From the Habs official site:
With the 10th overall selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, the Canadiens selected forward Andrei Kastsitsyn from Russia's Central Army. Kastsitsyn, a 6-foot, 189-pounder who turned 18 last Feb. 3, is described by The Hockey News as someone who "could be the sleeper of this year's draft".
Kastsitsyn entered the draft ranked 13th by THN and was listed as the No. 3 European skater by the Central Scouting Bureau. While some scouts suggested Kastsitsyn might in fact be the most skilled player in the draft, his overall ranking and status may have been affected by the fact he suffers from epilepsy, a condition he has dealt with effectively for many years. The native of Belarus underwent a thorough examination from Canadiens' doctor David Mulder earlier in the month in Toronto, the results of which were evidently convincing for Montreal GM Bob Gainey, Director of Player Personnel Trevor Timmins, and the rest of the club's top brass.
Speaking through interpreter and Canadiens' Russian scout Nikolai Vakourov, Kastsitsyn expressed his delight at being selected by Montreal. Kastsitsyn noted he was hoping to be picked in the first round, yet had no idea as to when and by whom.
"He's a player with a wealth of talent who's creative with the puck," Vakourov added. "In regard to his health, he's undergone extensive tests and any concerns about his condition have been laid to rest."
Kastsitsyn's stock rose through his performance in the World Junior Championships in Halifax this past winter. Listed as the No. 15 European skater by the CSB when the mid-term rankings were released, the winger impressed scouts during the tournament when he was the dominant player on the Belarus squad, using superior smarts and skills to succeed despite being the target of unrelenting attention by the opposition.
"He has great skills and is a thinking man's player," a scout was quoted as saying of Kastsitsyn in THN . "To be an '85 (born) and play in the Russian league is very good."
Though viewed by some as lacking size, Kastsitsyn showed he wouldn't back down from any challenge in the recent WU18 tournament, racking up 15 points in six games for Belarus (six goals and nine assists) while totalling 28 penalty minutes.
Part of Kastsitsyn's on-ice success is attributable to not only his fearless nature but his speed. He is described as an above-average skater with fast acceleration and good lateral movement who can take a hit. His wrist and slap shots are reportedly quick and heavy, adding an additional dimension to an offensive game that shows much promise.
With the first of their two second-round selections in the draft, the Canadiens picked Cory Urquhart, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound center who had played in Montreal this past season with the QMJHL's Rocket.
Urquhart's stock rose considerably, as he was taken 40th overall after entering the draft ranked 73rd by THN and listed as the 32nd North American skater by the CSB.
Urquhart, who will turn 19 on Oct. 1, is described as a good skater with solid balance who carries the puck well and protects it with his body. He has very good hands and playmaking abilities, and reads the play and sees the ice very well. Scouts report that he has improved drastically over the past season; in 2001-2002, he notched 36 points (17 goals, 19 assists) in 70 games, while in 2002-2003, he more than doubled that production, registering 78 points (35 goals, 43 assists) in 71 games.
"It's the best day of my life," raved Urquhart following his selection by Montreal. "I'm happy for my father, for me, and for my whole family."
Attending the draft in Nashville with his parents, grandparents, and other members of his immediate family, Urquhart knows that though his path to the NHL has just taken a turn for the better, there remains much road ahead of him.
"I need to continue improving with every game," he conceded.
A self-professed goal-scorer, Urquhart became the fifth Rocket player in history selected at the NHL Draft, and the second by the Canadiens. Montreal picked Michael Lambert, Urquhart's former teammate, last year in Toronto.
Maxim Lapierre Canadiens' third selection
Selected 61st overall after being sent to the Canadiens from the Flyers as part of the Eric Chouinard deal, center Maxim Lapierre -- a teammate of Urquhart's on the Rocket this past season -- was Montreal's third selection Saturday afternoon, and their second player selected in the second round.
Measuring 6-foot-1 and weighing in at 174 pounds, the native of St. Leonard, QC, notched 43 points (22 goals, 21 assists) with the Rocket this past season. Entering the draft, the 18-year-old was listed as the No. 23 North American skater by the CSB and was ranked 63rd overall by THN .
"I grew up in St. Leonard and Repentigny, so I don't need to tell you I've been a Canadiens' fan since I was eight years old," enthused Lapierre after learning he was Montreal-bound. "I was expecting to go in the second round, so I'm very happy. But to be chosen by the Canadiens, that's just a real honor for me."
An admirer of the style and intensity of the Devils' John Madden, Lapierre is described by scouts as an exceptional skater with a strong shot who is equally adept at passing backward and forward. He is a versatile two-way player who also excels on special teams, both on the power play and on the penalty killing units.
Defenseman Ryan O'Byrne, who had played with Nanaimo of the BCHL this past season, was the Canadiens' fourth pick on Saturday afternoon, going 79th overall in the third round. O'Byrne, a towering 6-foot-5, 210-pounder, notched 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 41 games with his club, and was listed as the 116th North American skater by the CSB.
"We're extremely pleased with the way the first three rounds developed and with the players who we were able to select," revealed Trevor Timmins, the Canadiens' Director of Player Personnel, following Saturday's events. "There's no doubt Kastsitsyn is an extremely gifted player, who in our opinion was the finest European available. We're also extremely high on both members of the Rocket who we drafted, Cory Urquhart and Maxim Lapierre."
As for O'Byrne, Timmins explained that in his estimation, a player shouldn't be discounted simply because he hasn't any junior hockey experience.
"It's a question of rules," said Timmins. "He's planning on playing college hockey for Cornell, and a player with major junior experience is no longer eligible to play for a U.S. university. The important thing is that he didn't get away from us."
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