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Today's blog will centre around what I would like to see Vancouver do on draft day. By this I mean I will try and keep the blog somewhat real, and leave the crazy proposals for Friday. Consider me Your GM for a day, today. Sit back, relax, and either agree or disagree with how I hope things go.
Draft starts with Bettman being booed and welcoming everyone. (How the man keeps on working the same job and being hated by so many people I don't know. In that aspect I have so respect for Gary. I would have taken the millions the league has paid him and retired by now. )
Since I said there would be no crazy proposal talk to today, I'll let the readers fill the blanks in. My first move would be to unload a few of Vancouver's spare parts (Luongo, Raymond, and Ballard) for assets and find a way to get into the top 8.
With that pick, I would select Matt Dumba of the Red Deer Rebels.
I know I'm in the minority on this one, but I consider Dumba to be the best player in this year's draft. He is an outstanding skater who delivers thunderous hits. He is the total package. I love his leadership qualities, work ethic, and athletic talents. I believe when you take a kid as smart as Dumba is, mix him with "the intangibles", and athletic ability he has, you are going to get a pretty good player.
The 26th Pick
I know this pick is a bit of a long shot, but Vancouver selects…
Slater Koekkoek, D, 6”2 185, Peterborough
26GP, 5G, 13A, 17PIM
Another player, another injury plagued year. Koekkoek may be one of the best athletes in the draft. He is also has the high-end skill to make plays from the backend. Never one to pass up a chance to hit, Koekkoek does that extremely well and keeps opponents honest because of it. He is an excellent skater and has a great shot. The flaws in is game are that he tends to try and do too much and that can lead to turnovers. If Gillis wants to take a homerun swing and go after a guy who could be a franchise D, Koekkoek could be that guy if he is there at 26.
NHL Comparison- Zach Bogosian
Plan B- Pontus Aberg- Djurgarden, 5”11 195, LW/RW
47GP, 8G, 7A, 6PIM
The player that is number one on my list for who I want Vancouver to draft, Aberg is going to be a good one. I consider him the best player in Europe this season, and when people look back in ten years, people will be asking “how did he fall that far?”. He is an outstanding skater, with great speed, who is tough to knock off the puck. Aberg has a great shot, good vision, and can pass the puck well. His compete level and work ethic are as good as any in this year's draft class.
NHL Comparison- Henrik Zetterberg
The 57th Pick
With this pick I cross my fingers a little and take a player that falls. Vancouver selects…
Jarrod Maidens, LW/C, 6”0 180, Owen Sound
28GP, 12G, 11A, 4PIM
Maidens is one of the more interesting players in this year’s draft class to me. When healthy, he looks like a sure-fire top 20 pick. But since Maidens missed a huge chunk of the year with an unknown injury, he hasn’t been healthy since before Christmas. Maidens is a good skater with excellent foot speed. He drives the net well and has a knack for finding open ice and scoring big goals. His character, leadership qualities and compete levels are all near the top of this draft class. He’s the kind of player that you just can’t help but pull for because he leaves everything on the ice. 26 may be a bit of a stretch, but if he falls to 57 I sure hope Gillis takes a shot on him.
NHL Comparison- Ryan Kesler (compete with injury issues and all)
Plan B (if no one falls)- Francis Beauvillier- Rimouski, 6"1 180, C
67GP, 23G, 11A, 75PIM
One of the fastest skaters in the draft and can be hell to play against when he is on his game. Beauvillier can get in on the forecheck as good as any player and when you have his size and speed there is the potential there for some big collisions. He drives the net well and is more of a goal scorer then a playmaker. Beauvillier is also not afraid to drop them from time to time and could be a real diamond in the rough.
NHL Comparison- Max Pacioretty
The 147th Pick
Vancouver selects…
Daniel Altshuller, 6"3 190, Oshawa
30GP 3.55GAA 0SO 0.900SV%
Altshuller has had a bit of a rocky season, but the kid deserves to be motioned in the same breath as the other top goalies in this year draft. If he's there in the 5th round, I'd take him. He has outstanding size and has played outstanding for Canada on the International stage. He will be a starter in the NHL one day. He takes the bottom of the net away very well and nothing seems to rattle him.
