin, F/D
9 54 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Shawn Mceachern, LW
10 55 tony d - Rum River Renegades - PAul Martin, D
10 56 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Joe Juneau, LW/C
10 57 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Joe Jerwa, D
10 58 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Andrew Brunette, LW
10 59 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Dave Maloney, D
10 60 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Dutch Reibel, LW
11 61 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Alexander Golikov, RW
11 62 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Ron Schock, C
11 63 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Danny Grant, LW
11 64 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Bronco Horvath, C
11 65 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Vaclav prospal, LW/C
11 66 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Larry Patey, C
12 67 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Earl Robinson, RW
12 68 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Martin Gelinas, LW
12 69 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Cory Stillman, LW
12 70 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Mike Keane, RW
12 71 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Aleksander Kozhevnikov, C
12 72 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Randy Mckay, RW
13 73 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Hobey Baker, Rover
13 74 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Al Hamilton, D
13 75 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Dave Manson, D
13 76 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Jozef Stumpel C
13 77 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Laurie Boschman, C
13 78 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Andre Pronovost, LW
14 79 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Hy Buller, D
14 80 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Gary Sargent, D
14 81 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Sergei Babinov, D
14 82 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Robert Reichel, C
14 83 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Ric Seiling, RW/C
14 84 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Vladimir Zabrodsky, C
15 85 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Vlatisimil Bubnik, RW
15 86 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Marty Turco, G
15 87 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Ted Nolan, Coach
15 88 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Bryan Smolinski, C
15 89 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Bob Gracie, C/LW
15 90 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Jim Henry, G
16 91 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Mike Bullard, C/RW
16 92 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Reg Hamilton, D
16 93 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Jim Peplinski, F
16 94 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Buzz Boll, LW
16 95 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Dave King, Coach
16 96 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Darius Kasparitis, D
17 97 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Ron Plumb, D
17 98 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Felix Potvin, G
17 99 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Kent Douglas, D
17 100 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Yevgeny mishakov, LW
17 101 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Marc Andre Fleury, G
17 102 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Uwe Krupp, D
18 103 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Scott Young, RW
18 104 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Pat Boutette, LW
18 105 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Mikael renberg, RW
18 106 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Bill Brydge, D
18 107 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Jochen Hecht, LW
18 108 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Vladimir Golikov, C
19 109 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Gaetan Duschene, LW
19 110 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Mike Grier, RW
19 111 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Chico Maki, RW
19 112 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Rudolf Poetsch, D
19 113 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Ron Duguay, RW/C
19 114 tony d - Rum River Renegades- terry Crisp, Coach
20 115 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Lucien Deblois, RW
20 116 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Jacques Martin, Coach
20 117 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Doug Brown, RW
20 118 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Eddie Shack, LW
20 119 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Dave Hunter, LW
20 120 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Gilles Meloche, G
21 121 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Pete Muldoon, Coach
21 122 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Andrew Cassels, C
21 123 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Nikolai Khabibulin, G
21 124 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Vic Lynn, LW/D
21 125 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Jay Pandolfo, LW
21 126 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Jim Riley, LW
22 127 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Curtis Leschyshyn, D
22 128 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Shawn Burr, LW/C
22 129 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Ronald Pettersson, RW
22 130 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Warren Godfrey, D
22 131 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Manny Malhotra, C
22 132 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Fred Whitcroft, Rover
23 133 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Ralph Bowman, D
23 134 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Clare Drake, Coach
23 135 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Dolly Swift, F/D
23 136 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Bob Turner, D/F
23 137 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Darcy Tucker, F
23 138 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Cecil Blachford, RW/C
24 139 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Tobias Enstrom, D
24 140 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Bob Murdoch, D
24 141 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Jiri Crha, G
24 142 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Jack Marks, W/D
24 143 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Sergei Mozyakin, LW
24 144 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Duane Sutter, RW
25 145 VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen - Magnus Arvedson, LW
25 146 ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings - Tom Poti, D
25 147 seventieslord - Regina Amber Alerts - Serge Bernier, RW/C
25 148 BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers - Vladimir Yurzinov, Coach
25 149 chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls - Harry Watson, LW
25 150 tony d - Rum River Renegades - Johnny Sheppard, LW

Add/Drop

Bubba Boot adds Leif Holmqvist, G drops Jiri Crha, G
tony d adds Kyle Mclaren, D drops Curtis Leschyshyn, D

Click to read more...

 

[tony d]

Ineligible to be picked:

(mod - edited out post-draft for search function purposes)

 

[seventieslord]

Thanks tony, I'll get the draft list done soon.

 

[BubbaBoot]

Draft is started now, here's the order:

1. VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen
2. ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings
3. seventieslord - TBA
4. BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers
5. chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls
6. tony d - Rum River Renegades

Round 1:

1. VanIslander & Hedberg - Selkirk Fishermen-
2. ResilientBeast - Edmonton Oil Kings-
3. seventieslord - TBA-
4. BubbaBoot - City Point Clovers-
5. chaosrevolver - Belleville Bulls-
6. tony d - Rum River Renegades-

According to the previous AAA poll page, this is what we have for the selection process:

Make ONE pick PER DAY, anytime during the day after 10:00 a.m. eastern time. If you miss a day, simply make up the pick when you can (e.g., two the following day).

So my question is: Are we picking in order or are we picking anytime after 10 a.m.?

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

According to the previous AAA poll page, this is what we have for the selection process:



So my question is: Are we picking in order or are we picking anytime after 10 a.m.?

