DeadsetAce
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seth learning from shea...i think that worked out quite well for him. hope he becomes a stud in this league.
OFFICIAL HOCKEY THREAD: NHL, KHL, NCAA, IIHL
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Jones/Weber pairing.
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Good God.... :x
2013 NHL draft: Team grades.
Evaluating draft classes a few hours after the conclusion of the draft may seem a little hasty, since we won't see many of the 2013 picks on NHL ice for quite some time. But there are still a number of factors that illustrate how well teams did with their selections.
In compiling these grades, I look at the following areas:
The value: First and foremost, the draft is about acquiring assets. Did a team add the most valuable prospect at that given point in the draft?
Team needs: Organizational needs come into play as well. By that I don't mean a team needs a second-line center and fill it with a center in the draft. I mean, how does this player fit into their pipeline? Do they need size? Scoring? More defensive depth? That's what I'm looking at there.
Total talent added: Simply put, how much total talent did a team bring in during this draft? This last part is key, because there was a lot of talent in this draft, even well into the third round.
There is a very good possibility that these grades will change over time, when these prospects get some more time under their belts. But right now they're based off my evaluation of the prospects as they entered the draft and other potential picks teams could have made in certain draft positions. So with that as a primer, here's a look at my 2013 draft grades, where the teams with multiple early picks in a very deep draft made the most of their extra opportunities.
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Buffalo Sabres: A+
Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov gives Buffalo two elite-sized, gritty D-men with picks No. 8 and No. 16 and, over time, will have a major impact on the back end. The blue line was a big need for the Buffalo system, and they addressed it as well as they could with their first two selections. In the second round, the Sabres add skilled, blue-collar forward J.T. Compher, and two big hard working forwards in Connor Hurley from Edina High School and Justin Bailey from Kitchener of the OHL -- both give added size. This was a really strong draft for the Sabres.
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Columbus Blue Jackets: A+
The Jackets made the most of three first-round picks, adding skill and hockey sense in Alexander Wennberg. I had him rated as my No. 11 prospect, and he is an excellent, complete player. Kerby Rychel brings big-time grit and toughness with an excellent net presence and the willingness to get dirty to score goals like ex-Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom. Marko Dano was their third first-round selection and was, in my opinion, a forgotten player somewhat, having played in the KHL. Add 6-foot-3 D-man Dillon Heatherington from the WHL and fellow westerner Oliver Bjorkstrand, who has high-end skill, and you have the makings of a very nice class.
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Dallas Stars: A+
Many coming into the draft said Valeri Nichushkin could end up being the best player in the class, with elite size and skating. The grade is contingent on Nichushkin sticking in the NHL this season, because a prolonged stay in Russia would complicate things. Dallas will want to get a deal done as soon as possible, though. Combining Nichushkin with Jason Dickinson from Guelph, a great combination of skating and skill, and a steal in Remi Elie from the London Knights is a coup. I think Elie will surprise many with tenacity, grit and underrated skill.
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Calgary Flames: A
After dismantling their team ahead of the trade deadline, Calgary needed to hit with their three first-round picks, and I think they did. The Flames needed size and got a big center in Sean Monahan, who has the upside to play in the top-six with high-end skill. Emile Poirier adds grit and speed -- with a knack for scoring big goals -- while displaying a great second effort in all three zones. Morgan Klimchuk is a two-way, hard-working forward who scored in junior, but he's my question mark among the Flames' top three picks and the reason I held back from giving them an A+. If he matures and adds strength, he has a chance to be a depth forward with upside as a third liner. I just think other players on the board had more to offer at No. 28, but Klimchuk does fill a need. Third-rounder Keegan Kanzig is 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds. If he plays that will be an added bonus. Like I said earlier, size was an obvious need and it was addressed.
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Colorado Avalanche: A
I have to give them credit for using the first overall pick on the best player in the draft rather than reaching to fill a need. Nathan MacKinnon has a chance to be a franchise player. He is dynamic in all areas of the game with speed, skill and competitiveness. A star is born. In the second round, they took Chris Bigras, a 6-foot defenseman who possesses skating and puck-moving abilities. Later in the second round they acquire goaltender Spencer Martin, who had some difficult times this past year but has tons of upside as a big netminder.
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Tampa Bay Lightning: A
Jonathan Drouin could easily be a No. 1 overall pick in any other draft, and his puck skills and vision will be on display sooner rather than later in the NHL. He can develop into a world-class star. Adding Adam Erne, who I had ranked in No. 12 in this class, is a big-time value pick in the second round. He has a chance to be a top-six forward with skill and grease.
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Florida Panthers: A
They wanted a center and when the asking price for No. 1 and MacKinnon was too steep they still get a player they wanted in Aleksander Barkov. Barkov has a chance to be a star first-line center, and the thought of pairing him with LW Jonathan Huberdeau is exciting in itself. Size must have been something they wanted to continue to add, as they selected Ian McCoshen (6-2) with a power game, and Evan Cowley, a goaltender who has elite size (6-3) and upside as a starter.
