Simon Despres is a prospect that no one can agree on. Some have him being selected near the top 10 and TSN has him sliding completely out of the 1st round. Even the scouts can't agree on how to describe him. McKeen's 2009 Draft Guide described him as "tall and lanky defenseman." International Scouting Service called him "He is a big hulking d-man..." Can hulking and lanky describe the same person?

Here is some of the scouting services and this will let you know how different the opinion is on Despres.

Central Scouting Final Ranking: 8th Among North American Skaters
International Scouting Services: 30th Overall
The Hockey News: 12th Overall
Red Line Report: 33rd Overall
TSN: 14th Overall (Preliminary Rankings)
McKeen's Hockey 19th Overall

The other argument between scouts is whether he is apprehensive or has a lack of commitment. GM Scott Howson will have to have it clear in his mind which one it is because he will have no use for a player that has a lack of commitment.

On paper though, Despres has all the tools. He is big, has pretty good hockey smarts, good on handling the puck, nice shot from the point, footwork is decent and overall a strong kid for his age. He is very safe with the puck and doesn't make bad turnovers.

If Despres would play with more of an edge and be more involved in the offensive end, we would be talking about him going in the top 10 but since he doesn't we are talking about late 1st and early 2nd round for him.

I personally wouldn't touch him in the 1st round because if he can't play with that edge, he will be a career AHL player.

Columbus NHLTWeetup Draft Party

Folks, you don't want to miss this. Since we are able to put a draft party inside the Blue Jackets Official Draft party, you will get the best of both worlds. You get to experience all the things that the team is putting on but you won't have to sit by a guy that doesn't know jack squat yelling out "Draft Wayne Gretzky!" You will be able to get reserved seating at the party (the only way you can) and be surrounded by intelligent hockey people that you can debate over the draft with. We also have giveaways from Crimson Cup (Great Frozen Hot Chocolate!) and 97.1 The Fan. Everyone at the NHLTweetup will walk out with something in their hand that they didn't have when they came in!

Go to the official NHLTweetup site at www.NHLTweetup.com and select Columbus. You can make your reservations there. If you aren't on Twitter yet (what are you waiting for?) but still want to be a part of the NHLTweetup, send me an email and I will get you a reservation. Spots are limited so hurry!

Here some of the things that the Blue Jackets will be have going on.

The Blue Jackets will host their annual Entry Draft Party on Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. on the floor of Nationwide Arena. Fans are invited to watch live television coverage of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on VERSUS while George Matthews and Bill Davidge, alongside Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan's Milan Jordan, will anchor the radio broadcast live on Sports Radio 1460 The Fan starting at 7 p.m. In addition, Jeff Rimer will contribute analysis and interviews direct from Montreal. The festivities are headlined by player appearances by 2009 Calder Trophy winner Steve Mason, R.J. Umberger and Jared Boll, who will be on hand to sign autographs and participate in the Select-A-Seat Open House where fans may learn about opportunities regarding full and partial season ticket plans for the 2009-2010 season. A wide range of activities offered during the party include the following: tours of the Blue Jackets and visiting NHL locker rooms, photo opportunities in the penalty boxes, and alongside the cannon and Zambonis, street hockey for kids, merchandise and game-used equipment sale, silent auction of sports memorabilia benefiting the Blue Jackets Foundation and draft party food and beverage specials.

Some Cleanup Work

Have been so busy with the draft that some things have fell through the cracks. So I will try to clean up a bunch of it now.

Jiri Novotny won't be coming back as the organization let him know that they would not make a qualifying offer to the restricted free agent. This came as no shock to me as Novotny played pretty bad this last season and was healthy scratched a lot.

There is a rumor coming out of Ottawa that a deal to trade Kris Russell to Ottawa for Alex Auld is on the table. My take on it is that there is no way in hell that trade happens. Especially in Canada around the trade deadline, draft and July 1st a lot of bogus rumors start surfacing. This is one of them. The person who put out this lie....uhh...I mean rumor didn't look at the Blue Jackets roster very close before they made up this rumor. Kris Russell is the only true puck moving defenseman on the club plus Howson and Hitchcock love what Russell brings and thinks he is only going to get better. Howson will be able to get a backup goalie in the free agent period on the same type salary cost and similar ability to Auld.

The Dispatch ran a story that hinted that Howson wants to move up in the draft. Don't believe this either. If anything, it's the other way around. Howson hates not having a 2nd rounder and if he can move back a little and pick up a 2nd rounder, he will do it. Also, Howson said that they may make some moves to stock up on 6th and 7th rounders because Don Boyd has his eye on some players that will be available then that he wants a stab at. The rumor of the CBJ trading with the Islanders and moving back to 26th and pick up some additional picks has far more tread on it that moving up.

I almost didn't even mention this one because it is so out in left field. Bob Hunter from the Dispatch reported that the Blue Jackets have interest in the Sedin twins. It's so ridiculous that they would and then put it with that they are looking for $63 million EACH makes it even crazier! No truth to this.

All right, there you go and I should have another prospect up tomorrow. Hope to see all of you at the draft party!

Fire The Cannon!

Eric Smith
Eric.Smith@HockeyBuzz.com

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