A pearl with the 18th pick?
Jun 25, 2004 10:57:03 GMT -5
Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jun 25, 2004 10:57:03 GMT -5
- translated from this morning's La Presse.
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Trevor Timmins, of the Canadiens: "It's wide open between the third and the 20th selections"
Mathias Brunet in Raleigh
Will the Canadiens' scouting team succeed in unearthing a possible star player this weekend in Raleigh at the NHL entry draft?
At first sight, their chances seem rather ordinary. The Habs draft in 18th place and don't have any second round selection. Besides, the majority of experts say the 2004 vintage doesn't include many exceptional athletes, aside from the Russian forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, who will probably be chosen first and second respectively by the Capitals and the Penguins.
But André Savard and Trevor Timmins, the person in charge of scouting for the Canadiens, have already enjoyed success and some memorable exploits when they worked together for the Senators.
In 1999, they had put their hands on a certain Martin Havlat with the 26th pick, while the quality of choices left something to be desired that year. A year later, Timmins drafted soliddefenseman Anton Volchenkov with the 21st pick.
"One should not come to a conclusion too quickly about the value of a draft", warns Timmins. "It takes sometimes four or even five years before one is able to have a good perspective. There could be surprises this year. Ovechkin and Malkin will go first. But after them, it is wide open between the third and the 20th selections. A player highly placed on our list could always be available."
Timmins is up-front, he would like to be able to draft Québécois Alexandre Picard, classified third best North-American skater. The teenager from the Quebec area amassed 80 points, including 39 goals, in 69 regular season games, and 11 points in only seven playoff games.
"I doubt that he'll be available when our turn comes, but one keeps one's fingers crossed", affirms Timmins. "His value increased even more with his performance in the playoffs. He has a beautiful combination of speed, determination and aggressiveness."
Some even dare to compare Picard, 6'2 and 190 pounds, with Edmonton star forward Ryan Smyth.
"I never saw Smyth play junior, therefore it's difficult for me to establish comparisons, but I believe that Picard's acceleration is quicker. But as I said, he will be probably be selected before the 18th pick." The Habs management doesn't dismiss the possibility of making a trade in order to improve its position. They had done so two years ago in order to select Chris Higgins with the 14th pick.
But there is no-one other than Picard, and Bob Gainey already affirmed not to have a preference between a forward and a defenseman for his first round choice. The Canadiens however have a surplus of small gauge forwards on the farm. They don't have enormous defensemen or strapping forwards in the organization "It's something that we take into account when we establish our personal rankings [ed. - Chipchura]", mentions Timmins. "The size of the players is taken into consideration. But one must pay attention. Many a big man will never play in the NHL."
Timmins will be participating in his second draft with the Canadiens. André Savard had directed operations in 2001 and 2002. The two men do not seem to have missed the mark. Three years ago, Savard had succeeded in drafting Mike Komisarek (seventh), Alexander Perezhogin (25th) and Tomas Plekanec (71st), three of the more promising prospects in the organization. The following year, he put his hands on Chris Higgins (14th), who is on the verge of beginning his career in Montréal after a beautiful season in the American League. Timmins has seen his choices, Andrei Kastsitsyn (tenth), Cory Urquhart (40th) and Maxim Lapierre (61st) have successful seasons last year.
The room for maneuvering is however reduced this year since they only draft 84th after the first round, having lost a second round choice in the Alex Kovalev trade. "There are several players ranked between the third and the sixth rounds who interest us a lot", Timmins noted.
One should not underestimate the importance of the late choices. In 1998, for example, the Canadiens had missed their shot in the first round with Éric Chouinard, but had drafted Mike Ribeiro in the second round (45th), Andrei Markov in the sixth (162nd) and Michael Ryder in the eighth (216th).
*
Trevor Timmins, of the Canadiens: "It's wide open between the third and the 20th selections"
Mathias Brunet in Raleigh
Will the Canadiens' scouting team succeed in unearthing a possible star player this weekend in Raleigh at the NHL entry draft?
At first sight, their chances seem rather ordinary. The Habs draft in 18th place and don't have any second round selection. Besides, the majority of experts say the 2004 vintage doesn't include many exceptional athletes, aside from the Russian forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin, who will probably be chosen first and second respectively by the Capitals and the Penguins.
But André Savard and Trevor Timmins, the person in charge of scouting for the Canadiens, have already enjoyed success and some memorable exploits when they worked together for the Senators.
In 1999, they had put their hands on a certain Martin Havlat with the 26th pick, while the quality of choices left something to be desired that year. A year later, Timmins drafted soliddefenseman Anton Volchenkov with the 21st pick.
"One should not come to a conclusion too quickly about the value of a draft", warns Timmins. "It takes sometimes four or even five years before one is able to have a good perspective. There could be surprises this year. Ovechkin and Malkin will go first. But after them, it is wide open between the third and the 20th selections. A player highly placed on our list could always be available."
Timmins is up-front, he would like to be able to draft Québécois Alexandre Picard, classified third best North-American skater. The teenager from the Quebec area amassed 80 points, including 39 goals, in 69 regular season games, and 11 points in only seven playoff games.
"I doubt that he'll be available when our turn comes, but one keeps one's fingers crossed", affirms Timmins. "His value increased even more with his performance in the playoffs. He has a beautiful combination of speed, determination and aggressiveness."
Some even dare to compare Picard, 6'2 and 190 pounds, with Edmonton star forward Ryan Smyth.
"I never saw Smyth play junior, therefore it's difficult for me to establish comparisons, but I believe that Picard's acceleration is quicker. But as I said, he will be probably be selected before the 18th pick." The Habs management doesn't dismiss the possibility of making a trade in order to improve its position. They had done so two years ago in order to select Chris Higgins with the 14th pick.
But there is no-one other than Picard, and Bob Gainey already affirmed not to have a preference between a forward and a defenseman for his first round choice. The Canadiens however have a surplus of small gauge forwards on the farm. They don't have enormous defensemen or strapping forwards in the organization "It's something that we take into account when we establish our personal rankings [ed. - Chipchura]", mentions Timmins. "The size of the players is taken into consideration. But one must pay attention. Many a big man will never play in the NHL."
Timmins will be participating in his second draft with the Canadiens. André Savard had directed operations in 2001 and 2002. The two men do not seem to have missed the mark. Three years ago, Savard had succeeded in drafting Mike Komisarek (seventh), Alexander Perezhogin (25th) and Tomas Plekanec (71st), three of the more promising prospects in the organization. The following year, he put his hands on Chris Higgins (14th), who is on the verge of beginning his career in Montréal after a beautiful season in the American League. Timmins has seen his choices, Andrei Kastsitsyn (tenth), Cory Urquhart (40th) and Maxim Lapierre (61st) have successful seasons last year.
The room for maneuvering is however reduced this year since they only draft 84th after the first round, having lost a second round choice in the Alex Kovalev trade. "There are several players ranked between the third and the sixth rounds who interest us a lot", Timmins noted.
One should not underestimate the importance of the late choices. In 1998, for example, the Canadiens had missed their shot in the first round with Éric Chouinard, but had drafted Mike Ribeiro in the second round (45th), Andrei Markov in the sixth (162nd) and Michael Ryder in the eighth (216th).