Ha. Good spot. Obviously, it's up to the draft participants how you do it. I just saw a question about needing a draft order, so I went ahead and had one made.

 

[tony d]

That's how we did it last year but I know in previous years we started at 12 PM EST each day and made a pick a day.

 

[seventieslord]

Two of the last three drafts have been done on a turn basis. My preference in any case is to do it that way, but I'd emphasize it even more this time around. The reason is because we're not very deep into the player list (1100). If we're doing picks 1300 or 1400 then sure, let's not have a picking order but at 1000 the players are a still quite good and we don't need to be giving time zone advantages to anyone that could add up over the course of a draft (I know I sure took advantage before).

 

[VanIslander]

With the 1st overall selection of the AAA 2015 draft, the Selkirk Fishermen select Victor Hedman, the 6-year NHL pro who has been considered one of the best defensemen for a couple of years of his career. He was an important part of Tampa's 2015 Stanley Cup Finals run as he recorded the most points ever by a Lightning defencemen in a single playoff year with 12 points. The 2009 2nd overall pick has also set franchise records for career playoff assists (20) and points (23) by a defenceman, surpassing Dan Boyle, who previously held the record. Scotty Bowman has praised his ability to make stretch passes coming out of his zone and TSN analysts have ranked him the 6th best defenseman and 21st best player in the NHL at one particular point. There's no doubting his skill level and, if his career ended tomorrow, his 6 years in the NHL - including his playoff performances - would have him remembered as among "the next-best" of hockey history fifty years later.

"I feel confident in my game, I feel confident on both ends of the ice, and that's kind of the way I want to play"

Can log huge amounts of ice time. Skates as well as anyone ever has at his size (6-6, 233 pounds).
Possesses tremendous shutdown ability and good offensive upside

The Lightning dominate shot attempts when Hedman is playing and coach Jon Cooper has labelled him the engine that drives this young team. "He's one guy on the ice that could ice the puck and beat it out himself," said Cooper. "He can lead the rush and be the first guy back. It's just this explosiveness. "It's like shooting him out of a cannon."

"He's got the full package," added defence partner Anton Stralman. "He's got size, speed, the shot, physical game, tremendous passes. ... He's quite a beast out there."

 

[BubbaBoot]

Two of the last three drafts have been done on a turn basis. My preference in any case is to do it that way, but I'd emphasize it even more this time around. The reason is because we're not very deep into the player list (1100). If we're doing picks 1300 or 1400 then sure, let's not have a picking order but at 1000 the players are a still quite good and we don't need to be giving time zone advantages to anyone that could add up over the course of a draft (I know I sure took advantage before).

Okay, what's the time frame? 12 hrs? 10 hrs?

 

[seventieslord]

Okay, what's the time frame? 12 hrs? 10 hrs?

12 to start, but that will go to 6 halfway through.

 

[BubbaBoot]

12 to start, but that will go to 6 halfway through.

OK.

You got a team name yet?

 

[Hobnobs]

OK.

You got a team name yet?

Regina Amber Alerts

 

[ResilientBeast]

Anton Stastny, LW

 

[seventieslord]

I'll start off Regina with Brad Marsh, D, who'll likely end up my #2 defensemen. There are "better" guys out there but I think they're more replaceable than Marsh, who does just about everything at an elite level in the AAA draft - except skating, puck skills and fighting.

Brad Marsh, D

- 6’3”, 220 lbs
- Stanley Cup Finalist (1985, 1987)
- NHL All-Star Game (1993, Commissioner’s Choice)
- Captained two NHL Teams (Calgary, Ottawa)
- Played 20.06 minutes per game for teams 13% better than average for 1086 games
- In his first 12 seasons (930 games), played 20.55 minutes per game for teams 17% better than average
- Killed 49% of penalties for teams 10% better than average on the PK
- In his first 12 seasons (930 games), killed 51% of penalties for teams 14% better than average on the PK
- Top-4 on his team in total TOI 9 times (2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th, 4th)
- Top-3 on his team in non-PP TOI 8 times (1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd, 3rd)

There is likely no one who enjoyed playing hockey as much as Brad Marsh. A first-round draft choice of the Atlanta Flames in 1978, he joined the ranks of NHL players that fall, playing all 80 games with the Flames that season… Marsh made the jump straight into the NHL and quickly established himself as an honest, lunch-pail defenseman who entertained adoring fans with his likable personality and playing style… When Atlanta relocated to Calgary for 1980-81, Marsh went with the team up to Alberta and stayed there until he was traded to Philadelphia for Mel Bridgman in November 1981.

With the Flyers, Marsh found a stylistic home where, for more than six seasons, he relished his role as a plodding, stay-at-home crease-clearer who helped his team make it to the Stanley Cup finals in 1985 and 1987. The only sour note of his career was the fact that his club fell short of the Grail on both occasions.

Marsh was an exuberant Flyer until the completion of the 1987-88 season. He was picked up by the Maple Leafs in the waiver draft preceding the 1988-89 season. He quickly became a fan favourite. What he lacked in polish, he made up for in enthusiasm. His skating style, almost running on his skates, was awkward, but it got him efficiently from place to place. In a league of conformity, Brad Marsh was one of the last NHL skaters to play without a helmet…before closing out his career with stints in Detroit and, finally, Ottawa, where he racked up one final, life-long memory. He was selected to represent the Senators at the 1993 All-Star game in which he scored a goal.

