Why did the Panthers take Ed Jovanovski first overall in 1994?

[Sticks and Pucks]

I was reading back on the 1994 draft previews and Bonk was the number 1 rated prospect and O'Neill was the top CHL prospect. There was also talk of Tverdovsky being the Russian Bobby Orr. People also compared Bonsignore to Mario Lemieux. So what exactly made the Panthers decide to take Jovo first overall?

Click to read more...

 

[Wizeman*]

He was a franchise defense man who could also score . A player to build a new team around. Was a good pick as far as I am concerned.

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

Well, I don't think anyone will argue against the pick itself. Jovo was obviously the best pick in hindsight considering how everyone else panned out. I am more interested in why the Panthers decided to pass up the other guys that year considering they were more hyped.

 

[Terry Yake]

turned out to be the best pick considering the careers bonk and o'neill had. some good seasons but nothing spectacular

jovo was big and he could score. no reason to pass up a kid like that. speaking of jovo, is he on long term IR or is there any chance he plays this season?

 

[mco543]

Tallon said he should be back in a week or two.

When I was a kid my first favorite player on the Panthers was Jovo, they had a fan event after the 96 or 97 season where we could vote on the new captain and I voted for him and it took a good 15+ years but my voice was finally heard.

 

[mrhockey193195]

I vaguely remember that Jovo didn't start playing organized hockey until he was into his teens...I'm guessing there was part of that "superstar athlete" aura about him, maybe similar to how Michael Vick was viewed before he was drafted. Nobody was going to confuse those guys for being the "smartest" players at their sports, but there was a sense that they could be molded and developed to reach higher heights than anyone else.

 

[McRpro]

I vaguely remember that Jovo didn't start playing organized hockey until he was into his teens...I'm guessing there was part of that "superstar athlete" aura about him, maybe similar to how Michael Vick was viewed before he was drafted. Nobody was going to confuse those guys for being the "smartest" players at their sports, but there was a sense that they could be molded and developed to reach higher heights than anyone else.

He was 11.

 

[TheMoreYouKnow]

Jovo seemed like the total package. You rarely get D-men who have the size and strength to physically dominate and the skill to provide good offense. He's by no means a bust but doubtlessly he didn't quite reach the projected ceiling either..

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

Does anyone remember that draft year? Was Tverdovsky the more touted d-man?

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

as i recall, jovo was a late riser in his draft year. going into their draft year, it was o'neill. as the season went on, bonk was lighting up grown men on the scoreboard and pushing them around on the ice in the IHL and he became the consensus number one. tverdovsky had a standout WJC and gained support, especially being that o'neill didn't make the canada team and bonsignore was invisible for the US. but jovo came almost out of nowhere (17 year old OHL rookie), or at least as far as i could tell though i was 13 at the time. going into the draft itself, i was sure bonk was going to go number one, bonsignore number two, and o'neill number three.


the other funny thing about that draft, and i watched it on tsn, is after edmonton took bonsignore at number four, then hartford took o'neill with the fifth pick, the commentators were absolutely sure edmonton would take future oilers captain ethan moreau with the sixth pick. moreau and bonsignore were linemates in the OHL and apparently had really great chemistry. obviously, ryan smyth was the right pick.

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

as i recall, jovo was a late riser in his draft year. going into their draft year, it was o'neill. as the season went on, bonk was lighting up grown men on the scoreboard and pushing them around on the ice in the IHL and he became the consensus number one. tverdovsky had a standout WJC and gained support, especially being that o'neill didn't make the canada team and bonsignore was invisible for the US. but jovo came almost out of nowhere (17 year old OHL rookie), or at least as far as i could tell though i was 13 at the time. going into the draft itself, i was sure bonk was going to go number one, bonsignore number two, and o'neill number three.


the other funny thing about that draft, and i watched it on tsn, is after edmonton took bonsignore at number four, then hartford took o'neill with the fifth pick, the commentators were absolutely sure edmonton would take future oilers captain ethan moreau with the sixth pick. moreau and bonsignore were linemates in the OHL and apparently had really great chemistry. obviously, ryan smyth was the right pick.

You bring up a few interesting points.

1) I heard O'Neill had a fear of flying back in the day. Was this the reason he didn't make the WJC or was he simply not good enough?

2) Interesting your top three was all forwards. I would have been under the impression that if a d-man was available at third overall, the Sens would jump all over that (considering they already had Yashin and Daigle).

