The draft got off to a very active start with the Kumquats off-loading all their picks leading up to the draft, followed by a blockbuster where the Blondes acquired a new starter and the 3^rd overall pick in a trade that saw Bryan Berard and Chris Osgood move to Royals and boost Royals into a credible playoff team. There were seven instances of a first rounders traded at draft day alone, and the KUM1st (10^th overall) was moved three times on draft day from Kumquats via Blondes and Royals to Stalefish who used the pick to draft Petr Prucha.

Looking at the drafting in retrospect, it was peculiar with several opportunities for finds. Some facts:

• 30% of the drafted players were not part of the 2006 NHL draft
• 13% of the drafted players (or 15 in total) went later than #200 in their NHL draft or were never drafted at all in real life
• The last NHL first rounder to be had in the draft was Matt Corrente at 50.
• The highest drafted NHL player in 2006 that was passed over was Dick Axelsson (Capitals, 62)
• Several NHL 2^nd rounders were still available at pick #100

Several GMs made large reaches very early and the merit of those will be tested in time. As always, I’ve made a team-by-team review based on my own personal views and most of them are likely to be false. I’ve also been asked to rip into GMs more (or be less diplomatic), however take it with a grain of salt – lest I get monthly hate posts of “well, now my prospect X and Y are outperforming your stupid-ass projections”… As many know, I am a bit skeptical of drafting proven second or thirdliners early, so keep this in mind.

Finally – you may notice that the Blondes team-review stands out as being very good – some would suspect I took extra care with my own team, but the reality is that this excellent piece of writing was contributed by Mike. While I aspire to write at the same level, this has me really considering outsourcing more of next year’s review to him!

Let the fun begin!

TEAM-BY-TEAM REVIEW

Momesso Conference

Dowd Division

VORPAL BUNNIES

13.) Jiri Tlusty (Leafs, #13, 2006)

33.) Ivan Vishnevski (Stars, #27, 2006)

49.) Tomas Kana (Blues, #31, 2006)

53.) Carl Sneep (Penguins, #32, 2006)

76.) Kaspars Daugavin (Senators, #91, 2006)

101.) Jeff Zatkoff (Kings, #74, 2006)

Best pick: Jiri Tlusty

Worst pick: Carl Sneep

Overall verdict: B – Solid if unspectacular picks all round

PF went Czech with his first pick for the second year in a row, as budding power forward Jiri Tlusty was picked up with the 13^th overall pick. Tlusty came out of nowhere in the second half of the season, where he started putting up big points in the Czech extraliga, and he crowned the season by being the best Czech player in the WJC Under-20s – despite being one of the youngest players on the team. Tlusty is a budding power forward that blends great speed with size and a physical game and could eventually develop into a player of similar skills set to Jerome Iginla. Jiri Tlusty is slated to play for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL if he doesn’t crack the Leafs pro team, however could well be sent down to juniors, where SSO Greyhounds of the OHL has his rights from the CHL import draft. My bet would be to see him in the AHL this season, with some call-ups towards the end of the season as the Leafs are thin up front

The Bunnies continued picking up high-upside players with talented Russian d-man Ivan Vishnevski – a player frequently compared to Sergei Zubov. Vishnevski is all about offense – he is one of the best skaters in the draft and has an above average skills set across the board in the offensive zone. Where he needs significant work, however, is on defense. At 5’11/175lbs, Vishnevski has big problems containing larger forwards and his positioning is another area that will need work. Like many young Russians, he also exhibits spotty work ethic and is very inconsistent. Vishnevski will spend at least another season in the QMJHL, but figures to develop into a top4 d-man who runs the top PP unit. Great pick in the mid second round and possibly a higher upside player than Tlusty, however there is also a risk that Vishnevski ends up like Kirill Koltsov

Continuing through the list, Peca is more and more reminding me of Anders – picking up Euros left, right and center. PF’s third pick was not an exception to this – another Czech in promising pivot Tomas Kana. From an NHL standpoint, Kana is the type of player every team needs – he can play well in any situation and while he’ll never be a very productive top line player, he’ll be a very useful member of the 2^nd/3^rd lines as well as a main contributor on the PK. Look for Kana to settle into a role similar to Mike Johnson or Jason Blake at best. From a FHL perspective, Kana will obviously be slightly less useful and at 49, arguably, there would’ve been higher upside choices available. Kana will play at least one more season in the top Czech league, before potentially coming over to the U.S. The Blues aren’t exactly stocked right now, so there is reason to believe that Kana will be given every chance to contribute shortly

Finally selecting an American, PF picked up hulking d-man Carl Sneep at 53. Sneep was – somewhat surprisingly – picked up in the early 2^nd round in the NHL draft, after having been projected by most scouts to be a late 3^rd round pick. Sneep have solid fundamentals – he is huge at 6’4/210 lbs, very mobile for his size and has overall good vision. So far, Sneep has only competed at USHL level, where due especially to superior size, he has dominated the opposition. Bound for Boston College this fall, Sneep is looking to prove himself at a higher level. Sneep will likely take 3-4 years at least before making a play for the pro-leagues and it isn’t impossible that he will look to complete his degree. He has the potential to be a primarily defensive top4 d-man, however at this point he is a project. Interesting pick and worth a flier, but should probably have been picked later in the draft

Arguably the most interesting Bunnies pick came at 76, where unheralded Latvian Kaspars Daugavin was selected. The young center has everything including an unpronounceable, exotic name… Daugavins has come over to North America and will suit up for Toronto St. Michael’s Majors in the OHL for the season. Daugavins already plays an American style hockey and goes hard to the net. He is a tireless worker with great vision and playmaking skills and figures to settle in as a second line center that plays well defensively and on the PK, while still producing offensively. Look for Daugavins to be one of the go-to guys on his junior team this season and for him to be making a mark in the NHL in 2009. He is not by any means a sure thing to make the big show, but he does at least have the upside

Goalie Jeff Zatkoff was the final pick of the day for Peca at 101. Zatkoff comes off a stellar performance for the University of Ohio-Miami and was selected the team’s rookie of the year the past season. He is a very athletic goalie with strong reflexes and a quick glove hand, however needs to work on rebound control. He will be looking to claim the starters spot this year in the CCHA. Considering the goaltending pipeline in LA, with Jonathan Bernier and Jonathan Quick clearly ahead of Zatkoff, and with a number of rather young players such as Ryan Munce, Barry Brust and Adam Hauser vying for spots, Zatkoff should be considered a long-shot to make the NHL and it would be very surprising if he elects not to play out his college eligibility, before turning pro for the 2009/10 season. Picking goalies late is never bad, as their development is difficult to forecast, however I wouldn’t bet on Zatkoff being the real deal.

