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Predators Draft Breakdown

June 27, 2009, 2:17 PM ET [ Comments]
Paul McCann
Nashville Predators Blogger •Predators Radio Network • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Predators draft is in the books. Ten new prospects are being added to the organization’s depth chart. The reaction to the team’s first round pick at the draft party at O’Charley’s in Franklin last night was a combination of shock and disappointment. It reminded me a bit of the NFL draft when Donovan McNabb was selected over Ricky Williams… only with more shock and a lot less booing. If Nashville’s pick works out as well as that one did, Pred Nation will be happy in the long run.

Let’s break down the first four rounds of picks one-by-one…

1st round – 11th overall – Defenseman - Ryan Ellis – Pred Nation did not react well to this selection. Ellis is a 5’9” d-man who has an excellent one-timer and slap shot. Described as a puck-moving, high-end offensive talent he is known to be an excellent power-play quarterback. He has been coached over the past two years by former Predator Bob Boughner, his team won the Memorial Cup this past season. Highly praised for his mental game, he is also described as not intimidated and not afraid to take the body. He’s small, but David Poile calls him the best athlete in the draft. While it is necessary to continue stocking the team with prospects at all positions, Pred Nation was clearly wanting forwards Jordan Schroeder or Zack Kassian with this pick.

2nd round – 41st overall – Right Wing – Zach Budish – OK… Pred Nation should be happier with this pick. Budish will be attending Minnesota this upcoming year after sitting out his season with an ACL injury suffered playing football. He is being compared to a Keith Tkachuk type of player, great wrister and hard to move off the puck. Another player described as strong mentally, with great ice sense. The Edina, MN native is 6’3”, over 230 lbs and was ranked at 22 on the final NA Skaters ranking. I expect him to play at least two years of college, but he could be the power forward this team has been looking for.

2nd round – 42nd overall – Defenseman – Charles-Olivier Roussel – A 6’1”, 200 lb defenseman who was second in the QMJHL in scoring among defensemen. Another blueliner that is described as an offensive-defenseman, however he does have a physical game and is not afraid to hit. He was in the top 30 in the midterm NA skater ranking but fell to 36 in the final rank.

3rd round – 70th overall – Left Wing – Taylor Beck – Depth selection that brings the first of three left wings drafted by the Preds this year. He played in the Top Prospect game, scoring a goal. The Guelph LW is a good playmaker with an almost point a game pace in the past season. Final ranking among NA Skaters was 48.

3rd round – 72nd overall – Center – Michael Latta – Described as a playmaker who sees the ice well, the 5’11”, 200 lb. Kitcherner native, he does play with an edge. He’s a battler that was ranked 45 in the final ranking of NA Skaters. Another good depth pick.

4th round – 98th overall – Center - Craig Smith – Not a lot of information readily available on this Madison, Wisconsin native, he was ranked at 177 in the final NA Skater rankings.

4th round – 102nd overall – Defenseman - Mattias Ekholm – The only non-North American selected by the Predators this year, Ekholm is Sweedish, played for Mora over the past few seasons. The 19 year old defenseman was ranked at 113 in the final European Skater rankings.

4th round – 110th overall – Left Wing - Nick Oliver – The Grand Forks native was ranked at 82 among NA Skaters, he is planning on attending St. Cloud State this upcoming season.

So… this one if in the books… my overall impression? No immediate help for the team this season. A fairly vanilla draft, but there is some talent in this group, however, it will take a few years to put in the final grade for this draft.

I’ll be talking about the draft tomorrow night with Cory Curtis on News 2’s Sports Extra at 10:35pm.

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Mark McGee gives his take on the draft on HockeyBuzzRadio.com…

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