I'll be at the game and liveblogging the action for those of you who are dedicated to following the Tank Nation, but may not have access to the video for the Caps-Leafs game tonight at 7 pm ET.
Since becoming captain, Alex Ovechkin and his team have scored 25 goals in five games- the most of any NHL team over that span.
Vesa Toskala is fresh off of his first shutout of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers last night, so it will be interesting to see if the home team can keep the offense going.
Oh, and the Bruins kept their 12-point lead over Toronto intact by stopping their three-game skid with a shootout win over San Jose. Still scratching my head over the fact that one of Zdeno Chara's bombs though Evgeni Nabokov's five-hole was the winning strike in the shootout. Claude Julien shouldn't make a habit of putting Chara out there just because it worked this once. Oh, and hat tip to Tim Thomas, who made 41 saves to steal a win for the Providence...ahem...I mean BOSTON Bruins, who were missing their top three centermen last night with David Krejci joining Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard on the injury list, growning more and more obscene by the day.
So, looking forward to seeing the Leafs and Phil Kessel live. They opened the Verizon Center this season sans Kessel and it was a brutal performance. We'll see if tonight has a different outcome. Leafs have actually matched up well against Washington, winning twice against the Caps at home after losing in DC.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Central Scouting's Gary Eggleston on New England Draft Prospects
I had the honor of talking to Gary Eggleston today, longtime New England scout and Central Scouting's most experienced talent hound for the region. His responsibilities have expanded beyond New England as you can see below, but he's forgotten more about hockey than most of us will ever know.
Here's his bio from NHL.com (published in '06 so it's a little dated):
In the Eastern United States, Gary Eggleston is the longest-serving scout with Central Scouting -- in his 26th year in this capacity. Gary calls Boston, Mass., home and is responsible for all Eastern U.S prospects including, NCAA conferences, Hockey East and the ECAC Hockey League, Eastern Junior League, and the vast array of New England prep schools. Gary will also crossover to see top prospects throughout North America.
We chatted extensively about Kevin Hayes, Charlie Coyle, Bill Arnold, Connor Brickley and Brian Billett, all of whom are the top-ranked New Englanders for the upcoming draft. Three of them graded out in the first 30 spots, which speaks well to the class's depth this year. A fourth, Danny Biega, is not a native son and hails from Quebec, but led the Salisbury School (along with New York goalie Andy Iles) to last year's New England prep championship and is now skating well for Harvard.
Biega, one of three brothers skating for Ted Donato with the Crimson was 31st on the midseason rankings and in listening to Eggleston rave about his ability, smarts and shot, I have to think that he'll move up into the first round when all is said and done. I saw Biega in the prep championship tourney last spring, and along with Chris Kreider, he was clearly the best player on the ice, keying Salisbury's come-from-behind win in the semifinal game against Andover.
Billett's low spot on the goalie list (25th) is perplexing to me, but Eggleston explained that it had a lot to do with inconsistent (read: poor) play over the summer and injury woes that kept him off the ice in the early part of the season. He's expected to move up, because he's played very well lately and his numbers with the NH Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) are solid.
Also intriguing is the omission of Deerfield Academy defenseman Nick Lovejoy. The younger brother of current Penguins farmhand Ben Lovejoy has size and ability on his side. The older Lovejoy at one point was thought of as a solid draft candidate back in 2004, but he was passed over completely and looked like a bust after leaving Boston College for Dartmouth (not the greatest program for producing NHL players). But, to Lovejoy's credit, he earned a contract with Pittsburgh as a free agent and has seen some NHL action.
At this stage, I wouldn't write his little brother off. If he has the same kind of natural size and ability, and the same kind of drive and desire to be a player that his older brother has shown, then Nick Lovejoy may be someone to watch in the later rounds.
I've written a feature on the prospects for the New England Hockey Journal website and it should be up on http://www.hockeyjournal.com/ soon. I'll link to it when it's up for those interested.
UPDATE: Thursday, Jan. 14: Here is the link to the story on the New Englanders ranked by the CSS at midterm:
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/Article.php?ArtID=1000187
Here's his bio from NHL.com (published in '06 so it's a little dated):
In the Eastern United States, Gary Eggleston is the longest-serving scout with Central Scouting -- in his 26th year in this capacity. Gary calls Boston, Mass., home and is responsible for all Eastern U.S prospects including, NCAA conferences, Hockey East and the ECAC Hockey League, Eastern Junior League, and the vast array of New England prep schools. Gary will also crossover to see top prospects throughout North America.
