Hockey's Future Fall 2004 Org Rankings 11-20

[The Fuhr*]

So, I guess Ovechkin is a bum now.

I did not sy that. Ovechkin is going to be a superstar. My point was Mirnov is going to be a hell of a hockey player, Think Martin Havlat

 

[Boondock Saint]

Mezaros is going to be a 50 point defenseman for the sens and bring a physical game.

Last season, only 7 defensemen in the entire league put up more than 50 points, and you're already claiming that an 18 year old, late first round pick will put up those kind of numbers.

Let's see what he can do in the WHL before we put those type of expectations on the kid.

 

[DownFromNJ]

Also New Jersey's ranking is a lot better this time around, IMO. They have some very good prospects, but they still probably aren't top 10 material, let alone top 5, IMO. I thought that was the biggest mistake of the last rankings.

Last time, I think we were a lot better off than we were now. Clemmenson and Ahonen in goal, Martin/Hale/DeMarchi/Kadeykin on defense, and Parise/Suglobov/Pihlman/Vrana/Khomutov/etc up front... thats strong.

Today, I think the Devil system is still top-10. Heres the assessment:

15. New Jersey Devils (4)
Strengths: The Devils possess a very strong prospect core starting from the crease on out. Potential franchise goaltender Ari Ahonen continues to develop nicely, waiting in the wings behind current franchise goaltender Martin Brodeur. Despite losing both David Hale and Paul Martin from their list of prospects, the organization still has a pair of quality blueliners in Anton Kadeykin and Matt DeMarchi. Down the middle, New Jersey is one of the deepest franchises, with 2004 WJC standout Zach Parise, recent first rounder Travis Zajac, as well as Adrian Foster and Ivan Khomutov. On the wings, the Devils feature Tuomas Pihlman and Barry Tallackson on left, and Finn Teemu Laine and Russian Aleksander Suglobov on the right.
Weaknesses: While the organization has no glaring weakness, depth is an issue. The club has only two promising defensive prospects in Kadeykin and DeMarchi, and on the wings, the pool of talent, although strong, could be deeper. Among forward prospects, the team lacks a physical presence.
Top Prospects: Zach Parise (F), Ari Ahonen (G), Aleksander Suglobov (F), Travis Zajac (F), Tuomas Pihlman (F).
Not Eligible: David Hale and Paul Martin due to career NHL games played.

The Devils do not lack physical forwards. Parise and Vrana are our two smallest forwards and are 5'11". Pihlman, Voros (who should be rated higher than he is), Pikkarainen, among others are all pretty big and nasty.

On the wings? Of the top-5 prospects on our list, 2 are wingers, 2 are centers, and one is a goalie. I'd say defense is our bigger weakness, significantly.

 

[The Fuhr*]

Last season, only 7 defensemen in the entire league put up more than 50 points, and you're already claiming that an 18 year old, late first round pick will put up those kind of numbers.

Let's see what he can do in the WHL before we put those type of expectations on the kid.

Thats the kind of expectations the kid deserves. He has a right handed shot somthing the sens currently lack on defense. Mezaros is going to be groomed to be Reddens defense partner and with the offensive forwards on the Sens along with Mezaros offensive game 50 points should not be out of the question for this future star. He will be the steal of the 2004 draft when we look back on it a few years from now.

 

[Jacob]

Wade Redden has never even hit 50 points. You think Meszaros is more skilled than Redden?

 

[The Fuhr*]

Wade Redden has never even hit 50 points. You think Meszaros is more skilled than Redden?

Offensivly yes Mezaros is alot more skilled then Redden was at his age. This kid was the youngest player in the Slovak league as well as the youngest player at the World Championship this past year.

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

You think Meszaros is more skilled than Redden?

He's younger!

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

Offensivly yes. This kid was the youngest player in the Slovak league as well as the youngest player at the World Championship this past year

Damn, someone beat me to it but without the sarcasm.

 

[Moskau]

There's probably a reason why Smid and Thelen went where they were projected and Meszaros fell 13 or so spots...

 

[Chaos]

Mezaros is going to be a 50 point defenseman for the sens and bring a physical game.

 

[littleHossa]

There's probably a reason why Smid and Thelen went where they were projected and Meszaros fell 13 or so spots...

