Scout
07-23-2005, 09:30 PM
Found this on another link. Lets post your thoughts on this:
No. Team Player Reasoning
1 Pittsburgh
Sidney Crosby, C
Ht: 5'11 Wt: 193
Birthdate: 08/07/87
Team: QMJHL Rimouski
The Penguins would be guilty of incompetence if they did not select the clear pick of the litter in Crosby. They may be overloaded at center, but they won't be complaining.
2 Anaheim Jack Johnson, D
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 201
Birthdate: 01/13/87
Team: USNDTP Johnson, who many think is the second best player in the draft, lines up well with Anaheim's need for an offensive defenseman.
3 Carolina Benoit Pouliot, LW
Ht: 6'3 Wt: 179
Birthdate: 09/29/86
Team: OHL Sudbury Pouliot would continue Carolina's pattern of taking a good forward early in the first round. He's the safe pick, and although there are some question marks surrounding Pouliot, so too with all of the other best available forwards.
4 Minnesota Gilbert Brule, C
Ht: 5'10 Wt: 175
Birthdate: 01/01/87
Team: WHL Vancouver The Wild are loaded at center, but don’t expect them to shy away from taking another one. Although Bobby Ryan would fill a team need for a big winger with some finishing ability, look for Minnesota to take Gilbert Brule despite his lack of size.
5 Montreal Bobby Ryan, RW
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 213
Birthdate: 03/17/87
Team: OHL Owen Sound The Canadiens have been looking for a power forward for a long time. With Perezhogin, Kostitsyn and Ryder already in the system, Ryan won't be pressured to produce immediately; he will get time to develop his game.
6 Columbus Anze Kopitar, C
Ht: 6'3 Wt: 202
Birthdate: 08/24/87
Team: Swe Jr Sodertalje Rarely is it the case that the best player available also fills a team's biggest needs. Kopitar's potential upside and dazzling skill makes him an excellent bet to be Columbus' future first line center.
7 Chicago Jack Skille, RW
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 198
Birthdate: 05/19/87
Team: USNDTP With plenty of defense and goaltending in the pipeline, Chicago looks to offense from the nearby USNTDP. Skille will attend the Univ. of Wisconsin.
8 Atlanta Ryan O'Marra, C
Ht: 6'1.5 Wt: 193
Birthdate: 06/09/87
Team: OHL Erie Another team already loaded on young defense and goaltending, the Thrashers will almost certainly take a forward at No. 8 to acquire some secondary scoring. Good character will be a selling point.
9 Ottawa Marc Staal, D
Ht: 6'3.5 Wt: 196
Birthdate: 01/13/87
Team: OHL Sudbury The Senators can afford to go many ways with this pick. Last year they used their first two picks on blueliners, but another defenseman could never hurt, and Staal may be the best player available. A highly-intelligent player who has no major flaws and is a very safe bet to make the NHL, Staal brings the character and hard work GM John Muckler looks for in a young player.
10 Vancouver Guillaume Latendresse, RW
Ht: 6'1.5 Wt: 216
Birthdate: 05/24/87
Team: QMJHL Drummondville Latendresse is a big-body player who has goal-scoring ability, the most pressing need the Canucks face. Skating is a concern with Latendresse, but his lack of footspeed may make him a good future linemate for the Sedins.
11 Los Angeles Martin Hanzal, C
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 198
Birthdate: 02/20/87
Team: Czech Jr Budejovice Martin Hanzal fits the Los Angeles Kings draft tendency perfectly -- a physical, large-bodied forward from Europe. Additionally, Hanzal plays a position of need for the Kings and his raw offensive skills with a keen attention to defense have first-line centerman written all over him.
12 San Jose Niklas Bergfors, F
Ht: 6'0 Wt: 198
Birthdate: 03/07/87
Team: Swe Jr Sodertalje Loaded with good young defensemen, Bergfors gives San Jose a high-end goal-scoring forward that they need. With no real weaknesses, his superb skating, speed, acceleration, and two-way hockey sense are in step with San Jose's established preference for speedy forwards who can contribute offensively and play responsible defensively.