We chatted extensively about Kevin Hayes, Charlie Coyle, Bill Arnold, Connor Brickley and Brian Billett, all of whom are the top-ranked New Englanders for the upcoming draft. Three of them graded out in the first 30 spots, which speaks well to the class's depth this year. A fourth, Danny Biega, is not a native son and hails from Quebec, but led the Salisbury School (along with New York goalie Andy Iles) to last year's New England prep championship and is now skating well for Harvard.
Biega, one of three brothers skating for Ted Donato with the Crimson was 31st on the midseason rankings and in listening to Eggleston rave about his ability, smarts and shot, I have to think that he'll move up into the first round when all is said and done. I saw Biega in the prep championship tourney last spring, and along with Chris Kreider, he was clearly the best player on the ice, keying Salisbury's come-from-behind win in the semifinal game against Andover.
Billett's low spot on the goalie list (25th) is perplexing to me, but Eggleston explained that it had a lot to do with inconsistent (read: poor) play over the summer and injury woes that kept him off the ice in the early part of the season. He's expected to move up, because he's played very well lately and his numbers with the NH Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) are solid.
Also intriguing is the omission of Deerfield Academy defenseman Nick Lovejoy. The younger brother of current Penguins farmhand Ben Lovejoy has size and ability on his side. The older Lovejoy at one point was thought of as a solid draft candidate back in 2004, but he was passed over completely and looked like a bust after leaving Boston College for Dartmouth (not the greatest program for producing NHL players). But, to Lovejoy's credit, he earned a contract with Pittsburgh as a free agent and has seen some NHL action.
At this stage, I wouldn't write his little brother off. If he has the same kind of natural size and ability, and the same kind of drive and desire to be a player that his older brother has shown, then Nick Lovejoy may be someone to watch in the later rounds.
I've written a feature on the prospects for the New England Hockey Journal website and it should be up on http://www.hockeyjournal.com/ soon. I'll link to it when it's up for those interested.
UPDATE: Thursday, Jan. 14: Here is the link to the story on the New Englanders ranked by the CSS at midterm:
http://www.hockeyjournal.com/Article.php?ArtID=1000187
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Hurricane Wardo Blows Through Toronto
We had another goaltending clinic put on at the Air Canda Centre tonight, this time by Carolina Hurricane Cam Ward, who made 38 saves in a 4-2 win after the Leafs outshot his team by a 40-18 margin.
Jonas Gustavsson was decent and probably deserved a better fate tonight. He had no chance on the winning goal, a deflection by Pat Dwyer in close that got past him with less than five minutes left.
The 'Canes have won three in a row and have quietly crept back to within striking distance of the Leafs after getting left in the dust in November and December. Carolina is just four points behind Toronto, with two games in hand.
This is one more devastating loss for the Leafs, who are now eight games below .500 with 23 losses on the year...and that doesn't count the nine OT losses they've accrued.
This was two more points they really needed to have from a team chasing them in the standings and didn't get. Luckily for them, the Edmonton Oilers have been just lousy, winning only one game in their last 12. And that came against...guess who? You got it. Da Leafs.
Tough schedule coming up for Toronto, first up against the surging Philadelphia Flyers and then Friday on a road trip starting with the Washington Capitals. Toronto's won the last two games against the Caps after getting dropped badly in Washington's home opener way back in early October.
I knew that January was shaping up to be a tough month for the Leafs based on their schedule, but with losses to teams behind them in the race, their road out of the NHL's cellar has gotten signficantly tougher.
Jonas Gustavsson was decent and probably deserved a better fate tonight. He had no chance on the winning goal, a deflection by Pat Dwyer in close that got past him with less than five minutes left.
The 'Canes have won three in a row and have quietly crept back to within striking distance of the Leafs after getting left in the dust in November and December. Carolina is just four points behind Toronto, with two games in hand.
This is one more devastating loss for the Leafs, who are now eight games below .500 with 23 losses on the year...and that doesn't count the nine OT losses they've accrued.
This was two more points they really needed to have from a team chasing them in the standings and didn't get. Luckily for them, the Edmonton Oilers have been just lousy, winning only one game in their last 12. And that came against...guess who? You got it. Da Leafs.
Tough schedule coming up for Toronto, first up against the surging Philadelphia Flyers and then Friday on a road trip starting with the Washington Capitals. Toronto's won the last two games against the Caps after getting dropped badly in Washington's home opener way back in early October.
I knew that January was shaping up to be a tough month for the Leafs based on their schedule, but with losses to teams behind them in the race, their road out of the NHL's cellar has gotten signficantly tougher.