BRAWLERS

7.) Derick Brassard (Jackets, #6, 2006)

27.) Bob Sanguinetti (Rangers, #21, 2006)

47.) Cory Emmerton (Wings, #41, 2006)

69.) Ryan White (Canadiens, #66, 2006)

70.) Alexander Vasyunov (Devils, #58, 2006)

Best pick: Bob Sanguinetti – you cannot teach that vision and skating

Worst pick: Ryan White – nice role player, but likely no impact in 20-team league

Overall verdict: A – Solid performance all-round, with the three first picks very likely to pay significant dividends

Brawlers’ Bryan was quiet on draft day, preferring to keep the picks he went into the draft with over seeking trades, however he certainly made the picks count and got away from the draft with at least two bluechip prospects and a couple of players that should realistically have a good shot at being solid role players as well

Things got off to a fast start with the selection of QMJHL standout and speedster Derick Brassard who has been tearing up the Q with impressive offensive performance. A two points per game average is impressive even in the high scoring Q. Brassard is blessed with great wheels and has a style that can be amply compared to Teemu Selänne or Paul Kariya, though his future niche is likely more as set-up man than finisher. Brassard is a potentially game-breaking talent and the only concern going forward should be his ability to stay healthy (having missed 50 QMJHL games over past two seasons) and continuing to develop his core assets in skating and skills. Brassard also need to get stronger to cope with the bigger competition, however he does play with a physical edge already and is unlikely to be limited to a perimeter role. Brassard is a very solid pick, which should be expected at 7 overall

Next, Brawlers turned to defense with slick skating offensive talent Bob Sanguinetti, whose upside should be along the lines of Sandis Ozolinsh (hopefully sans booze). Sanguinetti’s core assets are great mobility and very good vision/playmaking skills. He is at the very least expected to make the league as a PP specialist, however his defensive play is sound enough to not hurt teams. He has decent but not great size and isn’t overly physical and the defensive zone play – notably shot blocking, crease clearing and one-on-one work is where he needs to take further steps to become a pro. He is likely headed back for another year in the OHL (much the same route as was chosen by Rags management for Marc Staal last year) and will also likely need some time in the AHL before graduating to the Rangers roster. Sanguinetti was thought by many to be the second best d-man in the draft after Eric Johnson and getting him at 27 is an outright steal

Cory Emmerton went into the draft as a highly touted two-way forward prospect and many expected him to go late in the first round, however he had to wait mid-way through the second to be nabbed up. Emmerton has an allround solid game, but several coaches knocked him for lacking the high end offensive skills and for failing to bring a consistent performance at the U18 WJC. He is a pick with very limited downside – the combination of high mobility, defensive awareness and good understanding of the game is likely to at least land Emmerton a job as a third line checker. His offensive upside is debatable; however look for him to be on a mission this year to prove that his 90pts performance wasn’t a fluke. Emmerton could well develop into a Marc Sturm type of player that can contribute at both ends and be very valuable to a team. Again, a very solid pick for a third rounder

Brawlers got some help on defensively adept forwards in the form of Ryan White with the #69 pick.. White was generally expected to go towards the end of the first round in the NHL draft and him being available at #69 is a great catch – however, he is the type of player who’s value doesn’t translate very well to the FHL. White is a defensively very strong center that plays a physical and gritty role, frustrating opposing players. He also has solid offensive skills, however the lack of elite hands and mobility will likely limit his pro upside to being a great 3^rd line center that can fill in on the second line if need be. Similar in style to Mike Richards and Ryan Kesler, White will likely be a mainstay on the penalty kill and could well be a future captain for the Habs. From a CNGHL perspective, the pick is somewhat unspectacular, however there is virtually no downside and that’s a pretty good outcome of a pick around 70. White will likely be back for at least another year in the WHL, however his maturity is high and his game should translate pretty easily to the pro-ranks, so it isn’t conceivable to seem him with a regular shift on Montreal’s fourth line in 2007/08

Bryan closed out the drafting by picking skilled but enigmatic Russian sniper Alex Vasyunov, one of the Devil’s many Russian picks from the 2006 draft. Vasyunov is classic Russian prospect – he boasts top notch shooting arsenal and hands, hasn’t been in the defensive zone more than twice the past year and has erratic work ethic to say the least. He DID show up for the U18 WJC and made a great impression on scouts, however at this point it is safe to say that his absolute upside and downside are far apart. The future will tell whether Vasyunov turns into Sergei Samsonov or Igor Radulov – for now, Vasyunov needs to establish himself on Yaroslavl’s pro-team, as he so far has only played on the farm team

KUMQUATS

98.) Mike Weber (Sabres, #57, 2006)

Overall verdict: C – there isn’t anything in particular wrong with Weber, but having one pick at 98 is simply not worth a better grade

Kumquats made a flurry of trades going into the draft, as Quinton found himself unable to attend, and these trades seriously strengthened the team to the point of contending for the conference in the east with historical powers Epidemic and Zebras looking weaker than in recent memory. That said, Quinton was left with only one pick, which was used on Windsor Spitfire blueliner Mike Weber, who was at times touted as a potential NHL first rounder, but who somewhat surprisingly fell to the mid-second round. Weber is a solid defensive d-man, who has few weaknesses. At 6’2/200 lbs and with plenty of hockey smarts, Weber plays a solid and physical defensive game and plays it simple and error free. He has good overall awareness in both zones and picks his spots to use a somewhat underrated offense. Look for him to develop into a Keith Carney like player at the NHL level

ZEBRAS

17.) Chris Stewart (Avalanche, #18, 2006)

37.) Michel Ouellet (Penguins, #124, 2000)

57.) Ben Maxwell (Canadiens, #49, 2006)

61.) Michael Forney (Thrashers, #80, 2006)

75.) Kevin Dallman (Bruins, undrafted)

84.) Maxim Kondratiev (Leafs, #168, 2001)

105.) Chad Larose (Hurricanes, undrafted)

Best pick: Michel Ouellet – If he remains in a top6 role with the Pens, he’s likely to produce more points than the rest of the picks combined…

Worst pick: Maxim Kondratiev – Max just returned to Russia for the second time due to higher salary over there. At least draft someone interested in playing in North America

Overall verdict: C+ – Ouellet and Maxwell are great picks… but the rest of the draft was really pretty forgettable

The Zebras started off very untrue to form by electing to go with budding power forward Chris Stewart, an unconventional choice for a GM who stands out as having one of the softest and most defense minded teams in the CNGHL. The younger brother of Anthony Stewart, Chris has pretty much the same make-up; like his brother, Chris will never score highlight goals and won’t be a perennial all-star, but a hard worker that brings grit and scores garbage goals in droves. Paired up with a solid playmaker, he is the type of player that could contribute 35-40 goals down the line, however he can likely not be counted on to produce a lot on his own. The best case sees Stewart develop into a Glen Murray or John Leclair type of player (50pts without talented playmaker, 80pts with), however the big IF in the equation whether he ultimately sticks on the top 2 lines. Failing that, he may have a long career as a checker. Stewarts main challenges will be in improving consistency and conditioning. Decent but not fantastic pick