3) Yeah, looking at Moreau's junior stats, they were pretty awesome so I guess it wouldn't have been farfetched to take him sixth. I do wonder whether Bonsignore would have developed better if he got to play with Moreau in his early days.

 

[Terry Yake]

Does anyone remember that draft year? Was Tverdovsky the more touted d-man?

1994

they were calling tverdovsky the "russian bobby orr" so i'd assume he was the #1 ranked defenseman in the draft with jovo at #2

 

[JWells16]

Based on your description, it sounds like this was the draft for media hyperbole.

 

[DisgruntledGoat*]

Based on your description, it sounds like this was the draft for media hyperbole.

For whatever reason, it sure seems that way. I'm posting this from memory but a few gems I remember (someone correct me if I get some details wrong):

'When Messier was 17 years old and playing pro hockey, he had 1 goal. Bonk had 42' - Cliff Fletcher

'I played against Bobby Orr and this guy [Tverdovsky] is Orr' - John Ferguson

Then there was an Oiler scout (not sure if he was ever named specifically) saying that Bonsignore would, 'make everyone forget about that Lemieux guy'

O'Neil was being compared to Gilmour, Jovo to Stevens, Moreau to Shanahan... All this on the heels of 1992 draft where Ottawa's computer crashed and they had to use THN instead of their own list (and where TB told everyone they wanted Yashin but took Hamrlik), and the 1993 draft with the Ottawa tanking scandal...

Drafts will never be as interesting again

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

1) I heard O'Neill had a fear of flying back in the day. Was this the reason he didn't make the WJC or was he simply not good enough?

hmm, i've never heard that actually, so i don't know. but that WJC team was very heavy with 18 and 19 year olds at forwards, and the two draft year guys they did take specialist role guys with one overriding skill-- jeff friesen (speed) and jason botterill (size). what o'neill would have given them they already had in spades.

1994

they were calling tverdovsky the "russian bobby orr" so i'd assume he was the #1 ranked defenseman in the draft with jovo at #2

Based on your description, it sounds like this was the draft for media hyperbole.

well, i think we always have to take these comparisons with a grain of salt. but i think those comparisons are about playing style, not projected impact. jovo (the next scott stevens) was, i believe, ranked ahead of tverdovsky (the next bobby orr) on draft day.

bonsignore was famously compared to mario (because he was so tall and slick, or was it because he was pissy about where he played?), o'neill was a center in the OHL and was compared to gilmour (because, presumably, neither is very tall?), bonk was supposed to be jagr if jagr played center (because they had the same mullet). jamie storr, who starred in that year's WJC, was supposed to be the best goalie prospect in a generation (the other contenders for that dubious honour: jimmy waite, trevor kidd, jocelyn thibault).


btw--

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

i just did a little article-digging to try to better remember the discussion leading up to the draft. that was back when i used to follow prospects and the WJC much more closely than i have the opportunity to do now, as an adult with a job and responsibilities. here are a few things i've been able to dig up, starting with a couple of controversies about the draft:


on bonk falling to 3--

The Ducks' selection of Tverdovsky was the first upset of the draft--and marked the first time two defenseman have gone 1-2. True, the Ducks had little need for another goalie, even if they did consider Storr the best goalie in the draft in years. And though Ferreira says money didn't enter his consideration, club president Tony Tavares made it clear the Ducks weren't interested in another contract stalemate like the one they're in with Paul Kariya, last year's No. 4 overall. That was the prospect presented by Bonk, who starred with minor league Las Vegas last season at 17.

on brett lindros (i'd never ever heard about this before, and it's not elabourated; anyone want to chime in?)--

The Kings, who figured Storr would be gone by the seventh pick, got their man--barely avoiding a potential fiasco by picking Brett Lindros, who reportedly had made it clear he didn't want to play with Wayne Gretzky.

"We probably would have taken young Lindros--and worried about it later," McMaster said.

on tivo--

Most observers ranked Tverdovsky third or fourth, but the Ducks saw it differently. . .