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Nashville Predators: A
Are there a lot of A grades in this draft? Sure. But there's a lot of talent in this class. Spread it around a 30-team league and it warrants high marks. Particularly when you can get a possible No. 1 overall talent at No. 4. The Preds must feel like they won the lottery with Seth Jones falling to them. He will be added to a team that is the NHL's best at developing defensemen, and joins the likes of Shea Weber, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Even after losing Ryan Suter, this can still be one of the best defensive units in the league. The lack of a second-round pick cuts into their overall draft haul, but they also added tough D-man Jonathan Diaby, who stands 6-5, and hard-working center Felix Girard from Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL.
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Philadelphia Flyers: A-
Just watching the Flyers you know that defense is a need both now and down the road. Any time you can add a giant of a defenseman such as Samuel Morin -- who brings skating and toughness -- it is a winning situation. Add Robert Hagg, a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman and the Flyers answer their needs to improve their D corps.
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Carolina Hurricanes: A-
Elias Lindholm, in time, could prove to be one of the best all-around picks from 2013, as he is the most complete player in this draft class. I think he could surprise many with great upside offensively. They lacked a second-round pick, but adding UNH D-man Brett Pesce is excellent value in the third. He's a player who was under appreciated due to limited playing time as a true rookie in college hockey.
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Phoenix Coyotes: A-
The Yotes select Max Domi at 12th overall from the London Knights and get a savvy, puck-skilled player with star potential. At 39th overall, they select the physically underdeveloped center Laurent Dauphin, who will have tremendous upside once he gets stronger and more physically prepared. His hockey IQ is very good. In the third round, with the 62nd pick, comes Yan Pavel LaPlante, who missed most of the season with a shoulder injury but broke back onto the scene with the then-Prince Edward Island Rocket. He has excellent speed and tenacity.
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Edmonton Oilers: A-
While I am not as high on Darnell Nurse, the Oilers filled a need by choosing one of the elite, big shutdown D-men in this draft. Regardless of whether he ever improves his offensive game, Nurse will play for a long time. There is little doubt he has the skating, size and grit to have an impact. Marc-Olivier Roy is one of the many underrated forwards in the draft and brings a solid complete game. Both third-round selections were used to take Russians who bring talent. The 6-5 center Bogdan Yakimov was an honorable mention as a top-50 pick, with obvious upside offensively. Anton Slepyshev is 6-2 and is an excellent value pick at the end of Round 3.
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Winnipeg Jets: B+
The Jets were clearly not concerned about size and drafted excellent skill with their first four picks. Joshua Morrissey from Prince Albert is a slick skating defenseman who has a chance to be a PP QB point man. Nicolas Petan from Portland is only 5-8 but has the heart of a lion and unreal skill, posting more than 100 points while playing as gritty a game as anyone in this draft. Adding depth in net is always a good idea and Eric Comrie ranked among my top five goaltenders available in the draft. He shows great potential even though he suffered a hip injury. In the third round, James Lodge from Saginaw possesses very good skill and vision. If Morrissey and Petan live up to expectations then the Jets become a team with an "A" grade as well.
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Ottawa Senators: B+
It's very fitting that the Sens take Curtis Lazar, who spills over with character and speed. The forward, who could see time at either center or right wing, can score, pursue the puck and brings leadership. With no second-round pick they fall short on quanity but in the third round they get my second-rated goaltender in Marcus Hogberg. At 6-4, he has lots of athletic ability and could develop into a big-time surprise.
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Detroit Red Wings: B+
Anthony Mantha was the only 50-goal scorer in the draft and the Wings will bring this talented winger along slowly, as is their M.O. If everything comes together with his maturity and a willingness to play hard consistently, he could be a big-time goal scorer in Motown. I liked their second-round picks as well. Zach Nastasiuk from Owen Sound of the OHL adds size and work ethic and Tyler Bertuzzi was an honorable mention on my top 50. He is as gritty a player there was on the board and in time will do whatever it takes to make the Wings.
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Toronto Maple Leafs: B
Frederik Gauthier has a chance to prove me wrong. Selected at No. 21, he needs to learn to play with more intensity and grit. He has the size and skill set to make it, so time will tell. He is a solid pick because of the position and gives the Leafs depth at center to go along with Carter Verhaeghe, who was not really on my radar. He'll offer size down the middle as well.
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Montreal Canadiens: B
The Habs address a serious need for size with American Michael McCarron, who stands 6-5, 230 and can really skate and finish checks. Swedish forward Jacob De La Rose also adds size and skating. This winger plays an honest game with net drive and forechecking tenacity. In net, they select the top goaltender in the draft in Zach Fucale.