NHL On The Fly Monday Night: Midseason Rankings Edition
The 30-minute special of NHL Network's On The Fly which focused on the 2010 NHL Draft and the Central Scouting Service's midseason rankings was worth watching last night.
CSS Chief E.J. McGuire didn't have a lot of time to talk about the prospects, and the obvious focus was on the Dukes of Windsor: Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler, who could become the first teammates to go 1-2 in draft history come June in L.A.
The highlight films of the featured players like Hall, Fowler, Tyler Seguin, Mikael Granlund, Vladimir Tarasenko, John McFarland, etc. was a nice primer for the kinds of things these kids are capable of, but any hardcore draft fan was left wanting more.
There was a live interview with Hall and Fowler together in Windsor, and I plan on lining the two of them up myself soon. They came off extremely well, and I've heard the same kinds of things from several scouts about them: they are quality people and teammates, to say nothing of their talent and upside.
Pierre McGuire was also on to provide his analysis and commentary, and he's firmly behind Hall as the top pick for this draft.
All in all- this is great programming for the NHL Network. It doesn't always have to be all NHL all the time. These kids are the league's future, and we're going to see more focus and coverage of the draft as the season progresses and we get closer to June.
Speaking of coverage, next week, the CHL Top Prospects Game will be on the Network live from Windsor. That's a must-watch for anyone reading this blog who has access to NHL Network. If you want to catch a quick glimpse of the who's who of this draft class playing against one another in what is essentially a fast-paced All-Star Game, then this is just what the doctor ordered. It used to be that I would get VHS tapes of the game from my friends in Canada every year and would have to wait 1-2 weeks before I could watch it. Being able to catch it live is so much better!
CSS Chief E.J. McGuire didn't have a lot of time to talk about the prospects, and the obvious focus was on the Dukes of Windsor: Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler, who could become the first teammates to go 1-2 in draft history come June in L.A.
The highlight films of the featured players like Hall, Fowler, Tyler Seguin, Mikael Granlund, Vladimir Tarasenko, John McFarland, etc. was a nice primer for the kinds of things these kids are capable of, but any hardcore draft fan was left wanting more.
There was a live interview with Hall and Fowler together in Windsor, and I plan on lining the two of them up myself soon. They came off extremely well, and I've heard the same kinds of things from several scouts about them: they are quality people and teammates, to say nothing of their talent and upside.
Pierre McGuire was also on to provide his analysis and commentary, and he's firmly behind Hall as the top pick for this draft.
All in all- this is great programming for the NHL Network. It doesn't always have to be all NHL all the time. These kids are the league's future, and we're going to see more focus and coverage of the draft as the season progresses and we get closer to June.
Speaking of coverage, next week, the CHL Top Prospects Game will be on the Network live from Windsor. That's a must-watch for anyone reading this blog who has access to NHL Network. If you want to catch a quick glimpse of the who's who of this draft class playing against one another in what is essentially a fast-paced All-Star Game, then this is just what the doctor ordered. It used to be that I would get VHS tapes of the game from my friends in Canada every year and would have to wait 1-2 weeks before I could watch it. Being able to catch it live is so much better!
Monday, January 11, 2010
NHL Central Scouting Service Midseason Rankings: Europe- How Far Will The Russians Fall?
Here is the link to the European midseason rankings by the NHL's Central Scouting Service
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59885
The big question will be how far the skilled and talented Russians near the top of the list, headlined by Vladimir Tarasenko (I posted a scouting report on his WJC performance here last week) drop on draft day.
I've talked a bit before about how the imperfect storm of a nonexistent IIHF transfer agreement between the NHL and Russia, the competition and lucrative contracts of Kontinental Hockey League and cultural barriers are providing a major impetus for NHL teams to stay away from Russian players at the top of the draft in recent years.
The risk is proving to be too high, and the death of Alexei Cherepanov (17th overall by the Rangers in 2007) and defections of Alexander Radulov (15th by the Predators in 2004) and Nikita Filatov (5th by the Bluejackets in 2008) to Russia, depriving their NHL teams of their talent and services after investing the major capital of picks and in the latter cases, money, have hurt the chances of prospective Russians in future drafts.
I'm not saying these guys won't be picked, but the guess is that they'll drop lower than what their talent and upside dictates they should be picked given where they were going a decade ago.
Bottom line: Even if Tarasenko continues to impress on the ice, don't be at all surprised if he drops completely out of the top-10 and closer to 20 at the draft. NHL clubs have nobody protecting their interests as they apply to Russian players, and even with the most honest, heartfelt cases made by those players to their scouts and management in pre-draft interviews, what has happened with Filatov and Radulov will weigh heavily on the minds of the decision-makers who own those critical high picks who could have a significant impact on a team's fortunes in a cost-certain hockey world.
