nivek_wahs
06-28-2007, 08:29 AM
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/sports/story.html?id=7bb3eeef-5b91-4edd-83c7-08dd6424ca3d
Oil Kings hope they've found a franchise player
Choose Czech forward with first pick in import draft
Scott Petersen, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Thursday, June 28, 2007
EDMONTON - Bob Green can only hope he's mined a diamond out of Europe in the form of Czech forward Tomas Vincour.
The Edmonton Oil Kings general manager can't say for sure what kind of player he landed with the first overall selection in Wednesday's Canadian Hockey League import draft. He's never seen Vincour play, so he also doesn't know what to expect from his latest addition on the ice.
What Green does have is a recommendation from the Edmonton Oilers
European scout Frank Musil, who knows Vincour's family, and assurance from the player's Edmonton-based agent, Gerry Johannson, that he'll be in town for training camp in August. That was enough to place him ahead of the rest of the field.
"We're comfortable with the people we're talking to about it," said Green. "They're good hockey people and they know their business, so we're totally comfortable with that."
Vincour is a 1990-born player and doesn't turn 17 until mid-November, making his NHL draft year 2009.
The expansion Oil Kings hope to get three years of play out of him in the Western Hockey League before he pursues a pro career.
The International Scouting Service had Vincour pegged as the second-best forward available in the draft, and the best among those likely to come to Canada. They also suggest he's the top talent out of the Czech Republic for his age group.
"Would be a franchise player for any junior team lucky enough to select him," reads the ISS scouting report on Vincour. "Has skillful hands and ability to beat (defence) in one-on-one situations.
Always able to find open ice, and always sets up in proper shooting position so there's no wasted time pulling the trigger."
The report notes the centre/left-winger is a strong skater, though he needs to work on his acceleration. It also points out he needs to work on using his body better, since he has a six-foot-two, 198-pound frame to work with already.
Green said that size was one of the attributes that made Vincour more attractive than some of the other prospects they considered. He already has the frame to help ease the transition to Canada's junior ranks.
Vincour had 15 goals, 39 points and 58 penalty minutes in 41 games for Kometa Brno in the under-20 Czech junior league last year. He also played five games in the first division.
"Usually you hear some conflicting reports, but it's all been good on him, he's a good player," said Johannson, who also counts Ryan Getzlaf, Carey Price and Dustin Penner among his clients.
"He's definitely a talented kid. It's like every kid at this age always, you never know until the season starts. Some kids jump up, some fall off a bit.
"But the reason he wants to come over here, like so many other Europeans, is this is the proving ground. If you can do it in the Western Hockey League,
then that means something. Pro teams can look at him and say, 'That kid's a player.' "
The Oil Kings plan on bringing Vincour to Edmonton a week ahead of main camp in August to help ease his adjustment to a new language, culture and lifestyle. Green said it can take anywhere from a couple months to a year for some European players to get adjusted.
Vincour fills the Oil Kings' second and final import spot after the team picked up Swede Robin Figren from Calgary in the expansion draft.
The team traded its second-round pick, 61st overall, to Medicine Hat for a sixth-round bantam draft pick in 2008.
Edmonton now has a full 50-player roster and will resume the search for one or two assistant coaches to work with head coach Steve Pleau.
Jakub Voracek was the first overall selection of Halifax in 2006 and went seventh overall to Columbus in the NHL entry draft last weekend. Chilliwack took Oscar Moller second in that draft and he went 52nd overall to Los Angeles in the NHL entry draft.
spetersen@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2007
Oil Kings hope they've found a franchise player
Choose Czech forward with first pick in import draft
Scott Petersen, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Thursday, June 28, 2007
EDMONTON - Bob Green can only hope he's mined a diamond out of Europe in the form of Czech forward Tomas Vincour.
The Edmonton Oil Kings general manager can't say for sure what kind of player he landed with the first overall selection in Wednesday's Canadian Hockey League import draft. He's never seen Vincour play, so he also doesn't know what to expect from his latest addition on the ice.
What Green does have is a recommendation from the Edmonton Oilers
European scout Frank Musil, who knows Vincour's family, and assurance from the player's Edmonton-based agent, Gerry Johannson, that he'll be in town for training camp in August. That was enough to place him ahead of the rest of the field.
"We're comfortable with the people we're talking to about it," said Green. "They're good hockey people and they know their business, so we're totally comfortable with that."
Vincour is a 1990-born player and doesn't turn 17 until mid-November, making his NHL draft year 2009.
The expansion Oil Kings hope to get three years of play out of him in the Western Hockey League before he pursues a pro career.
The International Scouting Service had Vincour pegged as the second-best forward available in the draft, and the best among those likely to come to Canada. They also suggest he's the top talent out of the Czech Republic for his age group.
"Would be a franchise player for any junior team lucky enough to select him," reads the ISS scouting report on Vincour. "Has skillful hands and ability to beat (defence) in one-on-one situations.
Always able to find open ice, and always sets up in proper shooting position so there's no wasted time pulling the trigger."
The report notes the centre/left-winger is a strong skater, though he needs to work on his acceleration. It also points out he needs to work on using his body better, since he has a six-foot-two, 198-pound frame to work with already.
Green said that size was one of the attributes that made Vincour more attractive than some of the other prospects they considered. He already has the frame to help ease the transition to Canada's junior ranks.
Vincour had 15 goals, 39 points and 58 penalty minutes in 41 games for Kometa Brno in the under-20 Czech junior league last year. He also played five games in the first division.
"Usually you hear some conflicting reports, but it's all been good on him, he's a good player," said Johannson, who also counts Ryan Getzlaf, Carey Price and Dustin Penner among his clients.
"He's definitely a talented kid. It's like every kid at this age always, you never know until the season starts. Some kids jump up, some fall off a bit.
"But the reason he wants to come over here, like so many other Europeans, is this is the proving ground. If you can do it in the Western Hockey League,
then that means something. Pro teams can look at him and say, 'That kid's a player.' "
The Oil Kings plan on bringing Vincour to Edmonton a week ahead of main camp in August to help ease his adjustment to a new language, culture and lifestyle. Green said it can take anywhere from a couple months to a year for some European players to get adjusted.
Vincour fills the Oil Kings' second and final import spot after the team picked up Swede Robin Figren from Calgary in the expansion draft.
The team traded its second-round pick, 61st overall, to Medicine Hat for a sixth-round bantam draft pick in 2008.
Edmonton now has a full 50-player roster and will resume the search for one or two assistant coaches to work with head coach Steve Pleau.
Jakub Voracek was the first overall selection of Halifax in 2006 and went seventh overall to Columbus in the NHL entry draft last weekend. Chilliwack took Oscar Moller second in that draft and he went 52nd overall to Los Angeles in the NHL entry draft.
spetersen@thejournal.canwest.com
© The Edmonton Journal 2007