"When I saw him play in Russia, he brought me out of my seat," said Ferreira, who describes Tverdovsky as a future quarterback for the Ducks' needy power play, though perhaps not as soon as next season. "He's the type of offensive defenseman that every team that wins championships has, a Sergei Zubov, a Brian Leetch, a Ray Bourque. I'm not comparing him to them, though, I'd never put that pressure on him."

source: http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-29/sports/sp-9822_1_nhl-draft

another article about not taking bonk because of financial considerations-- http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-29/sports/sp-9819_1_mighty-ducks



on jamie storr-

"I think Jamie Storr is probably the surest bet to be a star in this league,'' Anaheim GM Jack Ferreira said.

jeff o'neill on jason bonsignore--

But before anybody pencils in O'Neill's name, the latest word is that Bonsignore's upside potential is impressive enough for the new regime to have him slightly ahead of O'Neill. To make the comparisons short, Bonsignore is called a Mario Lemieux type and O'Neill is called a Doug Gilmour type. Each has been criticized for wavering intensity.

When asked for a comparisons, O'Neill said: "Basically Jason's chicken. And I'm not.'' O'Neill was joking.

others on bonsignore--

A few weeks ago, Bonsignore kidded that golf and girls softball had gotten more coverage than he had in the Rochester, N.Y., media. But there was a recent front page story there that said he is being recognized as only the fourth person from a major sport drafted in the first round from the Rochester area. . .

Bonsignore was introduced as playing for Newmarket of the OHL at the NHL draft preview Monday at the Civic Center mall. Actually, he'd like to forget Newmarket. He was traded to Niagara Falls during the season and played much better afterward.

``The upside on Bonsignore is very high,'' Schinkel said. ``The risk? Will he reach it? He's 6 foot 4. Great skater. I'd like to see him finish better. Good playmaker. He's got to forecheck a little harder. Coaching can take care of that. I think you can teach the checking, playing without the puck and faceoffs. The team he played on in Newmarket had a lot of internal problems. I think it affected him.''

source: http://articles.courant.com/1994-06-28/sports/9406280439_1_whalers-potvin-jamie-storr


on the wings possibly trading up for storr--

Rumors were hot and heavy that the Red Wings, who draft 23rd, were trying to move into Ottawa's third position to draft Storr, who would become the first goalie to be drafted higher than fifth (Tom Barrasso, '83, Sabres).

on the bobby orr comparison--

Tverdovsky, 18, is from the coal-mining area of Donetsk. He's a 6-foot, 183-pound rushing defenseman who is said to be a smooth skater and good playmaker with an excellent shot. But Bobby Orr?

"In my mind, he's no Bobby Orr and he's no Brian Leetch," said John Chapman, the Panthers' director of player personnel. "He's a great, great offensive talent, but he's no Orr."

on the nordiques and brett lindros--

How long does Nordiques Chairman Marcel Aubut hold a grudge? We could find out today.

The Nordiques, who have the ninth and 10th picks in the first round, could face the prospect of having to decide whether to draft Brett Lindros, Eric's brother.

Brett is 6-4, 215, and while he doesn't have Eric's skill, he is a punishing right winger who could go anywhere in the first round between fifth and 15th. But would the Nordiques take Brett after Eric, drafted by the Nords, refused to play in Quebec?

Aubut isn't saying.

As for Brett? "It's not up for discussion. I'm not interested in going to Quebec. I can't foresee them taking me, but you never know. You don't know if Marcel still holds a grudge."

source: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-06-28/sports/9406270352_1_today-s-nhl-draft-quebec-red-wings


on bonk vs. jovo--

Clarke is not a big Bonk fan and would not have taken him first if he had stayed with the Panthers. Clarke said if he were making the pick and hadn't been able to trade it, he would take Windsor, Ontario, defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who offers the much-coveted combination of offensive skills and strong, hard-hitting defensive play.

"Bonk's a better player right now," Clarke said. "But a few years down the road, Jovanovski will be better than Bonk."

on it being a weak draft (presumably compared to the can't-miss talent at the top of the '90, 91, and '93 drafts)--

Neither Bonk nor Jovanovski is likely to have a huge NHL impact this season. The Panthers, who very nearly made the playoffs in their first season, need to show their fans some progress. The easiest way to do that would be to trade the first overall pick to a team that covets Bonk or Jovanovski, receiving a couple of veterans in return.

"If I was still there," Clarke said, "I'd be shopping the hell out of that pick." . . .

Still, Clarke noted that first-round picks very well might be shopped by a number of clubs in what it considered something of a lackluster year for talent.