Brad Marsh will be remembered for his zest for the game of hockey. He certainly won't be recalled as a sniper. Through 1,086 NHL games, Brad Marsh scored a total of 23 goals--a pace of one every 47 games played. Brad Marsh was not blessed with a natural talent to play hockey. But he was born with a strong physique and a copious supply of determination and willingness to work hard.

An awkward though powerful skating style unfairly gave Brad Marsh the reputation of being a skater slower than a tax refund cheque. In actuality he was one of the best, if unheralded, defensive defensemen of his time.

The helmetless Marsh was popular everywhere he played. How could he not be? Every fan appreciates hard-working, blue-collar players who wear their heart on their sleeve. He may not have been the most talent player on the ice, but his obvious passion and lunch-pail approach to the game endeared him to fans.

"Marshy" was not blessed with much natural talent. That might go without saying, after all he scored only 23 goals and 198 points in 1086 NHL games. He is the lowest scoring player (excluding goaltenders) to have ever played in 1000 games.

Marsh was often mocked for his skating, as he lacked agility and gracefulness, but he was a deceptively powerful skater. He often surprised the other team by rushing the puck out of his own zone, as they fully expected him to just fire the puck off the glass and out. Otherwise, Marsh's offensive game was strictly shots from the point.

Defensively Marsh was very good. He was excellent at reading the oncoming play and using his angles very well. He was a punishingly aggressive player, although his skating would betray him as his sometimes over-aggressiveness would land him out of position and unable to recover.

Marsh was a junior standout with his hometown London Knights. The Atlanta Flames would draft Marsh 11th overall in 1978 ahead of names like Larry Playfair, Al Secord, Tony McKegney and Stan Smyl. Marsh would immediately make the jump to the NHL, playing in 257 consecutive games with the Flames (relocated to Calgary), the last 97 of which as team captain.

The Flames traded Marsh to the Philadelphia Flyers for Mel Bridgman on November 11th, 1981. Marsh would be best known as a Flyer.

"Brad was a very important leader on our team. Marshy was all about the team and never for himself," said longtime teammate Mark Howe. "He could play 20-plus minutes a game and could always be counted on to compete each and every night. He was a great shot blocker and a rugged competitor on the ice, but a gentle and kind person off the ice. Brad was always smiling and loved to be at the rink each and every day. For many years he was a mainstay on the blueline for our team and a big reason why the Flyers had a successful and competitive team in the eighties."

Marsh was pretty distinguishable out there on the ice, what with his distinctive style and unfailing desire. That, and his lack of head wear. Marsh only temporarily experimented with wearing a helmet despite once cracking open his head after a Cam Neely-Ray Bourque sandwich hit. Despite losing a lot of blood, needing stitches and sustaining a severe concussion, Marsh was back in action 5 games later. Because Marsh had entered the NHL prior to 1979, he was permitted to continue playing without a helmet, whereas all subsequent newcomers to the league were mandated to wear the helmet.

Marsh was a courageous shot blocker and dressing room leader.

"Marshy came to play every single night," said longtime teammate Dave Poulin. "What was understated was his leadership role both on and off the ice. He was an enormous positive factor in many young players'' careers."

That leadership helped keep Marsh in the NHL through 1993. the popular journeyman finished his career with short tenures with Toronto, Detroit, and Ottawa. He was Ottawa's representative at the 1993 NHL All Star game, a nice honour for the long time competitor.

Marsh was a great teammate and a great member of the community. He was frequently involved in charity work, whether it be hockey related initiatives or his golf tournament for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. "You couldn't ask for a better teammate than Brad Marsh. You also couldn't ask for a better human being," suggests former Flyer Tim Kerr. We have to agree with him.

Because of his determination to play bareheaded, Marsh’s career was nearly curtailed in 1968. Skating for the Flyers, Marsh was playing against the Bruins when he was hit by Ray Bourque and Cam Neely near the blueline. Marsh’s head was driven into a post that supports the glass near the end of the bench. He toppled backward and smacked his head violently on the ice. “He could have died right then and there”, said Willi Plett. “He was unconscious for a short time, with blood pouring from his head.” Ultimately, medics determined that he had suffered a severe concussion and was required to sit out four games before returning – with a helmet – a week later.

One could study Marsh and say that he was simple, basic, right to the point. But it was more than that. Brad worked long and hard to master the game’s subtleties so that every move was as efficient as the one before. What’s more, he displayed the rare leadership qualities that one expected from a Bobby Clarke before him. “Brad had that innate ability to lead that you don’t always see with just the performance on the ice,” said his former Flyers coach Ted Sator.

He came to the Flyers in a trade with Calgary. Philadelphia gambled by sending top center Mel Bridgman to the Flames. In retrospect, it was a no-brainer…Marsh provided Philly with seven sterling seasons on the blueline. “He was also the master of shot blocking”, added Sator. “And Brad did it so exceptionally well.” Marsh: “Shot blocking was an individual thing. No coach ever demanded it of me. It was something that came naturally to me but it wasn’t always easy. Sometimes I would go down and make the block and it was great. But when I missed, I looked like a bum out there. I never had time to do much thinking about it. I had to react right away.”

“Brad’s reliability was what made him so valuable,” said Sator. “He was so smart and he rarely put himself in an awkward position even when he was rushing the puck.” At 6’3” and 220 pounds, Marsh threw devastating bodychecks and occasionally scored big goals…Marsh matured into one of the league’s foremost stay-at-home backliners. “As I got older, I adapted to my capabilities. Granted, if I could have skated as fast as Mark Howe and stickhandle and shoot like some of the other players, I might have been a more offensive-minded defenseman. But when all was said and done, I relied on being strong in front of the net.”