13 Buffalo Ryan Parent, D
Ht: 6'2 Wt: 183
Birthdate: 03/17/87
Team: OHL Guelph Buffalo goes with a safe pick in Parent, a reliable defenseman. With few defensemen in the pipeline, they can't afford not to see a return.
14 Washington Brian Lee, D
Ht: 6'2.5 Wt: 202
Birthdate: 03/26/87
Team: USHSW Moorhead With a strong pool of prospects already, Washington can afford to take a risk on Lee and address a need at defense at the same time.
15 New York Islanders Alex Bourret, RW
Ht: 5'9.5 Wt: 209
Birthdate: 10/05/86
Team: QMJHL Lewiston With his speed and willingness to play hard and get involved in rough play, Bourret would be a great fit for the New York Islanders. Currently they lack a wing who can play the power forward role. At 5'10 209 pounds, Bourret could bring a presence to the Nassau Coliseum not seen since Clark Gillies.
16 New York Rangers Luc Bourdon, D
Ht: 6'2.5 Wt: 199
Birthdate: 02/16/87
Team: QMJHL Val D'Or With no top NCAA players in the draft class, the Rangers will have to finally break their three-year streak of first rounders out of the college ranks. They might not have planned on Bourdon, but if he falls this far, they will scoop him up.
17 Phoenix Ryan Stoa, C
Ht: 6'3 Wt: 200
Birthdate: 04/13/87
Team: USNDTP Ryan Stoa is a great mid-round pick because he has a good blend of size and talent. A bit undervalued this year, Stoa hasn't even begun to hit his stride. Both Stoa and 2004 first rounder Blake Wheeler are headed to the University of Minnesota this fall.
18 Nashville Marek Zagrapan, C
Ht: 6'0.5 Wt: 195
Birthdate: 12/06/86
Team: QMJHL Chicoutimi Nashville continues its love affair with European forwards with Zagrapan. Though he is not seen as a player who plays well in traffic, he can definitely score and that is what Nashville needs.
19 Detroit Carey Price, G
Ht: 6'2.5 Wt: 222
Birthdate: 08/16/87
Team: WHL Tri-City Detroit used its top pick in 2003 on goaltender James Howard, but Price would be too good to pass up at this spot.
20 Philadelphia Matt Lashoff, D
Ht: 6'1.5 Wt: 201
Birthdate: 09/29/86
Team: OHL Kitchener Lashoff endured a trying second season in the OHL, missing large chucks of games due to illness and injury. Still, he remains an intriguing defensive package. Big, mobile and smart with the puck, he would be a great fit with the Flyers, an organization that will promote a number of defensemen to the NHL in the fall and, thus, are now in need of additional system-wide depth.
21 Toronto Tuukka Rask, G
Ht: 6'2 Wt: 183
Birthdate: 03/10/87
Team: Fin Jr Ilves Toronto restocks the goaltending pipeline with top rated European goaltender Rask. Finns are finding great success in the net lately, and Toronto hopes it will continue.
22 Boston Kenndal McArdle, LW
Ht: 5'11 Wt: 190
Birthdate: 01/047/87
Team: WHL Moose Jaw There's not much not to like about McArdle, and Boston may buy in. Scores goals and pays the price.
23 New Jersey Sasha Pukolok, D
Ht: 6'5 Wt: 220
Birthdate: 05/25/87
Team: ECAC Cornell With David Hale and Paul Martin having been fast tracked to the NHL, the Devils have a lack of quality defense prospects in the organization. With an eye towards getting a prospect with more upside, the Devils select the big and strapping Pokulok from the Cornell. He offers size and physical play, plus good mobility and a little bit of offensive upside.
24 St. Louis Andrew Cogliano, C
Ht: 5'9.5 Wt: 178
Birthdate: 06/14/87
Team: OPJRA St. Michael's The Blues value speed, and could attract them to Cogliano, whose main knock is his lack of size. He'll move to the Univ. of Michigan in the fall.