Now, the CSS list has Finnish forward Mikael Granlund at the top and deservedly so. He's a fine prospect who has amazing hockey sense and great hands. His skating isn't bad, but not exactly a strength either. But, he's been so productive playing against men as a 17-year-old. I've heard people in the know cautioning away from the obvious Saku Koivu comparisons because Granlund isn't believed to have the former Montreal captain's maturity or intensity, but he's still a heck of a grab in the early 1st.
Three Russians are next in Taresenko, big Maxim Kitsyn and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who showed some positive flashes at the WJC.
Last year, Sweden had the greatest draft in history, and while not as top-heavy as it was in '09, there are eight Swedish prospects in the top-20 of CSS's rankings.
I don't know a great deal about these guys, but will do some research and learn more about them. Patrick Nemeth (13th out of AIK Jr.) is a nice blend of size and skill, but some feel he lacks that high-end offensive upside you look for and may not ever develop it.
German Tom Kuhnhackl has dropped a bit this year and is a tough find in the German pro leagues, especially since his country was relegated to the B Pool in the WJC this year. A very skilled player, he's not been all that productive bouncing between Germany's top pro league and the second division, but could be a steal if he drops into the bottom-20 or lower. He's currently ranked by CSS as the 10th-best European skater.
Jokerit winger Teemu Pulkinen is 17th, but like Kabanov, that ranking is colored by injuries and a lack of playing time. He's a highly skilled, if undersized scorer who has nice potential if he can play to his abilities.
Swedish forward Victor Ohman of Malmo Jr. is a surprise to me ranked all the way down at 38. I'd heard him being mentioned in some circles as Sweden's top forward, so once again- you see the disparity in hockey scouting with Ohman's position here.
Finally, Slovakian D Martin Marincin is 11th and showed off an intriguing game at the WJC. If you only watched him against Team USA, he's a solid top-15 selection given his size, mobility and all-around game. Unfortunately, he struggled with his consistency, so he's one of those rough-around-the edges guys who will require a lot of time and patience, but who could pan out for whichever team grabs him.
It's a weak goalie crop coming out of Europe, with Swedish netminder Jonas Gunnarsson leading the class. But, Swiss goalie Benjamin Conz, passed over last year, is fifth on the list, no doubt owing to his very good performance in Saskatoon. He got lit up against Sweden in the bronze medal game, but the guy held his team in about every game he played and keyed a huge quarterfinal upset over Russia.
Don't forget the Midterm Rankings Show on the NHL Network tonight- 7 ET. And, can't wait to check out the NHL Prospects Game right around the corner.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59885
The big question will be how far the skilled and talented Russians near the top of the list, headlined by Vladimir Tarasenko (I posted a scouting report on his WJC performance here last week) drop on draft day.
I've talked a bit before about how the imperfect storm of a nonexistent IIHF transfer agreement between the NHL and Russia, the competition and lucrative contracts of Kontinental Hockey League and cultural barriers are providing a major impetus for NHL teams to stay away from Russian players at the top of the draft in recent years.
The risk is proving to be too high, and the death of Alexei Cherepanov (17th overall by the Rangers in 2007) and defections of Alexander Radulov (15th by the Predators in 2004) and Nikita Filatov (5th by the Bluejackets in 2008) to Russia, depriving their NHL teams of their talent and services after investing the major capital of picks and in the latter cases, money, have hurt the chances of prospective Russians in future drafts.
I'm not saying these guys won't be picked, but the guess is that they'll drop lower than what their talent and upside dictates they should be picked given where they were going a decade ago.
Bottom line: Even if Tarasenko continues to impress on the ice, don't be at all surprised if he drops completely out of the top-10 and closer to 20 at the draft. NHL clubs have nobody protecting their interests as they apply to Russian players, and even with the most honest, heartfelt cases made by those players to their scouts and management in pre-draft interviews, what has happened with Filatov and Radulov will weigh heavily on the minds of the decision-makers who own those critical high picks who could have a significant impact on a team's fortunes in a cost-certain hockey world.
Now, the CSS list has Finnish forward Mikael Granlund at the top and deservedly so. He's a fine prospect who has amazing hockey sense and great hands. His skating isn't bad, but not exactly a strength either. But, he's been so productive playing against men as a 17-year-old. I've heard people in the know cautioning away from the obvious Saku Koivu comparisons because Granlund isn't believed to have the former Montreal captain's maturity or intensity, but he's still a heck of a grab in the early 1st.