He was also strong in the dressing room. It was his nature to take new players under his wing. When Miroslav Dvorak arrived unable to speak English, Marsh bought him a Czech-English dictionary and helped him adapt to life in North America. “I remember the first time I met Miro at the airport I shooj his hand and he didn’t know a word of English. That night we happened to room together. I knew how to say ‘beer’ in Czech. So I ordered some beers from room service. With my dictionary, it was amazing what I could accomplish over a couple of beers. As it turned out, Dvorak lived close to me so I picked him up on the way to practice. I did a lot of things for him, but I wouldn’t have done them if I didn’t like him. In time, he became one of my closest friends.”

More than most, Marsh appreciated every moment of his NHL life, especially his years on Broad Street. “I couldn’t think of any job that was better than the one I had. That’s why I wanted to play well into my 30s.”
…They loved him in Ottawa for the same reason they did in Philadelphia; he was an unvarnished workaholic. “I had to work hard to be on any team that I played on whether it was the Flyers or the Senators. People called me a throwback because they said the old-time players gave so much every game. I felt that was something that came natural to me.”

Bobby Clarke always said that Brad Marsh’s biggest problem were that his feet were as big as his heart. For seven largely happy and successful seasons in black and orange, Marsh used every ounce of strength from his helmetless head to his webbed toes to throw himself in front of shots, maul forwards, hug Philly goalies and make you care about the Flyers almost as much as he did.

None of the eight arms or sixteen hands he would place upon opponents proved useful on the rare occasions when marsh would get into scoring position. But this ugly duckling of a player’s lack of skill for the game only made his passion for it that much more endearing. “When the fans see me out there, they see themselves playing on Sunday afternoon for their company team”, Marsh once said.

Whatever he lacked in talent, he more than made up in people skills. When Miroslav Dvorak camt to camp in 1982, Marsh put one of his ever-clutching-and-grabbing paws around the Czech’s shoulders. For his three years in North America, Dvorak was never alone. “Everybody would say I was a good guy for taking him everywhere, but what it comes down to is I like him.”

He was traded because the Flames were convinced he had become a Bassett in a game dominated by Greyhounds. Marsh more than survived the sport’s metamorphosis. He thrived because he had so many of the qualities of his beloved dogs. Brad guarded his goalie with the fierceness of a trained German Shepherd, yet interacted with his teammates like a friendly retriever. The last guy away from the netminder before the faceoff, Marsh would be the first to congratulate him at the buzzer, moving faster, it seemed, than at any point during the game. “If my speed was that bad, I would have been beaten to a lot more icings. I just look big and clumsy, like a big oaf out there.”

But a durable oaf, nonetheless. Challenged to improve his conditioning, marsh’s pride and stamina grew. He thrived in Keenan’s four man rotation, reveled in the team’s success over the next four years and watched with considerable satisfaction as the ten players drafted ahead of him faded from the game. When the NHL grandfathered the helmet rule, Marsh was determined to be the last bareheaded player in the league… he was loved in every city he played in, as fans recognized that what made Marsh so real was exactly what made him good.

An excellent shotblocker from the start, Marsh did not score often but made up for it with tenacity on and behind the blueline… the tradition of excellent defensive play during most of the Flyers’ history included Brad Marsh during his seven seasons in orange and black.

Effective at keeping the slot clean. No speed and not dangerous with the puck.

Impresses observers with his physical strength and his coolness. He’s one of the best Flames at moving the puck out of his own end.

Defensive defenseman who was named team captain, despite his youth, because of his hard working approach and leadership qualities… lacks speed but compensates with desire and positional play… one of the best practicioners of the almost lost art of bodychecking. Good at clearing traffic from in front of the net… Proves there’s a place in hockey for defensemen who are strong in their own end of the rink.

Brad plays hockey with the poise of a veteran. He moves the puck up the ice quickly and uses his body to dish out crunching bodychecks. Brad is respected around the league for his physical strength on the ice.

Brad Marsh is a strong checker and fundamentally sound, but lacks mobility in this age of blazing skaters.

Will never win a foot race for fast skating, but plays a steady, stay back style of defense. Fearless shotblocker who will hurl body in front of pucks to prevent them from reaching the goal… can dish out crunching bodychecks and tie up opposing forwards with size, strength and stamina… knows his role and limitations well and gets the best from his ability… not easily fooled one-on-one and knows how and when to play the man, not the puck.

had his best and most consistent season of his seven in the NHL… sound defensive defenseman and one of the NHL’s top shot blockers… has elevated the clutch-and-grab tactic to a science… awkward skater, but not as slow as he looks… a throwback to an earlier age, yet still highly effective… was passed over for the Flyer captaincy spot in favour of Dave Poulin. But Poulin said Marsh was very helpful in his adjustment to a leadership role… maybe the most popular player on the team, both with teammates and fans.

Marsh is a better skater than he is given credit for… Brad has developed a little quickness in his stride and can move up and down the ice at a better clip now that he for the first few years of his career. He does not turn well, and his back skating is still a little clunky, so Marsh must use his smarts to keep opponents away from the Flyer net. He uses his defensive angles very well, reads the rush approaching him excellently and is always aware of where he is on the ice. Marsh does, however, take too many chances. He wants to do so much he is frequently out of position as he tries to do four different things at one time. Marsh doesn’t handle the puck all that often, though when he does handle it in his zone he will get it out quickly and well. His poise and patience with the puck are improving, so that he will make the right pass out of the zone. Obviously he is not an offensive threat…

Marsh is a physical hockey player and he is strong. He clears the front of the net well and is without a doubt the best holder in the league. He will also sacrifice his body to block shots, something he routinely does two or three times a game. Marsh is strong enough to force forwards wide of the net and to take them out and keep them out of the play. He can muscle the opposition off the puck and has a good reach that helps him to pokecheck the puck away… Marsh is the Flyers’ defensive leader, the general in the defensive zone, and is one of the best defensive defensemen in the game today. He works extremely hard, regardless of the score, and commands the respect of the team through his efforts… in the last minute of the game you’ll find Marsh patrolling the Flyers’ blueline. He is their defensive core.

