Tipped Off
06-29-2006, 06:33 PM
http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/06/06/29/100spo_c1tip001.cfm
"There was no real reason for going young," Everett director of player personnel Scott Scoville said. "With where we were picking, and it not being a big year for Europeans in the NHL draft, there weren't a lot of 87s or 88s available. So we took the best player available. He really adds depth for the future."
Vartovnik played for HC Ziln in the Czech Republic Extraliga Under-20 League last season. In 43 games he tallied eight goals and 14 assists. He also played for Slovakia at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in the winter, recording two goals and an assist in five games, and also saw time for Slovakia's team at the U-18 World Championships in April.
"We saw him at the U-17s in Regina and he was easily the best player on a very poor Slovakian team," Scoville said. "He's a very well-rounded player. He has good hands, good skill, competes. We kind of felt bad for him in Regina because he was kind of playing alone.
"We don't want to put him in a position where too much is expected from him," Scoville added. "But we think he'll be on our top three lines and be on our second power play."
Vartovnik is eligible for the 2007 NHL draft. He's currently ranked 38th overall by the Red Line Report and 58th overall by the International Scouting Service among players eligible for 2007.
There is apparently no concerns over whether Vartovnik will report. Scoville was told by Vartovnik's agent that Vartovnik was "100 percent" going to play in the CHL next season.
"There was no real reason for going young," Everett director of player personnel Scott Scoville said. "With where we were picking, and it not being a big year for Europeans in the NHL draft, there weren't a lot of 87s or 88s available. So we took the best player available. He really adds depth for the future."
Vartovnik played for HC Ziln in the Czech Republic Extraliga Under-20 League last season. In 43 games he tallied eight goals and 14 assists. He also played for Slovakia at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge in the winter, recording two goals and an assist in five games, and also saw time for Slovakia's team at the U-18 World Championships in April.
"We saw him at the U-17s in Regina and he was easily the best player on a very poor Slovakian team," Scoville said. "He's a very well-rounded player. He has good hands, good skill, competes. We kind of felt bad for him in Regina because he was kind of playing alone.
"We don't want to put him in a position where too much is expected from him," Scoville added. "But we think he'll be on our top three lines and be on our second power play."
Vartovnik is eligible for the 2007 NHL draft. He's currently ranked 38th overall by the Red Line Report and 58th overall by the International Scouting Service among players eligible for 2007.
There is apparently no concerns over whether Vartovnik will report. Scoville was told by Vartovnik's agent that Vartovnik was "100 percent" going to play in the CHL next season.