NHL Draft Thread

[LDF]

really, i thought he would never pan out. it is good to hear thou.

[MurcieOne]

really, i thought he would never pan out. it is good to hear thou.

 

he made the Canaidian Junior Champion team.... thats quite a feat.

 

He is going to play in the NHL, the Hawks signed him a couple of days ago, to keep his rights... they must think so too.

[LDF]

that is good. i will talk to you later about this up coming season who the hawks should sign

[LDF]

Dan Bertram ranked 28 in the predraft

 

 

 

07/21/2005 - Solid enough at the u18s to land late in the first round despite hitting the wall in his freshman campaign after a terrific early-season start .. began the year on the top line but was since moved down to play on the younger unit with Joe Rooney and Matt Greene .. a pure finisher and ideal link-up player .. excellent poise in-close .. patiently outwaits goalies .. plays a solid two-way game .. comes back deep on the backcheck and makes nice reads in his own zone, but could get himself more involved .. consistently goes into danger areas and will pay the price to park in the crease and slot area .. stocky, thick-chested, powerful arms and good upper torso .. can hold off defenders and knows how to protect the puck .. skates through and finishes most of his checks .. pivots exceptionally well and rapidly gets into a shooting position .. prepares his body well to accept passes .. superb passing skills, equally effective on the backhand .. creates space for himself by keeping his feet moving while accelerating .. distributes the puck intelligently; very adept at making short feeds in close quarters . not overly flashy but makes eye-opening plays suddenly .. exceptionally quick and skilled hands .. needs a split second to control a pass and unload a pinpoint bullet feed .. a gifted playmaker; knows when to hold onto the puck and when to release early to spring a linemate .. great hand-eye coordination and stick speed .. shows very good first-step burst from standing start .. balanced and strong on his feet with deceptive startup speed, though he is not showing a breakaway top gear at this level yet .. opportunistic, has a good nose for the puck, sharp instincts around the net .. very adept at carrying the puck in such a way to open up shooting lanes .. likes to fire using defenders as screens.

 

07/08/2005 - (u18) Tournament wrap-up: solid start to the tournament against Germany, out-skating and battling the bigger players fearlessly .. lacked the usual fire and determination for the bigger part of the contest against Denmark .. generally upgraded his play against Russia, matching the fast opponents in speed but overtaking them in tenacity .. turned into an inspiring playoff force .. performed well in the semifinal game against the Czech Republic, sneaking into the scoring chances and firing the puck a lot .. generated trouble for the USA defense with his high-energy style in the gold-medal game before taking a step back in the third period .. a good tournament .. tied with Devin Setoguchi for second place among Canadian goal scorers (4 goals) .. ranked second on Team Canada in shots (24 shots). Scouting: an effortless skater with strong acceleration and foot speed .. impresses with his sharp first-step quickness and above-average agility .. solid top-end speed .. upgraded lower-body strength and balance .. keeps his feet moving when making the puck moves .. a tricky puck-handler with soft hands .. solid hand-eye coordination .. can dangle the puck in traffic .. a decent forechecker .. good vision and hockey sense .. a smart passer who finds the open man effectively .. plays bigger than his size and can intimidate the opponents with hard open-ice hits, but still could use more bulk to his frame .. solid in traffic .. a threat in the offensive zone of the opponent .. fires a quick wrist shot with a fast release .. semi-hard slap shot could be more accurate .. can play the point on powerplay units .. should further develop his defensive awareness .. needs to mark his man faster and stay with him all the way .. a right-shooting forward.

 

02/14/2005 - We have been underwhelmed by Bertram who, as the youngest player in Division 1 college, had a terrific start to his freshman campaign but has since hit the wall. "He started on the top line but has been moved down to a younger line with Joe Rooney and Matt Greene," reports one scout. "He really needs to kickstart and re-energize his game to avoid falling out of the first round entirely. Lately he seems to have lost a step, arriving to the action late and rarely getting a sniff of possession. He isn't as productive on the puck as he was earlier in the season either. Maybe it's a weight issue, but his stride lacks some zip and he appears tired, though it's important not to lose sight of the fact that he's still very young. His in-close puck skills and finishing kick are spectacular. I can see him still going in the top half of the first round with a more convincing finish."

 

12/24/2004 - (Scout's Corner) "I would take Bobby Ryan ahead of him right now, plus some others. His hands are great and he has the mind for creating offense but lacks size and a Crosby separation gear."

 

11/03/2004 - Christa Moore on Dan Bertram (Boston College): "Bertram's the youngest player in the NCAA and is playing on the top line of one of the elite programs, and showing the poise and maturity of an upperclassmen. He's such a pure goal-scorer, one player actually finding the net during five-on-five play, which is a rarity in this penalty-filled season. His acceleration from a dead-stop to full stride is breathtaking."