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Washington Capitals: B
Picking 23rd, the Caps land one of the top skilled players in the draft in Swedish forward Andre Burakowsky. If he matures and learns to play without the puck, he could be a star. Madison Bowey from Kelowna of the WHL has loads of offensive upside, but will need to shore up his decision-making and defensive play. Wild-card pick Zachary Sanford from the EJHL, selected in the second round with pick No. 61, could surprise many. He will likely go to college (Boston College) to give him the time he needs to develop.
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Vancouver Canucks: B
Stepping up to select Bo Horvat with the ninth overall pick showed just how much value the team puts into a complete player. And they'll hope he's up to the pressure he'll face as the sole return for Cory Schneider. Horvat is a big-time performer and was the OHL playoff MVP. I see great offensive upside with this three-zone player. If Hunter Shinkaruk hits he could be a big-time scorer, but I have my doubts.
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New York Islanders: B-
Ryan Pulock brings an absolute cannon of a shot from the point and in time will be a PP weapon. He is very strong on the puck for a 6-1 defenseman, and while his season was average, he had to deal with injuries that impeded his overall development. Having said that, I believe in the player highly and think he plays for sure. I just wonder how the Isles pick seven blueliners in 2012 then draft another one in 2013. Eamon McAdam in the third round is good value and I see a lot of upside in his ability to become an NHL goaltender. Of all the tenders in this draft, he handles the puck better than any other and brings size and athletic ability to the organization.
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Chicago Blackhawks: B-
Ryan Hartman is this draft's Andrew Shaw, and brings character and grit. He has already proven to be a big-game performer. He skates well and does whatever it takes to make a play. Adding Carl Dahlstrom at 51st overall is a value pick, though off the board a bit for me. He'll add size and solid stay-at-home defense at 6-3 and more than 210 pounds. John Hayden, selected in the third round, adds size and skating from the U.S. National Team Development Program. While he was not on my radar at this point in the draft, I see him as a pick that in time could pan out as a depth player.
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Los Angeles Kings: B-
With no first- and third-round picks, it is hard to yield high-end prospects, but selecting Valentin Zykov will help with the lack of picks. This Russian LW had an excellent season in Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL and is one of the strongest forwards on the puck in this draft. He is powerful, shoots the puck heavy and scored with regularity. Coming out of the NHL combine, he was highly thought of for his character answers.
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San Jose Sharks: B-
Mirco Mueller is one of the smoothest skaters in the draft and his upside is excellent. He plays with poise and confidence and adapted to the North American style very well, becoming a leader on his team. Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau was selected 49th overall and comes from out of left field for me. He is a hard working forward, but I do not see the high-end upside that obviously the Sharks see.
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Boston Bruins: C+
They don't get to select until No. 60 but take a Linus Arnesson, who I had rated in my top 40. I think he is a good value pick. In the third round they go to the European pool again and select LW Peter Cehlarik from Slovakia, who played in the Swedish Elite League. He brings size and a solid work ethic. Notable fourth-round selection Ryan Fitzgerald, son of former NHLer Tommy Fitzgerald, was another honorable mention on my final list. He brings a highly intelligent game with offensive upside and great work ethic. While they did well with the picks they had, they didn't add quite enough overall talent compared to some of the teams graded ahead of them, however.
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Anaheim Ducks: C
The Ducks stepped up for Shea Theodore and must believe in his offensive upside coming off a season where he produced 50-plus points from Seattle's blue line. His decision-making and overall defensive play needs grooming but he does possess offensive ability from the back end. Second rounder Nick Sorensen from Denmark played in the QMJHL last season in Quebec and while I was not a fan early, he did show a lot of improvement as the season went on with a good skill game.
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New York Rangers: C
Their first pick was No. 65, so the draft grade obviously suffers on the quantity of talent scale. That said, they did a good job nabbing talented players in Adam Tambellini, who starred in the BCHL for Surrey, and Russian LW Pavel Buchnevich. Buchnevich is a skilled forward who needs to figure out the game without the puck. With their third selection in the third round, they added speedster winger Anthony Duclair, who has lots of upside with all his skating skills.
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New Jersey Devils: C
Steven Santini is an underappreciated defenseman with the U.S. National Team Development Program and brings tons of character and grit to the table at No. 42 overall. Adding Ryan Kujawinski from Kingston of the OHL adds talent and size. While he is not a perfect pick, he does have upside.
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Pittsburgh Penguins: C
A year after making such a splash with the Jordan Staal trade to acquire additional first-round picks they took a back seat this year. With their first pick at No. 44 overall, Tristan Jarry is an excellent goaltender prospect and could surprise a lot of people. He is poised to take the net in Edmonton of the WHL. Jake Guentzel is a 5-9 center from the USHL and Ryan Segalla is a 6-0 blueliner from Salisbury, a high school in Connecticut. The latter is more of a depth pick.
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Minnesota Wild: C
Size must have been the focus, and when you don't pick until 46 obviously the quality of player is considerably lower. Swedish D-man Gustav Olofsson is 6-2 and played last season in the USHL (Green Bay). He offers a steady, stay-at-home game. The next players selected are 6-3 RW Kurtis Gabriel of Owen Sound, 6-1 defenseman Dylan Labbe from Shawinigan and Carson Soucy, a 6-4 defenseman D from Spruce Grove (AJHL). All are off my radar, but I like the idea of going big to play the odds.