25 Edmonton Devin Setoguchi, RW
Ht: 5'11.5 Wt: 186
Birthdate: 01/01/87
Team: WHL Saskatoon The Oilers have identified the need to add a scorer to their prospect ranks and the the winger from the Saskatoon Blades is the top scorer left on the board. There are question marks with him, but no more so than with others available. Setoguchi skates well, can play physical, is a leader but first and foremost he can find the back of the net.
26 Calgary Dan Bertram, RW
Ht: 5'11 Wt: 175
Birthdate: 01/14/87
Team: H-East Boston College Sufficiently skilled with good character, Bertram is a safe pick. It might be a bit early for him, but if a team like Calgary takes a liking, that's all he needs.
27 Colorado Jakub Kindl, D
Ht: 6.2.5 Wt: 199
Birthdate: 02/10/87
Team: OHL Kitchener With a bare farm system, the Avalanche could go in any direction with their pick. The choice of Kindl will add that superstar caliber prospect on their blueline which is sorely lacking. One of the youngest players in the OHL, he is already a solid defenseman and is developing an offensive game to compliment his tremendous potential.
28 Dallas T.J. Hensick, C
Ht: 5'10 Wt: 179
Birthdate: 12/10/85
Team: CCHA Michigan Dallas needs help up the middle and Hensick fits the role. Already playing without the redline in college, he will continue to thrive in a wide open game. Hensick has blazing speed and a bona fide scoring touch, which will prove to be the key to his future.
29 Florida Scott Jackson, D
Ht: 6'3.5 Wt: 200
Birthdate: 02/05/87
Team: WHL Seattle Florida goes with an all-around solid player in Jackson, who will complement the other young defenders they possess.
30 Tampa Bay Alexandre Vincent, G
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 193
Birthdate: 12/11/86
Team: QMJHL Chicoutimi Tampa turns again to the QMJHL, this time for a goaltender, one of many needs in the system.
Scout
No. Team Player Reasoning
1 Pittsburgh
Sidney Crosby, C
Ht: 5'11 Wt: 193
Birthdate: 08/07/87
Team: QMJHL Rimouski
The Penguins would be guilty of incompetence if they did not select the clear pick of the litter in Crosby. They may be overloaded at center, but they won't be complaining.
2 Anaheim Jack Johnson, D
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 201
Birthdate: 01/13/87
Team: USNDTP Johnson, who many think is the second best player in the draft, lines up well with Anaheim's need for an offensive defenseman.
3 Carolina Benoit Pouliot, LW
Ht: 6'3 Wt: 179
Birthdate: 09/29/86
Team: OHL Sudbury Pouliot would continue Carolina's pattern of taking a good forward early in the first round. He's the safe pick, and although there are some question marks surrounding Pouliot, so too with all of the other best available forwards.
4 Minnesota Gilbert Brule, C
Ht: 5'10 Wt: 175
Birthdate: 01/01/87
Team: WHL Vancouver The Wild are loaded at center, but don’t expect them to shy away from taking another one. Although Bobby Ryan would fill a team need for a big winger with some finishing ability, look for Minnesota to take Gilbert Brule despite his lack of size.
5 Montreal Bobby Ryan, RW
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 213
Birthdate: 03/17/87
Team: OHL Owen Sound The Canadiens have been looking for a power forward for a long time. With Perezhogin, Kostitsyn and Ryder already in the system, Ryan won't be pressured to produce immediately; he will get time to develop his game.
6 Columbus Anze Kopitar, C
Ht: 6'3 Wt: 202
Birthdate: 08/24/87
Team: Swe Jr Sodertalje Rarely is it the case that the best player available also fills a team's biggest needs. Kopitar's potential upside and dazzling skill makes him an excellent bet to be Columbus' future first line center.