"I think there's clubs that are drafting in the first round that want to trade their picks, because they don't want to pay the price to sign these kids under today's rules," Clarke said.

source: http://articles.philly.com/1994-06-28/sports/25832604_1_russ-farwell-flyers-gm-jerry-melnyk


on players falling--

It was somewhat predictable, given Torrey's history. But it was one of the few expected turns in an eventful first round that began with Bonk and goalie Jamie Storr slipping surprisingly and continued with several significant trades as teams jockeyed to draft Brett Lindros.

Bonk and Storr could have gone as high as 1-2. But Anaheim selected defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky of Ukraine at No. 2 and Bonk went third to Ottawa. Edmonton took center Jason Bonsignore (No. 4) and left wing Ryan Smyth (No. 6), with the Whalers selecting center Jeff O'Neill in between. Storr lasted until No. 7, going to Los Angeles.

on tivo vs. bonk--

If there was surprise that Bonk didn't go No. 1, there was downright shock when Anaheim went for Tverdovsky No. 2. Mighty Ducks GM Jack Ferreira must have been reading the clippings -- the ones that had Ottawa director of player personnel John Ferguson calling Tverdovsky the next Bobby Orr.

He might be, but the Ottawa contingent was flabbergasted when Anaheim took Tverdovsky, allowing Bonk to drop another spot.

"You've got a player of this caliber, you've got to grab him,'' Ottawa GM Randy Sexton said.

source: http://articles.courant.com/1994-06...y-brett-lindros-nhl-central-scouting-services


the one guy i couldn't find anything on was jason wiemer. i remember a lot of the year he was considered #5, behind bonk, o'neill, bonsignore, and storr. another guy who obviously got passed with jovo coming out of nowhere and scouts banking on him continuing to improve at a meteoric rate, and tivo, who most scouts hadn't seen much of previously, having an excellent WJC tournament, outshining everyone else in the draft other than storr in that tournament.

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

Late riser, all the tools of a #1 defenceman. Right pick at the time, right pick in hindsight.

 

[Big Phil]

There were some bad drafts at that time. 1994, 1995 and 1996 were awful. While 1993 and 1997 were very good at the time and in hindsight. 1994 I always felt was sort of a crapshoot. There were a lot of guys who could get drafted #1. Neither of them stood out like a sore thumb either. Jovo for a while maintained a high level of play. Not Norris-type, but no one raised an eyebrow when he made the 2002 Olympic team if that means anything.

 

[Sokil]

Drafts will never be as interesting again

there are statements like this every draft

kyle turris is the next steve yzerman

luke schenn is adam foote

phil kessel is "the american sidney crosby"

and so on

 

[monster_bertuzzi]

There were some bad drafts at that time. 1994, 1995 and 1996 were awful. While 1993 and 1997 were very good at the time and in hindsight. 1994 I always felt was sort of a crapshoot. There were a lot of guys who could get drafted #1. Neither of them stood out like a sore thumb either. Jovo for a while maintained a high level of play. Not Norris-type, but no one raised an eyebrow when he made the 2002 Olympic team if that means anything.

Top 10 defenceman from 2000-2004 in the NHL, bar none. Didn't pan out to win multiple Norris's like some thought, but a really good career anyways.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

For whatever reason, it sure seems that way. I'm posting this from memory but a few gems I remember (someone correct me if I get some details wrong):

'When Messier was 17 years old and playing pro hockey, he had 1 goal. Bonk had 42' - Cliff Fletcher

'I played against Bobby Orr and this guy [Tverdovsky] is Orr' - John Ferguson

Then there was an Oiler scout (not sure if he was ever named specifically) saying that Bonsignore would, 'make everyone forget about that Lemieux guy'

O'Neil was being compared to Gilmour, Jovo to Stevens, Moreau to Shanahan... All this on the heels of 1992 draft where Ottawa's computer crashed and they had to use THN instead of their own list (and where TB told everyone they wanted Yashin but took Hamrlik), and the 1993 draft with the Ottawa tanking scandal...

Drafts will never be as interesting again

the best quote, which i can't find but i'm sure many of us remember it, is isles GM don maloney calling brett lindros "the better lindros" after the draft.

i remember a newspaper quoting that and then snarkily pointing out that eric had just scored 44 goals in the NHL, while brett only managed to score 4 in the OHL (albeit in only 15 games, but eric still had easily the higher goals/game average).

