Nashville:
1st round, 4th overall: Luke Schenn (D)
Originally planned to trade down a little, but couldn't find an appropriate suitor. Schenn's a rock-solid, tough defenseman who is almost NHL ready now. This resulting embarassment of riches should allow the team to move defensemen to solidify the present rather than the future.
1st round, 20th overall: Joe Colborne (C)
Impressive size made sweeter by excellent skating. Likely suffered in the rankings a bit being from the AJHL, but with the recent successes of Jr. A players such as Kyle Turris and Brendan Smith, Nashville is willing to take a gamble on a potentially high-reward player.
2nd round, 36th overall: Evgeny Grachev (LW)
Many teams are scared off of the big power forward with the skills of a small player due to transfer agreement concerns, but Nashville couldn't resist the temptation.
2nd round, 46th overall: Jyri Niemi (D)
Nashville's fourth pick who they feel should go in the first round. Another big player, although not as good of a skater as the previous three. He's got a bomb of a shot though (radar'd hardest in the CHL), and could develop into a power-play force.
3rd round, 66th overall: Philip McRae (C)
A bit of a gamble here. Nashville likes his two-way play and flashes of brilliance. He'll need to get stronger, but he has a good pedigree here (he's the son of former NHLer/tough guy Basil McRae). With the volume of picks Nashville has, they feel they can afford to take some risks.
3rd round, 78th overall: Kevin Poulin (G)
Before the season began, he was talked about as the best goalie prospect in the draft, and a probable first rounder. Some of that hype has worn off a bit after an inconsistent and often poor season, but Nashville recognizes that the talent is still there.
4th round, 96th overall: Jack Downing (LW)
Another player who probably should have been drafted last year. Downing plays a power-forward game and has the size to pull it off. He's got good hands too and hopefully will develop into a stud in and around the crease.
4th round, 113th overall: Zack Fenwick (D)
Nashville rolls the dice a bit here on the advice of their only amateur scout, a Kingston Frontenacs fan. He's got good size and work ethic.
5th round, 137th overall: Eddie Lack (G)
Nashville gets a steal here. Lack's an overager, but much like Gistedt last year, he may be one of the first goalies taken. He's posted excellent stats in the 2nd Swedish league, outplaying teammate Ed Belfour.
7th round, 197th overall: Tomas Voracek (D)
Nashville also feels they may have stolen one here. Similar to 2nd rounder Jyri Niemi: a big defenseman with a powerful shot. Nashville hopes he may have some of his brother's skill inside him as well.
Nashville makes a very safe pick in Luke Schenn and then takes a number of gambles, primarily on big players with decent skating abilities. It's a bit of a "boom-or-bust" draft, but Nashville feels confident that at least a few will turn out to be serious "booms".
1st round, 4th overall: Luke Schenn (D)
Originally planned to trade down a little, but couldn't find an appropriate suitor. Schenn's a rock-solid, tough defenseman who is almost NHL ready now. This resulting embarassment of riches should allow the team to move defensemen to solidify the present rather than the future.
1st round, 20th overall: Joe Colborne (C)
Impressive size made sweeter by excellent skating. Likely suffered in the rankings a bit being from the AJHL, but with the recent successes of Jr. A players such as Kyle Turris and Brendan Smith, Nashville is willing to take a gamble on a potentially high-reward player.
2nd round, 36th overall: Evgeny Grachev (LW)
Many teams are scared off of the big power forward with the skills of a small player due to transfer agreement concerns, but Nashville couldn't resist the temptation.
2nd round, 46th overall: Jyri Niemi (D)
Nashville's fourth pick who they feel should go in the first round. Another big player, although not as good of a skater as the previous three. He's got a bomb of a shot though (radar'd hardest in the CHL), and could develop into a power-play force.
3rd round, 66th overall: Philip McRae (C)
A bit of a gamble here. Nashville likes his two-way play and flashes of brilliance. He'll need to get stronger, but he has a good pedigree here (he's the son of former NHLer/tough guy Basil McRae). With the volume of picks Nashville has, they feel they can afford to take some risks.
3rd round, 78th overall: Kevin Poulin (G)
Before the season began, he was talked about as the best goalie prospect in the draft, and a probable first rounder. Some of that hype has worn off a bit after an inconsistent and often poor season, but Nashville recognizes that the talent is still there.
4th round, 96th overall: Jack Downing (LW)
Another player who probably should have been drafted last year. Downing plays a power-forward game and has the size to pull it off. He's got good hands too and hopefully will develop into a stud in and around the crease.
4th round, 113th overall: Zack Fenwick (D)
Nashville rolls the dice a bit here on the advice of their only amateur scout, a Kingston Frontenacs fan. He's got good size and work ethic.
5th round, 137th overall: Eddie Lack (G)
Nashville gets a steal here. Lack's an overager, but much like Gistedt last year, he may be one of the first goalies taken. He's posted excellent stats in the 2nd Swedish league, outplaying teammate Ed Belfour.
7th round, 197th overall: Tomas Voracek (D)
Nashville also feels they may have stolen one here. Similar to 2nd rounder Jyri Niemi: a big defenseman with a powerful shot. Nashville hopes he may have some of his brother's skill inside him as well.
Nashville makes a very safe pick in Luke Schenn and then takes a number of gambles, primarily on big players with decent skating abilities. It's a bit of a "boom-or-bust" draft, but Nashville feels confident that at least a few will turn out to be serious "booms".
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