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St. Louis Blues: C
With no first-round pick, the Blues used their top choice at No. 47 overall to select highly skilled D-man Thomas Vannelli from Minnetonka of the Minnesota High School ranks. He has lots of talent and upside offensively. Ten picks later, at 57 overall, they go to the QMJHL and select hard-nosed, skilled forward William Carrier from Cape Breton. Carrier was somewhat forgotten about due to missing most of the season with a high ankle sprain. He brings grit, toughness and a desire to go to the net. The Blues sort of demonstrate how deep this class is -- and why no one really deserves lower than an average grade. Even without a first-round pick teams were able to add players who will contribute at the NHL level. That is not always the case. This was a very special draft class that should produce some really intriguing players to watch in the years ahead.
In compiling these grades, I look at the following areas:
The value: First and foremost, the draft is about acquiring assets. Did a team add the most valuable prospect at that given point in the draft?
Team needs: Organizational needs come into play as well. By that I don't mean a team needs a second-line center and fill it with a center in the draft. I mean, how does this player fit into their pipeline? Do they need size? Scoring? More defensive depth? That's what I'm looking at there.
Total talent added: Simply put, how much total talent did a team bring in during this draft? This last part is key, because there was a lot of talent in this draft, even well into the third round.
There is a very good possibility that these grades will change over time, when these prospects get some more time under their belts. But right now they're based off my evaluation of the prospects as they entered the draft and other potential picks teams could have made in certain draft positions. So with that as a primer, here's a look at my 2013 draft grades, where the teams with multiple early picks in a very deep draft made the most of their extra opportunities.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Buffalo Sabres: A+
Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov gives Buffalo two elite-sized, gritty D-men with picks No. 8 and No. 16 and, over time, will have a major impact on the back end. The blue line was a big need for the Buffalo system, and they addressed it as well as they could with their first two selections. In the second round, the Sabres add skilled, blue-collar forward J.T. Compher, and two big hard working forwards in Connor Hurley from Edina High School and Justin Bailey from Kitchener of the OHL -- both give added size. This was a really strong draft for the Sabres.
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Columbus Blue Jackets: A+
The Jackets made the most of three first-round picks, adding skill and hockey sense in Alexander Wennberg. I had him rated as my No. 11 prospect, and he is an excellent, complete player. Kerby Rychel brings big-time grit and toughness with an excellent net presence and the willingness to get dirty to score goals like ex-Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom. Marko Dano was their third first-round selection and was, in my opinion, a forgotten player somewhat, having played in the KHL. Add 6-foot-3 D-man Dillon Heatherington from the WHL and fellow westerner Oliver Bjorkstrand, who has high-end skill, and you have the makings of a very nice class.
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Dallas Stars: A+
Many coming into the draft said Valeri Nichushkin could end up being the best player in the class, with elite size and skating. The grade is contingent on Nichushkin sticking in the NHL this season, because a prolonged stay in Russia would complicate things. Dallas will want to get a deal done as soon as possible, though. Combining Nichushkin with Jason Dickinson from Guelph, a great combination of skating and skill, and a steal in Remi Elie from the London Knights is a coup. I think Elie will surprise many with tenacity, grit and underrated skill.
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Calgary Flames: A
After dismantling their team ahead of the trade deadline, Calgary needed to hit with their three first-round picks, and I think they did. The Flames needed size and got a big center in Sean Monahan, who has the upside to play in the top-six with high-end skill. Emile Poirier adds grit and speed -- with a knack for scoring big goals -- while displaying a great second effort in all three zones. Morgan Klimchuk is a two-way, hard-working forward who scored in junior, but he's my question mark among the Flames' top three picks and the reason I held back from giving them an A+. If he matures and adds strength, he has a chance to be a depth forward with upside as a third liner. I just think other players on the board had more to offer at No. 28, but Klimchuk does fill a need. Third-rounder Keegan Kanzig is 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds. If he plays that will be an added bonus. Like I said earlier, size was an obvious need and it was addressed.
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Colorado Avalanche: A
I have to give them credit for using the first overall pick on the best player in the draft rather than reaching to fill a need. Nathan MacKinnon has a chance to be a franchise player. He is dynamic in all areas of the game with speed, skill and competitiveness. A star is born. In the second round, they took Chris Bigras, a 6-foot defenseman who possesses skating and puck-moving abilities. Later in the second round they acquire goaltender Spencer Martin, who had some difficult times this past year but has tons of upside as a big netminder.
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Tampa Bay Lightning: A
Jonathan Drouin could easily be a No. 1 overall pick in any other draft, and his puck skills and vision will be on display sooner rather than later in the NHL. He can develop into a world-class star. Adding Adam Erne, who I had ranked in No. 12 in this class, is a big-time value pick in the second round. He has a chance to be a top-six forward with skill and grease.