Penguins overager Michel Ouellet raised eyebrows in East Vancouver after getting a regular shift with Sid the Wonderkid in Pittsburgh during parts of the past season and Anthony decided to take an opportunistic approach foregoing highly touted draft picks like Semen Varlamov. Ouellet once again finds himself in a top6 role with the Pens and with Crosby and Malkin as the 1-2 punch at center, Ouellet is a virtual lock to produce 60+ points annually. Ouellet will never be confused with 1^st line talent; however, much like a Mike Knuble or Jonathan Cheechoo, he is certainly a good enough player to be very productive with a solid playmaker and for this reason Ouellet is without question the best of Anthony’s pickups in this draft… big thumbs up (yeah, even I am shocked at my thunderous endorsement of picking a 24 y.o. second line talent in the top 40) 

Zebras scouts we’re on a tear at this point in the draft and decided to go with slight speedster Ben Maxwell of the Kootenay Ice with the next pick at 57. Maxwell was a wild card going into the NHL draft, projected anywhere between 20 and 60 in pre-draft rankings and ended up selected by the Habs at 49. He has a very solid offensive skills set and is one of the best skaters in the draft, with very solid playmaking and finishing skills to boot. The knock on him is that he is soft as butter and very reluctantly enters the defensive zone about once every period. Maxwell has the tools and talent to be a first liner and his start to the WHL season hints at potential greatness, however it is likely that he’ll need some seasoning in the AHL before taking the step to the NHL while working on his grit and defensive game. Very good pick at 57, rivaling the Ouellet pick-up as the Zebra’s best

College bound Mike Forney became the next new Zebra with the #61 pick – a considerable reach considering that Forney was picked at #80 overall in the NHL draft and several top40 players were still available. Part of this may be attributed to the relatively small difference between players in this span, part to the fact that Forney arguably was overlooked in the NHL draft. He possesses a pretty compelling skills package in very solid size and strong mobility. He is also versatile and a budding 2-way threat. The main question mark is around overall upside – Forney is above average in all areas but nothing stands out as spectacular and hence, there is a pretty significant likelihood that he is thus bound for a career as a checker. He has also not been tested against better competition than USHS level and will need to prove himself this year as one of the freshmen on a rather stacked University of North Dakota team. I am doubtful that he will crack the team top6 this year and he may even have problems seeing significant ice time and I’d expect him to play out his full college eligibility before turning pro. Long-term, I’d expect Forney to settle in as a 3^rd liner at best. Disappointing upside given the reach – players like Yuri Alexandrov or Bryce Swan had been more compelling alternatives at this point

At 75, Anthony reverted to picking overagers – and Kevin Dallman was the first in a line of… well… players that have proven they won’t be FHL contributors. The skinny on Dallman’s past season: he was waived by the Bruins – a team that finished 3^rd worst in the east and in the bottom 10 in goals against – and subsequently failed to be resigned by the Blues – who finished with the worst overall record and with the 3^rd highest goals against. This year, he’ll be plying his trade with the Kings – a team generally expected to finish bottom 5 – where he has already seen 2 games from the press box and is jeered by the fans. But hey, what’s there not to like about a slow, 5’11 d-man? Wasted pick!

If things weren’t already bad, they took a turn for worse with the #84 pick. Maxim Kondratiev has already been bought out twice by CNGHL teams. Worse yet – at the young age of 23, he has already left NHL teams twice for the Russian league as he has failed to work hard enough to secure a spot. Kondratiev is undeniably talented – however, at the current rate, it is very difficult to see why he’d once again come over to the U.S. as he can clearly earn more money as a top3 guy in Russia than as a #5 with attitude problems in North America. The one thing than can be said for Dallman – he’ll probably play somewhere in some capacity – may not even be true for Kondratiev

Rounding out the Zebra draft is undrafted and unheralded Hurricanes winger Chad Larose, who does have a cup ring… and that’s about it. Larose is a player that would be a perennial AHL all-star, only he is pressed into service as an all-purpose 4^th liner in Carolina . Good for him! Now, I can almost guarantee that Larose will never be a 70OV+ player in FHL terms, and at 5’9/165 lbs and without fantastic mobility, I think the achievement of making a Stanley Cup caliber team is already worth considerable admiration. All in all, this makes three straight picks where I believe the return will never suit up in a single game for the Zebras

DYKES

15.) Jonathan Bernier (Kings, #11, 2006)

35.) David Fischer (Canadiens, #20, 2006)

55.) Igor Makarov (Blackhawks, #33, 2006)

78.) Riley Holzapfel (Thrashers, #43, 2006)

Best pick: David Fischer – could become a top-pairing steal

Worst pick: Riley Holzapfel – quick – someone mention a Thrashers 3^rd rounder that have been remotely close to making the NHL?

Overall verdict: B+ – Auto-picking sometimes works out extremely well and Dykes managed to pick up one of the top goalies in the draft and a couple of dark horses with solid potential

Dykes got on the board at 15 with diminutive but quick goalie Jonathan Bernier. This year was not a great goalie year in the NHL draft, however there were several promising netminders in the first round and Bernier was picked first at 11. Bernier has had a very solid season for Lewistone MAINEiacs, posting a 2.70 GAA which is very low for the high-scoring QMJHL, however the most impressive display of his skills came at the U18 WJC, where he was stellar. Bernier is a butterfly goalie who has very quick reflexes and good agility. He is technically sound, both in terms of positioning and rebound control. The one knock is his small size, which makes him vulnerable especially up high. Bernier has game-stealing ability and has also shown that he plays well under pressure – two traits that may well separate him from other solid goalie prospects down the line. The Kings currently have a solid goaltending situation – while neither Cloutier nor Garon are yet elite goalies, both are good enough to be starters for the time being, so there will be no rush in getting Bernier into the pros. Expect 2 more years in Juniors and at least a year in the AHL, however, Bernier should ultimately be the Kings (and Dykes) goalie of the future

At 35, the Dykes may have gotten their best pick of the draft in two-way defense prospect David Fischer. Anytime you get a prospect picked at 20 in the NHL draft with your 35^th pick you’ve potentially scored well, however what’s the more puzzling in this case is that the reason isn’t because that #20 pick was a low upside player with intangibles that are important to an NHL team but less so in a fantasy league. Fischer has everything you would hope for in a defender – good mobility and size, good vision and understanding of the position, solid positioning and a good shot to boot. The one question mark – is he able to put these pieces together and take them to the next level? The one question mark with Fischer is the level of competition – he was this year’s Mr.Hockey as Minnesota ’s most outstanding high school player and he is now bound for University of Minnesota , where he will play with fellow top prospect Erik Johnson and where he can hopefully prove that his game translates to the next level. Look for Fischer to be in the top4 already in his freshman season!

