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Isles Draft Class 2007: Where are they Now? |
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Okay, now that the 2010 draft is over, let's take a look at what happened with the five picks the Islanders made in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Mark Katic: The 21 year-old chosen at # 62 signed a 3-year contract on 4/9/09 with the Islanders and played 48 games on Jack Capuano's Bridgeport AHL Squad. He had 3 goals and 11 assists and was a -7. A far cry from the 54 points he produced with Sarnia of the OHL just the year prior. But then again, it’s a perfect learning experience and Jack is a good teacher as well as setting Mark up for what to expect from Scott Gordon’s system.
Jason Gregoire: Chosen 76th overall, Jason just finished his second year with the North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux of the WCHA. This year he ended with 37 points, 20 goals and 17 assists, six power play goals, one short handed goal and seven game winners out of 134 shots. The 21 year-old from Winnipeg ended as a +7. When is he graduating??
Maxine Gratchev: Well, it took me awhile to find information on him because I kept spelling his name wrong. But the 21 year-old Russian actually played one game with the Sound Tigers in the 08-09 season after coming from the “Q.” He did not sign with the Islanders. I am not sure if he wasn’t offered an entry contract or refused one. This past season, Max played in both the AHL and ECHL. He played 30 games between Rochester and Binghamton with 4 goals and 5 assists. In Elmira of the ECHL he played 40 games and earned 41 points. In an article dated June 23, 2010, it says that Gretchev and two others were sent from the Jackals to Greenville’s newest team – the one that was the Charlestown Chiefs and is owned by Niel Smith.
Blake Kessel: Oh, yes. The OTHER Kessel boy. Taken at 166, Blake has just completed his second year at UNH with the Wildcats with 38 points in 38 games. 10 goals, 28 assists and a +11. Three power play goals and one game winner with 88 shots. Blake has also been honored by being named to the HE First All Star Team and the NCAA East 2nd All Star American Team. Nice. I just wonder what his GPA is and whether he’ll be at rookie camp in two weeks.
Simon LaCroix: Drafted at #196, Simon has been playing in the Q since 2006. Last season in 67 games he had 11 goals, 30 assists with four power play goals, one shorty and one game winner. The prior season was a little better with 50 points in 62 games. Now, I don’t know if this is right or not but it says that in the 08-09 season he was a +41. I’m thinking maybe that is a typo since this season he was a -6 and the 07 season he ended as a -13. Then again… who knows!
Crap shoot I tell you! Crap shoot! But I am very happy with how the 2010 draft worked out. We’ll know more once the prospects show up at mini-camp mid July.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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