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Florida Panthers: A
They wanted a center and when the asking price for No. 1 and MacKinnon was too steep they still get a player they wanted in Aleksander Barkov. Barkov has a chance to be a star first-line center, and the thought of pairing him with LW Jonathan Huberdeau is exciting in itself. Size must have been something they wanted to continue to add, as they selected Ian McCoshen (6-2) with a power game, and Evan Cowley, a goaltender who has elite size (6-3) and upside as a starter.
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Nashville Predators: A
Are there a lot of A grades in this draft? Sure. But there's a lot of talent in this class. Spread it around a 30-team league and it warrants high marks. Particularly when you can get a possible No. 1 overall talent at No. 4. The Preds must feel like they won the lottery with Seth Jones falling to them. He will be added to a team that is the NHL's best at developing defensemen, and joins the likes of Shea Weber, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis. Even after losing Ryan Suter, this can still be one of the best defensive units in the league. The lack of a second-round pick cuts into their overall draft haul, but they also added tough D-man Jonathan Diaby, who stands 6-5, and hard-working center Felix Girard from Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL.
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Philadelphia Flyers: A-
Just watching the Flyers you know that defense is a need both now and down the road. Any time you can add a giant of a defenseman such as Samuel Morin -- who brings skating and toughness -- it is a winning situation. Add Robert Hagg, a smooth-skating, puck-moving defenseman and the Flyers answer their needs to improve their D corps.
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Carolina Hurricanes: A-
Elias Lindholm, in time, could prove to be one of the best all-around picks from 2013, as he is the most complete player in this draft class. I think he could surprise many with great upside offensively. They lacked a second-round pick, but adding UNH D-man Brett Pesce is excellent value in the third. He's a player who was under appreciated due to limited playing time as a true rookie in college hockey.
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Phoenix Coyotes: A-
The Yotes select Max Domi at 12th overall from the London Knights and get a savvy, puck-skilled player with star potential. At 39th overall, they select the physically underdeveloped center Laurent Dauphin, who will have tremendous upside once he gets stronger and more physically prepared. His hockey IQ is very good. In the third round, with the 62nd pick, comes Yan Pavel LaPlante, who missed most of the season with a shoulder injury but broke back onto the scene with the then-Prince Edward Island Rocket. He has excellent speed and tenacity.
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Edmonton Oilers: A-
While I am not as high on Darnell Nurse, the Oilers filled a need by choosing one of the elite, big shutdown D-men in this draft. Regardless of whether he ever improves his offensive game, Nurse will play for a long time. There is little doubt he has the skating, size and grit to have an impact. Marc-Olivier Roy is one of the many underrated forwards in the draft and brings a solid complete game. Both third-round selections were used to take Russians who bring talent. The 6-5 center Bogdan Yakimov was an honorable mention as a top-50 pick, with obvious upside offensively. Anton Slepyshev is 6-2 and is an excellent value pick at the end of Round 3.
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Winnipeg Jets: B+
The Jets were clearly not concerned about size and drafted excellent skill with their first four picks. Joshua Morrissey from Prince Albert is a slick skating defenseman who has a chance to be a PP QB point man. Nicolas Petan from Portland is only 5-8 but has the heart of a lion and unreal skill, posting more than 100 points while playing as gritty a game as anyone in this draft. Adding depth in net is always a good idea and Eric Comrie ranked among my top five goaltenders available in the draft. He shows great potential even though he suffered a hip injury. In the third round, James Lodge from Saginaw possesses very good skill and vision. If Morrissey and Petan live up to expectations then the Jets become a team with an "A" grade as well.
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Ottawa Senators: B+
It's very fitting that the Sens take Curtis Lazar, who spills over with character and speed. The forward, who could see time at either center or right wing, can score, pursue the puck and brings leadership. With no second-round pick they fall short on quanity but in the third round they get my second-rated goaltender in Marcus Hogberg. At 6-4, he has lots of athletic ability and could develop into a big-time surprise.
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Detroit Red Wings: B+
Anthony Mantha was the only 50-goal scorer in the draft and the Wings will bring this talented winger along slowly, as is their M.O. If everything comes together with his maturity and a willingness to play hard consistently, he could be a big-time goal scorer in Motown. I liked their second-round picks as well. Zach Nastasiuk from Owen Sound of the OHL adds size and work ethic and Tyler Bertuzzi was an honorable mention on my top 50. He is as gritty a player there was on the board and in time will do whatever it takes to make the Wings.
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Toronto Maple Leafs: B
Frederik Gauthier has a chance to prove me wrong. Selected at No. 21, he needs to learn to play with more intensity and grit. He has the size and skill set to make it, so time will tell. He is a solid pick because of the position and gives the Leafs depth at center to go along with Carter Verhaeghe, who was not really on my radar. He'll offer size down the middle as well.