Three Russians are next in Taresenko, big Maxim Kitsyn and Evgeny Kuznetsov, who showed some positive flashes at the WJC.
Last year, Sweden had the greatest draft in history, and while not as top-heavy as it was in '09, there are eight Swedish prospects in the top-20 of CSS's rankings.
I don't know a great deal about these guys, but will do some research and learn more about them. Patrick Nemeth (13th out of AIK Jr.) is a nice blend of size and skill, but some feel he lacks that high-end offensive upside you look for and may not ever develop it.
German Tom Kuhnhackl has dropped a bit this year and is a tough find in the German pro leagues, especially since his country was relegated to the B Pool in the WJC this year. A very skilled player, he's not been all that productive bouncing between Germany's top pro league and the second division, but could be a steal if he drops into the bottom-20 or lower. He's currently ranked by CSS as the 10th-best European skater.
Jokerit winger Teemu Pulkinen is 17th, but like Kabanov, that ranking is colored by injuries and a lack of playing time. He's a highly skilled, if undersized scorer who has nice potential if he can play to his abilities.
Swedish forward Victor Ohman of Malmo Jr. is a surprise to me ranked all the way down at 38. I'd heard him being mentioned in some circles as Sweden's top forward, so once again- you see the disparity in hockey scouting with Ohman's position here.
Finally, Slovakian D Martin Marincin is 11th and showed off an intriguing game at the WJC. If you only watched him against Team USA, he's a solid top-15 selection given his size, mobility and all-around game. Unfortunately, he struggled with his consistency, so he's one of those rough-around-the edges guys who will require a lot of time and patience, but who could pan out for whichever team grabs him.
It's a weak goalie crop coming out of Europe, with Swedish netminder Jonas Gunnarsson leading the class. But, Swiss goalie Benjamin Conz, passed over last year, is fifth on the list, no doubt owing to his very good performance in Saskatoon. He got lit up against Sweden in the bronze medal game, but the guy held his team in about every game he played and keyed a huge quarterfinal upset over Russia.
Don't forget the Midterm Rankings Show on the NHL Network tonight- 7 ET. And, can't wait to check out the NHL Prospects Game right around the corner.
NHL Central Scouting Service Releases Midterm Rankings: North America No Surprise- Hall Numero Uno
The Central Scouting Service's midseason rankings are up over at NHL.com
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59880
I can't say that I'm all that surprised by who is near the top of the list (Riley Sheahan at No. 5 overall ahead of Moncton D Brandon Gormley is a mild one), but there are some guys ranked much lower than I expected, namely Kitchener Rangers uber-scorer Jeff Skinner, who is 47th but has 34 goals in 42 OHL games to lead that league (mainly thanks to Taylor Hall's WJC hiatus). Call me crazy, but even with concerns about Skinner's size and defensive game, you mean to tell me that 46 guys are better than he is with that kind of production?
Hall is No. 1 and that's exactly as expected. In fact, the top-three is pretty much what every scout has been projecting this year, with Plymouth Whalers C Tyler Seguin second, and Hall's Windsor teammate Cam Fowler following close behind at three.
Prince George winger Brett Connolly is fourth, and on talent and upside alone, that's a solid place to have him. The problem is- he's battled a nagging hip flexor injury all year that could end up being worse than is being reported. NHL teams will certainly keep a close eye on that and judge his play (assuming he can stay on the ice enough between now and the draft) within that context.
Sheahan at five validates the Red Line Report's belief in him; they started talking about him two years ago when they saw him playing in Ontario Jr. B. Now that he's in South Bend getting prime minutes as a true freshman, everyone else is onto him, too.
Kingston defenseman Erik Gudbranson is sixth, ahead of Gormley, and this despite having injury woes early on and missing time, then being recently diagnosed with mononucleosis, which will not only keep him off the ice for a good few weeks, but will likely hamper him a bit going forward. Curious selection given the situation with him this year, but there is no denying his size or skill level.
Russian flash Alex Burmistrov of the Barrie Colts has been outstanding, and he grades out at seven. Well deserved there, but there will always be a hesitation by NHL teams taking Russians because of recent situations surrounding Nikita Filatov, Alexander Radulov and even the deceased Alexei Cherepanov, who died under dubious circumstances during a game in his native Russia.
Gormley, whom I've heard great things about all year, is ranked a little lower than I would expect, but I still think he's a top-seven or earlier pick. We'll see how the two-way defender, whose upside is not as high as Fowler's, does in the final half.
Rounding out the top-10 are a couple of suspect players based on what I've been hearing.