Jorge already has a highly touted and enigmatic (Bela)Russian in his organization in Andrei Kostitsyn, and Igor Makarov could be said to be a similar player. Makarov was touted as a player that could go in the top half of the 1^st round at the outset of the season and ISS had him ranked 21^st in October. Makarov was also expected to be the player that returned the spotlight to Russia after the disappointing 2005 draft, when the first Russian picked was Vitaly Anikeyenko at #70. However, the early ISS ranking was the high-point of Makarov’s season as he failed to produce for Krylja in the Russian league and ultimately he didn’t make the WJC20 roster, which at the time was considered a major upset. Makarov is similar to many other Russian prospects in that he has a great offensive tool set, however shies away from the physical game and takes too many shifts and games off. He definitely has top line upside, but could also very well be a player that has a solid and well-paid career in the Russian league. It appears he is not coming over to the CHL this year and I think there is a higher than average chance of Makarov remaining in Russia as the financial trade off of a 2-way rookie contract vs. being paid as a Russian 2^nd liner is negative

Riley Holzapfel was selected in the mid-second round by the NHL Thrashers, and as such, getting him at 78 is never bad. That said, there are a lot of question marks around Holzapfel’s ultimate pro-upside – he is a player that definitely fits the “new NHL” mold – he is vary mobile and shifty and has an all-round solid offensive upside, however lacks size and grit. Holzapfel put up very solid, but not remarkable numbers in the WHL for the Moose Jaw Warriors 2^nd line, but had a fantastic playoffs with 16 points in 22 games as Moose Jaw made the WHL finals, and this is what in particular made scouts take notice. Holzapfel was drafted by the Thrashers – a team notorious for having drafted extremely few players that have actually made the NHL outside of a select few, very early first round picks. My prediction says that Holzapfel is another in a long line of Thrashers prospects that unfortunately doesn’t make the big league, but turns into a solid AHLer and ultimately plays a large share of his career in Europe

Sandlak Division

DUCKLINGS

8.) Justin Pogge (Leafs, #90, 2004)

19.) Dustin Boyd (Flames, #98, 2004)

52.) Nikolai Kulemin (Leafs, #44, 2006)

54.) Jarkko Immonen (Leafs, #254, 2002)

86.) Sergei Kostitsyn (Canadiens, #200, 2005)

90.) Vladimir Zharkov (Devils, #77, 2006)

95.) Nigel Dawes (Rangers, #149, 2003)

108.) Patrick Thoresen (Oilers, undrafted)

111.) Denis Kulyash (Predators, #243, 2004)

Best pick: Nigel Dawes – everything screams “solid pro upside” despite size

Worst pick: Nikolai Kulemin – a Russian drafted by the Leafs… now, what’s the statistical likelihood of this pick turning into anything?

Overall verdict: B – Mixed bag with some good highlights

So – anyone who is truly surprised, raise a hand! No hands? No one? Nope, didn’t think so. Seeing Ducklings pick 7 overagers – whereof  4 Europeans – cannot have been a surprise to anyone. The main surprise rather being that Anders missed out on Perttu Lindgren, especially as he had the opportunity to pick Lindgren with the #19 pick

A year ago, the Maple Leafs had just picked highly touted Finnish goalie prospect Tuukka Rask in the draft and, true to form, the Leafs Nation unanimously declared Rask to be the Vezina winner of the future and a perennial all-star. Fast forward one year, and a very good season of Rask’s have led to the Leafs trading him… huh? Well, the reason is the play of Justin Pogge, who a year ago was a forgotten 3^rd round pick from 2004. Pogge has emerged as one of the best goalies in the whole of the CHL and crowned his season with a fantastic U20 WJC performance for Team Canada , where he was a wall. He posted an unbelievable 1.72 GAA / .926 save% for Calgary Hitmen in the WHL the past season over the course of 54 games and has taken tremendous strides towards being a legit starter prospect. Pogge will likely be looked upon to be the starter for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL this upcoming season, with either of Tellqvist/Aubin moved from the Leafs organization. Pogge will likely be looked upon to make an impact at the NHL level from the ‘07/’08 season. An extremely solid pick by Anders, though it came surprisingly early

Another pick that was surprisingly early indeed was picking up promising Flames pivot Dustin Boyd at 19^th overall. Boyd had a bit of a coming out party as he scored 90pts for Moose Jaw Warriors and leading the team to within two games of the WHL title and he is top ranked out of Calgary prospects according to HF… however, the latter distinction should be considered in the light of Flames having one of the worst prospects pipelines in the NHL. Dustin Boyd is a good skater and a player that gives 110% every shift – he is tenacious on the forecheck, however his offensive skills have more to do with good vision than possessing high-end skills. I would be surprised to see Boyd turn into much more than a serviceable 3^rd liner that can fill in on the top line and see a player in the Steven Reinprecht mode at best. Boyd is a nice player, however with only 15 2006 eligible prospects gone at this point, I can’t help but feeling that something more exciting could’ve been had

Ducklings picked Nikolai Kulemin 44^th, and while he was the first 2006 pick the Ducks selected, he was an overager coming into this draft after being passed over last year. Kulemin was a surprisingly early selection in the draft, and the fact he was considered a reach coupled with the Leafs selecting him combines to form a very clear “stay away” message in my mind. Add to this he’s Russian, and you really have a pick where it’s just hard to see the upside. Kulemin is a prototypical checker with some scoring upside, however it looks like he will top out as Branko Radivojevic-type player that can be useful in any situation but will excel in none. He put up reasonable numbers in the Russian league, however this was partly due to seeing some special teams time on the stacked Metallurg Magnitogorsk team. Kulemin may ultimately be a future NHL player – especially considering the Leaf’s legacy of endlessly keeping less talented players like fellow Russian Nik Antropov – however at 52, there were several better choices available

Anders went with another Euro overager for his next pick, selecting Finnish pivot Jarkko Immonen at 54. Immonen is a creative pivot that notably has great vision and soft hands and who will likely get a long, good look at Ranger’s camp this year. He ended last season impressively with 70pts in 74games for the Wolf Pack in the AHL and had a late cup of tea with the Rangers, not looking out of place. With only Nylander and Cullen as natural centers (except Straka, who will likely play on Jagr’s wing), a place on the 2^nd line C is up for grabs. Immonen likely needs to stick this season, as he is already 24 years old and the window for him to prove he belongs on an NHL scoring line is closing. The main concern with Immonen’s game is his lacking footspeed, somewhat alarming considering the higher paced game. All in all, he could very well see some quality ice time this season; however I wouldn’t expect him to put up much more than 45-50 pts, and further significant upside is questionable, considering his relatively advanced age. Unexciting pick, and arguably too early at 54

Sergei Kostitsyn is another Euro overager, added to Anders considerable pool… Sergei, much like his older brother Andrei, possesses a great offensive skills set, including spectacular finishing skills – both, however, appear to be projects that need significant maturing. Sergei is a much less heralded prospect, but has proven his offensive upside on a stacked London Knights team (OHL) – this season, he will be counted on to carry a lot of the load himself with the departure of Robbie Schremp and Dave Bolland and it will be interesting to see how he handles being the go-to guy. Kostisyn needs to significantly upgrade intensity, defense and physical game to become a force in the NHL – he is at this point to inconsistent and too easy to take out of a game by playing physical. That said, he also has a skills set that few players can match and ultimately, he could turn into a first line player. Good pick at 86 for the sheer upside