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Montreal Canadiens: B
The Habs address a serious need for size with American Michael McCarron, who stands 6-5, 230 and can really skate and finish checks. Swedish forward Jacob De La Rose also adds size and skating. This winger plays an honest game with net drive and forechecking tenacity. In net, they select the top goaltender in the draft in Zach Fucale.
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Washington Capitals: B
Picking 23rd, the Caps land one of the top skilled players in the draft in Swedish forward Andre Burakowsky. If he matures and learns to play without the puck, he could be a star. Madison Bowey from Kelowna of the WHL has loads of offensive upside, but will need to shore up his decision-making and defensive play. Wild-card pick Zachary Sanford from the EJHL, selected in the second round with pick No. 61, could surprise many. He will likely go to college (Boston College) to give him the time he needs to develop.
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Vancouver Canucks: B
Stepping up to select Bo Horvat with the ninth overall pick showed just how much value the team puts into a complete player. And they'll hope he's up to the pressure he'll face as the sole return for Cory Schneider. Horvat is a big-time performer and was the OHL playoff MVP. I see great offensive upside with this three-zone player. If Hunter Shinkaruk hits he could be a big-time scorer, but I have my doubts.
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New York Islanders: B-
Ryan Pulock brings an absolute cannon of a shot from the point and in time will be a PP weapon. He is very strong on the puck for a 6-1 defenseman, and while his season was average, he had to deal with injuries that impeded his overall development. Having said that, I believe in the player highly and think he plays for sure. I just wonder how the Isles pick seven blueliners in 2012 then draft another one in 2013. Eamon McAdam in the third round is good value and I see a lot of upside in his ability to become an NHL goaltender. Of all the tenders in this draft, he handles the puck better than any other and brings size and athletic ability to the organization.
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Chicago Blackhawks: B-
Ryan Hartman is this draft's Andrew Shaw, and brings character and grit. He has already proven to be a big-game performer. He skates well and does whatever it takes to make a play. Adding Carl Dahlstrom at 51st overall is a value pick, though off the board a bit for me. He'll add size and solid stay-at-home defense at 6-3 and more than 210 pounds. John Hayden, selected in the third round, adds size and skating from the U.S. National Team Development Program. While he was not on my radar at this point in the draft, I see him as a pick that in time could pan out as a depth player.
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Los Angeles Kings: B-
With no first- and third-round picks, it is hard to yield high-end prospects, but selecting Valentin Zykov will help with the lack of picks. This Russian LW had an excellent season in Baie-Comeau of the QMJHL and is one of the strongest forwards on the puck in this draft. He is powerful, shoots the puck heavy and scored with regularity. Coming out of the NHL combine, he was highly thought of for his character answers.
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San Jose Sharks: B-
Mirco Mueller is one of the smoothest skaters in the draft and his upside is excellent. He plays with poise and confidence and adapted to the North American style very well, becoming a leader on his team. Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau was selected 49th overall and comes from out of left field for me. He is a hard working forward, but I do not see the high-end upside that obviously the Sharks see.
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Boston Bruins: C+
They don't get to select until No. 60 but take a Linus Arnesson, who I had rated in my top 40. I think he is a good value pick. In the third round they go to the European pool again and select LW Peter Cehlarik from Slovakia, who played in the Swedish Elite League. He brings size and a solid work ethic. Notable fourth-round selection Ryan Fitzgerald, son of former NHLer Tommy Fitzgerald, was another honorable mention on my final list. He brings a highly intelligent game with offensive upside and great work ethic. While they did well with the picks they had, they didn't add quite enough overall talent compared to some of the teams graded ahead of them, however.
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Anaheim Ducks: C
The Ducks stepped up for Shea Theodore and must believe in his offensive upside coming off a season where he produced 50-plus points from Seattle's blue line. His decision-making and overall defensive play needs grooming but he does possess offensive ability from the back end. Second rounder Nick Sorensen from Denmark played in the QMJHL last season in Quebec and while I was not a fan early, he did show a lot of improvement as the season went on with a good skill game.
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New York Rangers: C
Their first pick was No. 65, so the draft grade obviously suffers on the quantity of talent scale. That said, they did a good job nabbing talented players in Adam Tambellini, who starred in the BCHL for Surrey, and Russian LW Pavel Buchnevich. Buchnevich is a skilled forward who needs to figure out the game without the puck. With their third selection in the third round, they added speedster winger Anthony Duclair, who has lots of upside with all his skating skills.
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New Jersey Devils: C
Steven Santini is an underappreciated defenseman with the U.S. National Team Development Program and brings tons of character and grit to the table at No. 42 overall. Adding Ryan Kujawinski from Kingston of the OHL adds talent and size. While he is not a perfect pick, he does have upside.
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Pittsburgh Penguins: C
A year after making such a splash with the Jordan Staal trade to acquire additional first-round picks they took a back seat this year. With their first pick at No. 44 overall, Tristan Jarry is an excellent goaltender prospect and could surprise a lot of people. He is poised to take the net in Edmonton of the WHL. Jake Guentzel is a 5-9 center from the USHL and Ryan Segalla is a 6-0 blueliner from Salisbury, a high school in Connecticut. The latter is more of a depth pick.