7 Chicago Jack Skille, RW
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 198
Birthdate: 05/19/87
Team: USNDTP With plenty of defense and goaltending in the pipeline, Chicago looks to offense from the nearby USNTDP. Skille will attend the Univ. of Wisconsin.
8 Atlanta Ryan O'Marra, C
Ht: 6'1.5 Wt: 193
Birthdate: 06/09/87
Team: OHL Erie Another team already loaded on young defense and goaltending, the Thrashers will almost certainly take a forward at No. 8 to acquire some secondary scoring. Good character will be a selling point.
9 Ottawa Marc Staal, D
Ht: 6'3.5 Wt: 196
Birthdate: 01/13/87
Team: OHL Sudbury The Senators can afford to go many ways with this pick. Last year they used their first two picks on blueliners, but another defenseman could never hurt, and Staal may be the best player available. A highly-intelligent player who has no major flaws and is a very safe bet to make the NHL, Staal brings the character and hard work GM John Muckler looks for in a young player.
10 Vancouver Guillaume Latendresse, RW
Ht: 6'1.5 Wt: 216
Birthdate: 05/24/87
Team: QMJHL Drummondville Latendresse is a big-body player who has goal-scoring ability, the most pressing need the Canucks face. Skating is a concern with Latendresse, but his lack of footspeed may make him a good future linemate for the Sedins.
11 Los Angeles Martin Hanzal, C
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 198
Birthdate: 02/20/87
Team: Czech Jr Budejovice Martin Hanzal fits the Los Angeles Kings draft tendency perfectly -- a physical, large-bodied forward from Europe. Additionally, Hanzal plays a position of need for the Kings and his raw offensive skills with a keen attention to defense have first-line centerman written all over him.
12 San Jose Niklas Bergfors, F
Ht: 6'0 Wt: 198
Birthdate: 03/07/87
Team: Swe Jr Sodertalje Loaded with good young defensemen, Bergfors gives San Jose a high-end goal-scoring forward that they need. With no real weaknesses, his superb skating, speed, acceleration, and two-way hockey sense are in step with San Jose's established preference for speedy forwards who can contribute offensively and play responsible defensively.
13 Buffalo Ryan Parent, D
Ht: 6'2 Wt: 183
Birthdate: 03/17/87
Team: OHL Guelph Buffalo goes with a safe pick in Parent, a reliable defenseman. With few defensemen in the pipeline, they can't afford not to see a return.
14 Washington Brian Lee, D
Ht: 6'2.5 Wt: 202
Birthdate: 03/26/87
Team: USHSW Moorhead With a strong pool of prospects already, Washington can afford to take a risk on Lee and address a need at defense at the same time.
15 New York Islanders Alex Bourret, RW
Ht: 5'9.5 Wt: 209
Birthdate: 10/05/86
Team: QMJHL Lewiston With his speed and willingness to play hard and get involved in rough play, Bourret would be a great fit for the New York Islanders. Currently they lack a wing who can play the power forward role. At 5'10 209 pounds, Bourret could bring a presence to the Nassau Coliseum not seen since Clark Gillies.
16 New York Rangers Luc Bourdon, D
Ht: 6'2.5 Wt: 199
Birthdate: 02/16/87
Team: QMJHL Val D'Or With no top NCAA players in the draft class, the Rangers will have to finally break their three-year streak of first rounders out of the college ranks. They might not have planned on Bourdon, but if he falls this far, they will scoop him up.
17 Phoenix Ryan Stoa, C
Ht: 6'3 Wt: 200
Birthdate: 04/13/87
Team: USNDTP Ryan Stoa is a great mid-round pick because he has a good blend of size and talent. A bit undervalued this year, Stoa hasn't even begun to hit his stride. Both Stoa and 2004 first rounder Blake Wheeler are headed to the University of Minnesota this fall.
18 Nashville Marek Zagrapan, C
Ht: 6'0.5 Wt: 195
Birthdate: 12/06/86
Team: QMJHL Chicoutimi Nashville continues its love affair with European forwards with Zagrapan. Though he is not seen as a player who plays well in traffic, he can definitely score and that is what Nashville needs.
