turnbuckle*
Guest
I had an interesting chat with an NHL head scout a couple months ago about the draft, and he was much more excited about next year's top group of prospects. Based on that conversation, and a subsequent one with another scout, my early line for the top six in 2006 would be:
1/ Kessel (without question he's ranked no. 1 right now)
2/ Frolik
3/ Toews
4/ Vasyunov
5/ Mueller
6/ Joensuu
I mentioned Little to them, and they weren't overly enthralled. The ol' "lack of size and subsequent breakaway speed" concerns that has dogged high-scoring junior players since the Dino Ciccarelli days. Corey Locke and Kyle Wellwood are other recent examples. The head scout is notoriously opposed to drafting Russians, but he really likes Vasyunov (as he did Ovechkin and Malkin). He is really high on Toews, and thinks he may end up being the second overall pick if he continues to develop at his present pace.
1/ Kessel (without question he's ranked no. 1 right now)
2/ Frolik
3/ Toews
4/ Vasyunov
5/ Mueller
6/ Joensuu
I mentioned Little to them, and they weren't overly enthralled. The ol' "lack of size and subsequent breakaway speed" concerns that has dogged high-scoring junior players since the Dino Ciccarelli days. Corey Locke and Kyle Wellwood are other recent examples. The head scout is notoriously opposed to drafting Russians, but he really likes Vasyunov (as he did Ovechkin and Malkin). He is really high on Toews, and thinks he may end up being the second overall pick if he continues to develop at his present pace.