6/22 - 2003 NHL Entry Draft (day 2 starts @ 10 am)

[MPLABBE]

That's Red Line report's rankings...they only show a top 10 which Bernier was not in

[MPLABBE]

Bad news...Quebec now leads the series 3-2 vs Moncton...

[JFM]

I really don't think that his team being eliminated early will affect his potential draft position much like it won't affect M-A Fleury's position. Bernier's been on a tear for much of the second half literally carrying his mediocre team on his back. The more I hear about Bernier, the more he looks like a potential Eric Dazé... with major GRITTINESS to his game. I like the sound of that. There are more and more players that I would like to see the Habs pick up this summer. With each passing loss, we are more likely to enjoy the draft this June. ( Just looking for the silver lining guys... It's been a hard search this year.)

[MPLABBE]

Exactly...Daze with grit is basically something VERY close to Todd Bertuzzi. I am not joking here.

Too bad Bernier had to go down for the playoffs...would have been interesting to see what he would do under pressure

Spiro or any other mods...since we are now officially eliminated...can we make this thread a sticky please?

[AH]

clear said:

Making this a sticky is a sign of giving up.

Can't do it young man. Sorry.


CO

Can we do it now ?

[MPLABBE]

Quebec eliminated Bernier's team last night....

[MPLABBE]

www.tsn.ca/news_stories/35318.html

The current percentage chance of being selected in the Draft Drawing is as follows, based on team finish:






30th........... 25.0%
29th........... 18.8%
28th........... 14.2%
27th........... 10.7%
26th............. 8.1%
25th............. 6.2%
24th............. 4.7%
23rd............. 3.6%
22nd............ 2.7%
21st............. 2.1%
20th............. 1.5%
19th............. 1.1%
18th............. 0.8%
17th............. 0.5%


me thinks we are due for some luck

[Bandit]

I was just looking over on RDS website about the under 18 tourney. Has anyone heard anything about Pouliot. He's ranked higher than Bernier but haven't seen or heard much about him. Anyone have any info?

[MPLABBE]

from HF:

19. Marc-Antoine Pouliot --C--Rimouski
In strong need of a healthy season, this promising talent has good size (6-2, 188) and skills. Possesses excellent hands, vision and playmaking abilities. Two-way game leaves something to be desired.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

Marc said:

Ivan Khomutov...if we can get another mid/late first rounder or if we can draft this guy early in the 2nd...he would be very interesting:

www.russianprospects.com/profiles/profile_khomutov.htm

Not a star...but a solid second line player...

Good find Marc. Never seen him but he sounds like the kind of guy we don't have a lot of.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

I've been studying the ratings of the current draft and my guy is Steve Bernier. He doesn'thave the big QMJHL numbers but he is only in his draft year.
It should be noted that it's easier for a 220 pound brute to score in Jr's than a smaller player who has trouble in traffic, but Bernier wll be goo wherever he goes at any level.
We need size and strength and a bit of pi$$ed off attitude in front of the oppositions net. Bernier is the guy if he is available.
Somebody try to get through to Savard! He doesn't seem to listenm to fans.

[FormerLurker]

Habs_fan_in_LA said:

Somebody try to get through to Savard! He doesn't seem to listenm to fans.

Wow. You actually believe that GMs should take advice from fans?

[MPLABBE]

Here is the top 30 according to Central Bureau Scouting:

--CBC prospect ranking
-------------------
1. Nikolai Zherdev RW CSKA Moscow 6'02/182
2. Milan Michalek RW Ceske Budejovice 6'02/211
3. Marc-Andre Fleury G Cape Breton 6’00/170
4. Eric Staal C Peterbourgh 6’03/185
5. Braydon Coburn D Portland 6’02/170
6. Nathan Horton C Oshawa 6’03/210
7. Zach Parise C North Dakota 5’11/180
8. Robert Nilsson C/W Leksands 5'09/180
9. Dustin Brown C Guelph 6’01/203
10. Tomas Vanek LW Minnesota 6’02/207
11. Denis Ezhov D Lada Togliatti 6’00/200
12. Steve Bernier C Moncton 6’01/215
13. Patrick O’Sullivan C Mississaga 5’11/160
14. Ryan Suter D USA U18 6’01/185
15. K. Glazatchev LW Yaroslavl 2 6’00/174
16. Dion Phaneuf D Red Deer 6’02/210
17. Petr Vrana C Halifax 5’09/160
18. Jeff Carter C S.S. Marie 6'03/193
19. M.A. Pouliet C Rimouski 6’02/180
20. Igor Mirnov RW Dynamo 6’00/187
21. Andrei Kastsitsyn C/W CSKA Moscow 6’01/190
22. Dan Fritsch C Sarnia 6’01/195
23. Richard Stehlik D Sherbrooke 6’04/240
24. Vojtech Polak LW Karlovy Vary 5’10/180
25. Anthony Stewart C Kingston 6’02/210
26. Brent Seabrooke D Lethbridge 6’02/221
27. Mark Stuart D Colorado College 6’02/212
28. Ryan Getzlaf C Calgary 6’03/190
29. Corey Crawford G Moncton 6’02/170
30. Ivan Khomutov RW Elektrostal 6’03/200

