nivek_wahs
05-01-2008, 07:02 AM
http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/sports/story.html?id=0a03f616-62cc-466c-84ed-ea2e2237fad2
Pats prepared for draft
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, May 01, 2008
The Regina Pats are wagering on lucky No. 17.
Pats GM Brent Parker believes his team will land a quality player in the first round of today's bantam draft despite the fact that Regina is slated to pick well down the list -- 17th out of the WHL's 22 teams. Parker's optimism stems largely from the fact that this year's bantam crop is considered one of the best in recent memory.
"It's a very good draft," offered Parker, adding that he has "no doubt" the Pats can get an impact player at No. 17. "There are a lot of really good players that are going to be real good Western Hockey League players. It's a real good deep draft."
The Pats have used their first- and second-round picks on forwards in each of the past two years. As a result, they're leaning toward selecting a defenceman with this year's first pick -- assuming the right defenceman is available.
If not, the Pats insist the depth of the draft dictates that they'll get a quality player either way.
"It's about 21/2 to three rounds deep and then after that it's crap-shooting time," explained Pats director of scouting Todd Ripplinger. "The top 10 is very strong. We're hoping one of those guys slides to us at 17. The top-end guys are (mostly) forwards and there's a lot of depth (among) defencemen. It would be nice if there's a top forward who slides through and we could take him, knowing you're going to get a few defencemen later on. We're looking to get defence but if there's a top forward sitting there who we like, we'll definitely jump at it."
Asked about the suggested drop-off in talent after the third round, Parker said that may be deceiving.
"I think there's a drop-off because there's maybe more top-end players this year," he explained. "The players that are in the fourth, fifth, sixth rounds are still, in our minds, good players. There might be a bigger gap between them and the top end than there has been in the past but we still think it's a deep draft and there are going to be some real good players come out of those middle rounds."
In terms of the provincial breakdown, Ripplinger said Alberta is "very strong" while Manitoba sits at the other end of the spectrum with a "weak" crop. In the middle, B.C. is "average" and Saskatchewan is typically solid with "good depth."
Although there's no clear-cut No. 1 pick, there does appear to be a general consensus on the top six prospects (in no particular order): Defenceman Duncan Siemens of Sherwood Park, Alta., right-winger Ty Rattie of Airdrie, Alta., centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Burnaby, B.C., centre Michael St. Croix of Winnipeg, centre Mark McNeill of Edmonton and centre Brent Benson of Weyburn.
The next tier of players includes defenceman Mitch Topping of Red Deer and forward Brendan Hurley of Fort Saskatchewan. There's also some impressive talent from south of the border, including centre Colin Jacobs of Texas and winger Shane McColgan of Los Angeles.
The Pats, who are looking to make a safe pick in the first round, are more likely to stay close to home.
Benson is the best of the bunch in Saskatchewan and could land in the top five. The other top locals are predominantly defencemen, including Zachary Hodder, a product of Delta, B.C., who played for the Notre Dame Hounds last season, Jesse Forsberg of Warman, Ryan Murray of Balgonie and Tyler Borstmayer of St. Brieux. Other highly rated blueliners include Tyler Wotherspoon of Cloverdale, B.C., Reece Scarlett of Sherwood Park and Myles Bell of Calgary.
Any of the above rearguards could appeal to the Pats, who typically covet prairie-grown players. As for their own backyard, it's slim pickings. Hockey Regina is expected to harvest its thinnest crop since the 2004 draft, when goalie Shayne Barrie was the lone player selected -- way down in the 11th round.
The list of possible late-round draftees from Regina includes centre Matt Kealey, defenceman Kale Derkson, goalie Brett Teskey and defenceman Nathan Zimbaluk.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008
Pats prepared for draft
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Published: Thursday, May 01, 2008
The Regina Pats are wagering on lucky No. 17.
Pats GM Brent Parker believes his team will land a quality player in the first round of today's bantam draft despite the fact that Regina is slated to pick well down the list -- 17th out of the WHL's 22 teams. Parker's optimism stems largely from the fact that this year's bantam crop is considered one of the best in recent memory.
"It's a very good draft," offered Parker, adding that he has "no doubt" the Pats can get an impact player at No. 17. "There are a lot of really good players that are going to be real good Western Hockey League players. It's a real good deep draft."
The Pats have used their first- and second-round picks on forwards in each of the past two years. As a result, they're leaning toward selecting a defenceman with this year's first pick -- assuming the right defenceman is available.
If not, the Pats insist the depth of the draft dictates that they'll get a quality player either way.
"It's about 21/2 to three rounds deep and then after that it's crap-shooting time," explained Pats director of scouting Todd Ripplinger. "The top 10 is very strong. We're hoping one of those guys slides to us at 17. The top-end guys are (mostly) forwards and there's a lot of depth (among) defencemen. It would be nice if there's a top forward who slides through and we could take him, knowing you're going to get a few defencemen later on. We're looking to get defence but if there's a top forward sitting there who we like, we'll definitely jump at it."
Asked about the suggested drop-off in talent after the third round, Parker said that may be deceiving.
"I think there's a drop-off because there's maybe more top-end players this year," he explained. "The players that are in the fourth, fifth, sixth rounds are still, in our minds, good players. There might be a bigger gap between them and the top end than there has been in the past but we still think it's a deep draft and there are going to be some real good players come out of those middle rounds."
In terms of the provincial breakdown, Ripplinger said Alberta is "very strong" while Manitoba sits at the other end of the spectrum with a "weak" crop. In the middle, B.C. is "average" and Saskatchewan is typically solid with "good depth."
Although there's no clear-cut No. 1 pick, there does appear to be a general consensus on the top six prospects (in no particular order): Defenceman Duncan Siemens of Sherwood Park, Alta., right-winger Ty Rattie of Airdrie, Alta., centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins of Burnaby, B.C., centre Michael St. Croix of Winnipeg, centre Mark McNeill of Edmonton and centre Brent Benson of Weyburn.
The next tier of players includes defenceman Mitch Topping of Red Deer and forward Brendan Hurley of Fort Saskatchewan. There's also some impressive talent from south of the border, including centre Colin Jacobs of Texas and winger Shane McColgan of Los Angeles.
The Pats, who are looking to make a safe pick in the first round, are more likely to stay close to home.
Benson is the best of the bunch in Saskatchewan and could land in the top five. The other top locals are predominantly defencemen, including Zachary Hodder, a product of Delta, B.C., who played for the Notre Dame Hounds last season, Jesse Forsberg of Warman, Ryan Murray of Balgonie and Tyler Borstmayer of St. Brieux. Other highly rated blueliners include Tyler Wotherspoon of Cloverdale, B.C., Reece Scarlett of Sherwood Park and Myles Bell of Calgary.
Any of the above rearguards could appeal to the Pats, who typically covet prairie-grown players. As for their own backyard, it's slim pickings. Hockey Regina is expected to harvest its thinnest crop since the 2004 draft, when goalie Shayne Barrie was the lone player selected -- way down in the 11th round.
The list of possible late-round draftees from Regina includes centre Matt Kealey, defenceman Kale Derkson, goalie Brett Teskey and defenceman Nathan Zimbaluk.
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008