If minutes were tracked, burly defenseman would probably rival Wayne Gretzky for the league lead… dependable, always in position, makes up for lack of speed with uncanny knack for playing angles… stood out as one of the team’s inspirational leaders during Pelle Lindbergh tragedy… has won Class Guy and Most Popular Player awards in Philadelphia.

The finesse game is not Marsh’s game, and this is because he is not overly talented offensively… this didn’t stop him from taking more chances last year, and he surprised many opponents by rushing the puck well and joining the offense in the attacking zone… quietly, Marsh is one of the best defensive defensemen in the game today.

A throwback to hockey’s earlier days. Might be the league’s best at shot blocking, plus clutch and grab tactics… though an awkward skater, he rarely gets caught out of position…

Never known as – and never to be mistaken for – a finesse player, Marsh showed a real decline last year. Though still a better skater than he’s often credited, his foot speed is decreasing… makes up for his deficiencies with positional play… because he’s so determined to help out, Marsh often gets out of position around the net, falling here to block a shot, diving there to stop a pass. Appreciated though this determination may be, it also serves to make Marsh’s partner and goaltender crazy… a good case could be made for Marsh’s injury affecting the rest of his game, for when he returned he was clearly not at his best. Perhaps his scouting report should be judged in that light… In any case, Mike Keenan didn’t have the confidence in Marsh that he once had, and Brad rode the bench for periods of last season… he remains a leader through his work ethic and dedication.

keeps the opposition out of the play as well as anyone in the league. He’s no doubt helped by the fact that he’s also an excellent holder, one of the league’s best. He willingly sacrifices his body to block shots… despite his diminishing skill, Marsh still puts out all the time. Because of that he remains a leader through his work ethic and dedication, and as such can continue to have a positive effect on the Leafs

Coming to the Leafs was a dream come true for the dogged defenseman… he’s one of the League’s most reliable defenders.

Marsh is like a grammar lesson: slow, slower, slowest. Marsh is like Old Man River: He must know something to just keep rolling along.

But what Marsh is most like is death and taxes: he’s always there. Not through any great feat of skill either, unless you can call desire skill. Rather, he is the ultimate triumph of function over form. By now, after almost 1000 NHL games, Marsh should be as mobile as a dinosaur trapped in the La Brea tar pits – and sometimes he looks the role. But damned if he isn’t in your face, forcing you into the boards and holding you there so long you think you might be married to the guy. And damned if the puck doesn’t always skitter off his stick to an open Leaf teammate; funny how that happens. Of course, you can’t rightly remember how he got it on his stick in the first place – must be that thing about being in the right place at the right time. Just like all those times he falls down and the puck happens to hit him before it gets to the net. We all know Marsh doesn’t have the quickness to sprawl in front of 80MPH shots; those pucks just him him by mistake.

Marsh uses his physical skills to their best degree because of his intelligends; he puts himself in positions to succeed. He remains a strong player… we hope no one misinterprets our poking fun at Marsh above as serious commentary. Marsh deserves all the credit in the world for showing that even if you are slower than water running uphill you can still play at a high level in the NHL. Because of his wortk ethic and character, Marsh remains a leader and an example for the younger Leafs.

Continues as one of the best shot blockers in the league. He’s a physical fitness devotee.

A cuperbly conditioned athlete, Brad keeps his legs in top shape year round with his pursuit of bike racing. The gritty defenseman uses all types of biking competition to stay fit during the summer months.

An excellent shot blocker and team leader.

A rock of Gibraltar on defense – a huge, immovable monument, both timeless and ageless. There has never been anything fancy about the way Marsh goes about his business, but he’s lasted more than 1000 games in the NHL… A steadying influence on a struggling team, Marsh can be an anchor… It is hard to imagine him losing a step. He’s always been among the slowest-footed skaters in the game… an offensive nonentity… age has crept up on Marsh… despite his reputation as a premier defensive defenseman, he isn’t going to excite many GMs.

WILL – stay at home
CAN’T – handle the puck
EXPCECT – 100% effort
DON’T EXPECT – many more years

 

[BubbaBoot]

The City Point Clovers select:

rw / ctr - Dave Christian

NHL: 1009 games / 340 goals / 433 assists / 773 points / 0.77 PpG / 284 PIMs / 102 PP / 8 SH
WCs: 14 games / 12 goals / 6 assists / 18 points / 1.29 PpG / 8 PIMs
OLY: 7 games / 0 goals / 8 assists / 8 points / 1.14 PpG / 6 PIMs

6x 20+ goals / season
3x 30+ goals / season
1x 41 goals / season
2x 60+ pts / season
2x 70+ pts / season
2x 80+ pts / season

Olympic Gold medal - 1980
NCAA Championship runner-up - 1979
Canada Cup runner-up - 1991
Stanley Cup runner-up - 1991
NHL All-Star Game - 1991
USA Hockey Hall of Fame - 2001
9th NHL PP Goals - 85/86
9th NHL All Star voting - 1986
6th Lady Byng voting - 1986 (votes garnered in 6 seasons)
3x seasons votes garnered for the Selke Trophy
CAPTAIN - Winnipeg Jets - 82/83

excellent 2014 MLD chaosrevolver BIO

 

[BubbaBoot]

I'll start off Regina with Brad Marsh, D, who'll likely end up my #2 defensemen. There are "better" guys out there but I think they're more replaceable than Marsh, who does just about everything at an elite level in the AAA draft - except skating, puck skills and fighting.