19 Detroit Carey Price, G
Ht: 6'2.5 Wt: 222
Birthdate: 08/16/87
Team: WHL Tri-City Detroit used its top pick in 2003 on goaltender James Howard, but Price would be too good to pass up at this spot.
20 Philadelphia Matt Lashoff, D
Ht: 6'1.5 Wt: 201
Birthdate: 09/29/86
Team: OHL Kitchener Lashoff endured a trying second season in the OHL, missing large chucks of games due to illness and injury. Still, he remains an intriguing defensive package. Big, mobile and smart with the puck, he would be a great fit with the Flyers, an organization that will promote a number of defensemen to the NHL in the fall and, thus, are now in need of additional system-wide depth.
21 Toronto Tuukka Rask, G
Ht: 6'2 Wt: 183
Birthdate: 03/10/87
Team: Fin Jr Ilves Toronto restocks the goaltending pipeline with top rated European goaltender Rask. Finns are finding great success in the net lately, and Toronto hopes it will continue.
22 Boston Kenndal McArdle, LW
Ht: 5'11 Wt: 190
Birthdate: 01/047/87
Team: WHL Moose Jaw There's not much not to like about McArdle, and Boston may buy in. Scores goals and pays the price.
23 New Jersey Sasha Pukolok, D
Ht: 6'5 Wt: 220
Birthdate: 05/25/87
Team: ECAC Cornell With David Hale and Paul Martin having been fast tracked to the NHL, the Devils have a lack of quality defense prospects in the organization. With an eye towards getting a prospect with more upside, the Devils select the big and strapping Pokulok from the Cornell. He offers size and physical play, plus good mobility and a little bit of offensive upside.
24 St. Louis Andrew Cogliano, C
Ht: 5'9.5 Wt: 178
Birthdate: 06/14/87
Team: OPJRA St. Michael's The Blues value speed, and could attract them to Cogliano, whose main knock is his lack of size. He'll move to the Univ. of Michigan in the fall.
25 Edmonton Devin Setoguchi, RW
Ht: 5'11.5 Wt: 186
Birthdate: 01/01/87
Team: WHL Saskatoon The Oilers have identified the need to add a scorer to their prospect ranks and the the winger from the Saskatoon Blades is the top scorer left on the board. There are question marks with him, but no more so than with others available. Setoguchi skates well, can play physical, is a leader but first and foremost he can find the back of the net.
26 Calgary Dan Bertram, RW
Ht: 5'11 Wt: 175
Birthdate: 01/14/87
Team: H-East Boston College Sufficiently skilled with good character, Bertram is a safe pick. It might be a bit early for him, but if a team like Calgary takes a liking, that's all he needs.
27 Colorado Jakub Kindl, D
Ht: 6.2.5 Wt: 199
Birthdate: 02/10/87
Team: OHL Kitchener With a bare farm system, the Avalanche could go in any direction with their pick. The choice of Kindl will add that superstar caliber prospect on their blueline which is sorely lacking. One of the youngest players in the OHL, he is already a solid defenseman and is developing an offensive game to compliment his tremendous potential.
28 Dallas T.J. Hensick, C
Ht: 5'10 Wt: 179
Birthdate: 12/10/85
Team: CCHA Michigan Dallas needs help up the middle and Hensick fits the role. Already playing without the redline in college, he will continue to thrive in a wide open game. Hensick has blazing speed and a bona fide scoring touch, which will prove to be the key to his future.
29 Florida Scott Jackson, D
Ht: 6'3.5 Wt: 200
Birthdate: 02/05/87
Team: WHL Seattle Florida goes with an all-around solid player in Jackson, who will complement the other young defenders they possess.
30 Tampa Bay Alexandre Vincent, G
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 193
Birthdate: 12/11/86
Team: QMJHL Chicoutimi Tampa turns again to the QMJHL, this time for a goaltender, one of many needs in the system.
Scout