 

[Sticks and Pucks]

i just did a little article-digging to try to better remember the discussion leading up to the draft. that was back when i used to follow prospects and the WJC much more closely than i have the opportunity to do now, as an adult with a job and responsibilities. here are a few things i've been able to dig up, starting with a couple of controversies about the draft:


on bonk falling to 3--





on brett lindros (i'd never ever heard about this before, and it's not elabourated; anyone want to chime in?)--





on tivo--



source: http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-29/sports/sp-9822_1_nhl-draft

another article about not taking bonk because of financial considerations-- http://articles.latimes.com/1994-06-29/sports/sp-9819_1_mighty-ducks



on jamie storr-





jeff o'neill on jason bonsignore--




others on bonsignore--



source: http://articles.courant.com/1994-06-28/sports/9406280439_1_whalers-potvin-jamie-storr


on the wings possibly trading up for storr--




on the bobby orr comparison--




on the nordiques and brett lindros--



source: http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-06-28/sports/9406270352_1_today-s-nhl-draft-quebec-red-wings


on bonk vs. jovo--




on it being a weak draft (presumably compared to the can't-miss talent at the top of the '90, 91, and '93 drafts)--



source: http://articles.philly.com/1994-06-28/sports/25832604_1_russ-farwell-flyers-gm-jerry-melnyk


on players falling--




on tivo vs. bonk--



source: http://articles.courant.com/1994-06...y-brett-lindros-nhl-central-scouting-services


the one guy i couldn't find anything on was jason wiemer. i remember a lot of the year he was considered #5, behind bonk, o'neill, bonsignore, and storr. another guy who obviously got passed with jovo coming out of nowhere and scouts banking on him continuing to improve at a meteoric rate, and tivo, who most scouts hadn't seen much of previously, having an excellent WJC tournament, outshining everyone else in the draft other than storr in that tournament.

That's some impressive research there. I didn't realize Storr was so highly rated that year. Also, was there a lot of hype on Brett Lindros that year? From the articles you dug up, it seems like a lot of teams were interested in him. Was he expected to go higher than 9th? Interesting that neither Smyth nor Friesen was much talked about, yet they were the guys who eventually panned out.

Also, I noticed Friesen had 116 points in his draft year and made the WJC, so why was there not more discussion of him leading up to the draft?

 

[Johnny Engine]

Out of everything else, those O'Neill/Gilmour comparisons just seem insane to me.
O'Neill was 6'1" with a wicked slapshot, and I don't remember speed, dangling, PKing or playmaking ever being an exceptional part of his game. I know he was at very least gritty when he was at his best, but with all the 90s era power forwards kicking around, I'm surprised they weren't pulling out names like Gary Roberts or Keith Tkachuk.
I wouldn't expect bombastic physicality like Neely or Tocchet from O'Neill, but Gilmour as a comparison seems even further off.

And Bonsignore was exactly like Mario Lemieux, with the added caveat of being very very bad.

 

[19Yzerman19]

That's some impressive research there. I didn't realize Storr was so highly rated that year. Also, was there a lot of hype on Brett Lindros that year? From the articles you dug up, it seems like a lot of teams were interested in him. Was he expected to go higher than 9th? Interesting that neither Smyth nor Friesen was much talked about, yet they were the guys who eventually panned out.

Also, I noticed Friesen had 116 points in his draft year and made the WJC, so why was there not more discussion of him leading up to the draft?

he was thought to be lazy

 

[DaveG]

Out of everything else, those O'Neill/Gilmour comparisons just seem insane to me.
O'Neill was 6'1" with a wicked slapshot, and I don't remember speed, dangling, PKing or playmaking ever being an exceptional part of his game. I know he was at very least gritty when he was at his best, but with all the 90s era power forwards kicking around, I'm surprised they weren't pulling out names like Gary Roberts or Keith Tkachuk.
I wouldn't expect bombastic physicality like Neely or Tocchet from O'Neill, but Gilmour as a comparison seems even further off.

And Bonsignore was exactly like Mario Lemieux, with the added caveat of being very very bad.

O'Neill had pretty decent wheels. Nowhere near his Carolina linemate Kapanen, but he certainly got around a lot better then Tkachuk or Roberts did. Definitely not Gilmour fast though, stylistically Neely was probably the closest but O'Neill never came close to having that physical edge to him.