[Patty Roy]

Marc said:

Here is the top 30 according to Central Bureau Scouting:

--CBC prospect ranking
-------------------
1. Nikolai Zherdev RW CSKA Moscow 6'02/182
2. Milan Michalek RW Ceske Budejovice 6'02/211
3. Marc-Andre Fleury G Cape Breton 6’00/170
4. Eric Staal C Peterbourgh 6’03/185
5. Braydon Coburn D Portland 6’02/170
6. Nathan Horton C Oshawa 6’03/210
7. Zach Parise C North Dakota 5’11/180
8. Robert Nilsson C/W Leksands 5'09/180
9. Dustin Brown C Guelph 6’01/203
10. Tomas Vanek LW Minnesota 6’02/207
11. Denis Ezhov D Lada Togliatti 6’00/200
12. Steve Bernier C Moncton 6’01/215
13. Patrick O’Sullivan C Mississaga 5’11/160
14. Ryan Suter D USA U18 6’01/185
15. K. Glazatchev LW Yaroslavl 2 6’00/174
16. Dion Phaneuf D Red Deer 6’02/210
17. Petr Vrana C Halifax 5’09/160
18. Jeff Carter C S.S. Marie 6'03/193
19. M.A. Pouliet C Rimouski 6’02/180
20. Igor Mirnov RW Dynamo 6’00/187
21. Andrei Kastsitsyn C/W CSKA Moscow 6’01/190
22. Dan Fritsch C Sarnia 6’01/195
23. Richard Stehlik D Sherbrooke 6’04/240
24. Vojtech Polak LW Karlovy Vary 5’10/180
25. Anthony Stewart C Kingston 6’02/210
26. Brent Seabrooke D Lethbridge 6’02/221
27. Mark Stuart D Colorado College 6’02/212
28. Ryan Getzlaf C Calgary 6’03/190
29. Corey Crawford G Moncton 6’02/170
30. Ivan Khomutov RW Elektrostal 6’03/200

Marc, where did you get a top 30 from the CSB? I thought they always seperated the skaters from the goalies, and the North American's from the rest of the World?

Either way, my early favorite for the Habs is Tomas Vanek. But i would also welcome any one of Brown, Bernier, Parise, Nilsson, Phaneuf or even one of Carter, Stewart or Jessimen...

[Boston_Habs]

You can catch Thomas Vanek later this week on ESPN/ESPN2 in the NCAA semi-final game between Michigan and Minnesota. I like his size.

With the 10th pick at least one of the following should be available: Parise, Vanek, Brown, Bernier. I'd be thrilled with any of those guys.

[MPLABBE]

Patty said:

Marc, where did you get a top 30 from the CSB? I thought they always seperated the skaters from the goalies, and the North American's from the rest of the World?

Either way, my early favorite for the Habs is Tomas Vanek. But i would also welcome any one of Brown, Bernier, Parise, Nilsson, Phaneuf or even one of Carter, Stewart or Jessimen...

I saw it at the HF Habs board and the poster called it the ''CBC rankings'' and I thought he meants CBS...

here is one thing but not combined lists:

www.hfboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63513

I am not too hot over Vanek...many reports have him being a little lazy and bad defensively...also if we draft him our future wings looks VERY European...Zednik, Bulis, Hossa, Perezhogin, Vanek, Balej,etc...and that can be a disaster come playoff time.


Bernier is just the perfect fit is what I say

[MPLABBE]

btw the draft lotto is at 2:30 pm today

[Patty Roy]

Marc said:

Bernier is just the perfect fit is what I say

Well i've never, ever seen Bernier play...but i wonder why some scouting publications don't seem to be all that high on him? The guy put up good numbers this season and is huge...what's not to like? I wonder...how is his skating? Does he play with intensity? How's his physical game? Does he have the skills to be a 30 goal scorer in the NHL?

Has anybody out there actually see this guy play more than a half dozen times?

[Boston_Habs]

I agree. Why is he ranked so low if he has all this size and skill?

[MPLABBE]

Well, it is a very good and deep draft...

also, every ranking that I have seen has Bernier in the 10-20 group..and the most recent ones have got him at the 10-15 level...

[TheHabsfan]

Patty said:

Well i've never, ever seen Bernier play...but i wonder why some scouting publications don't seem to be all that high on him? The guy put up good numbers this season and is huge...what's not to like? I wonder...how is his skating? Does he play with intensity? How's his physical game? Does he have the skills to be a 30 goal scorer in the NHL?

Has anybody out there actually see this guy play more than a half dozen times?

Could it be that scouts don't bother making it this far east?