That's all rather relative.....it's why I like these lower drafts. Finding the right combos is even more difficult when you take in all the variables.

 

[seventieslord]

That's all rather relative.....it's why I like these lower drafts. Finding the right combos is even more difficult when you take in all the variables.

It's not like Marsh is bad at all by the metrics that I like most either. He played good minutes for very strong and succesful teams.

 

[chaosrevolver]

I will select the defenseman who played coverpoint for Harvey Pulford on the Ottawa Silver Seven. He was tough, physical and even had a stanley cup winning goal. We will select the captain of the 1906 Ottawa Silver Seven..

D - Arthur Moore

 

[BubbaBoot]

It's not like Marsh is bad at all by the metrics that I like most either. He played good minutes for very strong and succesful teams.

He and two others, (not including Christian), were actually on my short list to kick off the draft for me. Good call, saved me the angst of deciding....just a little bit.

 

[tony d]

Sorry for the delay everyone, my internet was down all day, my picks should be made within the hour.

 

[tony d]

And here they are, with pick 6, defenseman, Ted Graham

Graham reads as a solid 2 way defenseman who will help the Renegades on both sides of the puck.

With Pick 7, centre, Don Raleigh

Raleigh looks like a good all around forward.

Chaos has been pmed.

 

[chaosrevolver]

With our next pick we will select the small, but tough center who played a solid two-way game for the Montreal Canadiens for many years. He won multiple cups and led a Montreal Canadiens team in points during the 1949 season (a team boasting Richard and Lach).

The Belleville Bulls select: C - Billy Reay

 

[BubbaBoot]

The City Point Clovers select:

def - Ivan Sergeyevich Tregubov

Position: D ▪ Shoots: Right
Height: 6'1" ▪ Weight: 183 lbs.
Born: January 19, 1930 in Komsomolsk-na-Amure, Russia
Played: 1951/52 - 1962/63, 1964/65 (Soviet League) \\\ 1963/64 (Vysshaya Liga / Soviet-2) \\\ 1953/54 - 1960/61 (USSR National Team)

INCOMPLETE SOVIET LEAGUE STATS (14 seasons)
SOVIET LEAGUE:
(SIHR) 58 goals / (Elite Prospects) 55 goals
WCs:
(Elite Prospects) 37 games / 12 goals / 8 assists / 20 points / 0.54 PpG / 8 PIMs
(SIHR) 37 games / 13 goals / 11 assists / 24 points / 0.65 PpG / 20 PIMs
OLYMPICS: 7 games / 2 goals / 2 assists / 4 points / 0.57PpG / 8 PIMs

European Championship GOLD Medal 55/56, 57/58, 56/57, 58/59
Olympic GOLD Medal 55/56
World Championship GOLD Medal 55/56
European Championship SILVER Medal 60/61
World Championship SILVER Medal 54/55, 56/57, 57/58, 58/59
World Championship BRONZE Medal 60/61
Soviet League Champion 54/55, 55/56, 57/58, 58/59, 59/60, 60/61

World Championship BEST Defenseman 57/58, 60/61
Soviet League BEST Defenseman 55/56, 56/57, 57/58, 58/59
Soviet / USSR Hall of Fame: 1956

TIED 5th overall for total goals in International play by a USSR National Team defenseman

His family moved to Vladivostok in the far east before the war. Both his father and older brother left for the front, leaving the 11-year old Ivan alone with his mother. He soon started to play football and bandy hockey with a ball. He then discovered the new sport of hockey with a puck and was hooked.

Together with Nikolay Sologubov he formed probably the best defensive tandem in Europe for many years. Physically strong defenseman who played very smart in his own zone. A master at holding on to the puck exactly as long as needed before dishing off a precise pass. Extremely tough to beat on one-on-one situations. Known for his witty humour.

Played 283 league games, scoring 60 goals. He was a league All-Star in four consecutive seasons (1955-58). Represented Soviet Union 100 times (29 goals). Voted as best defenseman in the 1958 World Championships. Retired in 1965 and became a coach.

Passed away December 22, 1992 in Moscow. (Another death date for him is September 1).

The defensive pairing of (Nikolai) Sologubov and Tregubov was probably the best defensive tandem in Europe and World Championships from 1956 to 1961. Each of the pair was named the best defender in the World during this period: Sologubov - 3 times, Tregubov - 2 times.

Tregubov was more inclined to be a defensive defenseman, and while he would join his teammates on the attack, he never skated too deep into the opposition zone. He preferred to shoot at the net from the blueline, but his long, powerful slapshot put fear in the hearts of the opposition goalies. Once, during a game in Siberia at about -20, when Tregubov took a wrist shot, the puck hit the post and broke into pieces.

Some of the mental aspects of Tregubov’s game were a mirror reflection of Sologubov’s style. In strength and stamina, Tregubov was superior to his older partner, but they had the same dedication and ruthlessness and the same loathing for defeat. Yet, the younger man didn’t copy his superior; rather they supplemented each other and that made them perfect partners on the ice.

