hobster
04-30-2008, 09:23 AM
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/sports/story.html?id=7aaf536a-8d20-4b63-97f8-8541aa25084b&p=2
WHL draft: deep talent pool
WHL has a legion of gifted bantams to choose from in this year's draft
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The smorgasbord of talent features a bit of everything: Smooth West Coast skaters, strapping Prairie defencemen and flashy Texas shooters.
Western Hockey League teams convene Thursday to divvy up that talent. The annual bantam draft begins at 8:15 a.m. at Calgary's Roundup Centre.
"There's no clear-cut No. 1," says Tyler Neisz of International Scouting Services, "but that does not mean it's a weak draft."
The crop of 1993-born players features tons of top-end talent -- the most, perhaps, since the 2002 draft. That spring's top 10 included forwards Gilbert Brule, Daniel Bertram and Devin Setoguchi, plus goaltender Carey Price.
Scouting teenagers remains an inexact science, but the Saskatoon Blades should be able to land a couple of franchise cornerstones with the third and sixth overall picks.
The Red Deer Rebels select first and seem sold on B.C. forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Burnaby Winter Club. Other elite forwards include Winnipeg's Michael St. Croix and Airdrie, Alta., winger Ty Rattie.
Weyburn centre Brent Benson is the best Saskatchewan prospect, and scouts project he'll be the best two-way player of the bunch.
"He's got a body like Sidney Crosby," one scout says of Benson, a 5-foot-11 centre. "He's all legs and he's very strong on his skates."
Among defencemen, two Albertans lead the way: Sherwood Park's Duncan Siemens and Red Deer's Mitch Topping.
WILDCARDS ABOUND
Forward Brendan Hurley is usually the first player mentioned after the so-called Big Six. Don't underestimate the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., product, though.
Neisz likens Hurley to Everett Silvertips powderkeg Kyle Beach. Everett picked Beach 10th overall in 2005, and he was the WHL's rookie of the year two seasons later.
"(Hurley) could end up being the best player in the draft," says Neisz. "He combines goal scoring with tons of grit. It's just a matter of holding his emotions in check."
Some elite American forwards, most notably Texas Attack centre Colin Jacobs and Los Angeles Junior Kings winger Shane McColgan, also figure to be wildcards. Some scouts hype Jacobs as the best American-born player since Mike Modano. Jacobs's teammate, Cason Hohmann, also shows tremendous offensive instincts, but his 5-foot-7 frame might deter some teams.
"An American team that picks fairly high might take a chance on one of those guys," says Neisz. "There's always a question of whether top-end American talent will come."
SASKATOON 'NOT AS STRONG'
Most scouts view the Saskatoon bantam league as a source of depth players. The last six drafts have produced 13 first-rounders from here, but no local talent ranks that high this time.
"The Saskatoon contingent is definitely not as strong as it has been," says one Eastern Conference scout. "I don't foresee anyone from Saskatoon being a first-rounder. That streak is going to end."
Since 2002, WHL teams have drafted 78 Saskatonians -- an average of 13 players per year. The local draft class might reach double digits again this year, but scouts rank most of the Saskatoon players as middle-round prospects.
This area's top prospects played for the Warman Wildcats. All-around defenceman Jesse Forsberg might draw first-round interest, and several scouts have identified Warman centre Beau Stewart as the fastest skater in the draft.
While not full of blue-chippers, the Saskatchewan talent pool runs deep with blue-liners. Defencemen might account for up to half of the Saskatchewan players picked Thursday.
"The pool of defencemen in the province is really deep and you've got all types," says one scout. "If you want a rugged defenceman, there's a couple out there. You can also get your all-around, shutdown-type defencemen. And if you want an offensive defenceman, there's definitely a couple of those out there, too."
Forsberg headlines a Saskatchewan defence crop that also features Balgonie's Ryan Murray and Tyler Borstmayer, a St. Brieux product who played in Tisdale. Notre Dame's Zach Hodder, a product of Delta, B.C., also draws favourable reviews, while Logan Sproule ranks among the best defencemen in Saskatoon.
When the first-round gems are gone, teams will have to unearth some diamonds in the rough.
"After (the first round), it's solid but not great," concludes one scout. "Still, there'll be guys who improve throughout the years and make this draft juicy."
BANTAM DRAFT ONLINE:
Head to TheStarPhoenix.com on Thursday for live coverage of the WHL bantam draft.
SP reporters Cory Wolfe and Clint Walper will be providing updated coverage throughout the day on the Saskatoon Blades and also the local prospects picked in the draft.
