Kyle Woodlief chat transcript

[PTH]

" Drafting for need is nothing short of imbecilic. Your needs today are not going to be your needs 4-5 years from now (which is how long it's going to take most players picked today to make it to the NHL). It always astounds me that fans just can't seem to grasp that simple concept. There are almost no teams that would make drafting decisions in the first 2-3 rounds based on immediate needs, and clubs that do find themselves consigned to the lower echelons. I have a question for you: didn't the Buffalo Sabres have some guy named Hasek in net for them when they spent draft picks on Martin Biron, Miikka Noronen, and Ryan Miller? The draft is all about COLLECTING ASSETS! Just get as many good ones as you can and let your GM sort out which ones he might use as trade bait. "

"I'd be stunned if he lasted beyond the top 15. Frankly, he should be selected within the first 12. You can quote me on this: there is zero chance that Lauri Korpikoski will be on the board when the Penguins pick at No. 31. "

" I think a guy like Dave Bolland or Mike Green might be available at that spot (#16), and if so, would represent very good value long term. "


proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=5463

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He's a good read, unlike a lot of others out there he has opinions and sticks to them... how good he is is a whole other ball game, but I'd rather have a real opinion than someone wishy-washing so that in the end whatever happens he was right.

[NWTHabsFan]

Ah, Mr Kyle "Sit on the Fence" Woodlief. He does like his opinions!!

It is a good read, except for his little shots at the Hockey News. Oh well, the scouting publications business is competitive between RLR, McKeen's and ISS. THN really only does its draft guide for the masses, so it isn't really competing with those other full time scouting services.

As for the BPA stance, I agree; however, there are going to be a few teams that sneak that need (ie, prospect goaltender depth) into their equation when it's their turn to pick all other things being equal. This is especially true when you have a draft like 2004 with a big drop off after the top guns and likely a long list of potential first rounders who are so closely matched together. Every team may also use different criteria for their BPA (TT likes hockey sense, skating, and work ethic/character), it really is up to what their scouts see and like in a player and what they think that player's upside is. That's what makes draft watching and guessing rather fun!!

[PTH]

In a way, with so many 1st rounders being rated so close, this might be like 1998 - a good year to draft with an eye on need, since so many players are even anyhow.

[HabbaDasher]

Yet another pro scout repeating the "go for BPA in the early rounds" mantra, yet many posters and many mock drafts suggest teams will select by immediate need.....

[blaise]

HabbaDasher said:

Yet another pro scout repeating the "go for BPA in the early rounds" mantra, yet many posters and many mock drafts suggest teams will select by immediate need.....

When a GM picks in the latter half of the first round there's usually someone available who meets an immediate or foreseen need. Oh sure, the GM might have to pick #21 on the scouts' menu rather than the BPA at #19, but that deviation usually isn't a big deal. The eyebrow-raising decisions are usually associated with the higher picks. For example, a GM might bypass a player virtually everyone else would gladly select. Yet those GMs who go against the grain sometimes get rewarded. Time will tell about the selection of Kastsitsyn at #10. There were quite a few GMs who probably would have taken someone else, and in fact there were quite a few attractive candidates remaining (but definitely not Steve Bernier, a popular choice on some other less sophisticated forums ).

[NWTHabsFan]

I think the result of picking BPA is shown in the trade just announced between Dallas and St Louis. Dallas felt they had good prospect depth in goal, and traded one of those young goalie prospects for Shawn Belle, who filled a need that they felt they had in their prospect depth at D. By choosing the BPA, each team acquired an asset that then was used to acquire a need down the road. Good asset managment IMO.