Redline - February Report

[X0ssbar]

Top 10:

1. Sidney Crosby C 5-10/188 L 8/7/87 Rimouski
2. Gilbert Brulé C 5-11/180 R 1/1/87 Vancouver
3. Jack Johnson D 6-0/197 L 1/13/87 U.S. Natl. U-18s
4. Jack Skille LW 6-1/200 R 5/19/87 U.S. Natl. U-18s
5. Bobby Ryan LW 6-1/224 R 3/17/87 Owen Sound
6. J.-P. Levasseur G 6-1/183 R 1/15/87 Rouyn-Noranda
7. Carey Price G 6-3/212 L 8/16/87 Tri-City
8. Benoit Pouliot LW 6-2/180 L 9/29/86 Sudbury
9. Ryan O'Marra RW 6-3/195 R 6/9/87 Erie
10. Jakub Kindl D 6-2/193 L 1/5/87 Kitchener

Wow - three Americans in the top 5!

Link

Click to read more...

 

[Eb0la11]

Thanks top shelf, no one said anything which is kinda odd. I enjoyed the post, thanks.

 

[cagney]

That's pretty interesting. I figured Skille's stock would improve in rankings after his play at the U18 tournament but not that much. I'm interested in knowing how high the other scouting services have bumped him because RLR is always bold with thier personal favorites.

I'd also have to say that that's a pretty intense picture there (Skille looks downright pissed and that's Kessel crying on the right). It must be from last year's U18 World Championships when the US team lost by a goal to Russia after having what seemed like the game tying goal called off in the last minute.

 

[Quiet Robert]

Thanks for posting the list. That's an interesting top 10. Kindl as the no.2 ranked dman, is what's intruiged me most. I thought Marc Staal and/or Ryan Parent would have been ranked ahead of him. But what can you do

Also, having 2 goalies in the top 10. That's a little odd imo. Not unheard of, but I didn't know Levasseur and Price had gotten close to the top 5. Isn't Rask supposed to be rated higher than those two. Just a few thoughts.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

That's pretty interesting. I figured Skille's stock would improve in rankings after his play at the U18 tournament but not that much. I'm interested in knowing how high the other scouting services have bumped him because RLR is always bold with thier personal favorites.

I'd also have to say that that's a pretty intense picture there (Skille looks downright pissed and that's Kessel crying on the right). It must be from last year's U18 World Championships when the US team lost by a goal to Russia after having what seemed like the game tying goal called off in the last minute.

Yeah, you gotta love Woodlief's write-up: "Whether it's with a cracking wrist shot, a thunderous check, a beautiful set-up feed or his constant speed and pressure, Skille is now capable of taking over games. He's as inevitable a force as a 300-car freight train lumbering down the track. One way or another, he's going to wear down the opposition until they give in". Simmah down now Kyle!

Incidently, McKeen's has Skille at 9.

 

[leafaholix*]

Woodlief loves these tournaments.

He had Alexander Radulov at #3 around this time last year.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Woodlief likes to make risky picks so he can brag about them in the future and look good. That Kastitsyn is sure showing top 5 potential.

 

[Habs Icing]

Woodlief likes to make risky picks so he can brag about them in the future and look good. That Kastitsyn is sure showing top 5 potential.

Is that sarcasm? Cause Kostitsyn is not showing top 5 potential.

 

[CH Wizard]

Is that sarcasm? Cause Kostitsyn is not showing top 5 potential.

It was a sarcasm.

Kostitsyn is a bust. j/k








(I'm not kidding )

 

[cagney]

Incidently, McKeen's has Skille at 9.

Yeah, I forgot that McKeens recently bumped him into their top ten. However, that was before the U18 tournament so maybe his jump to the top 5 isn't as far off as I'd thought. Anyone know when the latest ISS rankings were put out and where Skille was on them?

It's interesting looking at the stats for the U18 team considering Skille's recent climb. He's got 52 points in 49 games and is playing like a top 10 draft pick according to two of the top three independent scouting services. Then you can look at Kessel and '88 born Mueller who have 67 points in 33 games and 55 points in 46 games respectively.

It's also interesting to note that Bobby Ryan was initially signed and sealed to the USNTDP team before Owen Sound managed to get him to reconsider and head to the OHL. He's done great there but part of me would have liked to see him together with all the others on the NTDP team.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Yeah, I forgot that McKeens recently bumped him into their top ten. However, that was before the U18 tournament so maybe his jump to the top 5 isn't as far off as I'd thought. Anyone know when the latest ISS rankings were put out and where Skille was on them?

It's interesting looking at the stats for the U18 team considering Skille's recent climb. He's got 52 points in 49 games and is playing like a top 10 draft pick according to two of the top three independent scouting services. Then you can look at Kessel and '88 born Mueller who have 67 points in 33 games and 55 points in 46 games respectively.

It's also interesting to note that Bobby Ryan was initially signed and sealed to the USNTDP team before Owen Sound managed to get him to reconsider and head to the OHL. He's done great there but part of me would have liked to see him together with all the others on the NTDP team.

I'm interested to see how many of these guys are going to be on the WJC team next year. Could be dynamite.

 

[cagney]

Woodlief loves these tournaments.

He had Alexander Radulov at #3 around this time last year.

I was thinking of that as well but the fact that McKeens has him in the top ten without his impressive performance at the U18 tournament factored in makes it more interesting.

 

[leafaholix*]

I was thinking of that as well but the fact that McKeens has him in the top ten without his impressive performance at the U18 tournament factored in makes it more interesting.

