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Post by JohnnyVerdun on Jan 6, 2003 14:12:16 GMT -5
The 2002 draft has already shown signs of being a good one for Savard:
14 Christopher Higgins 45 Tomas Linhart 99 Michael Lambert 182 Andre Deveaux 212 Jonathan Ferland 275 Konstantin Korneyev
Higgins had a very solid tournament. Linhart is coming along nicely by all accounts. Ferland was a late cut by the WJC team. Korneyev had a very solid tournament as well. And Lambert is having a good season. Don't know about Deveaux, but so far the rest of them are doing well. Savard may have had fewer picks in this draft than other GMs, but it looks like he made good use of them....
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 6, 2003 15:07:48 GMT -5
It's too bad AS has traded a bunch of picks...imagine how many more prospects we could have if he hadn't!
and yes the 2002 draft looks like a fairly decent one for the number of picks we had and how weak the draft was.
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Post by PTH on Jan 6, 2003 17:30:55 GMT -5
Higgins is looking good, if one of Linhart and Korneev actually make it, it'll be an "average" draft. Given how it was rated as being a bad draft, being "average" would be terrific.
Personally, I'm betting on the Russkie making it. Our Russian scout got us Markov, Tarasov (who really could have worked out), Perezhogin... I'm willing to bet on him having gotten us another late-round gem.
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Post by montreal on Jan 6, 2003 20:21:44 GMT -5
Higgins is looking good, if one of Linhart and Korneev actually make it, it'll be an "average" draft. Given how it was rated as being a bad draft, being "average" would be terrific. Personally, I'm betting on the Russkie making it. Our Russian scout got us Markov, Tarasov (who really could have worked out), Perezhogin... I'm willing to bet on him having gotten us another late-round gem. I agree Korneev looks better then Linhart, but Linhart has good size and can clear the crease. To me the darkhorse is Ferland. He could bring something to the team we sorely need, but if he doesn't work on his skating it wont happen. He should be in the AHL next year, so we should get a better ideal of what he can bring to the table. Madded was the one responisble for us getting Korneev, as he talked Savard into going after him, when he saw him play in the U-18's. (he was a +12 )
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jan 7, 2003 9:33:56 GMT -5
Ferland reminds me an awful lot of Jason Ward. Now, I don't mean to put the kiss of death on the kid but their styles are very similar. Besides, I think Ward has steadily worked his way into earning an honest shot at an NHL roster spot over the last two seasons (if not us, perhaps Minnesota or NJ would make a good home for him).
Korneev is an interesting anomaly. Reminds me of Markov. Offensively gifted. Can play up front or back on the blueline. Has a headstart on Markov as far as playing defense goes. Enjoys standing 'em up and knocking 'em down too. At 176lbs needs to fill out. But he's only 18. Adding another 25lbs by the time he's 22 is not impossible. Madden said that he was the real eye-opener in the tourney.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 7, 2003 9:36:42 GMT -5
mr bozo, one difference
Ward was a first rounder
Ferland is a 9th rounder!
If Ferland manages to do what Ward has done so far in the AHL this year, I think it will be a big acccomplishment..
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Post by rocky on Jan 7, 2003 10:07:55 GMT -5
The thing that i liked most about Korneev was his work ethic. He was either constantly getting to the puck first or breaking up plays around his net. Many people have critized him for ducking under that big hit, but hey, he's still a junior. Although small right now all he needs to do is bulk up a bit and with his skills and work ethic I see a future NHLer. At the very worst he could go back to forward, but either way I like his chances.
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Post by Patty Roy on Jan 7, 2003 12:51:56 GMT -5
It does look like a good draft by Savard, especially when you consider how few picks we had.
Higgins looks like a real good one. Not necessarily a big impact NHLer, but a real good 3rd liner with skill who plays with intensity.
The others are all longterm projects. Linhart seems to have a great set of tools, but he is years away from contending for a spot. He does have good size, skates well and plays a physical game, which is nice.
Deveaux is a real big kid who plays a tough game, but has limited skill. He's not really a tough guy, but from what i saw of him in Hull he reminds me of a Wayne Primeau type player. He's a longshot, but an interesting pick, especially for the Habs.
Like PTH said, Higgins seems to be a surefire NHLer. If one of the others makes it then i say this draft was a success. If 2 of them make it then Savard and his staff did a great job.
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Post by Patty Roy on Jan 7, 2003 13:02:45 GMT -5
The thing that i liked most about Korneev was his work ethic. He was either constantly getting to the puck first or breaking up plays around his net. Many people have critized him for ducking under that big hit, but hey, he's still a junior. Although small right now all he needs to do is bulk up a bit and with his skills and work ethic I see a future NHLer. At the very worst he could go back to forward, but either way I like his chances. Like AS said, the fact that this kid saw so much key ice time and so much special team icetime (on a gold metal team) has to be a great sign.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 7, 2003 13:39:17 GMT -5
and on a team with highly touted guys like Grebeshkov, Tjutin, Koltsov and Ezhov...
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Post by seventeen on Jan 11, 2003 21:41:31 GMT -5
Before the game against Canada he wasn't on the ice for an even strength goal, and that continued in the final game too. I wasn't sure if he was the guy checking Upshall on Canada's second goal, the pp one. That's what I find amazing. He obviously doesn't make bad mistakes nor put teammates in positions where they are likely to make a bad mistake too. It's just that size issue. What the heck, Petr Svoboda weighed the same and we drafted him #5 in a pretty good year. As a late round pick, it's great. The scouting staff is the one area Savard has excelled, and I'd like to know how many of Houle's guys (scouts) are still around having an impact.
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