Enjoy Stafford

 

[Vic Rattlehead*]

I'm okay with the Boston's spot, even though they fell 6 spots. Our strengths are defence and goal, while we have no first line material on the forward depth.

 

[Moskau]

Enjoy Stafford

Not really sure what that's supposed to mean, should I say something like "Enjoy your team full of sissies" ?

 

[nomorekids]

Fuhr86- my sage advice to you would probably be: quit while you're..well, not ahead but...before that hole gets much deeper

 

[McDeepika]

1. Washington
2. Chicago
3. Pittsburgh
4. Nashville
5. Montreal
6. NYR
7. Atlanta
8. Edmonton
9. Anaheim
10. Minnesota

i see nashville around 6th or 7th not 4th

 

[nomorekids]

i see nashville around 6th or 7th not 4th

shrug, i think they've got the most defensive depth in prospects in the league, a pair of high end offensive prospects and a couple of above average goaltenders. i think numbers 4-9 could be very subjective.

 

[Ruckus007]

Knew the Sabres would fall alot, just didn't know all these other teams would as well.

Really? I figured considering the Sabres didn't graduate any real prospects of note they only really added to the group during the draft so they couldn't fall much. Even in comparison to who else added what etc. Now they ended up being higher than I thought during the last ranking but I have trouble believing that head-to-head 13 of the 29 teams in the league have a better farm group than Buffalo. Even taking the defense into consideration.

 

[nomorekids]

Really? I figured considering the Sabres didn't graduate any real prospects of note they only really added to the group during the draft so they couldn't fall much. Even in comparison to who else added what etc. Now they ended up being higher than I thought during the last ranking but I have trouble believing that head-to-head 13 of the 29 teams in the league have a better farm group than Buffalo. Even taking the defense into consideration.

wasn't derek roy, one of your top prospects graduated?

 

[Dave is a killer]

wasn't derek roy, one of your top prospects graduated?

no...just Pyatt and Jillson

 

[Moskau]

no...just Pyatt and Jillson

Who were already graduated to begin with.

Now that I think about it, we shouldnt have dropped THAT far.

I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact when I talk to people like Mizral, and other people in HFChat they seem to know nothing about Sabre prospects.

I can see how we would drop because of the Defense. I'm trying to think who our defensive prospects were last time the list was done...

 

[Classic Devil]

Last time, I think we were a lot better off than we were now. Clemmenson and Ahonen in goal, Martin/Hale/DeMarchi/Kadeykin on defense, and Parise/Suglobov/Pihlman/Vrana/Khomutov/etc up front... thats strong.

Today, I think the Devil system is still top-10. Heres the assessment:




The Devils do not lack physical forwards. Parise and Vrana are our two smallest forwards and are 5'11". Pihlman, Voros (who should be rated higher than he is), Pikkarainen, among others are all pretty big and nasty.

On the wings? Of the top-5 prospects on our list, 2 are wingers, 2 are centers, and one is a goalie. I'd say defense is our bigger weakness, significantly.

Yeah, really. Defense is the biggest weakness... but the physical forward thing doesn't make a whole lot of sense. I'm not arguing the placement, it's fair, but....

Pihlman, Khomutov, Tallackson, Voros, Ryznar, Pikkarainen, Nittel, Massen... all physical forwards, all in the Devils' top-20.

 

[Olorin]

so we now know the top 10...how would you rank...

Nashville, Washington, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, Montreal, NYR, Anaheim, Atlanta and the Oilers?

My take:

1) Washington
2) Pittsburgh
3) Chicago
4) Edmonton
5) Nashville
6) Montreal
7) Atlanta
8) Rangers
9) Anaheim
10) Minnesota

 

[X-SHARKIE]

I continue to look at Minnesota and I just can't justify their top 10 ranking.

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

I didn't expect the Sens to be Top 10, but I think they should be higher than 17. They added defensive depth at the draft with Lyamin and Meszaros and that was the biggest weakness.

 

[Ruckus007]

wasn't derek roy, one of your top prospects graduated?

That's part of it. When Roy got his "eligibility" back with the new guidelines I felt even more confident the Sabres would be ranked if not higher at least on par with the previous ranking.

Bah, it's not like I'm that upset. I don't think they're numero uno but I have trouble believing that head to head 13 teams come out better.