I agree 100% with Moose here that the Hawks are the winners of the 2004 draft, far as we can judge from today.
Cam Barker IMO was the hands down 3rd best player in the draft. He has all the tools both offensively and defensively to become a star defensman. He's the kind of defensman who you can build the defensive corps around. He's a great prospect.
David Bolland could've been picked anywhere after the 20th overall spot and it wouldn't have been a reach. He fell to the 32nd spot simply because of size. He is a good skater, he has a lot of jam, brings it every night, is a tough guy, strong on the puck and has good finishing skills. I loved this pick.
Ryan Garlock was also a great pick up. He's going to be a damn fine 3rd liner down the road, but he has the tools to be more then that. He's a safe pick and was a great value for were they were picking. At times he too looked like a first round worthy prospect to me. I only saw him one time, but it was a great showing and I was left very impressed.
Bryan Bickell brings alot to the table. With his size and love for the physical game...he could be a force even if he does loose his offensive talents, that he doesn't use enough. Any time you can add a huge guy who loves to hit, you need to jump on it, He appears to be a solid third liner with great size and physical prescense, then other times you see him dangling the puck and showing some great skills, that make you think he could be a forcefull powerforward. Some say he's boom or bust, IMO he's BOOM or most likely being a 3rd line 4th line ficture because of his size and his love for the physical game.
Much like Bolland Jakub Sindel was worthy of a 1st round pick, I figured he would've been picked. Obviosly he is a project who could likely never become more then a great player in the Czech Elite league. How he translates to the NHL IMO well be a testimate of his work ethic. The book on him is he's a great leader, a great guy on the ice, but he simply doesn't bring that attitude to the gym. He NEEDS TO BULK UP.. He's such an easy player to knock off the puck it seems. He's one of the fastest players in the hole draft though and unlike Enver Lisin, he knows how to use it. He also has some great hands and excelent vision. Lisin was a steal of a pick this late. Although he may never be a player in the NHL.
Adam Berti.. A good pick and great value, but I really don't care for him as a player.
I have to echo Duff88 and say that the Wild also had the best day 2 of the draft with excelent late round picks.
I think the Rangers did well with three of there first four selections, Bruce Graham at 50??? I think he's a more complete player then Blake Wheeler at this time, I guess the upside isn't the same, but anytime you can get a slick moving 6-6 player, who plays best in big games, and all around he really improved threw the year, if he has another solid year of devolopment and continues to play with grit...WOW.
Lauri Korpikoski was a great pick up at 19. He has all the skill to become a 1st line option. He has solid size, and he brings a great work ethic to the Rangers. He's going be a great player...The only question on him though was this year just the tip of the ice berg for him? Was it a flash in the pan that he can't repeat? or is this just were he should be? Rangers are hoping it's not the 2nd option and I honestly don't believe it well happen.
I had Schwarz ranked over Montoya but you can't deny Alvaro as a great prospect. He was very close, and he put on a huge performance that completely won me over at the WJC's. I was amazed at how composed he was in the gold medal game, down 3-1 in the third period, Canada was peppering him with shots and he never was fazed...He kept the USA in that game. Awesome tournament, he continues to impress. Overall I just don't think he'll be harder to score then Schwarz well. But still an elite goaltender prospect.
Washington Capitals had a good first round and really walked away from the first round as good as I could've wanted out of them. Mike Green should've been a top 20 pick and is a great great defensman. He reminds me alot of Scott Hannan, just two inches shorter. Jeff Schultz is a great prospect, I love how agile he is and how quick he is for a man his size, plus he's a pretty smart guy and his defensive game is underated, not to mention his slick offensive skills. I never seen Chris Bourque play so I won't say anything on him either then this, If he's taller, none of you are bashing this selection. I actually like Oscar Hedman more then Fransson...I really do. I really think he's going to be a very solid all around 4-5th defensman were I just don't see Fransson being more then a specialist, only offensive defensman.
I also really like what Ottawa did, Meszaros was a excelent pick. I like him more then Smid my self defensively, But I suppose his upside isn't as big because he can't skate as well and Smid has the better hands. For along time I thought Kirill Lyamin was a dark horse to go to San Jose late in the 1st round, I'm a big fan of his and I think he can emerge into a Brad Stuart like defensman, just more mistake free, honestly i'm that high on him. His offensive game is coming along, he's a mean mean brute, not to mention he moves pretty well for a man his size and has great poise.
Homer talk here: In my top 60 I ranked Kaspar at 19...I love the fact that the Sharks traded up to secure a talent like him. The knock on his defensive game is hogwash. He blocks shots, he really shows good effort, plus he was arguably the most physical Czech at the WJC's. I love the pick.
Robby Earl ...Toronto Maple Leafs. He is dangerously shifty and quick, great great hands, and excelent finishing skills, but you just need to light a fire under his butt.
He's under one of the best coaches in the NCAA in Eaves. Give him three more years of devolopment with coach Eaves and the Leaves well have a heck of a player. You heard it here first!
Edmonton Oilers also walked away from the draft table with some great picks.
Ignoring who they passed up on to take Dubnyk (SCHWARZ!!) This was a great day 1. Just because I like Schwarz more doesn't mean I dislike Dubnyk. I think the fact that they passed up on Marek blinds people to realizing that Dubnyk is a excelent prospect to have in goal. Naturally you gotta love his size, but he's extremely quick down low, and he has good fundamental hands, makes saves look easy, and can flat out dominate a game. Plays good in big games as well, lateral movement aint half bad either. Rebound control is better then the two goalies I had ranked above him.
Robbie Schremp at 25?? WHOA. Robbie is a magician with his stick. He is an amazing playmaker. Mabey the best playmaker in the draft, he also can finish. He has great moves, and with his vision and smarts offesnively he makes up for his lack of speed. Plus his lack of size is hogwash because he is tough on the puck and is hard to get a good read on ...How many times have you seen Robbie get hit off the puck...Just think about it.
Roman Tesliuk was an excelent pick who I really like and IMO is much like Green as he extremely underated. He well be a shut down defender who works his A$$ off. He's a great great team player and well be a defensman that other teams hate to play against but would love to have.
Geoff Paukovich is going be a solid third line player. Much like Bickell for the Hawks, I see Geoff as a guy who has really big upside, but likely well be more of a big big guy who loves to hit and play nasty. Every team can use a huge nasty son of a gun, and the Oilers got one here. He also has some great skill, mainly his speed and hard shot that make me wonder if he can be more then a big mean man.
