Blackhawks win top pick in NHL Entry draft

[Steve9347]

Of course, the one year it really doesn't matter... they held an 8.1% chance of getting it.

 

The NHL's Central Scouting Service released its mid-season ranking of eligible players for the 2007 NHL Entry Draft on Wednesday, anointing Quebec's Angelo Esposito and Russia's Alexei Cherepanov as its top prospects.

 

Esposito (Montreal, Quebec) is the top-ranked North American skater, while Cherepanov (Barnaul, Russia) heads the European list, suggesting the birth of another North American-European rivalry along the one currently being waged by Sidney Crosby (No. 1 in 2005) and Alexander Ovechkin (No. 1, 2004).

 

Like Crosby, Esposito is a teen-age prodigy who has been talked about as a can't-miss kid since he entered his teens. Now 17, Esposito is in his second year with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and has 61 points in 40 games this season. Last year, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound center had 98 points in 57 games and helped Patrick Roy's Quebec club to the Memorial Cup.

 

Cherepanov, meanwhile, made his mark at the recently concluded World Junior Championships. He was by far the best player on the Russian team that earned the silver medal, dropping the championship game to Canada. He was named to the All-Tournament Team after his performance there. The right wing is also starring in the Russian Super League with Omsk.

[Brian]

I'm not up on hockey payroll and such. Does a #1 pick like Esposito require a huge signing bonus and pay? If so, Wirtz goes cheap.

[maggsmaggs]

Of course, the one year it really doesn't matter... they held an 8.1% chance of getting it.

the one year where there is not a sure fire elite level player in the draft, the Hawks get the pick. The last three years: Erik Johnson, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. Oh well, hopefully the Hawks get the right guy because they have done a good job drafting in recent years. Dale Tallon may not have the Hawks winning now, but he is doing a good job of building young talent and I have no reason to believe that won't continue in this draft.

[southsider2k5]

http://www.talkbhawks.com/forums/index.php...0entry219

 

[maggsmaggs]

I'm not up on hockey payroll and such. Does a #1 pick like Esposito require a huge signing bonus and pay? If so, Wirtz goes cheap.

Many people have been losing confidence in Esposito, he was considered a Sidney Crosby-esque talent only a a couple years ago, but now is not in that territory. I hear the russian guy Alexei Cherepanov is the top talent nowadays.

[Steve9347]

http://www.talkbhawks.com/forums/index.php...0entry219

 

 

Two things, the thread wasn't posted when I posted this, and I haven't been able to log on under my moniker in sometime, so until that's fixed (i've sent emails) i'll be posting here!

[southsider2k5]

What problem are you having? I can try to fix it.

[Dan]

We will have 2nd to the most draft picks and 1st overall. And half the schmucks in the NHL thread were rooting for the Hawks to loose. Face it girls theres no way we would have done worse than Philly. Anywho this is awesome news.

[IlliniKrush]

There was no point in us winning down the stretch to hurt our draft pick. You don't tank, but as a true fan, a higher draft pick is clearly better than a few absolutely meaningless wins at the end of the season. Go ahead and try to argue otherwise.

Edited April 10, 2007 by IlliniKrush

[Dan]

There was no point in us winning down the stretch to hurt our draft pick. You don't tank, but as a true fan, a higher draft pick is clearly better than a few absolutely meaningless wins at the end of the season. Go ahead and try to argue otherwise.

bllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahhahhahhahhhahhahaaha1!!!?!?!~~1`11

[IlliniKrush]

Good one

[Soxfest]

Dollar Bill will hold the pick hostage!

[The Critic]

And the kid's name is ESPOSITO!!!!

If they just find prospects named Johnny MIKITA and Billy HULL, they'll be BACK IN BUSINESS, BAYBEEEE!!!!

[CWSGuy406]

Many people have been losing confidence in Esposito, he was considered a Sidney Crosby-esque talent only a a couple years ago, but now is not in that territory. I hear the russian guy Alexei Cherepanov is the top talent nowadays.

 

Voracek and Kane are two others. Tallon is actually going to see Voracek as their playoffs are starting. Any thoughts on either of those guys?

 

This is the best news to happen to this franchise since the Havlat trade. I know, there is no Crosby or Malkin or Alex-O, but this is still very good news. We get our pick of the lot. Hell, we could trade it for a young-ish forward who a team can't afford to keep.

[EvilJester99]

Brad Richards, Vinny Lecavalier or St. Louis.

Voracek and Kane are two others. Tallon is actually going to see Voracek as their playoffs are starting. Any thoughts on either of those guys?

 

This is the best news to happen to this franchise since the Havlat trade. I know, there is no Crosby or Malkin or Alex-O, but this is still very good news. We get our pick of the lot. Hell, we could trade it for a young-ish forward who a team can't afford to keep.

