It was a tough one to do this year. Habs are picking much lower for starters, which means I have to pick more players. More player-picking, means more errors. Its like picking your nose – if you don’t do it often, your reputation as the boy-wonder with the golden touch will hold, and the babes will flock to you. Do it a lot, and eventually somebody is going to catch you and you’ll spend your lonely nights and weekends doing NHL mock drafts.
Incidentally, if you are going to pick your nose – and really, you shouldn’t – have a look around first, to see if anybody is watching, and then pick your nose. Don’t pick your nose, and THEN look around, to see if anybody caught you. Because there is a big difference between the two.
But I digress.
This year, supposedly, is a weak draft. Last year, there were so many stud players, that you knew they were going to go high up, and it was just a matter of plugging them into the right slots. This year though, there are few standouts and players could fall all over the place.
So there. Don’t blame me if you lose the house, betting on my draft picks. You have been forewarned.
1) Washington: Alexander Ovechkin (F). Okay, you can bet the house on this one.
2) Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin (C). A bitter blow it was, losing the lottery. I don’t even know if they consider this to be a nice consolation prize. “Evgeni” Nabokov, by the way, likes people to call him “John.”<br>
3) Chicago: Alexander Radulov (F). The first surprise of the draft. This high? Extremely talented, but possibly a problem child. But his older brother Igor already plays for the Blackhawks, and Alexander unabashedly admits to worshipping his brother. Much like HabsAddict admits to worshipping me. Brother acts don’t often work, but this might be an exception. Chicago might shop this pick, to somebody in the 5-8 range who thinks Rostislav Olesz looks real handsome and probably dances a mean jig.
4) Columbus: Rostislav Olesz (C). Injuries are a concern, but he has been ranked top 3 on most lists all year. A nice compliment for Rick Nash. Plus, it gives them another guy named “Rostislav.” Can never have too many “Rostislav’s.” They MAY take Marek Schwarz, if they have soured on Pascal Leclair. But stick with Olesz, if you like to play the ponies.
5) Phoenix: Andrew Ladd (LW) They like drafting out of the WHL. A power-forward, with good wheels, another Shane Doan in a decade or so. Long time to wait, but hey! That’s the nature of the game. Course, he could Rick Nash everyone, and be a star at 19. What do I know?
6) NY Rangers: Cam Barker (D). Rangers are big on drafting out of US schools, and the WHL. They are also big on drafting on hype. Robbie Schremp would fit the hype category, but despite their big-league reputation, they tend not to draft head-cases, Brendl excepted. Probably why they never drafted me. Jerks. Barker is the highest rated defenseman, so he would fit the “hype” criteria.
7) Florida: Wojtek Wolski (LW). Horton and Stewart last year, Wolski this year, they are getting to be big, big, big. They could probably use another masher on defense, as they seem to be stocked with offensive guys, but there aren’t any good ones around. Valabik? That’s really high, even for an over-hyped player. I think the Panthers would love it if Ladd fell to them but... They have drafted heavily out of the OHL, using their first three picks on players from that league last year. Their 3rd pick, after Horton and Stewart, was Kamil Kreps, who played with Wolski this year in Brampton. If the Panthers spent any time at all scouting the progress of Kreps, they probably noticed Wolski. Course, that might not be a good thing, as Wolski can be a floater. But a combo of Keenan and Martin working him over will Ollie Jokkinen-him to stardom.
8) Carolina : Drew Stafford (RW). In the 7 years the Whale have been in Carolina, they have drafted a grand total of 5 players out of Europe. Last year alone, Montreal drafted 4. Of the 5 Europeans drafted out of Europe by Carolina, only 1 of those was higher than the 4th round. With the draft being held in Carolina, there will be some local press on hand, ready to provide in-depth interviews with whoever the Canes choose. Be nice if those interviews could be done in English. Suffice to say, I don’t think Lauri Tukonen will be living in Tobacco Row anytime soon. Stafford is a fine two-way forward, with good size and grit, but who might not have huge upside. They
should take Tukonen, but…
9) Anaheim Lauri Tukonen (C). Or Boris Valabik. They’re all over the map with their drafting, with one exception – they don’t draft players out of the Q all that often, and never very high. So rest easy Alexandre Picard, no earthquakes for you. Schremp is a possibility, but reputations can really hurt you come draft day. See Patrick O’Sullivan for a prime example. Schremp, I think, will fall. I think he will fall big. Tukonen is a wise choice here. Valabik is a bit of a gamble, but his 6’7 size is going to attract a lot more interest than his average skill set would on its own. He probably shouldn’t be picked this high, but… He’s big, he’s nasty, he’s kind of mobile – what else is there to a defenseman? “We can mold him” will be the mantra. I can see one of the two going to Anaheim, the other one going to Atlanta.