 

08/30/2004 - (u18) A fluid skater with strong acceleration and footspeed .. has a sharp first step and above-average agility .. a nifty stickhandler with soft hands .. good vision and hockey sense .. an intelligent playmaker who will always finds the open man .. plays bigger than his size, but is not very physically mature .. surprisingly strong in traffic .. has a quick wrister; great release .. not a very accurate slap shot .. played a smart and mature game, although took four unnecessary minor penalties in the final.

 

03/15/2004 - Potential franchise player is a candidate for the second overall position in the 2005 draft .. possibly the faster skater among North Americans his age .. excellent acceleration and agility .. reaches top speed flawlessly and moves laterally smoothly and elusively .. excellent offensive awareness; knows how to find open space and creates room well with his skating and frame .. good hands; very soft and fluid with the puck .. uncanny vision; a crafty playmaker with look n’ go instincts, as we see no delay in the intellect-related aspects of his game .. makes smart, informed plays at full speed .. enjoys physical aspects of the game; competitive and willing to give and receive hits .. excellent timing and patience for his age; makes accurate decisions with the puck even with many bodies around him .. some feeds are second nature to him .. willing to grind it out along the boards .. utilizes his skating ability effectively to get back defensively and help out .. breaks plays up with a quick stick and a keen eye.

Edited July 30, 2005 by LDF

[LDF]

Michael Blunden ranked 37 in the predraft

 

 

03/23/2005 - The second half of the season has been a major downer for the enormous Erie winger and it is looking as if he might be squeezed out of the first round. "Blunden, unlike teammate Ryan O'Marra, has difficulties with the consistency in his game, which can be traced to a sluggish first step that can leave him a step behind in quicker contests. Don't get me wrong, he's got very good speed once he gets going plus the pro-sized frame to be an absolute wrecking ball in all zones. His tenacious attacking and forechecking abilities are most attractive. This 'bull-in-chinashop' attitude makes him an excellent penalty killer when his head is in the game. However his lack of pure skill has become more evident through the season. Some nights, he accomplishes very little offensively. His effectiveness diminishes if he's not supercharged like he was at the Top Prospects Game. He didn't have as much jump the last time I saw him and, in my opinion, doesn't have the talent not to go full throttle all the time."

 

03/22/2005 - (Scout's Corner) "He hasn't been a total disappointment in the second half, but I expected more. His lack of puck skills and consistent scoring have exposed him as a limited player despite his impressive physical tools. Getting a 10-game suspension for tossing an opponent's stick into the crowd hasn't helped his cause either."

 

03/02/2005 - Skates with a hunched over style .. uses stick and arms to generate top speed .. not as physical as in some previous viewings which is disappointing .. skill level is above average and he can get more out of it than most because he's determined around the crease and will score goals the dirty way .. generates good power on the slap shot and wrist shot which he can get off really quickly .. can be a threat every time he's on the ice but he consistently overshadowed by teammate O'Marra.

 

02/05/2005 - Combines a tough-as-nails physical approach with solid work ethic .. practically impossible to slow down on the forecheck, always managing to get around the defenseman to get his hands on the dumped in puck .. has a very big, strong body that is tough to knock off course; sturdy and well-balanced in the slot .. creates screens and looks for rebounds .. made a nice backhanded saucer pass to Brett McLean for a scoring chance .. quite mobile for his size but is not explosive .. finishes checks and with consistent jam .. reliable on the pk with impressive dedication on the backcheck .. must shoot the puck more but will never be a big-time goal scorer, but is quite all right as a bang-and-crash guy with respectable offensive imagination.

 

01/08/2005 - Does not have a pure scorer's hands to dominate on the scoreboard, but is nonetheless a kid who possesses undoubtable pro range and approach .. made a nice strong body check on the first shift of the game to set the tone early .. a key player on the pk .. stocky, thick and well-balanced on his feet .. gets a guy in his sights and just mows him down .. skates with a hunched-down, east-west style .. moves with long strides with a good top speed; not a textbook skater .. shows swift cuts in quickness when he needs to get to a loose puck or make a big hit .. with Ryan O'Marra out of the lineup due to a precaution (minor upper body injury in the pre-game skate) he stepped up and logged big minutes of all-around time .. has a deceptive short-spurt step, effective on the cycle or on moves in behind the net .. an intense forechecker .. showed a very good reach on a wraparound move; excellent lower body strength with a low centre of gravity .. used his quick hands to rob Ottawa's Brad Staubitz off the puck at the opponent's blueline .. was all over the ice in Ottawa's end in a key late-game situation, getting to loose pucks, moving his feet, using his long arms to gather the puck and cycle .. on a steady upward climb.

 

12/24/2004 - Stocky winger bolstered his draft stock with an impressive physical display during the ADT Can-Rus Challenge and has since caught fire with the Otters after a slow start. "He struggled following off-season back surgery to repair a lower stress fracture but looks revitalized since playing the Russians," according to our scout. "He's the soldier every club needs - a strong, pro-sized winger who plays tough and aggressive in all zones and can score some goals. I like his unselfish work away from the puck - finishes every check and really battles hard defensively and along the boards. He's a good passer, handles the puck well, and his skating is getting better, though it's the one area that holds him back. His stride is shorter and less fluid than Ryan O'Marra's, and it takes him time to reach full speed, but his top gear is actually quite good. If his acceleration gains a half-step, he looks to have solid potential as a pro power forward."

