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Post by Lord Stanley on Jun 12, 2003 11:07:51 GMT -5
I hope Parise and Locke become superstars so we can get rid of the "size is #1 and talent can be taught" mentallity that has gripped the league for so many years for good. Talent should always be #1. I don't care if my player is a freakin' 3 foot 6 inch midget as long as he skates like the wind and scores in bunches and has incredible hockey sense. I know I took a lot of flak for wanting to make the nets bigger because of the boring game we have today, and I know people love to blame expansion and goalie pads for the problem (goalie pads yes, expansion a definitive no if you're using any logic whatsoever), but the big problem today is too many big guys who have no clue out there. They were drafted high because they were 6'4" behemoths that were scoring at a half-a-point pace in junior... and then people are shocked when they suck in the NHL. It's insanity, plain and simple. Get back to scouting based on talent and skill, not on stupid-ass photo ops for your first round pick, and I guarantee you a better game in five years. amen |
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Post by BadCompany on Jun 12, 2003 11:50:05 GMT -5
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jun 12, 2003 11:58:03 GMT -5
Nice find!
Interesting comments about Steve Bernier:
Scouting Report: Great size and a wicked shot best describe the manchild Bernier, whose average skating ability and lack of first-step quickness prevents him from being a top-five draft candidate. A gutsy, fiery kid who competes hard and puts up points in bunches, the former top pick in the 2001 Quebec League midget draft is an intriguing prospect and one who could become a lethal scoring forward in the NHL — or never fully realize his potential. Not overly aware defensively, Bernier more than makes up for that with his offensive prowess, but will need to improve that aspect of his game in the pros to stay out of the doghouse. In fairness to Bernier, he worked hard on his defense under coach Christian Larue, and has shown enough improvement that it shouldn’t be an issue for him down the road.
Projection: On paper, Bernier is the kind of prospect who screams top-line scoring winger, but the big question for teams is whether he is overrated. As someone who has had trouble controlling his weight, Bernier will have to be more diligent in his conditioning and living habits as he makes the jump to the pro ranks. He was an offensive monster for Moncton this season, and he could very well be a player who dazzles at the highest level despite concerns about his lack of quickness. His overall skill level is impressive enough, and with his ability to dominate down low and in the corners, he has the kind of size and grit that every NHL club is looking to cash in on. Someone is going to take a first-round flier on him, but where Bernier goes is still very much up in the air at this point.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 12, 2003 12:00:48 GMT -5
Zach! Zach! Zach! Scouting Report: Wow, what a player! A very good skater and shooter with top-shelf skills and instincts, Parise’s potential may yet earn him an early trip to the podium because of his terrific WJC performance in Halifax. The Fighting Sioux centerman also gets high marks for the intangibles he brings even if he lacks the size NHL teams look for. What sets him apart from most undersized players is his willingness to fight for the puck in the corners and pay the price to make the play. When you factor in an intense passion for the game and a genuine desire for self-improvement, you have to figure that the sky is the limit for the Minnesota native who scored 174 points in 63 high school games, and then followed it up with a 26-goal, 61-point performance in 39 NCAA games this year. Projection: The son of former Bruin J.P. Parise, Zach appears to have a higher upside than his father did during a solid NHL career. Possessing top-three forward potential, Parise is a player reminiscent of Paul Kariya one decade ago in terms of draft standing. He’s both immensely skilled and was very productive in his freshman season in college, but his size is sure to scare some teams off in the early going. The big question is: Can Parise have a similar impact in the NHL as Kariya? If enough teams believe in his abilities and his outstanding work ethic, then he won’t last past the 10th pick. He could turn out to be one of the real stars to emerge from this very talented class.Scout’s View: “Zach Parise showed this year that his lack of size isn’t as big a hindrance as some thought it would be. He is a guy who gives you everything he has every shift every night and that is one of the things that make him an attractive prospect in the 10-17 range. For a small guy he is hard to control in the offensive zone because he has such good agility. Parise isn’t a guy who will dazzle you with his straightaway speed, but his lateral movement is superb. He gets to open ice well and has an excellent release and hard shot. He also uses his linemates well. Overall, his offensive game and heart more than make up for his lack of size. I also like his leadership abilities.” — Tim MacLean, Red Line Report ------ If we don't draft at #10(if he is available), I am starting a riot  |
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Post by Fanwest on Jun 12, 2003 12:43:36 GMT -5
I'm back after a long absence from this board. Actually I formerly had a different user name.