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Minnesota Wild: C
Size must have been the focus, and when you don't pick until 46 obviously the quality of player is considerably lower. Swedish D-man Gustav Olofsson is 6-2 and played last season in the USHL (Green Bay). He offers a steady, stay-at-home game. The next players selected are 6-3 RW Kurtis Gabriel of Owen Sound, 6-1 defenseman Dylan Labbe from Shawinigan and Carson Soucy, a 6-4 defenseman D from Spruce Grove (AJHL). All are off my radar, but I like the idea of going big to play the odds.
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St. Louis Blues: C
With no first-round pick, the Blues used their top choice at No. 47 overall to select highly skilled D-man Thomas Vannelli from Minnetonka of the Minnesota High School ranks. He has lots of talent and upside offensively. Ten picks later, at 57 overall, they go to the QMJHL and select hard-nosed, skilled forward William Carrier from Cape Breton. Carrier was somewhat forgotten about due to missing most of the season with a high ankle sprain. He brings grit, toughness and a desire to go to the net. The Blues sort of demonstrate how deep this class is -- and why no one really deserves lower than an average grade. Even without a first-round pick teams were able to add players who will contribute at the NHL level. That is not always the case. This was a very special draft class that should produce some really intriguing players to watch in the years ahead.
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Sabres did something right for once.
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Darnell Nurse's offensive potential (ceiling) is the only minor concern for me.
DeadsetAce
Supporter
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im waiting for edmonton to just dominate. 2-3 years from now, if they keep that young group together up front, oh man.
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Hall, Eberle, RNH, Yak.
Seguin to Edmonton, please.
Seguin to Edmonton, please.
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Until they get a goalie, they'll never win.
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I can't believe Jones went to Nashville but it really works out for him. His grandmother lives there, Popeye used to live there and still has a house. He gets to play with Weber who is a nasty son of a gun.
Some thoughts on the draft:
I don't know why Calgary did not pick up Shinkaruk when he was ready. He's gonna light it up in Van City.
Darnell Nurse is an animal. And I can definitely see him being a meaner Chris Pronger. Edmonton picked up a stud defenseman to protect the young forwards on the team. :x
Out of the top 5 picks, I see Jones being the most NHL ready.
MacKinnon is going to have every chance to get some time but I have a good feeling that Joe is going to just let him play his 9 games or whatever and send him back to junior.
I don't want to see it but I think Barkov is going to be a bust. He's going to be overseas for at least two years. Lindholm the same.
Drouin is going to be probably stick with the top club all season because the Lightning are terrible, they love offense and hate defense and they need butts in seats in Florida. Who wouldn't want to see a Drouin/Stamkos/St. Louis first line or power play? I know I would surely pay to see that line.
Some thoughts on the draft:
I don't know why Calgary did not pick up Shinkaruk when he was ready. He's gonna light it up in Van City.
Darnell Nurse is an animal. And I can definitely see him being a meaner Chris Pronger. Edmonton picked up a stud defenseman to protect the young forwards on the team. :x
Out of the top 5 picks, I see Jones being the most NHL ready.
MacKinnon is going to have every chance to get some time but I have a good feeling that Joe is going to just let him play his 9 games or whatever and send him back to junior.
I don't want to see it but I think Barkov is going to be a bust. He's going to be overseas for at least two years. Lindholm the same.
Drouin is going to be probably stick with the top club all season because the Lightning are terrible, they love offense and hate defense and they need butts in seats in Florida. Who wouldn't want to see a Drouin/Stamkos/St. Louis first line or power play? I know I would surely pay to see that line.
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I think it's actually impossible to be a meaner Pronger, without spending your whole career in the penalty box.
I never believe that athletes are ever scared of anyone but I do believe people were afraid of Pronger, he got in guys heads. Pronger to me is like the Russians in world war ii the Germans never wanted to face them in the end because they knew if they got captured there wouldn't be any POW camp, the Russians would torture you and you would die screaming.
Pronger is the dirtiest great player of all time, almost to the point where it seemed like he was playing by different rules.
Daniel Nurse doesn't seem to have the offensive upside tho...
I never believe that athletes are ever scared of anyone but I do believe people were afraid of Pronger, he got in guys heads. Pronger to me is like the Russians in world war ii the Germans never wanted to face them in the end because they knew if they got captured there wouldn't be any POW camp, the Russians would torture you and you would die screaming.
Pronger is the dirtiest great player of all time, almost to the point where it seemed like he was playing by different rules.
Daniel Nurse doesn't seem to have the offensive upside tho...
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I think it's actually impossible to be a meaner Pronger, without spending your whole career in the penalty box.