Plan B- Raphael Bussieres, LW, 6”1 195, Baie Comeau
56GP, 21G, 23A, 60PIM
I am honestly baffled as to why Bussieres is ranked so low. Sure he isn’t a first rounder, but I would be surprised to see him get out of the third round. I don’t really see a huge difference between him and Samualsson. Bussieres is a very good skater, and when you combine that with his size and willingness to hit, you get a pretty good player. There are still some questions around his skill, but I think he has the skill to be a 20-25 goal guy because of his hard shot and good hands. Bussieres could play a little more disciplined, and learn to pick his spots better (to hit guys), but as far as NHL potential goes I can see him slotting in anywhere from the second line to the fourth line.
NHL Comparison- Dustin Brown
The 177th Pick
Vancouver selects…
Joel Wigle- Niagara, 6"2 190, RW
63GP, 12G, 8A 51PIM
Another player that I love the way he plays. Wigle is one of those players that you just look at and don't want to mess with. He is a no nonsense type of player who can hold his own with anyone. He was stuck mostly on the fourth line this year on a very deep Niagara team, but could have put up better numbers if he played more. Wigle is a good skater who finishes his checks and has the potential to be a bit of a scorer.
NHL Comparison- David Clarkson
Plan B- Liam O'brien- Rouyn-Noranda, 6"1 195, C
67GP, 10G, 16A, 136PIM
The guy's name just sounds like he should be in a bar fight somewhere. O'brien brings it all the time and loves to finish his checks. He also has a lot of character and will stand up for team mates when it is needed. He is one tough kid that can hold his own with anyone in the Q. Aside from the rough stuff, O'brien can score a little and has some offensive upside. His skating needs a little work on the first few steps, but once he is going he is hard to stop. In my opinion, O'brien is a player with a lot of upside to be a 15-20 goal guy at the NHL level.
NHL Comparison- Chris Neil
The 207th Pick
Vancouver selects…
Joey Laleggia- Denver University, 5"10, 180, D
43GP 11G 27A 35PIM
Passed over in the last two drafts because of his size, I really believe that Laleggia can become a very good NHL defenceman. He is a very smart player that was one of the best defenceman in all of college hockey this past season. Laleggia has excelled at every level he has played at and I see no reason why he won't as an NHL player. His skill level, vision, poise, and passing are all well above average. He is also a fairly good skater that is tough to hit. I've wanted the Canucks to draft this kid the past two years, let's hope the third time is a charm with Laleggia.
NHL Comparison- Dan Boyle
Plan B- Marcus Bohman, D, 5"11 195, MODO Jr
40GP 10G 20A 47PIM
The captain of MODO's jr team has flown under the radar a bit this year. Bohman had a great year in Jr and worked his way into 12 games with the big club. Bohman is a solid skater who just knows how to play in his own end. He never looks rattled out there and is often in the right position to make the play. He has the skill to run a power-play and has a good shot. Overall, Bohman is a very complete hockey player that will bring skill, character, and work ethic to any team.
NHL Comparison- Kimmo Timonen
Here are the links to all the profiles I have done over the past month.
Grit 1 & 2
Grit Late Rounds
Skill 1 & 2
Skill Late Rounds
Fit 1 & 2
Fit Late Rounds
Goalies
That's a wrap.
Ian
Five Hole For Food
Five Hole For Food is coming to a town near you this summer. For those of you that don't know, the concept was brought forward by some friends in Vancouver, who decided they would travel the country setting up street hockey games. The price to play in the game is a can of food or donation to the local food bank.
To date Five Hole for Food has raised over 70,000 pounds of food for food banks and is continuing the fight against hunger all over North America!
2012 Tour Dates
St. John’s – July 3rd
Halifax – July 5th
Charlottetown – July 6th
Saint John – July 7th
Montreal – July 9th
Ottawa – July 10th
Toronto – July 12th
Winnipeg – July 14th
Regina – July 15th
Calgary – July 17th
Edmonton – July 18th
Victoria – July 20th
Vancouver – July 21st
So get out and support this great cause this summer. For more information on Five Hole For Food
CLICK HERE
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