10) Atlanta: Boris Valabik (D). Or Tukonen. Depends on how Anaheim leans. Like the Panthers, this is getting to be a scary looking team. A defenseman is a smart choice here, especially a masher, but Tukonen is a good choice as well. Really, the Thrashers can’t lose. They can get an impact center/2nd line winger, or a mashing defenseman, and either way, it makes them look real good. A nice, nasty, stay-at-home crusher would round out the core very nicely. But that’s if Valabik is still around. Tukonen is that big forward everyone so covets, and he is physically mature for his age. He might end up being the second best player taken in the draft.
11) LA: Al Montoya (G). LA is a good fit, for a team with no real goaltending prospects. Was spectacular at times for the US, during the World Junior Championships. A surprise, as most people have Schwarz ahead of Montoya. Who names their kid “Alvaro” anyways?
12) Minnesota: Alexandre Picard (LW). Minnesota ain’t afraid of fancy-schmancy, pansy, visor-wearing French guys so Picard might be a good pick for them. Jacques Lemaire will do wonders for his maturity. An awkward (though not slow) skater, has great drive and some nice hands. Also has a 6’2 frame, that can be beefed up.
13) Buffalo: AJ Thelen (D). Best defenseman available, some say he might be better than Barker. Another college kid for an organization that was drafting them long before it was fashionable. Like me and my “white sandals/black socks” look (just wait, you’ll see).
14) Edmonton: Enver Lisin (RW). The Oil, surprisingly, do not draft well in the first round. What they do draft though, is speed. “You can’t be an Oiler if you can’t skate” one of their scouts once said. Lisin, can skate. And how. Probably the best pure skater in the draft, he’ll go through you quicker than bad Mexican food. A pure offensive force. But… intensity is lacking, and his stock has been in a free-fall all year long, due to underwhelming performances. Lauri Korpikoski might go here too, the Oil have tapped Finland in the past, and they have tapped it often. In fact, the Oilers have a very heavy bent towards Europeans. Korpikoski is a smarter choice, but I’m calling a hunch. That and I want the Habs to draft Korpikoski. Like I said, don’t be betting the house.
16) Nashville: Kyle Chipchura (C). Solid character guy, strong defensively, good leadership qualities, question marks about his offensive upside. Could this guy be more of a Predator? BORING. Mike Green also fits this bill.
15) NY Islanders: Wes O’Neill (D). The Islanders lean towards NCAA and WHL players, though they aren’t afraid of Europe either, in particular Sweden. (hmmm… Johannes Fransson?). While big and mobile, O’Neill’s probably on the Jassen Cullimore path to the NHL. In other words, don’t expect him for a while. He’s a young college player who, unlike Thelen, hasn’t been as impressive against the older competition. Figure another 2 years in NCAA, 2 years in the AHL, 2-3 more years to adjust to the speed of the NHL. It’ll be a while, but his combination of size and speed make him a safe bet. Course, its entirely possible that the Fishmen will trade this pick, along with Rick Dipietro, for the right to draft Al Montoya. Milbury should be fired.
17) St. Louis: Marek Schwarz (G). Gumby sings the Blues. St. Louis could not have hoped for a better draft. They needed a goalie, and they got the one most people think is the best available.
moderators will come along and straighten me out.
) I for one will be disappointed. He reminds me too much of the late 80's early 90's typically safe Serge Savard's "boeuf de l'ouest" 1st rounder. IMO the 1st choice should always be a "swing for the fences" pick. From what I've read from both the Hockey News & Red Line Draft previews (which I've bought), I want the Habs to pick Lauri Korpikoski or A.J. Thelen. If both are off the board (quite possibly) I don't know who I'd like.
