2009 NHL Draft Preview

John Tavares (left) and Victor Hedman (right) will jockey for first overall in the upcoming Entry Draft.

The June 26th NHL Entry Draft is not far away and 28 teams have already been preparing for it. Once the Stanley Cup Finals come to an end, the hockey world will focus on this draft. Here are my predictions for who will go in the top 15.

 

15. Anaheim Ducks – RW Scott Glennie (Brandon-WHL). Glennie has made amazing strides in the last year or so. He is definitely a bonafide goal scorer but one could argue that his stats were padded because he played with Brayden Schenn. His stats are split fairly evenly between the powerplay and even strength. He can skate with the best of them, in this draft. He has arguably better offensive potential than his linemate in Brandon, the aforementioned Brayden Schenn. His downside is his defensive game. Even though he played on the penalty kill with Brandon, he does lack the defensive instincts that some of the names above him on this list have. The Ducks would love to add Glennie to their growing class of young forwards that include Getzlaf, Perry, Ryan and others. Not to mention that Glennie can also play at centre in addition to the wing.

14. Florida Panthers – C Nazem Kadri (London-OHL). Kadri made big strides this season playing for the London Knights of the OHL. He learned much about winning as a second line centre when the team he played for, the Kitchener Rangers went to the Memorial Cup final in 2008. He got more playing time and an increased role with the Knights in 2009. Kadri sees the ice very well and makes for a great play maker.

13. Buffalo Sabres – D Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Leksand-SWE). Oliver could be a steal at this point in the draft but the feeling is that he could be taken even later in the draft. Most of this uncertainty is due to his size and strength issues. He has a decent frame and is a very mobile defenceman on the ice. However, he lacks the necessary size to play in the NHL. A very small minority think he will be taken in the top 10. He possesses good puck control and incredible hockey sense.

12. Minnesota Wild – RW Jordan Schroeder (Minnesota-NCAA). If it wasn’t for the depth in this year`s draft, Schroeder would be easily a top 10 pick. He won’t fall any lower than #12 as it would be fitting that the former Golden Gopher gets picked by the team in his home state. Many compare his skill and size to that of Patrick Kane. Schroeder had 11 points in 8 games with USA World Junior team this past year. He has great playmaking ability with soft hands. He will go well with young Wild forwards like Gillies and Sheppard. Some have criticized him for his lack of size and strength which also may be a reason that he will not be selected in the top 5. He will need to add size to play at the NHL level.

11. Nashville Predators – D Ryan Ellis (Windsor-OHL). Ellis is no doubt a stud prospect in this draft. What is keeping him from the top 5 is his lack of size and strength. Many thought he was too small to play Canadian junior hockey. He possesses impeccable puck skills and a cannon of a shot for a guy at his stature. Ellis had 89 points in 57 games in 2008-09 as well as 31 playoff points in 20 games this past postseason. He is getting better and better defensively but will still need to improve that part of his game. That part will come when he learns to use his body positioning better. Predators GM David Poile has not been afraid to take defencemen in recent drafts and if Ellis is still around at #11, he will be taken at that position. Ellis will join the ranks of arguably the best young group of defencemen of the future that includes the likes of Weber, Suter, Franson, Blum and Sulzer.

10. Edmonton Oilers – D John Moore (Chicago-USHL). Some say he would be a gamble at the #10 spot in the draft but Moore does have big potential. He has a good frame and will work on adding strength. He was a point per game player at the collegiate level and is not afraid to step up and join the rush.

9. Ottawa Senators – RW Zack Kassian (Peterborough-OHL). Kassian is a strong power forward who will hit anything that moves. He improved his offensive game this season as he was a point per game player in 2009 for the Petes. He is not afraid to fight. While some teams may be hesitant to use their first round pick on a fighting power forward, Kassian has big potential as he still needs to work on the skating part of his game. When he does this, he will be much more of an effective player. The Senators seem to lack that one perennial tough guy who can score and set up teammates as well. He would be a very nice addition to the core nucleus of the future of the Sens.