I never believe that athletes are ever scared of anyone but I do believe people were afraid of Pronger, he got in guys heads. Pronger to me is like the Russians in world war ii the Germans never wanted to face them in the end because they knew if they got captured there wouldn't be any POW camp, the Russians would torture you and you would die screaming.
Pronger is the dirtiest great player of all time, almost to the point where it seemed like he was playing by different rules.
Daniel Nurse doesn't seem to have the offensive upside tho...
I never believe that athletes are ever scared of anyone but I do believe people were afraid of Pronger, he got in guys heads. Pronger to me is like the Russians in world war ii the Germans never wanted to face them in the end because they knew if they got captured there wouldn't be any POW camp, the Russians would torture you and you would die screaming.
Pronger is the dirtiest great player of all time, almost to the point where it seemed like he was playing by different rules.
Daniel Nurse doesn't seem to have the offensive upside tho...
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Could Tim Thomas land in Philly? I know he wants to come back supposedly and the options are slim for him out there...I'm trying to figure out if NJ offered the #9 for Schneider, why the hell Holmgren didn't offer #11 and maybe a later pick?! The difference between those slots is minimal and we could've had a very good goalie on an affordable deal for 2 more yrs smdh.
I dont really like Tim Thomas as a person and his style is totally unorthodox but dude is damn good....if he's wanting to come back I wouldn't be opposed to offering 2 yrs at 3.8-4.5per year. That would serve as a nice stop gap
I know he wants to come back supposedly and the options are slim for him out there...I'm trying to figure out if NJ offered the #9 for Schneider, why the hell Holmgren didn't offer #11 and maybe a later pick?! The difference between those slots is minimal and we could've had a very good goalie on an affordable deal for 2 more yrs smdh. I dont really like Tim Thomas as a person and his style is totally unorthodox but dude is damn good....if he's wanting to come back I wouldn't be opposed to offering 2 yrs at 3.8-4.5per year. That would serve as a nice stop gap
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Bolland was solid in the playoffs but other than that, can anyone break him down? We do need some help at the C positionBlackhawks resigning Bickell
Bolland going to Toronto for 3 draft picks.
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Go away for Canada Day and come back to Bo Horvat as our new starting goalie.
Maybe Im still drunk but that seems like a terrible deal. Gillis needs to take a walk.
Maybe Im still drunk but that seems like a terrible deal. Gillis needs to take a walk.
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Amazing how poorly they have treated Luongo in this whole mess. Now they expect him to just forget the last 2 years have happened?
I heard Edmonton offered two picks and a player. Trading in the division is always sketchy, but they really took a wash in this trade.
You mean to tell me Philly couldnt have offered anything better?
I heard Edmonton offered two picks and a player. Trading in the division is always sketchy, but they really took a wash in this trade.
You mean to tell me Philly couldnt have offered anything better?
Yea, you gotta feel for him. They should have sent him to Florida last year.
IIRC, that's what Vancouver wanted from Edmonton. The 7th pick, a top prospect and a PTBNL. Edmonton didn't wanna pay that price. I think Philly did a little scouting but decided against it if you can believe that. Calgary didn't wanna give up their pick and Columbus wasn't really serious either.
I think the kid will be almost as good as Kesler but it's going to be a bit before the fans forgive this deal.
IIRC, that's what Vancouver wanted from Edmonton. The 7th pick, a top prospect and a PTBNL. Edmonton didn't wanna pay that price. I think Philly did a little scouting but decided against it if you can believe that. Calgary didn't wanna give up their pick and Columbus wasn't really serious either.
I think the kid will be almost as good as Kesler but it's going to be a bit before the fans forgive this deal.
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Well...sounds llike Lecavalier said no to everyone else so it's looking like he may be a Flyer...I pray to the heavens Holmgren didn't overpay out of his you know what, but I'm not banking on it
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DeadsetAce
Supporter
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yeah i think it's all but official...vinny to philly. until that goaltending issue is solved, i'm not worried. praying thomas goes there...would love to light that dip**** up
TB...no doubt on the oil...they need the help at G too. they should make a move for one of these FA goalies floating around. would help.
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yeah i think it's all but official...vinny to philly. until that goaltending issue is solved, i'm not worried. praying thomas goes there...would love to light that dip**** up
TB...no doubt on the oil...they need the help at G too. they should make a move for one of these FA goalies floating around. would help.
Hell we probably NEED Timmy to come here now. I'm actually shocked the deal isn't awful, 5 yrs 4.5 per and he's not 35 so he can retire no problem in like 3-4 yrs.
I just don't get we have Soooo many good centers but I read Vinny is open to being on the wing. Our forward core is great just our defense is brutal
I'm hoping Thomas gets signed here for something reasonable and even if he drops back in skill he's still an above avg. keeper. Bruins games sure would be fun
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$4.5m-per isn't bad for Vinny.
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Why can't the flyers spend this $ on a goalie? And where are they getting this $ from?
I bet they were the only team that offered the 5th year.
I bet they were the only team that offered the 5th year.
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