WHL draft: deep talent pool
WHL has a legion of gifted bantams to choose from in this year's draft
Cory Wolfe, The StarPhoenix
Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The smorgasbord of talent features a bit of everything: Smooth West Coast skaters, strapping Prairie defencemen and flashy Texas shooters.
Western Hockey League teams convene Thursday to divvy up that talent. The annual bantam draft begins at 8:15 a.m. at Calgary's Roundup Centre.
"There's no clear-cut No. 1," says Tyler Neisz of International Scouting Services, "but that does not mean it's a weak draft."
The crop of 1993-born players features tons of top-end talent -- the most, perhaps, since the 2002 draft. That spring's top 10 included forwards Gilbert Brule, Daniel Bertram and Devin Setoguchi, plus goaltender Carey Price.
Scouting teenagers remains an inexact science, but the Saskatoon Blades should be able to land a couple of franchise cornerstones with the third and sixth overall picks.
The Red Deer Rebels select first and seem sold on B.C. forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of the Burnaby Winter Club. Other elite forwards include Winnipeg's Michael St. Croix and Airdrie, Alta., winger Ty Rattie.
Weyburn centre Brent Benson is the best Saskatchewan prospect, and scouts project he'll be the best two-way player of the bunch.
"He's got a body like Sidney Crosby," one scout says of Benson, a 5-foot-11 centre. "He's all legs and he's very strong on his skates."
Among defencemen, two Albertans lead the way: Sherwood Park's Duncan Siemens and Red Deer's Mitch Topping.
WILDCARDS ABOUND
Forward Brendan Hurley is usually the first player mentioned after the so-called Big Six. Don't underestimate the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., product, though.
Neisz likens Hurley to Everett Silvertips powderkeg Kyle Beach. Everett picked Beach 10th overall in 2005, and he was the WHL's rookie of the year two seasons later.
"(Hurley) could end up being the best player in the draft," says Neisz. "He combines goal scoring with tons of grit. It's just a matter of holding his emotions in check."
Some elite American forwards, most notably Texas Attack centre Colin Jacobs and Los Angeles Junior Kings winger Shane McColgan, also figure to be wildcards. Some scouts hype Jacobs as the best American-born player since Mike Modano. Jacobs's teammate, Cason Hohmann, also shows tremendous offensive instincts, but his 5-foot-7 frame might deter some teams.
"An American team that picks fairly high might take a chance on one of those guys," says Neisz. "There's always a question of whether top-end American talent will come."
SASKATOON 'NOT AS STRONG'
Most scouts view the Saskatoon bantam league as a source of depth players. The last six drafts have produced 13 first-rounders from here, but no local talent ranks that high this time.
"The Saskatoon contingent is definitely not as strong as it has been," says one Eastern Conference scout. "I don't foresee anyone from Saskatoon being a first-rounder. That streak is going to end."
Since 2002, WHL teams have drafted 78 Saskatonians -- an average of 13 players per year. The local draft class might reach double digits again this year, but scouts rank most of the Saskatoon players as middle-round prospects.
This area's top prospects played for the Warman Wildcats. All-around defenceman Jesse Forsberg might draw first-round interest, and several scouts have identified Warman centre Beau Stewart as the fastest skater in the draft.
While not full of blue-chippers, the Saskatchewan talent pool runs deep with blue-liners. Defencemen might account for up to half of the Saskatchewan players picked Thursday.
"The pool of defencemen in the province is really deep and you've got all types," says one scout. "If you want a rugged defenceman, there's a couple out there. You can also get your all-around, shutdown-type defencemen. And if you want an offensive defenceman, there's definitely a couple of those out there, too."
Forsberg headlines a Saskatchewan defence crop that also features Balgonie's Ryan Murray and Tyler Borstmayer, a St. Brieux product who played in Tisdale. Notre Dame's Zach Hodder, a product of Delta, B.C., also draws favourable reviews, while Logan Sproule ranks among the best defencemen in Saskatoon.
When the first-round gems are gone, teams will have to unearth some diamonds in the rough.
"After (the first round), it's solid but not great," concludes one scout. "Still, there'll be guys who improve throughout the years and make this draft juicy."
BANTAM DRAFT ONLINE:
Head to TheStarPhoenix.com on Thursday for live coverage of the WHL bantam draft.
SP reporters Cory Wolfe and Clint Walper will be providing updated coverage throughout the day on the Saskatoon Blades and also the local prospects picked in the draft.