Anders kept adding Russians at 90, where future sniper Vladimir Zharkov was added to the mix. The young, slippery Russian is a nice high risk/reward proposition in the 5^th round and could ultimately turn into a very pleasant surprise for the team, as it is very clear he can put the puck in the net. Zharkov can actually be said to be the prototypical Russian prospect – he has all the typical traits in excellent mobility, good finishing skills and superb stickhandling, however he also exhibits many of the traits that ultimately has led to the failure of players like Igor Radulov and Pavel Vorobiev – he is prone to taking shifts or indeed games off, he shies away from the physical game. He is also relatively selfish with the puck and outright refuses to play defense. However, it should be said that the glimpses of brilliance exhibited by Zharkov suggests that he could develop into a Vycheslav Kozlov type player and such upside is definitely enough for this to be a very solid pick late in the draft

Anders waited until well into the fifth round before bringing out his best – the first of solid back-to-back picks is diminutive winger Nigel Dawes, who will likely get a solid look in the Rangers camp this year. Dawes has great hands and mobility and has the skill to be a Theo Fleury-like scoring threat; however as with all players standing 5’8, there will always be concerns around durability and effectiveness at the NHL level. Look for Dawes to need a couple of years  to fully adjust to the NHL before becoming a threat on a nightly basis, but there is no doubt he will be a productive player.

Short of picking any Danes, Anders turn to Norway for arguably the best Norwegian player since Espen Kutsen in Patrick Thoresen, an undrafted player that was signed by the Oilers in the off-season. Thoresen is 23 and has a couple of very productive seasons in the Swedish Elite League behind him. He is versatile and can line up at either forward position and, while being a primarily offensive player, could as well be used on a checking line. Thorsen likely doesn’t have the skills set to be a dominant NHL player, however he has solid vision and good enough hands to be a solid complementary player on one of the top 2 lines, capable of putting up 50-60 pts with solid line mates. It looks somewhat unlikely that Thorsen will make the top6 out of camp, but he should have a good chance sticking with Edmonton and may see quality ice time including power play time later in the season

Anders wrapped up his draft by picking Russian dark horse blueliner Denis Kulyash with the #111 pick. Kulyash was an 8^th rounder in 2004 and has since played a solid role for Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Super League. His main claim to fame so far is a 12 goal performance last season, which had Duckling scouts take notice. Kulyash’s main stand-out skills is a big shot and he has been extremely effective on the PP. Add to this solid size and a bit of a mean streak, and you have the ingredients of a solid blueliner… however, Kulyash’s decision making is a main area of concern; he is prone to pinching at the wrong time, has shown problems handling hard forecheck and is prone to making poor outlet passes which may be a key stumbling block for an NHL career. If he rounds out his game, he may have a future as a second pairing d-man

ROYALS

22.) Ryan Craig (Lightning, #255, 2002)

42.) Brad Richardson (Avalanche, #163, 2003)

65.) Maxime Talbot (Penguins, #234, 2002)

Best pick: Brad Richardson – will be a solid 2-way center seeing a lot of PK time

Worst pick: Maxime Talbot – Couldn’t crack a Pens roster on a full time basis last year, and the additions of Malkin and Staal won’t make it easier…

Overall verdict: B- – Three defensive forwards won’t make or break a team in a 20-team legue

GM Andy Saunders returned to the CNGHL after a one year hiatus and found his veteran roster revamped through a pretty aggressive re-building scheme. Saunders promptly re-focused on the now and significantly strengthened his team by trading his first rounder in separate deals to acquire 81OV d-man Bryan Berard and 76OV pivot Scott Hartnell, both who will help make Royals a play-off team again after finishing in the league basement last season.

Andy decided to go with relatively known commodities throughout the draft, starting off with scrappy Lightning winger Ryan Craig, an all-purpose two way player that can be productive in any situation. Craig is a player type that is very useful to an NHL team, however I’d seriously question his value in the FHL beyond a solid 3^rd line role – Craig is a hard worker that will score plenty of goals based on a strong desire to go to the net and outworking anyone on the ice but to expect more than a consistent 25 goal, 50 pts production would surprise me a lot. Craig is 24 years old and is reaching his upside in terms of production. It is easy to look at his 48 games, 28 points production from last year and project stellar future production, however it should be considered that Craig has already spent 2.5 seasons in the AHL – scoring 75 pts in 170 games – without ever developing into a top line player. With only 16 2006 prospects gone at this point, it may be argued that something slightly more exciting could’ve been had with the #22 pick

The next pick fetched Avalanche pivot Brad Richardson, a 5^th round pick in 2003 that emerged as one of the OHL’s prime scorers after his draft year, being one of the best players on a strong Owen Sound team. Richardson is a responsible two way player in the Brian Rolston mold – he is a strong skater, slightly undersized, with underappreciated hands. He plays with grit, but lacks the size to be a punishing physical threat. Richardson will likely top out as a 2^nd line pivot, who is used on the top PK unit. He is unlikely to score more than 50-55 pts at best, but will nevertheless be valueable to his team. Solid pick

Maxime Talbot rounded out the Royals draft, bringing in another talented, but slightly built player. Talbot scored 300pts in 250 games in the QMJHL, which would suggest he is a strong offensive contributor; however his role at the NHL level will likely be more of the 3^rd line energy type. Talbot is a solid skater and a player of the type that will bring 110% every shift and he is an above average finisher, even though his overall offensive skills set is not good enough to play on a top line. Talbot was a surprise making the Pens last year in an extensive audition; however, this was partly due to the appalling state of the Pens roster last season. He is expected to enter his third season in the AHL this year and with youngsters like Evgeni Malkin , Jordan Staal, Ryan Stone, Erik Christensen and Jonathan Filewich arguably ahead of him on the depth chart, I’d be surprised to see Talbot get extensive NHL ice time. Talbot may eventually be a productive NHL 3^rd or 4^th liner, but I feel better players should’ve been available for this pick

VIOLATORS

16.) Bryan Little (Thrashers, #12, 2006)

56.) Michael Neuvirth (Capitals, #34, 2006)

79.) Jeff Petry (Oilers, #45, 2006)

104.) Codey Burki (Avalanche, #59, 2006)

Best pick: Bryan Little – small guy can do it all

Worst pick: Jeff Perty – honestly, will it be worth the wait?