Well, just pointing out that Woodlief is often wrong.

Last Febuary's edition had...

3. Alexander Radulov (15)
6. Drew Stafford (13)
9. Dave Bolland (32)
10. Enver Lisin (50)

He loves the late season tournaments.

 

[TMHUNH]

Well, just pointing out that Woodlief is often wrong.

Last Febuary's edition had...

3. Alexander Radulov (15)
6. Drew Stafford (13)
9. Dave Bolland (32)
10. Enver Lisin (50)

He loves the late season tournaments.

How can you say he was wrong about anything. All he does is publish his own rankings, he isn't trying to predict anything.

I see what you are saying, and by the same token people shouldn't read into rankings like this as to "this is where player X will be drafted"

But saying he is wrong about anything, is well.....wrong

 

[leafaholix*]

How can you say he was wrong about anything. All he does is publish his own rankings, he isn't trying to predict anything.

I see what you are saying, and by the same token people shouldn't read into rankings like this as to "this is where player X will be drafted"

But saying he is wrong about anything, is well.....wrong

He may not be wrong, but to those who expect player X to go 3rd, 4th or 5th overall... his lists will be wrong.

 

[The Pucks]

Well, just pointing out that Woodlief is often wrong.

Last Febuary's edition had...

3. Alexander Radulov (15)
6. Drew Stafford (13)
9. Dave Bolland (32)
10. Enver Lisin (50)

He loves the late season tournaments.

Give it 5-7 years and then lets see who is right.

 

[Riggins]

Well, just pointing out that Woodlief is often wrong.

I may be mistaken but did he have Chistov ahead of Spezza before?

Don't dare question the ever so knowledgable Kyle Woodlief! The dude lashed out at me in an ESPN chat just for saying Korpikoski had "come out of nowhere". That started a whole tirade of his against THN.

 

[Jacob]

Ilya Zubov: If a horse were this lame, it would've been put down by now.

Juho Mielonen: This truly pains us. He's a real RLR favorite and an absolutely fabulous skater and passer, but we've seen better decision making and common sense from the Bush White House.

Brutal!

 

[Vlad The Impaler]

I may be mistaken but did he have Chistov ahead of Spezza before?

Ahead of Spezza and Kovalchuk and everybody, for a little while.

Then someone probably told him sniffing exhaust might make him giggle and do funny things but could also lead to permanent brain damage so he stopped, came back to reality and put Chistov a little below on the list.

At least, that's only reasonable explanation I can come up with.

 

[Form and Substance]

Ahead of Spezza and Kovalchuk and everybody, for a little while.

Then someone probably told him sniffing exhaust might make him giggle and do funny things but could also lead to permanent brain damage so he stopped, came back to reality and put Chistov a little below on the list.

At least, that's only reasonable explanation I can come up with.

and it's the only explanation that really matters to us.

 

[X0ssbar]

No doubt this draft is very top heavy with North Americans. With that said - who is the best Euro prospect out there? Kindl is European correct?

...and where are the Russians this year?

 

[Seachd]

How can you say he was wrong about anything. All he does is publish his own rankings, he isn't trying to predict anything.

I see what you are saying, and by the same token people shouldn't read into rankings like this as to "this is where player X will be drafted"

But saying he is wrong about anything, is well.....wrong

Yep. In the report he puts out right before the draft, he has a section devoted to players he thinks will go higher/lower in the draft than he has them ranked.

 

[Ruckus007]

I'm surprised nobody's jumped on this bit yet....

We're letting the cat out of the bag here on our next super sleeper. He is German netminder Lukas Lang, and now that the word is out, there will be a mad scramble to try and see him in league play over in Germany. His future international exposure will be minimal at best, so any team that didn't catch Lang at the recent U-19 tourney in Märsta, Sweden may not get to see him.

It's always dangerous to get excited about a 'keeper (especially a European one) off just one viewing — anyone can look like a world-beater for 60 minutes. But he's big, quick, flexible and has a great temperament for a goalie. The required attributes are all there.

An '86 birthdate who did not opt into last year's draft, Lang is the latest in the rapidly expanding list of intriguing netminders to come out of Germany in the last four or five years (Patzold, Ehelechner, etc.).

That begs the question: Does Germany's recent affinity for producing goalies make them the new Finland? If so, it provides Germany's sagging tourism industry with what is certain to become the hottest marketing slogan in decades: "Come to Germany, we're the new Finland!"

Yes Kyle, there will now be a mad scramble to get a glimpse of Lang now that you've unveiled him to the hockey world. If he's anything like Dave Brown, some team's going to get a steal... in 2006.



I don't mind him hyping up guys like Kostitsyn and Radulov if he truly believes their talent warrents being ranking that highly. But the incessant masturbatory self-congratulation is pretty rough to handle.

 

[helicecopter]

He may not be wrong, but to those who expect player X to go 3rd, 4th or 5th overall... his lists will be wrong.

 

[Hiishawk]

Yes Kyle, there will now be a mad scramble to get a glimpse of Lang now that you've unveiled him to the hockey world. If he's anything like Dave Brown, some team's going to get a steal... in 2006. I don't mind him hyping up guys like Kostitsyn and Radulov if he truly believes their talent warrents being ranking that highly. But the incessant masturbatory self-congratulation is pretty rough to handle.

I agree. Most scouts I've met are really humble regarding their finds. To assume that the NHL clus follow Woodlief's lead on these "sleepers" is assuming a bit much. Not only that but several teams had scouts at that particular U-19 tournament; it's not as if Woodlief found him playing on some hidden pond in Bavaria.