I have seen him play and I have stated this in quite a few posts already. He is very impressive for his age. On the questions you have asked:

1. Skating: He has decent skating for such a big guy
2. He is a creative winger who has soft hands but can drop em when he needs to. He doesn't shy away from rough play.
3. He uses his size well and can dominate defenders. From the games I have seen, he doesn't go out of his way to knock someone into next week, but when he hits, they feel it.
4. Skills: Like any PF, he will take some time to catch up to NHL speed, but I think that he has the skills to make a very solid, productive impact. I would say that around 25 years old, he could be in that range. He would be an excellent compliment to Saku. Would flourish with a gifted playmaker. He has a nose for the net, as they say.

I have only seen him play a couple of times, but I can say that I would gladly take him aboard if we draft him.

THF

[turnbuckle]

Eric Nystrom was ranked 15th and up in a number of projections last season, same with Bouchard. Both went in the top ten.

Plus; it's early. I'd be surprised if Bernier does not shoot up in the final CSB and THN rankings, and cracks the top 12.

[MPLABBE]

Here is what Blob has to say:

www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie.asp


No word of Bernier as well....hmmm..

[TheHabsfan]

The Lottery is over.

Florida are huge winners moving from 4th place to first. Carolina drops to 2nd, Pittsburg gets 3rd and Columbus drops to 4th. All other teams stay the same.

THF

[Bones]

Is there any chance Savard may go for a defenceman? I realize we need size upfront desperately, but our D hasn't been anything to write home about either.

I know the future of our defensive corps looks bright but could we not use another hulking agressive 2 way dman who could really solidify out top 4 for years to come? Or another offensive dman that will take Brisebois' spot after *knock on wood* his departure?

I think 3 dmen that could really have an impact on our team and have great futures ahead are...

Braydon Coburn (Doubtful he'd be around at the 10 spot)
Dion Phaneuf... Big and mean and nice offensive upside +28 this year!
Ryan Suter.... just a great all around dman, who could become a pp quaterback.

I'm not saying we shouldn't go for size upfront, it's our greatest need. However drafting from a need perspective is usually a recipe for disaster if you ask me. As posted earlier by many here already, you go after the best player available, and dmen are always at a premium.

Just food for thought, besides what's that old adage? Defence win's championships.. well with a top 4 of
Komisarek
Markov
Hainsey
Coburn, Phaneuf or Suter...
We could be well on our way.

[jl.roberts]

Here would be my top five, but hey, what do I know?
If not all, I see at least three of these guys being around

1. Dustin Brown
2. Tomas Vanek
3. Ryan Getzlaf
4. Dion Phaneuf
5. Steve Bernier

[Habfaith]

Wow,
I think it is looking more and more like we could be getting Getzlaf with our first pick. I posted earlier in this thread that he would be a great pick as I have watched him quite a bit this season with the Hitmen. 6'3 190 lbs, great offensive numbers, loves to get in the corners and get his nose dirty.
He is exactly the kind of player we need and in the 10th pick range, if he is still available, could be the best mix of muscle, size and skill available among forwards...

[MPLABBE]

what about his speed habfaith?

[MPLABBE]

here are new rankings by TSN

www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature.asp?fid=6307


god Bernier, Nillson and Parise are getting shafted

[BadCompany]

I not overly certain we will be addressing our "power forward" need at this draft. As I said earlier, any player we pick this year will in all likelihood be at least 2, if not 3 years away. Assuming there is a lock out, that would mean our "power forward" won't have his rookie year for another 4 years from now, and probably won't be an impact player for another 8-10 (which would make it his 4th to 6th year in the NHL, about right for a power forward - 26 to 28 years old).

I don't know about you, but if we have to wait another decade to resolve this size-up-front issue...

Said it before, say it again. Best player available. If that's Parise, or Vanek, or Phaneuf, or Suter, then so be it. We can always deal them later. Higgins wasn't rated a powerforward, and he seems to be doing all right, no? Last thing I want is to waste a pick drafting for size, because that is the perceived need. Where was Turner Stevenson picked anyways?

As for defense, its not like we have all that much depth, in reality. We have "potential" depth, but Brian Savage has "potential" to score 30 goals. Show me the money, in other words. Aside from the big three, who do we have? Linhart? Shasby? Both had difficult years. Beauchemin? Bouillon? Nothing special. What happens if Hainsey doesn't turn it around? Or Markov goes back to Russia? Or Komisarek plateaus at the Stephane Quintal level? With Brisebois gone, Rivet his usual #4 self, and Souray recuperating in hospital, our alleged "defense depth" suddenly gets very thin.

We have 2, and only 2, legitimate defense prospects. Hainsey and Komisarek. That's it. At forward, on the other hand, we have Hossa, Perezhoughin, Higgins, Plekanec, Ward, Ryder, Milroy and Balej. I don't know about you, but it seems to me that organizationally we are much weaker on the blueline than up front...