Overall verdict: B- - Too Little to be really exiting

Ken really got a jackpot, finding Bryan Little available at 16, and was quick to snap up the talented, but diminutive forward. Three inches more, and Little would’ve likely been in contention for a top6 draft position, as his skills set and heart are simply fantastic. Little has been compared to Mike Richards and while both have excellent leadership qualities, Little has a more dynamic and exciting offensive skills set. He is an explosive skater with a big shot who outworks the opposition to boot. Little also elevated his game in the playoffs, which is a very good sign as his ability to produce in physical games had been questioned. Little should be a future first liner that sees ice time in all situations and is a great pickup at 16

Michael Neuvirth remained late into the CNGHL draft, though arguably he was selected very early. Like many Czech goalies before him – notably Cechmanek and Hasek – Neuvirth plays an unorthodox style and has game stealing talent, however like Checko, he is also prone to breakdown when getting out of position and being unable to recover on reflexes alone. Neuvirth enjoyed a solid year in the Czech Juniors last year and has decided to take the step over to North America this season, where he will initially split goaltending duties with fellow rookie Jeremy Smith (eligible 2007). This will be a first step to decide whether he has the tools to be a starting goalie at the NHL level. Neuvirth at this point projects as a potential backup, but there is undeniable potential. OK pick, but the lesson is to never trust picks in the 20-50 range by the Capitals…

Defender Jeff Petry definitely falls under the category “worth waiting for…?” Despite being one of the older players in the 2006 draft with a late ’87 birth date, he will spend another year this season in the USHL before joining college in the 2007/08 season and hence will likely see a season with competition that is far from stellar. It also pushes his projected date for impact at the pro level quite some time forward; assuming Petry plays at least 2 seasons in college and needs one full AHL season to acclimatize, he’s unlikely to be in the NHL before the 2010/11 season. At that point, he will be turning 23. With that out of the way, however, there is a lot to like about Petry’s overall skills set. He is a superior skater and has a generous frame, though he will need to bulk up by around 40lbs… It is hard to project Petry’s upside at this point, but he may eventually round into an allround 2^nd pairing d-man… however, considering the long wait time along with the fact that prospects still in high school are difficult to assess due to lacking competition, I’d say that there were plenty of more attractive choices out there

Violators rounded out the draft by picking up speedster Codey Burki of the Brandon Wheat Kings. Burki’s main claim to fame so far is somewhat surprisingly being selected the MVP of the 2006 top prospects game, notching the game winner. His main asset is strong skating and he has a solid game in both zones. He has gotten off to a hot start offensively this year in the WHL and the main question ability wise is around his offensive upside – Burkis overall play would lend itself very well to a 3^rd line checking role, but it is as of yet unclear whether he can in fact be a scorer at the NHL level. Very solid pick at 104 – there is limited downside and some rankings had Burki as a potential late first rounder prior to the NHL draft

EPIDEMIC

20.) Chris Campoli (Islanders, #227, 2004)

40.) Lee Stempniak (Blues, #148, 2003)

Overall verdict: B- – Autodraft would have fetched the #14 and #23 picks in the NHL draft, one of which should have higher impact than either player

True to form, the reigning Champion – that’s also true to form by the way – went with experience and avoided the young 2006 draft class altogether. At 20, Bryce picked promising Islanders blueliner Chris Campoli, who had a fantastic rookie season on a pretty bad team. Campoli enters the new season third on the Isles depth chart behind Zhitnik and Witt, and should see time on the first PP unit. He will contribute to step into the Epidemic line up immediately as well. Campoli has a solid offensive game and his 34 points in 80 games were in the top5 of rookie d-man scoring, however it should also be noted that he stood out as a team worst -16 on the Isles. Campoli is a player in the JM Liles mold and it remains to be seen whether he can shape up his defensive game enough to establish himself at the NHL level. For now, he looks like a #4 type with PP upside

Lee Stempniak was one of few sunshine stories about last year’s lackluster Blues team, which was really the laughing stock of the league. The underwhelming performance of several vets along with a depleted roster meant several youngsters had a chance to prove themselves at the NHL level and Stempniak was arguably the most impressive. 27 points in 57 games was exceeding all expectations, though he did finish the season with Peoria in the AHL (likely to get playoff experience). Stempniak is a bit of everything – he doesn’t have the skills set to consistently be a scorer but what he lacks in talent he makes up for in leadership and hard work. He is likely to enjoy a solid career in the NHL as a third line checker that could be used on scoring lines in times of injury (hello Dean McAmmond!). Unfortunately, with the off-season signings of Bill Guerin, Doug Weight and Martin Rucinsky, it appears as if it will be tough to Stempniak to again crack the scoring lines this upcoming season. Look for Stempniak to notch around 40pts this year, with not too much career upside beyond this. Solid, but unspectacular pick at 40.

ICE DOGS

1.) Nicklas Bäckström (Capitals, #4, 2006)

23.) Patrick Berglund (Blues, #25, 2006)

66.) Yuri Alexandrov (Bruins, #37, 2006)

91.) Keith Seabrook (Capitals, #52, 2006)

109.) Simon Danis-Pepin (Blackhawks, #61, 2006)

Best pick: Nicklas Bäckström

Worst pick: Keith Seabrook

Overall verdict: B- – Solid but unspectacular draft – the later picks don’t stand out as being special

Ice Dogs won the draft day lottery and were rewarded with their pick of the consensus 4-5 clearly best players in the draft. Somewhat surprisingly to many, the Dawgs started off with a reach by going for Swede Nicklas Bäckström, selected 4^th overall in the NHL entry draft by the Capitals. The pick in itself was not so much of a surprise, since GM Angus had advertised his intentions quite blatantly. The Blondes, who lost the lottery, also had Bäckström tops of their list but had to “settle” for Erik Johnson… So – why Bäckström? Well, the Ice Dogs saw plenty to like – Bäckström may be the most NHL ready of the 2006 draftees, however he has elected to remain in Sweden for one more season before coming over. Second, Bäckström may also be one of the most complete players in the draft – he has startling offensive skills, but plays well in all zones and is a prospect that could develop into a complete player of Peter Forsberg-caliber, though maybe a little less physical. Third, the prospect of seeing a player of this stature centering Alex Ovechkin (and maybe Alex Semin) in a couple of year also suggests there may be plenty of reason to fear the Dawgs attack shortly. Bäckström is a player of fantastic ability and to put his achievement in the SEL into perspective – he played on what was expected to be one of the worst teams in the SEL last year under a very demanding coach that is the closest to Mike Keenan Sweden has and managed to lead the team in scoring as a 17-years old. That is a sign of things to come. Look for Bäckström to score ~40 pts in the SEL the upcoming season and be on the Capitals top2 lines for the 2007/08 season

Angus again went to Sweden for his second pick of the draft, scoping up center Patrick Berglund of the second tier Västerås team. Berglund is somewhat of a dark horse who entered the season well off of the radar screen of most scouts – indeed, a scouting like ISS had Berglund ranked 79^th in October and it was widely thought that he’d end up a third or fourth round pick, however Berglund has consistently brought a very solid effort, scoring 4 pts in the semi-professional 2^nd tier league while also performing very well on the international stage. Berglund has very solid fundamentals with good size and mobility and solid vision and hockey intelligence. His offensive skills are generally solid, though it is unlikely to see him score more than 60-70 pts at the highest pro level. Like Carl Soderberg, another Swedish prospect that is similar in skills set and make up, Berglund is likely quite some way from playing in the NHL. He will remain with VIK Hockey in the Swedish 2^nd tier this upcoming season and likely end up on the 2^nd or 3^rd line. Next year, I’d expect him to transfer to one of the SEL clubs (as it is very unlikely VIK is promoted) and he’d probably need 1-2 years in the SEL before making the jump to North America . Long-term project with undeniable upside, however arguably a reach as early in the draft as 23