Tregubov was a master at holding on to the puck exactly as long as needed before dishing off a precise pass, and was extremely tough to beat on one-on-one situations, as he was always able to keep the necessary distance from his opponents and was able to knock the puck from their possession thanks to his skilled stick.

Tregubov was also nicknamed "Ivan The Terrible" by Canadian players after competing against him at the World Championships.

Many hockey fans will acknowledge Nikolai Sologubov as an early pioneer of defensemen in Russian hockey history. But not many know about his long time partner Ivan Tregubov.

The duo were the top defensive pairing in Europe for many years. They were arguably Russia's top pairing of all time until the 1980s when Viacheslav Fetisov and Alexei Kasatonov patrolled the blue line.

Sologubov and Tregubov were so good that even the NHL took notice. Boston GM Lynn Patrick said, "there are five players on their team who can move up to the Bruins, and there's a commission of $2,500 for anyone who can get either Sologubov or Tregubov into Boston."

Sologubov was the flashier, more offensive star while Tregubov (nicknamed "Ivan The Terrible" by western media) played a physical and intimidating game. His game thrived on emotion, something that was outwardly rare in Soviet hockey.

Tregubov represented the Soviet Union in 44 international games, scoring 14 goals with his heavy shot. He won World championship and Olympic gold in 1956. He was named as the IIHF Best Defenseman in 1958 and 1961.

At the club team level Tregubov played a decade with CSKA Mscow before finishing his career with Khimik Voskresensk. He scored 128 goals in 350 games while winning 6 league titles.

 

[seventieslord]

He and two others, (not including Christian), were actually on my short list to kick off the draft for me. Good call, saved me the angst of deciding....just a little bit.

Christian was a good pick too. He was on my radar but he wasn't quite well rounded enough for a lower line in a small, competitive mld. Good scoring line player here.

Looks like you found a couple of good passages on Tregubov that I didn't have in this bio:http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=73960255&postcount=163 ... Good work.

Sorry everyone, had an extremely busy two days. I'll get the draft list done, name my team and make a roster post tomorrow.

Oh, and I'll make my pick before I go to bed here.

 

[seventieslord]

I'll take Kelly Kisio, C.

Kisio might very well end up as my 3rd line center, but I actually wouldn't mind him on a 1st or 2nd line in this ATD. With his limited natural talent he managed to put up a sustained offensive record almost as good as any center who'll be drafted here (with the exception of a few one dimensional guys - and he was as good as some of them on a per-game basis too!), while also being an excellent all-around player. That kind of thing is just rare down here in the AAA - typically guys who rank at or around the top of the list for "best offensive guy I can get" are all very one-dimensional by this point in the drafting cycle.

So, like I did when drafting Marsh, I'll take a guy who might get replaced by a "better" player, but who is actually more indispensible.

Kelly Kisio, C

- 5'10, 185 lbs
- Best VsX Scores: 64, 61, 57, 56, 55, 52, 50
- Best ES Scores: 82, 75, 68, 56, 55, 55, 54
- Received Selke votes in two seasons (1988, 1990)
- Played in NHL All-Star Game (1993)
- NY Rangers Captain for four seasons (1988-1991)

Kisio seemed to have no future in North America and went overseas to play for Davos in Switzerland. "The reports on him were excellent so when the Swiss season was over, we signed him for the last few weeks of our schedule," says Detroit GM Jimmy Devellano. "It was like getting an extra draft pick." Kisio's 60 points gave him 4th place among all NHL freshmen last term and he won the Detroit Emery edge competition by posting a +16. On a club that was a minus overall, this was a very impressive performance.

smart, smooth center, a fine playmaker and a good defensive worker

overlooked in the draft because of his size...

Kisio is not a fancy skater. He doesn't have a lot of speed or agility on his skates but he is strong and tireless and that makes him a good checker, a role in which he is often cast on the Wings. Kisio has good hockey sense and gets a good read of the ice. He anticipates the play well and that helps him in his role as a penalty killer... because he can see the ice well, and because he has good hands, Kisio is able to use his teammates well and he gets them the puck in good condition for them to score. As for himself, Kisio doesn't have a great shot and will get his goals from near the net or just inside the faceoff circle.

kisio goes into the corners, works hard and digs on every shift. He takes his hits and gives out a few and plays the body pretty effectively, able to take the puck away in the corners or along the boards. he is a second effort man and is persistent in his pursuit of the puck. Kelly is a real grinder... Kisio is a hard worker, a low key personality who comes by his points honestly. though his +/- rating belies the fact, he plays a solid all-around game and is a valuable member of the Red Wings... has a small amount of natural talent, but makes it work with tremendous effort.

Not a great skater in terms of speed or agilit, but kisio has good balance and is difficult to remove from the puck. Also, he is able to perform with the puck at (for him) top speed... he sees the ice well and has good anticipation, so Kelly will see a lot of checking duty and special teams play. Kisio uses his smats especially well as a penalty killer and is a threat for shorthanded goals. Kisio can be a good playmaker because of his puckhandling skills and he uses them, in combination with his vision, to get the puck to his teammates in position to score. he has a good, not great, shot, and could score more if he shot more, rather than looking to pass.