8. Dallas Stars – D Dmitry Kulikov (Drummondville-QMJHL). Kulikov possesses so many strengths in his game that it is hard to think of many weaknesses. He skates effortlessly and is an impeccable puck handler for a defenceman. The ideal comparisons to him in the NHL are Sergei Zubov and Brian Rafalski. Kulikov does need to put on some weight and strength but he still positions himself well to make up for it. He will be a top 4 defenceman for years to come. The Stars would love to add him to their young corps especially with Zubov getting up there in age. He will be there among the likes of Fistric, Grossman and Niskanen. It will be hard for newly appointed Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk to pass up on this kid.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs – C Brayden Schenn (Brandon-WHL). Many have said that Schenn is the second best forward in the draft. He has great instincts and never gives up on plays. He works hard for his goals and makes it look easy at the same time. He is a big kid with a good frame and could very well become an Erik Staal-type player. His stats may be a bit padded with the chemistry that he showed with Scott Glennie. Schenn did not look as well when playing with other wingers. He is a decent skater but will improve. He has a real nice skill set and will be an effective player when he fully pans out. Leafs GM Brian Burke will be gunning for a top 2 pick for sure but he wouldn’t mind taking Brayden, brother of 2008 1^st round pick and current Leaf, Luke Schenn.

6. Phoenix Coyotes – LW Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (Timra-Sweden). Magnus is arguably one of the best skaters in the draft, if not the best skater. He does need to improve his defensive game but his offensive game is definitely very good. He has a good shot and sees the ice very well. Playing for team Sweden in the most recent World Juniors tournament, Magnus blew by opposing defences with speed and skated circles around even the Canadian defenders. He could be a top 5 pick but with the quality of prospects available, he could sink as low as 7^th. The Coyotes will not pass on him though. They have already taken talented forwards in recent drafts such as Kyle Turris, Mikael Bodekker and Peter Mueller.

5. Los Angeles Kings – LW Evander Kane (Vancouver-WHL). Evander Kane has a tremendous scoring ability and proved that with the Vancouver Giants this season and in the past with the North Shore Winter Club. He can skate very well and stick handle even better. He finishes his checks and can play a rough game if the time calls for it. He will need to put on more size to be more effective and will likely have to spend a little time in the AHL before coming up to the NHL. The Kings will have a very good nucleus moving forward. Along with Kane, they have the likes of Kopitar, Brown, Frolov, Moller amongst others to build around. The Kings are likely done drafting defencemen too as they already have Jack Johnson and Drew Doughty on their roster to go along with the 4^th overall pick from 2007, Thomas Hickey as well as the 13^th overall pick from last year, Colton Teubert. With the Kings apparently gunning for Vincent Lecavalier over the trade market, GM Dean Lombardi will be looked at like a genius in the very near future.

4. Atlanta Thrashers – D Jared Cowan (Spokane-WHL).  Cowan was the top defenceman on the Memorial Cup winning Spokane Chiefs last year and somehow was not invited to tryouts for the Canadian team for this year’s World Juniors. He is comparable to Victor Hedman in size and strength. Cowan is a little more physical and has some mobility. He compares to Jay Bouwmeester. The Thrashers would love to have this kid to add to their undoubtedly studly blueline of the future that includes the likes of Bogosian, Enstrom and others.

3. Colorado Avalanche – C Matt Duchene (Brampton-OHL). Duchene has arguably one of the best shots among prospects in the draft. He is a pure scorer who possesses amazing skating ability. He can pass the puck reasonably well but that is one part of his game that he can definitely improve upon. He will likely add some more size and that would turn him into a more effective player at the NHL level. The Avs will definitely want someone in the wings to take over in the event that Joe Sakic retires either this year or next. Unfortunately for them, Duchene won’t be at that level to start this season just yet. He may require some time in the AHL but it will all be for the best.