Yuri Alexandrov was widely expected to go late 1^st round in the NHL draft, but somewhat surprisingly fell to the 2^nd round, likely in part due to the uncertainty about the transfer agreement with the Russian hockey federation. Alexandrov was by many considered the best Russian player available in the draft and also captained the WJC18 team. He is very solid offensively as well as defensively, however has a bit a “jack of all trades, master of none” problem – at 6’0/175lbs (being generous) and playing soft, Alexandrov will never be a reliable crease clearer and will struggle containing big opponents. His offense is solid, but he lacks the skills upside of d-men like Ivan Vishnevsky and Bob Sanguinetti. Alexandrov could develop into a solid 2^nd pairing d-man that can be used on both special teams, however I would expect him to top out as an elite player in one of the European leagues since I think he will command more money there for his skills set than what any NHL club will want to pay him for being an unspectacular #4

Keith Seabrook would undoubtedly have been a much later pick in this draft, hadn’t it been for the very successful rookie season of older brother Brent in Chicago . Brent has big size, a big shot, big hits and big leadership. By comparison, ISS failed to at all include him in their top 250 ranking going into the draft and while this was arguably a gross oversight, the fact remains that it is very unlikely that he ever progresses to be more than a bottom-3 rotation player at the NHL level. Seabrook has decent size and plays a physical game. At this point, he has only played at the BCHL level with limited competition and the real indicator of future upside will be playing for the highly regarded University of Denver program this fall. I would expect Seabrook to be in the NHL at the earliest 2010 (if at all) and best case as a useful third pairing player. From a 20-team league perspective, I have a hard time seeing Seabrook being an impact player

The Dawgs ended their draft with huge project Simon Danis-Pepin of the University of Maine . Danis has been a utility player for his Freshman year, dressing for only 7 games and being used in a pure shut-down role. A surprise early selection in the NHL draft, the Hawks were undoubtedly intrigued by the 6’7 frame and the physical ability of Danis. Still, as with most players of this make-up, skating and agility is a big issue and Danis will need significant time to potentially make in into the pro-ranks. It’s hard to see Danis project as anything but a #7 utility defender, though as with big players, the upside is there. I don’t expect Danis to make it at all and think this is a wasted pick, however at 109 the upside justifies taking a chance

Murzyn Conference

Dirk Division

BOMBERS

12.) Michal Frolik (Panthers, #10, 2006)

32.) Trevor Lewis (Kings, #17, 2006)

85.) Dennis Wideman (Sabres, #241, 2002)

Best pick: Michal Frolik – could be a true star!

Worst pick: Dennis Wideman – will certainly be an AHL all-star!

Overall verdict: B+ – Steve  got two guys with high-end upside despite only having three picks, neither of which were very early

Bombers had a good night at the draft table and focused on upside rather than going for safe and boring bets. Steve may be the single GM with the highest risk profile out of this draft, but lacking early picks in a draft that was top heavy, it’s always right to go with upside in a 20-team league. Michal Frolik has the potential to be the steal of the draft in both the NHL draft and the CNGHL version. Touted as a potential top3 pick going into the season, Frolik has played well in the Czech Extraliga, however has come up short in the international competition with the Czech WJC team which has clearly hurt his draft stock. By comparison, Jiri Tlusty performed in the WJC and went as early as Frolik despite being virtually unknown before the draft. Frolik is a special talent with advance vision and stickhandling that is second to none in the draft. He has the ability to be a game breaker and has a relatively complete skills set including decent defensive awareness. The knock on Frolik is his inconsistency – scouts tend to differ whether it is a maturity and desire problem or whether it has more to do with not yet having fully put the complete puzzle in place. Be as it may, the upside is undeniable and until proven otherwise, Frolik projects as a first line talent

Bombers followed up with another speedy forward in King’s prospect Trevor Lewis. Lewis was considered 2^nd round material by most scouting mags going into the draft, however the Kings traded up to secure their man and felt they had gotten a find at 17. With LA’s recent draft record and Dean Lombardi (who oversaw great drafting in San José ) there is some credibility to the claim. Lewis is a speedy pivot that has a game similar to Phil Kessel (though a level below) – the main weapons is high speed and good stickhandling along with good finishing skills. There were some concerns around how much of Lewis’s performance was due to poor competition (USHS, Des Moines ) and how much of his stats were due to playing with #7 pick Kyle Opkoso. Lewis has also already been passed over in the draft once and is a full year older than all other draft eligible prospect. In any event, Lewis skills set should be very useful in the “new” NHL and he could very well develop into a Vyacheslav Kozlov type 2^nd line scoring winger. Lewis was originally expected to attend University of Michigan this fall on a scholarship, but he has recently decided to forego his university studies and has instead opted for signing an entry level contract with the LA Kings as well as a free agent contract with Owen-Sound attack of the OHL – for Steve, this likely primarily means Lewis could have a shot at the NHL after next season, as opposed to going the usually longer college route. Very good value pick at 32 and a bit surprising that Lewis fell this far in the draft

Steve finished up with drafting rookie d-man Dennis Wideman, undoubtedly partly to fill a need as depth for the Bombers woeful blueline. Wideman was a very late pick by Sabres in the 2002 draft and he failed to earn a contract with the Sabres and instead signed as a free agent with the Blues. He proceeded to tear up the AHL with 43 points in the first season and earned a spot on the Blues blueline in the 2005/06 season primarily as a PP quarterback. Now, Wideman has been much talked about amongst Blues fans based on the offensive upside and his 24 points as a rookie in the NHL is no poor feat. What is not considered, however, is that Wideman cannot play D, period. He was a -22 in 79 games with Worcester in his rookie season in the AHL and followed up a -31 in 67 games with the Blues last season. Sure, the team was awful, but that was the second worst Blues player overall and the by far worst d-man. With Eric Brewer, Christian Backman, Barret Jackman and Bryce Salvador back from injury (missed a combined 140 man-games last year) and the recent signing of Jay McKee I think it is safe to assume that Wideman gets a one-way bus ticket to Peoria where he will play with other players of same skills set – like Andy Delmore…

HYACKS

31.) Nigel Williams (Avalanche, #51, 2006)

51.) Niklas Bäckström (Wild, undrafted)

74.) Daniel Rahimi (Canucks, #82, 2006)

100.) Kevin Bieksa (Canucks, #151, 2001)

102.) Kris Russell (Jackets, #67, 2005)

Best pick: Nigel Williams – mammoth blueliner has a lot to like

Worst pick: Nicklas Bäckström – no, this isn’t the center!