Edmonton Oil Kings defender Mark Pysyk has all the physical tools to be a player, but has been "passive" and "inconsistent" in the words of a WHL scout I know. He's not a bad prospect, but thus far, has been a disappointment given expectations coming in this year.
Sudbury's John McFarland is a terrific talent, but he's had issues scoring this year, and does not grade real high in the intangibles department, namely, attitude, effort, compete level and leadership.
Not all that surprised either that Russian scorer Kirill Kabanov, who missed time early while waiting for an arbitration ruling on whether he could play for the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, was lost for considerable time in December with a significant wrist injury. Skill-wise, Kabanov is much better than 15th overall, but you can't blame the CSS scouts for having him lower than others because he simply hasn't played enough this year, and furthermore, that injury will be a cause for concern going forward.
New England has a pair of regional prospects at 18 and 19 in Nobles forward Kevin Hayes(Dorchester, Mass.) and South Shore (EJHL) forward Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass.) who is Tony Amonte's cousin and will play for BU next season. Both are being projected in the second round for June at present.
No. 42 and 43 guys, a pair of blueliners in the US NTDP's Jarred Tinordi and Troy Rutkowski of Portland are a little lower than I expected, but Tinordi is more of a meat-and-potatoes, in-your-face defender while Rutkowski is an offensive d-man who Red Line Report scout Mike Remmerde told me recently was having a "Thomas Hickey-type" season, in that Rutkowski demonstrated a terrific offensive dimension as a 16-year-old, but this year, seems to be intent on playing more defense. While not bad news in itself, it has hurt his production and correlates to his lower-than-expected position.
The goalie rankings are about what was expected with Seattle's Calvin Pickard (Nashville 1st-rounder in '08 Chet's brother) No. 1 followed by USA star Jack Campbell second. I've spent a lot of time in this space on Cambpell, but Pickard is like his brother: a big, athletically-gifted and technically-sound goalie with a bright future.
However, I am intrigued by Gatineau's Maxime Clermont sitting way down at the 10th spot. I was led to believe he's a much better prospect than that, so the ranking is a surprise.
As far as New Englanders go, Kennebunk, Me. native Brian Billett is putting up very good numbers for the NH Jr. Monarchs of the EJHL, but is only 25th on the list. That's not even tops on the list. That honor goes to Martin Ouellette, who plays for Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH, who greaded out at 17.
What does this all mean? We're looking at a very good year for goalies, which is welcome news given how '09 went in that regard.
I'll be back with another post about the CSS's Midterm rankings for European skaters and goalies next.
And, don't forget- the NHL Network will have the Midterm Rankings special on tonight at 7 ET. Probably worth watching if you have even a passing interest in the 2010 NHL Draft.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59880
I can't say that I'm all that surprised by who is near the top of the list (Riley Sheahan at No. 5 overall ahead of Moncton D Brandon Gormley is a mild one), but there are some guys ranked much lower than I expected, namely Kitchener Rangers uber-scorer Jeff Skinner, who is 47th but has 34 goals in 42 OHL games to lead that league (mainly thanks to Taylor Hall's WJC hiatus). Call me crazy, but even with concerns about Skinner's size and defensive game, you mean to tell me that 46 guys are better than he is with that kind of production?
Hall is No. 1 and that's exactly as expected. In fact, the top-three is pretty much what every scout has been projecting this year, with Plymouth Whalers C Tyler Seguin second, and Hall's Windsor teammate Cam Fowler following close behind at three.
Prince George winger Brett Connolly is fourth, and on talent and upside alone, that's a solid place to have him. The problem is- he's battled a nagging hip flexor injury all year that could end up being worse than is being reported. NHL teams will certainly keep a close eye on that and judge his play (assuming he can stay on the ice enough between now and the draft) within that context.
Sheahan at five validates the Red Line Report's belief in him; they started talking about him two years ago when they saw him playing in Ontario Jr. B. Now that he's in South Bend getting prime minutes as a true freshman, everyone else is onto him, too.
Kingston defenseman Erik Gudbranson is sixth, ahead of Gormley, and this despite having injury woes early on and missing time, then being recently diagnosed with mononucleosis, which will not only keep him off the ice for a good few weeks, but will likely hamper him a bit going forward. Curious selection given the situation with him this year, but there is no denying his size or skill level.
Russian flash Alex Burmistrov of the Barrie Colts has been outstanding, and he grades out at seven. Well deserved there, but there will always be a hesitation by NHL teams taking Russians because of recent situations surrounding Nikita Filatov, Alexander Radulov and even the deceased Alexei Cherepanov, who died under dubious circumstances during a game in his native Russia.