[CWSGuy406]

Brad Richards, Vinny Lecavalier or St. Louis.

 

There are going to be a LOT of people clammoring for the Hawks to trade this pick. That's totally understandable...

 

BUT -- there have to be certain conditions. You can't be trading for a RFA who's contract is up in one year. And if you are, this player needs to be signed minutes after the trade is made. We can't trade a first overall pick for a player who won't even spend a whole year in a Hawks uniform.

 

The second -- and this might be obvious -- this player has to be a clear-cut top six forward. We have enough defensive prospects. We have enough 'character' guys. Gimmie someone who can put the puck on Marty's stick anywhere and anytime he wants it, or give me another guy who can put it in the back of the net 30+ times.

[rangercal]

http://www.talkbhawks.com/forums/index.php...0entry219

 

Posts in this thread 15

Posts in Talkbhawks history 164

 

Steve just wanted this thread to get exposure

[EvilJester99]

Here is a short list of a few possiblities....I am leaning to Voracek or Gagner if the Hawks do draft....

 

Which forward should the Hawks take with the 1st overall pick?

Alexei Cherepanov

Angelo Esposito

Sam Gagner

Patrick Kane

Kyle Turris

Jakub Voracek

[IlliniKrush]

I agree with this, from Dale:

 

When you get an opportunity like this to pick 1st overall, do you absolutely hang on to it or consider trading it?

 

"I'm sure we're going to get a lot of phone calls during the draft week wondering if we'll move this pick. We're going to listen to everything. This is a great asset here we have. We're going to sit tight and see what happens. If somebody comes along and makes us an offer we can't refuse -- if it makes our team and organization stronger -- then we'll have to look at it. It's great to be in this position right now."

Edited April 11, 2007 by IlliniKrush

[CWSGuy406]

New avvy, baby!

 

Kane and Voracek are looking like the top two standouts, with Turris as a possible third.

[AddisonStSox]

This was such an awesome surprise. Along with the play of the young defensemen and some of the other youngsters throughout and at the end of the year, it really does seem like this team is primed to turn the corner next season. Hopefully, they'll keep Savvy around long enough to be a part of it--he is my all-time favorite hockey player both on and off the ice.

 

Question for some of you guys: is there a hockey equivalent for Baseball Prospectus or Baseball America? I'm sure there is; so, what is the best stuff out there?

 

Also, why has everyone cooled on Alexei Cherepanov and Angelo Esposito? From everything I've read, those two seem like the best options out there.

[DBAHO]

Great news, although it's too bad there's no sure #1 pick out there.

 

Right now I'd go Patrick Kane, just ahead of Voracek.

 

I'll come up with some potential trade offers in the next few days.

 

It's a situation though, where the Hawks could easily trade down in the top 5, and get some extra early picks if they wanted possibly.

[Chisoxfn]

This was such an awesome surprise. Along with the play of the young defensemen and some of the other youngsters throughout and at the end of the year, it really does seem like this team is primed to turn the corner next season. Hopefully, they'll keep Savvy around long enough to be a part of it--he is my all-time favorite hockey player both on and off the ice.

 

Question for some of you guys: is there a hockey equivalent for Baseball Prospectus or Baseball America? I'm sure there is; so, what is the best stuff out there?

 

Also, why has everyone cooled on Alexei Cherepanov and Angelo Esposito? From everything I've read, those two seem like the best options out there.

hockeyfutures.com????

[CWSGuy406]

Question for some of you guys: is there a hockey equivalent for Baseball Prospectus or Baseball America? I'm sure there is; so, what is the best stuff out there?

 

Also, why has everyone cooled on Alexei Cherepanov and Angelo Esposito? From everything I've read, those two seem like the best options out there.

 

Go to the hfboards (hfboards.com) -- check out the 'Prospects' part of it. Lots of intelligent posters there, and a guy from ISS (International Scouting Services) also posts there. He explains how they come to their rankings. That's a very good place to look. There's also The Hockey News -- every year before the draft they release an issue that ranks the top 50 or 60 prospects.

 

RE: Cherepanov. The Russian hockey league doesn't have an agreement in place with the NHL. I'm not going to be able to give you the best answer, but it comes down to a matter of transfer fees and the Russian league not exactly wanting its best players to get away, so the whole issue is very murkey. The Hawks have also had troubles with their recent Russian picks -- ie Vorobiev and Yakubov -- and while it's certainly not fair to judge a prospect based on passed happenings with other prospects, that issue is there.

 

RE: Esposito. I think his play has fallen off, quite simply. A year or two back he was viewed as the best available player, a franchise player (of sorts). I don't think he's going to be in consideration at this point. I think, for the Hawks, it comes down to three guys -- Patrick Kane, Jacob Voracek and Kyle Turris.