2. Tampa Bay Lightning – D Victor Hedman (Modo-Sweden). The big Swedish defenceman was projected by many to go in any one of the top 3 spots with a higher probability on being drafted in the top 2. The most ideal NHL comparison would be Chris Pronger. Hedman moves the puck well, makes a great first pass and can anchor a powerplay with his tremendous vision. He uses his size to his advantage and positions himself very well in the defensive zone. He doesn’t play with the intensity or aggressiveness that Pronger does but makes up for it in being a great playmaker. This kid has huge potential and the Lightning will be happy to have him on their blueline of the future that will feature the likes of Meszaros, Wishart and others. Hedman was recently profiled on CBC`s Hockey Night in Canada with some of the other top players headed to the June 26<sup>th</sup> draft. Hedman`s favourite player growing up? Wayne Gretzky. That too, should get the scouts thinking.

1. New York Islanders – C John Tavares (London-OHL). He’s been the most talked about prospect entering the 2009 draft and if it weren’t for a submission mistake, he would have already been drafted last year in 2008. Tavares is a skilled player who has a knack for hitting the back of the net. Early on in his young hockey career, he was not as fit as he is now and the added strength has seemed to really shored up his game. His skating, at one time, was a question mark but those critics have since been silenced. He has great passing ability and is slowly improving his defensive game. He protects the puck as well as anyone in the draft. The Islanders will be looking for a marketable star. They also need someone to play alongside up and coming forward Kyle Okposo. Tavares should be that player. If GM Garth Snow passes up on him to take Hedman instead, it would not be a surprise but probably not the right choice for the direction of the team.

 

2008 NHL Mock Draft

Originally published at: http://insidehockey.com/columns/1800

1. Tampa Bay Lightning: Steven Stamkos – Center

Quite simply, Steven Stamkos (as seen on right) is beyond any doubt the best player in this year’s draft class. He’s the most skilled, the fastest, the most complete, the most mature, and the most NHL ready. Look for Stamkos to join the Lightning next season and make an immediate impact.

2. Los Angeles Kings: Drew Doughty – Defense

The Kings are said to be in the market for a defenseman, so this pick is a toss-up between Doughty and Zach Bogosian. Doughty was one of the top defensemen in the OHL this past season, and since then, he has lost around 20 pounds, clearly demonstrating his drive to play professional hockey. The Kings feel that the upside with Doughty may be slightly better than that with Bogosian.

3. Atlanta Thrashers: Zach Bogosian – Defense

The Thrashers were well aware that they’d end up with one of the elite defensemen of this year’s draft, and they are thrilled to end up with this native of Massena, New York. Bogosian offers precisely what the Thrashers are looking for: a big physical defenseman who can contribute at both ends of the rink. May be ahead of Doughty in terms of NHL readiness.

4. St. Louis Blues: Alex Pietrangelo – Defense

The Blues were very interested in Kyle Beach and Luke Schenn, but feel that Pietrangelo would ultimately prove to be the more suitable selection. Pietrangelo is perhaps the best puck moving defenseman in the draft, and the Blues believe that both his physical and defensive game are rapidly emerging.

5. New York Islanders: Nikita Filatov – Left Wing

Nikita Filatov is the consensus second best forward in the draft, and the Islanders aren’t the least bit worried about the lack of a Russian transfer agreement, as Filatov has clearly demonstrated his eagerness to do whatever it takes to play in the NHL.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets: Luke Schenn – Defense

After losing shutdown defenseman Adam Foote, the Blue Jackets are overjoyed to select Luke Schenn, who has the capacity of becoming the second coming of Foote. Schenn is without question the best defensive defenseman in the draft, and may be able to step in and contribute immediately.

7. Toronto Maple Leafs: Cody Hodgson – Center

Just like the Blues, the Maple Leafs were very interested in acquiring the services of Kyle Beach, and also displayed interest in Mikkel Boedker and Colin Wilson, but in a pick that could very well define this franchise moving forward, they opt for the hometown hero Cody Hodgson. A great character kid who may never lead the league in scoring, but could very well have a Mats Sundin-like impact on the Leafs.

