Rather Gingerly 1*
Guest
So, how am I doing so far??
Here are a few of my notes:
Montreal should be drafting in the mid-first round this year..say 15th overall. Top prospects like Ovechkin, Barker, Wolski Montoya, etc.... will be gone when Montreal selects. So, who should be available when Montreal selects in the first round? If Montreal gets anyone of these four prospects it will be a good start to the draft for Montreal.
1 - David Bolland may still be there. He’s their best bet at this point. Bolland is a fast, feist, goal-scoring center. Great defensively, good faceoff man who has come into his offensive this season. I compare him to a last year’s Mike Richards.
2 - Mike Green would be my second selection. I generally don’t like taking WHL kids, with so much bad experience in the past. But Green looks like the exception. Green reminds me somewhat of Scott Niedermayer. He has decent size, good offensively with explosive speed and positions himself well defensively. Not afraid of the rough stuff and can lay out the nasty hit from time to time.
3 - Valibik the 6'6" Slovakian - Is another prospect I like. He’s big..no make that huge! He does not embarrass himself with the puck. Is rough and tough and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Could be another Chara down in Ottawa.
4 - Alexandre Picard - Originally, I didn’t like him but he has impressed me more lately. Needs a few years to work on his two-way play. But he has the offensive skills, a good worker, decent size.
The Second Round is more difficult to predict but there should be a number of good prospects still out there. Anyone of these four would be alright with me:
1 - Carl Soderbergom, Sweden, - 6-3, 205 pounds, Carl is a two way player. Goes to the net well, good goal scorer with a great shot. Will score a few NHL goals. He’s decent defensively, skating could use some work and he is a few years away but certainly worth taking in the draft.
2 - Paul Stastny - A second generation player - son of former NHLer Peter Stastny. The top player in the USHL.
3 - Adam Berti - A year behind in his development compared to the rest of his draft mates. Berti missed much of last season with a major injury.
4 - Michael Funk - I first noticed him in the Top Prospects Game. He came across as a competent defenseman who does all the little things well. I think he is going to be an NHLer someday. He has good size, skates well, can handle the puck and makes quick, smart decisions with the puck. I thought he quarterbacked a decent powerplay.
Players I would not select -
Kyle Chipchura - I’m not struck on taking WHL high in the draft because they have the worse success rate of all CHL leagues. Chipchura could be another text book example. He’s a big kid 6'2 195 lbs, strong on the puck, plays well in traffic but just does not have the hands to be a first liner. He’ll never put up big numbers in the NHL. I’m not saying he is a bust but could be an underachiever. Not worth spending a first round pick on.
Andrew Ladd - Did not make the Vancouver Giants two years ago. Makes the Hitmen and then is put alongside Getzlaf and bang...he is supposed to be a star. I think he is benefitting too much from playing on a line with Getzlaf. Which makes him overrated in my book. It’s best to pass on this guy.
Here are a few of my notes:
Montreal should be drafting in the mid-first round this year..say 15th overall. Top prospects like Ovechkin, Barker, Wolski Montoya, etc.... will be gone when Montreal selects. So, who should be available when Montreal selects in the first round? If Montreal gets anyone of these four prospects it will be a good start to the draft for Montreal.
1 - David Bolland may still be there. He’s their best bet at this point. Bolland is a fast, feist, goal-scoring center. Great defensively, good faceoff man who has come into his offensive this season. I compare him to a last year’s Mike Richards.
2 - Mike Green would be my second selection. I generally don’t like taking WHL kids, with so much bad experience in the past. But Green looks like the exception. Green reminds me somewhat of Scott Niedermayer. He has decent size, good offensively with explosive speed and positions himself well defensively. Not afraid of the rough stuff and can lay out the nasty hit from time to time.
3 - Valibik the 6'6" Slovakian - Is another prospect I like. He’s big..no make that huge! He does not embarrass himself with the puck. Is rough and tough and plays with a chip on his shoulder. Could be another Chara down in Ottawa.
4 - Alexandre Picard - Originally, I didn’t like him but he has impressed me more lately. Needs a few years to work on his two-way play. But he has the offensive skills, a good worker, decent size.
The Second Round is more difficult to predict but there should be a number of good prospects still out there. Anyone of these four would be alright with me:
1 - Carl Soderbergom, Sweden, - 6-3, 205 pounds, Carl is a two way player. Goes to the net well, good goal scorer with a great shot. Will score a few NHL goals. He’s decent defensively, skating could use some work and he is a few years away but certainly worth taking in the draft.
2 - Paul Stastny - A second generation player - son of former NHLer Peter Stastny. The top player in the USHL.
3 - Adam Berti - A year behind in his development compared to the rest of his draft mates. Berti missed much of last season with a major injury.
4 - Michael Funk - I first noticed him in the Top Prospects Game. He came across as a competent defenseman who does all the little things well. I think he is going to be an NHLer someday. He has good size, skates well, can handle the puck and makes quick, smart decisions with the puck. I thought he quarterbacked a decent powerplay.
Players I would not select -
Kyle Chipchura - I’m not struck on taking WHL high in the draft because they have the worse success rate of all CHL leagues. Chipchura could be another text book example. He’s a big kid 6'2 195 lbs, strong on the puck, plays well in traffic but just does not have the hands to be a first liner. He’ll never put up big numbers in the NHL. I’m not saying he is a bust but could be an underachiever. Not worth spending a first round pick on.
Andrew Ladd - Did not make the Vancouver Giants two years ago. Makes the Hitmen and then is put alongside Getzlaf and bang...he is supposed to be a star. I think he is benefitting too much from playing on a line with Getzlaf. Which makes him overrated in my book. It’s best to pass on this guy.