Overall verdict: C – A lot of solid and utterly unspectacular defensive d-men…

University bound blueliner Nigel Williams started Hyacks off uncharacteristically late in the draft – and Ken did it with a MAJOR reach compared to the NHL draft. The 17^th overall pick Trevor Lewis still being on the board, this pick may always be second guessed as coming a round too early. That being said, Williams was mentioned as a potential top 10 pick a month before the draft and has a skills package that has a lot to offer – many saw him as the most complete d-man in the draft behind Erik Johnson. Much of the fall in rankings may be attributed to a rather forgettable WJC U18 showing, where he was expected to lead the team but remained pretty invisible. Williams is big and surprisingly mobile. He excels in defensive situations and will at the very least develop into a defensive stalwart of the Jay McKee / Rhett Warrener type. He does have solid instincts and vision though, along with a heavy shot, so it isn’t inconceivable to see him on the PP down the line, though that’ll likely not be his primary role. Williams will star for the University of Wisconsin this fall

Ken went with experienced Swedish goalie Niklas Bäckström at 51. Bäckström is a 28 years old journeyman that has played most of his career in Finland . He has compiled quite impressive stats in his 4 seasons for Kärpät in Finland: 177 games, 28 SOs, 1.99 GAA, .928 save% over 4 seasons and this probably prompted comparisons to Henrik Lundqvist… however, a couple of points to consider; goal tending monsters like Tim Thomas, Scott Langkow, Mika Noronen and Sinuhe Wallinheimo has also put up similar numbers over the past seasons and the average save % amongst the top 6 teams in the league is probably around .925. Also, to add to that, there is a reason that Bäckström was never drafted in the first place. I think that Bäckström should be considered a stop gap solution for Wild – he’ll back up Fernandez this year to give Josh Harding another year as a starter in the AHL. This pick was extremely puzzling, with several early 2^nd rounders on the board, and I wouldn’t expect Bäckström to ever pick up a starting gig in the NHL

At 74, Ken went with Finnish-Iranian rearguard Daniel Rahimi, out of the Swedish 2^nd tier league and juniors… drafting a player out of Sweden that I hadn’t previously even heard of is no mean feat, however it is certainly possible. Rahimi could essentially be said to be  Nigel Williams-light – somewhat smaller, much less heralded and a long way away from playing in North America . Assuming Rahimi doesn’t elect to go the CHL route next year (which is unlikely), I’d expect him to remain in Sweden for at least 3 more years. This year, he’ll attempt to claim a spot in the Swedish 2^nd tier league. Wasn’t impressed with the Nucks picking him at 82, and reaching for him is not an obvious choice for me

Staying with the Canucks theme, Ken picked up Kevin Bieksa with the #100 pick, the first of two picks acquired from the Blondes for Colin White. Bieksa should enjoy a very solid career as a bottom 3 d-man that can be used all-round. He is likely well-known by everyone in the league, so I won’t spend a lot of space describing him. Bieksa is a very solid pickup at 100 – however, there is in my mind not a clear case in moving Colin White to get him…

…and Kris Russell still has a lot to prove before convincing me that the additional 5th rounder is enough to motivate the deal. There is a lot to like about Russell – he has fantastic mobility, great hockey sense and very solid offensive instincts. He also displays plenty of grit and solid defensive positioning… so what’s the problem? Well, a 5’9/160 lbs rearguard will always struggle to be effective in the NHL and players like Freddy Meyer of the Flyers perfectly illustrate this example. Russell has too much talent to not be an interesting pick, and at 102, he probably possesses more upside than any of the other Hyacks picks, however the likelihood of Russell playing in the NHL anytime soon must be considered slim

HAWKS

26.) Leland Irving (Flames, #26, 2006)

43.) Dennis Persson (Sabres, #24, 2006)

46.) Freddy Meyer III (Flyers, undrafted)

50.) Matt Corrente (Devils, #30, 2006)

Best pick: Leland Irving – Future starter extraordinaire

Worst pick: Freddy Meyer III – 5’8 turn-over machine will be trade bait this season

Overall verdict: B+ – A mixed bag – lots of promise, no sure things. Irving could pay great dividends down the line

Hawks were active in GM Adrian Chong’s first CNGHL draft and walked away with 3 (late) NHL 1^st round picks despite not picking at all until #26. The first pick was used on Everett Silvertips’ goalie Leland Irving, somewhat of a reach at this point in the draft with players like Bob Sanguinetti, Claude Giroux and Mark Mitera still on the board. Even so, Hawks were looking for a goalie and it is hard to argue with getting the best available guy at the position and Irving is also a player, who has been steadily climbing the charts all season. Irving posted a very impressive 1.91 GAA in 67 games in the WHL and showed a lot of pro-upside in great puck control and very good reflexes. Irving is a safe bet to make the NHL in some capacity and his upside is very high. A very solid pick for a team with a thin goalie pipe line

Dennis Persson was snapped up next at 43 – curiously, Persson was picked 2 spots before Irving in the NHL draft but was still available 17 picks later as other GMs went wild with overagers. Persson is a very mobile 2-way blueliner with very solid offensive upside. Similar to fellow Västerås junior Patrick Berglund, Persson had a fantastic U18 WJC with 6-points in 7 games and this open scout’s eyes. Persson was widely believed to be a late second round pick going into the draft, however was somewhat surprisingly picked up late in the first round by the Sabres. He fits the Sabre-speed approach to hockey with good mobility however. Like Berglund, Persson so far has only played in Swedish juniors and will need 2-3 years seasoning in the pro-league before coming over to the NHL. Don’t expect Persson to make any impact in the NHL for a long time

For their 3^rd pick, Hawks went with Flyers journeyman defender Freddy Meyer III, a 5’8 turnover machine who at times played on the Flyers top pairing. Fans claim that he is ideally suited for the new NHL with mobility, offensive awareness and a booming slap shot. Critics point to the fact that he is completely unable to handle aggressive forechecking, that his turn-over frequency is alarmingly high and that he couldn’t clear the front of the net if his life depended on it. Meyer will likely continue to have a niche as a 3^rd pairing d-man that sees some PP time, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he is the odd man out in Philly this year with a healthier blue-line

Adrian closed out his draft on a high note with Saginaw Spirit defender Matt Corrente, an early Devils selection. Corrente is a complete d-man that has a little bit of everything – he is mean and nasty to play against, has a steady defensive game and some offensive ability and the most likely scenario is to see him develop into a top 4, Rhett Warrener-like d-man that can put up 25 points while being very dependable defensively. Corrente is likely some way from making the pro’s and as with most of the Hawks picks doesn’t figure to be in the NHL until at the earliest 2009

TRIFECTA

4.) Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks, #3, 2006)

24.) Michael Grabner (Canucks, #14, 2006)

44.) Semen Varlamov (Capitals, #23, 2006)

63.) Jamie McGinn (Sharks, #36, 2006)

67.) Bryce Swan (Ducks, #38, 2006)

92.) Mathieu Carle (Canadiens, #53, 2006)

Best pick: Jonathan Toews – will be a star

Worst pick:Bryce Swan – limited upside and significant health concerns

Overall verdict: A- – Trifecta got a lot of interesting talent infusion and could very well have 4-5 solid CNGHLers some years down the line