8. Phoenix Coyotes: Mikkel Boedker – Left Wing

The Coyotes considered taking a gamble on defenseman Tyler Myers, but ultimately can’t pass up on a player of Boedker’s offensive talent. Boedker is one of the most dynamic forwards in the draft, and his addition will lessen the pain of Blake Wheeler’s departure. The Coyotes also considered trading down to select Joe Colborne.

9. Nashville Predators: Colin Wilson – Center

The Predators are delighted that Wilson is still on the board at ninth overall, as they had him higher on their list. Colin Wilson will prove to be the top two center that the Preds are lacking, and is physically the most NHL ready player in the draft.

10. Vancouver Canucks: Kyle Beach – Center/Left Wing

Beach (as seen on left) is undoubtedly one of the most talented forwards in this year’s draft, and with several ties to the Everett Silvertips organization, the Canucks are convinced that he does indeed possess the character required the excel at the next level. With the unfortunate passing of Luc Bourdon, the Canucks also displayed interest in defensemen Colten Teubert, Tyler Myers, and Luca Sbisa, in addition to forwards Zach Boychuk and Joshua Bailey, but feel that Kyle Beach will emerge into an all-around impact player.

11. Chicago Blackhawks: Tyler Myers – Defense

With a well balanced crop of prospects in the system, the Hawks are equipped to take a gamble on Myers, who is considered to be a work in process. Myers’ raw potential is evident, and the Hawks are prepared to wait and let his potential come to fruition. The Hawks would like to bring in some size with their first round selection, and at 6’ 7”, Myers does just that.

12. Anaheim Ducks: Colten Teubert – Defense

The Ducks are disappointed that Kyle Beach isn’t on the board at 12th overall, but are content with their selection of Teubert – who Brian Burke and the Ducks’ brass believe has the potential to become a Chris Pronger-like player, with a little less to give offensively. Also considered drafting Zach Boychuk and Luca Sbisa.

13. Buffalo Sabres: Joshua Bailey – Center

If Josh Bailey wasn’t available at 13th overall, the Sabres would have been prepared to trade down, but he’s the guy they wanted to obtain, and they are pleased that they did. Bailey is a solid two-way play-making center who the Sabres feel is a tad bit underrated.

14. Carolina Hurricanes: Zach Boychuk – Center

The Canes were tempted to use their first round selection to pick CJAHL player of the year Joe Colborne, but feel that Boychuk possesses a similar offensive upside, with more of an all-around game. Also displayed interest in Luca Sbisa, but weren’t prepared to draft a defenseman with their first round selection. The Canes’ tendency of drafting from the WHL continues.

15. Nashville Predators: Luca Sbisa – Defense

With the overabundance of defensemen in the system, the Preds strongly considered selecting skilled offensive forwards Joe Colborne or Mattias Tedenby, but they feel that at 15th overall, Sbisa is the best player available.

16. Boston Bruins: Joe Colborne – Center

After having agreed to terms with power forward Blake Wheeler, the Bruins were tempted to select a defenseman with their first-round pick, but they feel that Colborne is eerily similar to Joe Thornton, and due to the addition of Wheeler, they are willing to let him develop at the University of Denver.

17. Calgary Flames: Mattias Tedenby – Left Wing

“We want to take an offensive forward” were the words spoken by Flames director of scouting Tod Button in a recent interview, and there’s not much doubt that this diminutive Swedish forward is the best offensive forward left on the board. Despite his size, the Flames are confident that Tedenby has the tools to be a successful top six forward.

18. Ottawa Senators: Chet Pickard – Goaltender

If the Senators aren’t able to move up in this year’s draft, it’s a distinct possibility that they’ll use their first round selection to select Pickard – who has drawn many comparisons to Carey Price. The Sens were also interested in defensemen Erik Karlsson, Michael Del Zotto, and John Carlson.