I think everybody agrees the team's wet dream draft choice would be a dominating forward. Unfortunately there are not a lot of those around and a complete package PF just might not be available at number. So I would be delighted with Parise.
Actually I'm not sure the Habs are in a position yet to be overly fussy yet about what type of player they draft. They need talent--period. It seems to me the team still needs to put some foundations in place and bring as much talent as they can before they start looking at filling certain parts of the puzzle. There are a lot of needs to be met--not just the need for a power forward.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 12, 2003 13:42:11 GMT -5
uh, welcome back and what was your former namesake?
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Post by HabzFan on Jun 12, 2003 14:35:30 GMT -5
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Post by Thomas on Jun 12, 2003 15:39:58 GMT -5
Zach! Zach! Zach! If we don't draft at #10(if he is available), I am starting a riot I'll be glad to join that riot. When a scouting report opens up with "Wow" you have to be amazed. Parise was the first on my list, with Pahneuf a close 2nd, but I think Parise just opened up a huge gap! DRAFT PARISE! ;D This article is even more impressive! thnx HabzFan: A strong skater with good acceleration and agility … a wide-based skater who is very well balanced and hard to knock off the puck … possesses a very quick wrist shot with an effective release while in full flight … a talented passer and creative playmaker … has excellent puck handling skills and works well in heavy traffic … plays with confidence and excels in pressure situations … a face-off specialist … a tenacious two-way player who is very aware of his defensive responsibilities … a very well conditioned athlete who plays at a high level of intensity and grit … a relentless forechecker who plays fearlessly in the corners and in front of the net … will sacrifice himself to block shots and to make the play … an unselfish team player who displays strong leadership qualities … plays with determination and has the ability to change the momentum of the game. "A phenomenal freshman. I mean, we expected him to be a good player for us, but we certainly didn't expect him to dominate the way he had. He's really got it all, he's quick, got great puck skills, he scores, he fights his way to the net, he finds a way to get his points. He really garnered a lot of attention from the opposition in every game, and he still managed to put up those numbers." - North Dakota head coach Dean Blais "Zach's a good team guy, a quiet leader and a very dedicated athlete. He's always the last one to leave the ice, he practices on his own time or he's always in the weight room." - Blais Was going to bold the really good points, but it ended up being the whole article  |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 12, 2003 18:21:13 GMT -5
Great analysis: Parise has the potential to be 5'11" Bernier and Stewart have the potential to be 6'4" and mountains in front of the opponents net. Size isn't everything, but Bernier and Stewart can score too. I'd like to see Traverse and Brisebois traded to Toronto and trying to move Bernier (in a Hab's uniform) our of the slot. |
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Post by seventeen on Jun 13, 2003 0:38:45 GMT -5
Those write-ups are confirming my gut feel about my 3 faves, Parise, Phaneuf and Kastsitsyn. Damn I wish we had 3 high 1st round picks.
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jun 13, 2003 6:34:14 GMT -5
I can see one good reason Bernier isn't ranked as high as some expect him to be. He's 6'2.5 and 233lbs, but he's fat. Look at his photo on the CSB site.
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Post by BadCompany on Jun 13, 2003 8:03:23 GMT -5
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Post by Habsfunk on Jun 13, 2003 10:20:39 GMT -5
There are 5 guys I'd like to see the Habs pick at #10:
1) Andrei Katsitsyn - he sounds like the type of player Andre Savard loves. Tonnes of offensive talent, battles through traffic and a great goal scorer. He could be the dynamic offensive threat to play alongside Koivu in a few years.
2) Dion Phaneuf: Another potential top 2 defenseman in the system never hurts, especially with Hainsey coming off a poor season.
3) Zach Parise: If he were 2 inches taller he'd be my top choice because he has so much talent and works so hard. The only problem is that we already have a lot of small centres in the system. I know you should draft the BPA but sometimes you have to look at teams need.
4) Hugh Jessiman: He's huge, fast and has good hands, he just needs to put it all together. Also take into consideration the fact that he's progressed by leaps and bounds the past few years and he could end up a dominant centre. I get the impression that he's an Antropov type with more speed, and if he can avoid injury problems there's nothing wrong with that.
5) Steve Bernier: Everything I've heard leads me to believe he can be a bonafide powerforward in the NHL. Everyone sings his praises yet ranks him so low, which makes little sense to me but is still slightly worrying. Surely we can do much worse than a kid who's been compared to Mike Bossy and is 6'3" 230 lbs. If he can get into better shape, transform some of that fat into muscle, then he'll be one hell of a player.
Honourable mentions: Dustin Brown, Ryan Getzlaf.
