- Oct 22, 2002
- 9,435
- 4,051
1. Washington - Alexander Ovechkin
Best player in the draft, period.
2. Pittsburgh - Evgeni Malkin
Pittsburgh takes the 2nd best player in the draft but I wouldn't be suprised if they traded the pick to the NY Rangers for pick 6, 24 and a established player such as Tom Poti given that they could some more help now and in the future.
3. Chicago - Lauri Tukonen
Blackhawks fans get use to this or visa versa - Ruutu to Tukonen...goal!
4. Columbus - Rostislav Olesz
Given Klesla slow development they would be tempted to take Barker but Olesz is too good to pass up. Nash - Olesz - Zherdev could be NHL's best line in a couple of seasons.
5. Phoenix - Andrew Ladd
Drafting Ladd gives the yotes much needed depth on the LW.
6. NY Rangers - Cam Barker
As I said earlier, I wouldn't be suprised if they traded up but Barker is a good pick for the rags at no. 6.
7. Florida - Marek Schwarz
Florida won't pick a center or a d-man because they have good prospect depth in that area. They are hoping that Ladd or Tukonen will be available by pick 7 but because they're both gone, Florida drafts Schwarz who is the best player available. Schwarz gives Florida a very good goaltending prospect which they don't have in the system and excellent trade bait for the future.
8. Carolina - Boris Valabik
First reach of the draft, Carolina drafts Valabik given that they need a defensive d-man. The 'canes love his size and Chara like potential.
9. Anaheim - AJ Thelen
Thelen is a great choice for the ducks who are on the lookout for an offensive d-man.
10. Atlanta - Robbie Schremp
Thrashers are delighted to take Schremp given that they badly need more offensive prospects in the system.
11. Los Angeles - Alvaro Montoya
12. Minnesota - Alexandre Picard
13. Buffalo - Wojtek Wolski
14. Edmonton - Alexander Radulov
15. Nashville - Kyle Chipchura
16. NY Islanders - Mike Green
17. St. Louis - Ladislav Smid
18. Montreal - Drew Stafford
Big suprise that he is still available but I think he slips down this far because players drafted ahead of him like Schremp, Picard, Wolski, Radulov and Chipchura have better offensive potential than Stafford who is probably a better all-round player than those players.
19. Calgary - Dave Bollard
20. Dallas - Jakub Sindel
21. Colorado - Jeff Schultz
22. New Jersey - Blake Wheeler
23. Ottawa - Andrej Meszaros
Maybe a suprise to some people that he is selected so low but I simply rate other d-man such as Green, Smid and Schultz higher for their two-way abilities/potential rather than Meszaros who I see to only have offensive d-man abilities/potential.
24. NY Rangers - Bruce Graham
25. Edmonton - Corey Schneider
26. Vancouver - Wes O'Neill
27. Washinton - Enver Lisin
28. San Jose - Lukas Kaspar
29. Detroit/Washington - Johan Fransson
30. Tampa Bay - Petteri Nokelainen
Best player in the draft, period.
2. Pittsburgh - Evgeni Malkin
Pittsburgh takes the 2nd best player in the draft but I wouldn't be suprised if they traded the pick to the NY Rangers for pick 6, 24 and a established player such as Tom Poti given that they could some more help now and in the future.
3. Chicago - Lauri Tukonen
Blackhawks fans get use to this or visa versa - Ruutu to Tukonen...goal!
4. Columbus - Rostislav Olesz
Given Klesla slow development they would be tempted to take Barker but Olesz is too good to pass up. Nash - Olesz - Zherdev could be NHL's best line in a couple of seasons.
5. Phoenix - Andrew Ladd
Drafting Ladd gives the yotes much needed depth on the LW.
6. NY Rangers - Cam Barker
As I said earlier, I wouldn't be suprised if they traded up but Barker is a good pick for the rags at no. 6.
7. Florida - Marek Schwarz
Florida won't pick a center or a d-man because they have good prospect depth in that area. They are hoping that Ladd or Tukonen will be available by pick 7 but because they're both gone, Florida drafts Schwarz who is the best player available. Schwarz gives Florida a very good goaltending prospect which they don't have in the system and excellent trade bait for the future.
8. Carolina - Boris Valabik
First reach of the draft, Carolina drafts Valabik given that they need a defensive d-man. The 'canes love his size and Chara like potential.
9. Anaheim - AJ Thelen
Thelen is a great choice for the ducks who are on the lookout for an offensive d-man.
10. Atlanta - Robbie Schremp
Thrashers are delighted to take Schremp given that they badly need more offensive prospects in the system.
11. Los Angeles - Alvaro Montoya
12. Minnesota - Alexandre Picard
13. Buffalo - Wojtek Wolski
14. Edmonton - Alexander Radulov
15. Nashville - Kyle Chipchura
16. NY Islanders - Mike Green
17. St. Louis - Ladislav Smid
18. Montreal - Drew Stafford
Big suprise that he is still available but I think he slips down this far because players drafted ahead of him like Schremp, Picard, Wolski, Radulov and Chipchura have better offensive potential than Stafford who is probably a better all-round player than those players.
19. Calgary - Dave Bollard
20. Dallas - Jakub Sindel
21. Colorado - Jeff Schultz
22. New Jersey - Blake Wheeler
23. Ottawa - Andrej Meszaros
Maybe a suprise to some people that he is selected so low but I simply rate other d-man such as Green, Smid and Schultz higher for their two-way abilities/potential rather than Meszaros who I see to only have offensive d-man abilities/potential.
24. NY Rangers - Bruce Graham
25. Edmonton - Corey Schneider
26. Vancouver - Wes O'Neill
27. Washinton - Enver Lisin
28. San Jose - Lukas Kaspar
29. Detroit/Washington - Johan Fransson
30. Tampa Bay - Petteri Nokelainen
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