19. Columbus Blue Jackets: Erik Karlsson – Defense

The Jackets would have loved to see forwards Joe Colborne or Mattias Tedenby slip to the 19th pick, and also displayed some major interest in Michael Del Zotto, Jordan Eberle, and even Zac Dalpe, but they feel that this puck-moving Swedish defenseman is the best player left on the board.

20. New York Rangers: Michael Del Zotto – Defense

While Del Zotto may not fill the immediate needs of the Rangers, they believe that with some improvements in his defensive zone coverage, he has the potential to become a top two defenseman. The Rangers also considered selecting feisty defensemen John Carlson and Tyler Cuma, along with forwards Jordan Eberle and Greg Nemisz.

21. New Jersey Devils: John Carlson – Defense

The Devils find it difficult to pass up on Jordan Eberle, a pure goal scorer who would better suit their needs. But in a draft full of top notch defensemen, they opt to select the homegrown talent in Carlson, who they had much higher on their list.

22. Edmonton Oilers: Jordan Eberle – Center

With solid all-around depth in the system, the Oilers go for the player with the most offensive upside. Eberle, who is listed as a center but can also play the wing, is one of the smartest offensive players in the draft, and could very well end up being an outright steal at 22nd overall. The Oilers have stated that they aren’t concerned about size with their first round selection.

23. Washington Capitals: Anton Gustafsson – Center

Gustafsson to Washington is the perfect fit, and not because he’s the son of former Capital Bengt Gustafsson. This 6’ 2” Swedish center is a talented two-way player, who would fit in nicely as the third line center on a highly skilled Capitals roster. Gustafsson could have a similar impact on the Caps that Jordan Staal has on the Penguins.

24. Minnesota Wild: Jake Gardiner – Defense

The Wild are said to be in the market for a defenseman, and at 24th overall, they feel that this Minnesotan is the best left on the board. The Wild consider Gardiner to be one of the best skaters in this year’s draft, and they believe that Jacques Lemaire will be able to help him with his (at times) questionable decision making.

25. Montreal Canadiens: Nicholas Deschamps – Center

The Canadiens are ecstatic that this native of Lasalle, Quebec is ripe for the pickings at 25th overall. The Canadiens also considered selecting Greg Nemisz to bring in some size down the middle, but they feel that Deschamps has much more potential to become an impact offensive player down the road.

26. Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Cuma – Defense

The Sabres were hoping that goaltender Chet Pickard would have still been available at 26th overall, and considered drafting goaltender Jacob Markstrom to address a week position with their second first-rounder, but they feel that Cuma is the best player left on the board, and would bring some much needed toughness to the blue line.

27. Philadelphia Flyers: Colby Robak – Defense

Just like the Sabres, the Flyers showed interest in goaltender Jacob Markstrom, but they feel that Robak’s size, coupled with his above average skating, will make him a serviceable top four defenseman in the years to come.

28. Los Angeles Kings: Kirill Petrov – Left Wing

With a grand total of 15 picks in this year’s draft, and after selecting a sure thing in Drew Doughty at second overall, the Kings are willing to take a risk with this skilled Russian winger. There’s no denying that Petrov is one of the most skilled forwards in the entire draft class, but unlike Filatov, he hasn’t shown much interest in leaving Russia.

29. Atlanta Thrashers: Greg Nemisz – Center

After filling one of their needs of a blue-chip defender at third overall, the Thrashers are overjoyed to fill another one at 29th overall, as they acquire some size and scoring punch up front with Nemisz. Nemisz is a big power forward with a big time shot, and would fit in nicely with the Thrashers’ surplus of skilled forwards.

30. Detroit Red Wings: Tyler Ennis – Center/Left Wing

With no glaring needs in the system, the Wings opt for the most skilled forward left of the bunch. The Wings have shown absolutely no hesitancy selecting diminutive forwards in the past, as long as they possess the skill required to shine at the next level, and at 5’ 8”, Ennis certainly does. After finding success in Darren Helm, the Wings once again nab a gem from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL.

Farhan Devji is the author of a hockey based novel, “The Hockey Farmer,” available and described at cacoethespublishing.net.