Gormley, whom I've heard great things about all year, is ranked a little lower than I would expect, but I still think he's a top-seven or earlier pick. We'll see how the two-way defender, whose upside is not as high as Fowler's, does in the final half.
Rounding out the top-10 are a couple of suspect players based on what I've been hearing.
Edmonton Oil Kings defender Mark Pysyk has all the physical tools to be a player, but has been "passive" and "inconsistent" in the words of a WHL scout I know. He's not a bad prospect, but thus far, has been a disappointment given expectations coming in this year.
Sudbury's John McFarland is a terrific talent, but he's had issues scoring this year, and does not grade real high in the intangibles department, namely, attitude, effort, compete level and leadership.
Not all that surprised either that Russian scorer Kirill Kabanov, who missed time early while waiting for an arbitration ruling on whether he could play for the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats, was lost for considerable time in December with a significant wrist injury. Skill-wise, Kabanov is much better than 15th overall, but you can't blame the CSS scouts for having him lower than others because he simply hasn't played enough this year, and furthermore, that injury will be a cause for concern going forward.
New England has a pair of regional prospects at 18 and 19 in Nobles forward Kevin Hayes(Dorchester, Mass.) and South Shore (EJHL) forward Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass.) who is Tony Amonte's cousin and will play for BU next season. Both are being projected in the second round for June at present.
No. 42 and 43 guys, a pair of blueliners in the US NTDP's Jarred Tinordi and Troy Rutkowski of Portland are a little lower than I expected, but Tinordi is more of a meat-and-potatoes, in-your-face defender while Rutkowski is an offensive d-man who Red Line Report scout Mike Remmerde told me recently was having a "Thomas Hickey-type" season, in that Rutkowski demonstrated a terrific offensive dimension as a 16-year-old, but this year, seems to be intent on playing more defense. While not bad news in itself, it has hurt his production and correlates to his lower-than-expected position.
The goalie rankings are about what was expected with Seattle's Calvin Pickard (Nashville 1st-rounder in '08 Chet's brother) No. 1 followed by USA star Jack Campbell second. I've spent a lot of time in this space on Cambpell, but Pickard is like his brother: a big, athletically-gifted and technically-sound goalie with a bright future.
However, I am intrigued by Gatineau's Maxime Clermont sitting way down at the 10th spot. I was led to believe he's a much better prospect than that, so the ranking is a surprise.
As far as New Englanders go, Kennebunk, Me. native Brian Billett is putting up very good numbers for the NH Jr. Monarchs of the EJHL, but is only 25th on the list. That's not even tops on the list. That honor goes to Martin Ouellette, who plays for Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, NH, who greaded out at 17.
What does this all mean? We're looking at a very good year for goalies, which is welcome news given how '09 went in that regard.
I'll be back with another post about the CSS's Midterm rankings for European skaters and goalies next.
And, don't forget- the NHL Network will have the Midterm Rankings special on tonight at 7 ET. Probably worth watching if you have even a passing interest in the 2010 NHL Draft.
Boston Bruins Pick Update 2010, 2011 Jan. 11th
Hiya folks- I'm here with what has become a ritual for B2010DW this season: the Monday pick update.
I'm also going to start including the rest of the rounds (estimated) AND throw in the total number of picks in 2011 given that it's impossible to project where those are going to be 18 months out.
The Boston Bruins are hurting with the injuries to Patrice Bergeron, Marc Savard, Mark Stuart and Andrew Ference. A team that had trouble scoring goals before its top two centermen and best playmakers went out with thumb and knee injuries respectively is positively hamstrung without Bergeron and Savard. And the defense is banged up, too- with Stuart yet to return from a broken sternum and Ference out with a groin injury suffered against Ottawa last week.
The good news for B's fans is that Toronto has been just plain lousy lately (2-6-2 in their last 10). Let's face it- we all knew they weren't that great a team going into the season, but this latest version of the Maple Leafs has underachieved in major fashion in Brian Burke's first full year as GM.
So, Toronto is holding the third-worst spot in the NHL, but Edmonton is just two points behind them with a pair of games in hand, while Carolina has quietly creeped up from the basement, just six points behind the Leafs with the same number of games in hand. Clearly, getting Eric Staal and Cam Ward back have helped the Hurricanes, and where they once looked buried in the cellar a month ago, they could play their way out of a last-place finish if they keep it up.
Best of all, the teams ahead of Toronto have been winning lately, putting some distance between them and the Leafs. So, it's going to be tough for Ron Wilson's team to climb up in the standings unless they go on a major hot streak. Possible, sure, but not the way Phil Kessel and Co. have been playing for them lately.