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Post by TheHabsfan on Jun 13, 2003 11:56:31 GMT -5
I appreciate everyone's input on this subject and many are making a good case on why they would pick this guy or that guy. I have finally made up my mind on who I want in the first round from our 10th pick: Phaneuf. Here's why: 1. Imagine for one minute that in a few years from now, Phaneuf would be one one defensive pairing and Komo on another, who in their right mind would go into our defensive zone with their head down. A nervous player makes mistakes. 2. Again, imagine Komo and Phaneuf on the same team. Both are big tough guys who love to hit. Can you imagine the two getting together on a little game...Let's see who can get the best legal hit? Teams hate playing against Scott Stevens...imagine having to play against 2 of them!!! 3. We (ok, I) have been calling for a bonafide brawler for this team for a long time now..(since Kordic,  ) If we were to bring in talented guys like these 2 to play and lay down the law, I don't see a real need for a true enforcer. The fact that they are defensemen is a bonus as they will be on the ice on a regular basis to defend the smaller, talented forwards. It's a known fact that both players can drop 'em to defend a teammate. 4. Phaneuf is ranked to be a top 2 defenseman, so it's not as if we were picking some ding-bat! Nothing but good news, if you ask me! Of course, if he's already been picked, I will not be disappointed to get one of Parise or Katsitsyn or whomever ... it'll be hard to screw up this year, I think! THF |
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 13, 2003 13:08:58 GMT -5
well, I just got my THN 2003 draft preview...and all I have to say is please do not draft Ryan Getzlaf ahead of Parise or Phaneuf or Kastsitsyn or Brown. Getzlaf is ranked, somehow at 9, despite concerns about his skating and being projected as a 'character forward' whatever that means. If anyone has any questions about the player descriptions from THN, I have no problem answering them |
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Post by Habsolution on Jun 13, 2003 13:54:43 GMT -5
I'll be happy if we draft one of : Phaneuf, Parise or Kastsitsyn.
I'd be over joyous if we could have 2 of them and would probably die from an heart attack if we found a way to get all 3.
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Post by Thomas on Jun 13, 2003 14:44:01 GMT -5
1. Imagine for one minute that in a few years from now, Phaneuf would be one one defensive pairing and Komo on another, who in their right mind would go into our defensive zone with their head down. A nervous player makes mistakes. Add to that a possible return of Souray and we got on big mean defensive squad: Markov - KomisarekPhaneuf - Hainsey Souray - Archer We would have one huge D on each of the pairings. The top 2 would have 2 offensively minded D paired with a big D. Archer would be a fine 6th dman and at 6'4 he would add even more size. Against a big team you could always put Komi and Phaneuf on the same pairing pretty much neutralizing their top line. That being said, I really don't see Phaneuf being available at #10. If we could somehow move up a few spots without giving away too much prospect depth, and get Chicago's #14 pick we could land Phaneuf + Kastystin. Chicago is reportedly ready to trade away their 14th overall for some center and defensive help. I've heard that Chicago is interested in Perreault which may be false, but making a package for that 14 overall shouldnt be too hard. Pleckanec, Beauchemin and Ryder could be used to sweeten the pot, I don;t really see a future for either of them (on this team). If we can't trade up I'd be more than happy drafting Parise with the 10th overall. Some mock draft said AS was interested in Jessiman, which wouldn't be all that bad if Phaneuf and Parise are gone at that #10 spot. Kastystin even though he has epilepsy would be a great pick as well, considering epilepsy is curable over a period of time. |
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 13, 2003 14:54:35 GMT -5
Chicago is reportedly ready to trade away their 14th overall for some center and defensive help. I've heard that Chicago is interested in Perreault which may be false, but making a package for that 14 overall shouldnt be too hard. Pleckanec, Beauchemin and Ryder could be used to sweeten the pot, I don;t really see a future for either of them (on this team). haha, Mike Smith LOVES his former Leafs..so Perreault to Chicago is a definite possibility IMO. Perreault+ Dackell/Dykhuis+ one of our 2 2nd's for the 14th overall...d*mn that would be a pretty nice steal  ;D |
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Post by Bob on Jun 13, 2003 14:57:22 GMT -5
haha, Mike Smith LOVES his former Leafs..so Perreault to Chicago is a definite possibility IMO. He also loves his Europeans... Czerkawski, anyone?? ;D |
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 13, 2003 14:59:27 GMT -5
He also loves his Europeans... Czerkawski, anyone?? ;D Can we make Traverse or Brisebois sound Euro? Traveskov(make it sound Russian..he loves 'em as well) Briseboissky? ;D ;D |
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Post by HabzFan on Jun 13, 2003 17:23:01 GMT -5
If I was AS come draft day... I would attempt to exploit one of these two oppurtunities:
Trade up to 2nd or 3rd overall spot... And pick Horton. I think this guy has been argued enough over to know why I would want him on my team.