Kisio plays bigger than his size, going into corners and banging away for the puck. He is strong and will win many battles, but he can be overpowered by bigger defensemen. He plays physically at both ends of the rink and is persistent in his pursuit of the puck. In short, he's a grinder with a good set of sinesse skills. He gave the rangers something they need: a consistent game at both ends of hte ice from a center, as well as the flexibility to play other positions because of the Rangers' lack of depth.

made a large impression on MSG fans and GM Phil Esposito - after joining the team. "He's going to help us a lot," said Esposito. "That's as evident as the nose on my face, which is pretty evident".

perhaps a little too unselfish... has a good shot, made better by the fact that he will go into traffic to use it... his size - or lack thereof - is no limitation to Kisio. He pursues the puck relentlessly, fearlessly banging into bigger and stronger opponents... his grinding ability paves the way for his finesse skills... a hard worker who leads by example... low key in the locker room, succeeds on heart and determination.

not overly gifted in the finesse categories, but he definitely makes the most of the skills he has... a strong skater who is always on the puck... an overachiever whose ability to cash in on consistent hard work makes him a leader by example.

his finesse skills are rooted more in his physical ability than they are grounded in any outstanding finesse quality. his skating, for example, is marked more by its power and strength than it is any fanciness. He has a strong stride with good balance and Kisio uses that power and sturdiness to battle for the puck... fights through checks very well... has a good understanding of the game and its implications, and he uses that degree of sense in his checking and in his offensive game... he takes the body aggressively and relentlessly against all members of the opposition, and his good strength and balance combine to enable him to win more battles than he loses. He plays that way all game every game and at both ends of the rink, one very big reason he has never played a full season. He even has a propensity to use his stick as an equalizer, and can be chippy - even dirty - in that regard. His heart and demeanor make him a leader, speaking loudly even when his otherwise quiet demeanor does not.

has no overwhelming offensive skills, but is imbued with incredible determination and a huge heart. Not a very good skater, he gets to where he has to go on sheer willpower. he is always in mtion and negates many icings by outhustling everyone else to the puck. He hustles back the other way as well, and is always in position to help out his defense. does not have any frightening shots, but he is very poised and will hold onto the puck and make the goalie commit. Most of his goals are scored from right in front of the net after a goalie is down. He has strong wrists and a good backhand. Kisio has very good hockey sense and plays well on special teams. He needs to play with a strong finishing winger to make the most of the playmaking efforts.

Kisio is persistent along the wall, always trying to get at the puck whether he is on his feet, his knees or his back. Opposing defensemen can't let up for a second because Kisio will grab that opening to get at the puck and move it, even though he is physically overmatched by most opponents When his arms and stick are tied up, Kisio will still keep the puck alive by stepping on it with the toe of his skate and trying to move it to a teammate. Kisio couldn't care less how big the opposition is; he will have to be stopped by force, because he won't give up on his own... A leader by example, he is a smaller version of Bob Gainey.

a smart center who plays aggressively at both ends of the ice... as for his tough style, kelly says, "I guess there's a safer way to play. but if I tried to dodge every hit, i don't think I'd be as effective."

A character player who leads by example

It takes a lot to stop the determined Kisio, who keeps the puck alive whether he is on his feet, on his knees or on his back. He's a top-notch penalty killer and character player who is a team leader.

"He goes out every night, busts his tail, runs into guys twice his size, and leads by example," said teammate Bernie Nicholls. "In my opinion, that's the best kind of leader."

All of Kisio's modest skills are enhanced by his determination and work ethic... has lost a step, but positions himself well and works so hard that this is not as severe a dlaw as it would be for some other players... very good in traffic, and remains very focused while scrapping for rebounds around the net... very good on faceoffs... always gets back on defense... an excellent penalty killer with excellent hockey sense and tenacity... does not have breakaway speed but is a shorthanded scoring threat because he forces turnovers...Kisio doesn't know how to play the game any other way than one where he is involved in battling for the puck along the boards and in the corners, and that leaves him vlunerable to hits, usually by bigger players... Even down on his knees, Kisio will still be involved trying to gain control of the puck... would be most effective if he could be dealt to a contending team, where he would be a valuable asset.

Kisio never gave an inch all year, and his dedication and hard work sparked his younger teammates.

A husting center who plays every shift like it's his last

a small player who has always played with the heart of a lion. His NHL skills are adequate at best, but he has always enhanced his natural skills with work ethic and intelligence. He is an effective checker because he seems to know what the puck carrier is going to do with the play before he has even decided. he is always well positioned. Along the boards, he has quick hand skills and determination for mining the rubber out of a tangle of sticks and skates... He's very good on draws, especially in the defensive zone. He is built low to the ice and has good hand-eye coordination and focus. His points come from his buzzsaw work around the net. He will try to stuff in a forehand from behind the cage, then take the rebound around behind the net on his backhand and try a play on the other side.

Despite taking physical lumps every night for a dreadful team, his commitment never faltered. A proud player, Kisio delivers the same honest effort every night, shaming many bigger, more talented players... a #3 center forced into a #1 role most of last season. His point totals are remarkable, given his modest talents.

Determination has been Kisio's trademark since junior... intestinal fortitude and the deeply rooted belief that he can compete in the NHL have served Kisio well. His intensity is one of his best weapons. He's also a good skater, deceptively quick and hard to knock off the puck. He's a shifty playmaker, finding teammates with accurate passes and digging for pucks along the boards. though he's never reached the 30-goal plateau, he's a valuable offensive catalyst... if he can't skate, he can't play his game. If he can't bump shoulders, he can't play his game. Kisio needs to be in top health to be effective... the heart and soul of the San Jose Sharks... there are many more talented players in the NHL, but Kisio has carved out an impressive career through hard work and persistence.

WILL - lead by example
CAN'T - be an explosive scorer
EXPECT - clean play
DON'T EXPECT - indifference