That's it for the Monday analysis. Now, here are the B's picks (not taking the lottery into account) if the season ended today. After round 2, the picks are estimated and won't be carved in stone until the Stanley Cup playoffs conclude in June. But, it's close and will give you, the hardcore draftniks out there, something to template for your mock drafts between now and then:
2010 Boston Bruins draft picks
1st round (2)
3rd overall (Toronto- 39 points; 15-22-9) *Kessel trade
17th overall (Boston- 51 points; 22-15-7)
2nd round (3)
33rd overall (Toronto) *Kessel trade
36th overall (Tampa Bay- 44 points; 17-17-10) *Recchi trade
47th overall (Boston)
3rd round (0)
None- Buffalo *Paille trade
4th round (2)**
91st overall (Carolina- 33 points; 13-24-7) *Ward trade
107th overall** (Boston)
**One 4th-round conditional pick (Boston's) obligated to Buffalo as part of Paille trade if he scores 16 goals this season (based on reports- exact performance measure not confirmed)
5th round (1)
137th overall (Boston)
6th round (1)
167th overall (Boston)
7th round (1)
197th overall (Boston)
2011 Boston Bruins draft picks
1st round (2)
Boston
Toronto * Kessel trade
2nd round (2)
Boston
Minnesota * Kobsasew trade
3rd round (1)
Boston
4th round (1)
Boston
5th round (1)
Boston
6th round (1)
Boston
7th round (1)
Boston
Not a bad 100th post. I hope you guys are getting something out of the blog, and if there is anything in particular you want to see or have questions about, let me know.
I'm also going to start including the rest of the rounds (estimated) AND throw in the total number of picks in 2011 given that it's impossible to project where those are going to be 18 months out.
The Boston Bruins are hurting with the injuries to Patrice Bergeron, Marc Savard, Mark Stuart and Andrew Ference. A team that had trouble scoring goals before its top two centermen and best playmakers went out with thumb and knee injuries respectively is positively hamstrung without Bergeron and Savard. And the defense is banged up, too- with Stuart yet to return from a broken sternum and Ference out with a groin injury suffered against Ottawa last week.
The good news for B's fans is that Toronto has been just plain lousy lately (2-6-2 in their last 10). Let's face it- we all knew they weren't that great a team going into the season, but this latest version of the Maple Leafs has underachieved in major fashion in Brian Burke's first full year as GM.
So, Toronto is holding the third-worst spot in the NHL, but Edmonton is just two points behind them with a pair of games in hand, while Carolina has quietly creeped up from the basement, just six points behind the Leafs with the same number of games in hand. Clearly, getting Eric Staal and Cam Ward back have helped the Hurricanes, and where they once looked buried in the cellar a month ago, they could play their way out of a last-place finish if they keep it up.
Best of all, the teams ahead of Toronto have been winning lately, putting some distance between them and the Leafs. So, it's going to be tough for Ron Wilson's team to climb up in the standings unless they go on a major hot streak. Possible, sure, but not the way Phil Kessel and Co. have been playing for them lately.
That's it for the Monday analysis. Now, here are the B's picks (not taking the lottery into account) if the season ended today. After round 2, the picks are estimated and won't be carved in stone until the Stanley Cup playoffs conclude in June. But, it's close and will give you, the hardcore draftniks out there, something to template for your mock drafts between now and then:
2010 Boston Bruins draft picks
1st round (2)
3rd overall (Toronto- 39 points; 15-22-9) *Kessel trade
17th overall (Boston- 51 points; 22-15-7)
2nd round (3)
33rd overall (Toronto) *Kessel trade
36th overall (Tampa Bay- 44 points; 17-17-10) *Recchi trade
47th overall (Boston)
3rd round (0)
None- Buffalo *Paille trade
4th round (2)**
91st overall (Carolina- 33 points; 13-24-7) *Ward trade
107th overall** (Boston)
**One 4th-round conditional pick (Boston's) obligated to Buffalo as part of Paille trade if he scores 16 goals this season (based on reports- exact performance measure not confirmed)
5th round (1)
137th overall (Boston)
6th round (1)
167th overall (Boston)
7th round (1)
197th overall (Boston)
2011 Boston Bruins draft picks
1st round (2)
Boston
Toronto * Kessel trade
2nd round (2)
Boston
Minnesota * Kobsasew trade
3rd round (1)
Boston
4th round (1)
Boston
5th round (1)
Boston
6th round (1)
Boston
7th round (1)
Boston
Not a bad 100th post. I hope you guys are getting something out of the blog, and if there is anything in particular you want to see or have questions about, let me know.
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