 

12/24/2004 - (Scout's Corner) "I don't know why he was invited to team OHL ahead of teammate O'Marra - it makes no sense. He has great size and is a decent skater but is not quite ready to compete with the big boys. Good potential but O'Marra is a more impressive prospect to me."

[LDF]

Evan Brophey ranked 79 in the predraft

 

 

02/12/2005 - Top Prospects Game participant can be one of the OHL's most dangerous offensive weapons when he plays smart and hungry, however his inability to maintain energy and a strong work ethic has been frustrating for scouts. "Brophey has shown me more dedication than last year but he still slacks off too much at times," says a scout. "But he has really taken off after an early-season trade from Barrie. He's a strong skater with a terrific shooting arsenal. He seems to be growing vertically every time I see him and his point totals have grown accordingly. He has a magnificent pair of hands and wins faceoffs. I think that his skills could land him in round two."

 

02/03/2005 - Slick pivot has grown over an inch since last season to 6-foot-2, while his point totals have followed a similar growth pattern .. has acclimatized well at Belleville's cavernous Yardmen Arena with 40 points in 33 games after being acquired from the Barrie Colts in October .. a strong, fast skater with excellent hands .. solid in the faceoff circle; cleanly won a draw in the offensive zone back to the point .. likes to work high along the sideboards on the power play, moving the puck to the pointmen and waiting for opportunities to unleash his pro-caliber wrist shot .. set up Bulls first goal in this manner with a pinpoint accurate feed .. displays some leadership abilities on a line with young forwards Ryan Berard and Matt Beleskey, but still must learn to be more disciplined .. took a senseless penalty with only ten seconds left in the second period, roughing up a Majors forward with a late hit in the neutral zone .. can be one of the OHL's better forwards when he plays smart and hungry .. however his inability to do so consistently is frustrating, though he has improved in this department since last season .. should hear his name called in the second or third round.

 

12/24/2004 - (Scout's Corner) "Looks to have more offensive upside than Steve Downey but is kind of lazy. A very skilled player with a hard, bullet wrister, but he stops moving his feet. Can be underwhelming."

 

10/01/2004 - A slick skater with balance and speed, Brophey is especially dangerous on the rush when he gets outside on the defender .. has the ability to skip past defenders at top speed utilizing a variety of dazzling stick moves .. the Kitchener native has the potential to be a highlight-reel player, but must continue to improve his ability to get open for teammates .. also shows a propensity to fade out of the game when he doesn’t get a taste of the puck for prolonged periods.

[CubsSuck1]

A few questions:

 

- So the Hawks can have guys under contact that play for college teams? Is that similar to NBA or NFL players going over to europe before they are ready to play?

 

- Which Hawks prospects play will play for Wisconsin?

 

- Is this guys last name pronounced like 'skill'?... that would be pretty tight.

[CWSGuy406]

Colin Fraser is the real deal... after leading Red Deer in scoring and PIM, he made his way to Norfolk last year for their playoff run. Maybe not this year, but soon he's gonna be a real good 3rd/4th line center.

 

My brother and I saw Fraser play at a prospects camp last year. He's a real sonuvvab****, and I love the guy. He actually got in a fight with another one of the prospects, as he was being a real pain in the ass the whole scrimmage, so he and this other guy dropped the gloves. Of course, Pully came out of his 'skybox' thingy and said something to break it up. It was funny, 'cause everyone booed Pully. I think it was at Johnny's Ice House.

 

Yeah, he's gonna be that AJ Pierzynski type player -- a b**** to play against, but if he's on your team, you love him.

 

And I agree with you on Ruutu. He's a real nice, down-to-earth type of guy. As much as Sydney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are hyped, I wouldn't trade Ruutu for the world...

 

I'm getting all my hockey posts out now, while my internet is still working. It's been going off and on all day, it's pissing me off, I feel like I'm back on a '94 Gateway dial-up.

 

And, CubsSuck, to answer your questions...

 

-Basically, yes. They don't have him under contract, but they have his rights -- for at least three years, I think. Eventually you have to sign the kid before he can enter the draft. For Europeans/Russians, that time period is extended, more along the lines of 5-6 years. That's just off the top of my head.

 

-Hawk prospects playing for Wisconsin -- Matt Ford, Jack Skille, Adam Burish (sp?), and ... s***. I can't think of the last kid's name.

 

-I've heard 'Skill' and 'Skill-aayy'. I'm still looking for a clarification as well.

[Credepopsup]

-Hawk prospects playing for Wisconsin -- Matt Ford, Jack Skille, Adam Burish (sp?), and ...  s***.  I can't think of the last kid's name.

 

 

The other kid is Jacob Dowell.