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Post by Rimmer on Jan 16, 2004 8:47:59 GMT -5
an interesting read from Hockey's Futuresome of those lower-ranked prospects could possibly be available when Andre gets to pick. personally, I wouldn't mind getting one of Andrej Meszaros or Wes O'Neill because we really don't have that many quality prospects on D after Hainsey and Komo as we do at forward. Korneev, Archer, O'Byrne and Korpikari are really longshots to make it and at best 3rd pairing NHL dmen as it stands now. R. |
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Post by blny on Jan 16, 2004 9:37:43 GMT -5
I don't know that their longshots. All of these prospects in our system have had strong seasons so far. To continue to develop well after being drafted is a good sign. Korneev may be the longest shot, because of his lack of stature, but the others are big stay at home defencemen, and you can never have too many of them. Many consider O'Byrne a project, and he is, but he's showing his worth in a perennially strong program. That to me is a good sign. There's an articled posted in the Prospects section I believe that states he also has very good speed and mobility for his size. I think it should only get better. All in all I think we have good depth in the defensive area.
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Post by Rimmer on Jan 16, 2004 11:04:30 GMT -5
well, all of them were late round picks, except O'Byrne (3rd or 4th I believe) so the majority of scouts didn't see them as legitimate NHL-ers for whatever reasons. of course that doesn't mean they will never play in the NHL (like Markov, Ryder etc.) but it sure makes them longshots in my eyes, especially at this stage of the development. and their potential is almost never considered to be more than that of the 3rd pairing dmen. (see BC's post in this thread for the probabilities of making it to the NHL per draft round.) 1st and 2nd round picks, OTOH, make safer bets and usually have higher potential (top 2 or 4 dmen) and that's what I was trying to say. so yeah, I think we have good depth on D prospects (beauchemin, O'Byrne, Korneev, Archer, Korpikari, even Linhart and Shasby) but lack potential top 4 player (Korneev could be one based on his skill, but his physical package might prevent it). at F you have Higgins, Balej, Plekanec, Kats, Urquhart, Perezhogin, Hossa all with top 2 line potential. R. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Jan 16, 2004 11:16:18 GMT -5
Rimmer, as to the list, there seems to be some real convergence among scouting organizations on the top players in this draft. I have seen 4 lists so far and they all consistently have Ovechkin, Malkin and Olesz in the top 3, and most of the top 10 players appear on all the lists as well. Evan McGrath has not been on other lists, so he must be an emerging player in IIS's books. All in all, we are 5 months away from that fun time when Trevor Timmins and Andre Savard get the spotlight again to work magic with whatever picks we end up getting.
As for our defensive depth, I think it is reasonably solid, even after Markov (who will rebound), Komo and Hainsey. Korneev has been a fixture on the Russian WJC team, and was their captain this time around. He is getting RSL playing time, which is impressive for a 19 year old. He may be small by NHL D standards, but the skills and abilities are there. Korpikari is also playing in the big man's league in Finland and was one of the "surprises" in the rookie camp as to his poise already. TT and co spoke very highly of his development date. Archer was without a doubt the best defenceman at the rookie tournament, and has been nixed with early injuries and the demotion of both Dykhuis and Traverse, which has all hampered his development in Hamilton. But with his size and good solid stay-at-home skills, he will be on the radar screen next year for sure when his ice time will no doubt increase considerably. As for O'Bryne, he has made the move from the BCJHL to NCAA in a really solid program at Cornell. There are a number of first hand reports on here and HFboards that speak to his potential as well. When you also add a solid AHL guy like Beauchy who could fill in, and longshots like Shasby who has had a good year to date in the ECHL, and OHL all star Mark Flood, there is some depth on the blueline IMO.
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Post by seventeen on Jan 17, 2004 2:23:22 GMT -5
I think we could use a few more defensemen with potential than we have at the moment. The depth is in numbers but not in quality (at least not in current potential quality). The quality is also not anywhere near our strength at forward, where we have a lot of top 6 types (mostly wing). So I'd still be happy with a d- pick, though I wouldn't snort at a big power center, either. All in all, it's nice to be trying to niche draft instead of just grabbing whatever you can because you need help everywhere.
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Post by Goldthorpe on Jan 17, 2004 12:24:38 GMT -5
I think AS and his croonies will definitivelly go for the BPA this year. We have an very strong prospect base and it would be foolish to pick a player for needs when we already have so many young guns already who could realistically make it in the span of a few years.
But I would agree with seventeen that we could use another body in our blueline depth. I always feel that d-men are somewhat safer choices, and a good prospect D has more value that a good prospect forward in my book.
Obviously we will probably not pick as high as last year, but I feel that the habs have exactly the kind of scouting team that will succeed in picking a good player late in the first round. This is where it pay to have great hockey people knowing their Saperlipopette at draft day.
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Post by M. Beaux-Eaux on Jan 17, 2004 14:23:37 GMT -5
Select BPA. Then trade a top forward/goalie prospect for a top d-man prospect. Everybody wins.
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Post by BCHab on Jan 17, 2004 17:32:15 GMT -5
I'm not sure at position 10 to 30 you are going pick someone who'll make a difference beyond adding depth in numbers. The team needs a quality upgrade if it wants to contend IMO. None of the team's current prospects, except Katsitsyn supposedly, are elite level. Good certainly but not elite like a Bowmeester or a Rick Nash.
By some accounts, this is considered a weaker draft year so Andrej Meszaros or Wes O'Neill may turn out to be Lindsay Vallis or Brent Bilodeau for all we know. Perhaps using the top pick as part of a package to acquire a player with better skills or higher potential should be considered? A player like Svitov for example.
That still leaves the other rounds for AS to find a few more talented players as he has in years past. In a weak draft year, I would think quality of your scouting and number of picks would be more important than draft position anyway. The team has an extra third, if memory serves me. My two cents.
Cheers,
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