If we can't, then I would like to get another pick in the 15-22 range...
With that 10th overall pick, I would pick one of:
Phaneuf
Parise
Brown
And with that later pick, I would take a chance on Anthony Stewart. He's huge, 6'2 240, a better skater then Bernier, and a player who doesn't take the body to try and look better infront of scouts (Bernier), but it's his instinct to use his size. Todd Bertuzzi potential IMO.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 13, 2003 17:43:48 GMT -5
BTW for those wondering about Horton and why he isn't ranked as the top prospect with that impressive physical package, THN says lack of consistency is his problem and he doesn't use his size as well as he should.
Scouts also talk about when Habzfan's boy Stewart beat up Horton in a fight and Horton hasn't been the same since.
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Post by HabzFan on Jun 13, 2003 17:48:56 GMT -5
Stewart fractured Horton's jaw...
I'm sorry but eating meals through a straw for a month would make most people stray away from fistacuff's for awhile IMO.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 13, 2003 17:53:53 GMT -5
Stewart fractured Horton's jaw... I'm sorry but eating meals through a straw for a month would make most people stray away from fistacuff's for awhile IMO. when did this happen?  |
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Post by HabzFan on Jun 13, 2003 17:58:07 GMT -5
"Nathan Horton of the Oshawa Generals has no hard feelings against his good pal Anthony Stewart, even if the latter's fist had much to do with Horton's fall in the mid-term rankings recently released by NHL Central Scouting. Back on Oct. 14, Stewart, a Kingston Frontenacs forward, broke Horton's jaw in a fight. Horton was ranked No. 1 in the OHL by Central Scouting in its preliminary rankings, but slipped to fifth in North America in the mid-terms. At No. 5, which is nothing to sneeze at, Horton is behind fellow OHLers Eric Staal of the Peterborough Petes (No. 1) and Dustin Brown (No. 2) of the Guelph Storm. Coincidentally, both Horton and Stewart (ranked No. 19) are represented by The Orr Hockey Group. "We're still friends," Horton said. "But it did take me a while to get back into it once I returned." When he suffered his injury, Horton had 17 points in seven games. Since coming back, he has 29 points in 27 games, but scouts feel he has lost some edge in missing so much time and is working to find it again. " www.canoe.ca/Slam030128/col_koshan-sun.html |
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 13, 2003 18:01:57 GMT -5
I see...thanks.
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Post by StickHandler on Jun 13, 2003 18:53:42 GMT -5
Scout’s View: “Zach Parise showed this year that his lack of size isn’t as big a hindrance as some thought it would be. He is a guy who gives you everything he has every shift every night and that is one of the things that make him an attractive prospect in the 10-17 range. For a small guy he is hard to control in the offensive zone because he has such good agility. Parise isn’t a guy who will dazzle you with his straightaway speed, but his lateral movement is superb. He gets to open ice well and has an excellent release and hard shot. He also uses his linemates well. Overall, his offensive game and heart more than make up for his lack of size. I also like his leadership abilities.” — Tim MacLean, Red Line Report ------ That sounds an awful lot like Koivu to me! |
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Post by Habs_fan_in_LA on Jun 13, 2003 20:15:37 GMT -5
I can see one good reason Bernier isn't ranked as high as some expect him to be. He's 6'2.5 and 233lbs, but he's fat. Look at his photo on the CSB site. Imagine how good he will be with Gainey in charge of his Tim Horton intake! Add 15 lbs of muscle, drop 20 lbs of fat. A little power skating practice and we have a winner. |
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Post by MPLABBE on Jun 14, 2003 10:02:15 GMT -5
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Post by Thomas on Jun 14, 2003 10:06:01 GMT -5
I wouldn't be dissapointed with Kastystin, he seems like a high reward pick, and epilepsy is curable so it aint as bad. But I don't see 3 teams passing up on Phaneuf. |
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) If we were to bring in talented guys like these 2 to play and lay down the law, I don't see a real need for a true enforcer. The fact that they are defensemen is a bonus as they will be on the ice on a regular basis to defend the smaller, talented forwards. It's a known fact that both players can drop 'em to defend a teammate.
;D 