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Dallas Stars Blogger •
The Stars 2009 draft proves that preconceived notions about what human beings will do can be misleading. You never know how a team has its board ranked. You never know how a team fully evaluates its own strengths either. The Stars went through the whole draft without picking a defender. Who knew?
Let's take a look at the haul:
1#8 RW Scott Glennie Brandon (WHL) 6-1 177 lbs. 55 games 28/42/70
The Stars didn't really go off the board in the first round, but Scott Glennie was a surprise pick. He really shouldn't have been. The Stars have a lot of young defenders, they just need to improve. The next biggest issue is right wing. They need speed, right wings, and right shots. He's a fast righty right wing that played on a wing with Brayden Schenn last year in Brandon of the WHL. Early in the year the thought was that playing with Schenn made Glennie look better, but as the year progressed those thoughts went away. Glennie is a talented playmaking winger who will likely remain in the WHL for 2 more years. He was a consensus #11 player in the pool so this wasn't a reach.
2#38 RW Alex Chiasson Iowa (USHL) 6-4 187 lbs 56 games 17/33/50
I was putting together a day two preview last night, and I ignored Chiasson. The Stars seemed focused completely on skill, and a player who makes a living driving to the net didn't appear to fit the bill. So much for that. Chiasson will be going to Boston University to play in BU's in your face offense. His biggest obstacle is his skating so far, but in the USHL it improved a decent amount. The Stars are pretty excited about him, and NHL.com compares him to Mike Knuble. Seems solid.
3#69 RW Reilly Smith St. Michaels (OJHL) 6-0 157 lbs. 49 games 27/48/75
Reilly is a projection pick for the Stars. He's described as a high energy winger, and in college he should fill out more. At 6'0 and 157 lbs he has a lot of frame to fill out. He will ply his craft at Miami (Ohio).
5#129 C Tomas Vincour Edmonton (WHL) 6-2 203 lbs. 49 games 17/19/36
Tomas is a bit of an odd player. He's projected to be a power forward, but according to accounts he has some speed to boot. He was ranked #42 among North American skaters after playing last season in the WHL. He came over to the WHL instead of staying in the Czech Republic because he likes the physical game. I like this guy. He seperated his shoulder two times last season before the playoffs. As a 16 year old he came to North America and quickly learned English. He will undoubtedly be in the WHL next season, and I'm a big fan of this pick. Thats really good value on a player that seems to have a ton of talent
6#159 LW Curtis McKenzie Penticton (BCHL) 6-2 192 lbs. 53 games 30/34/64
McKenzie is the type of guy that will take a beating to contribute. He will be Reilly Smith's teammate at Miami (Ohio) and projects as a bottom 6 forward if he makes it to the NHL.
Overall the Stars had a solid draft. They took several interesting prospects, and greatly improved the weakest points in the organization. Right wing is no longer a desolate proposition, and the Stars have some right handed talent now. It was a good day for the organization.
Let's take a look at the haul:
1#8 RW Scott Glennie Brandon (WHL) 6-1 177 lbs. 55 games 28/42/70
The Stars didn't really go off the board in the first round, but Scott Glennie was a surprise pick. He really shouldn't have been. The Stars have a lot of young defenders, they just need to improve. The next biggest issue is right wing. They need speed, right wings, and right shots. He's a fast righty right wing that played on a wing with Brayden Schenn last year in Brandon of the WHL. Early in the year the thought was that playing with Schenn made Glennie look better, but as the year progressed those thoughts went away. Glennie is a talented playmaking winger who will likely remain in the WHL for 2 more years. He was a consensus #11 player in the pool so this wasn't a reach.
2#38 RW Alex Chiasson Iowa (USHL) 6-4 187 lbs 56 games 17/33/50
I was putting together a day two preview last night, and I ignored Chiasson. The Stars seemed focused completely on skill, and a player who makes a living driving to the net didn't appear to fit the bill. So much for that. Chiasson will be going to Boston University to play in BU's in your face offense. His biggest obstacle is his skating so far, but in the USHL it improved a decent amount. The Stars are pretty excited about him, and NHL.com compares him to Mike Knuble. Seems solid.
3#69 RW Reilly Smith St. Michaels (OJHL) 6-0 157 lbs. 49 games 27/48/75
Reilly is a projection pick for the Stars. He's described as a high energy winger, and in college he should fill out more. At 6'0 and 157 lbs he has a lot of frame to fill out. He will ply his craft at Miami (Ohio).
5#129 C Tomas Vincour Edmonton (WHL) 6-2 203 lbs. 49 games 17/19/36
Tomas is a bit of an odd player. He's projected to be a power forward, but according to accounts he has some speed to boot. He was ranked #42 among North American skaters after playing last season in the WHL. He came over to the WHL instead of staying in the Czech Republic because he likes the physical game. I like this guy. He seperated his shoulder two times last season before the playoffs. As a 16 year old he came to North America and quickly learned English. He will undoubtedly be in the WHL next season, and I'm a big fan of this pick. Thats really good value on a player that seems to have a ton of talent
6#159 LW Curtis McKenzie Penticton (BCHL) 6-2 192 lbs. 53 games 30/34/64
McKenzie is the type of guy that will take a beating to contribute. He will be Reilly Smith's teammate at Miami (Ohio) and projects as a bottom 6 forward if he makes it to the NHL.
Overall the Stars had a solid draft. They took several interesting prospects, and greatly improved the weakest points in the organization. Right wing is no longer a desolate proposition, and the Stars have some right handed talent now. It was a good day for the organization.
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