Part two in the series of 2014 picks. If you missed it, here is the last one. http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Adam-French/Who-Your-Team-Should-Draft-Teams-Anaheim-Colorado--2014-Draft/155/57323
Dallas Stars
I really like the new management team in Dallas. They bring excitement to a team that has been middling for a while. They have drafted fairly well and went with homeruns last draft, one of which is already paying dividends, as well as managing to deal for Seguin without giving up their first. I think they once again go for a forward and start to produce serious depth that can contend with many in the league.
9th Overall Pick : Winger Anton Karlsson from Frölunda U20 in the SuperElit
22 Games 10 Goals 8 Assists 18 Points
Surprised? Yes, me too. I love Karlsson, I think he is extremely underrated right now and a guy who will rise the draft ranks quickly as we near the event. The two-way winger has everything you want, the drive, the defensive game, the speed, the shot, the vision, what he lacks is the elite play by himself. He’s definitely a guy who compliments higher skilled guys and fills out a top-line. He’s a leader on the ice and a guy who I think would really fit perfectly on the newer high skilled and big Stars. He’s also a very young 2014 eligible guy and has proven himself continually against older players, including being the youngest player on Team Sweden at the U20’s playing in a checking role. The Stars swung for the fences last draft, and I think they do so again and in the fine Detroit fashion they build again on a Swedish two-way player who can bring the physicality.
Detroit Red Wings
While the Wings love to go for homeruns later in the draft, they are usually very bland in the first. Mantha is probably the only exciting one in the last decade. Despite this, I have them picking a guy who is a bit of a question mark…much like Mantha was, as I think they could really use him and get the most out of him. Defense is something they need in the now, but the way they run their team even if they selected a defender he wouldn’t be there for another 5 years regardless…so let’s play the long game.
13th Overall Pick : Right Wing Nikolai Goldobin of the Sarnia Sting in the OHL
44 Games 32 Goals 37 Assists 69 Points
Goldobin is a finisher; he gets it done in the offensive zone with elite skill and efficient play. He is extremely fast with one of the deadliest shots in the draft. After a slow start, he has taken the OHL by storm almost singlehandedly on his team after being snubbed by Russia at the U20’s. He currently sits 3rd in scoring in the OHL and 3rd in goals. His defensive game and lack of strength are things he needs time to improve, but a team like Detroit who really like to develop their guys could be the perfect fit for his skills. A classic European scoring talent and a guy I think fits really well with the Wings.
Edmonton Oilers
Well…what can I say…no really what? Here they are again. What will fix this mess? Nothing immediate. What has a chance to fix this mess down the road? Who knows. All I know, is that if available…PICK THIS GUY AND PRAY...to the void.
2nd Overall Pick : Defenseman Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts in the OHL
33 Games 14 Goals 18 Assists 32 Points
I would say Ekblad is the 1st overall prospect at the moment. He is an amazing mix of skill and size, as well as maturity. He’s NHL ready and has the body for it. He can score and defend while bringing pretty much an all-around game. He could be more physical being 6’3 220…but you can’t get everything. He has the potential to be a top-pairing franchise two-way defender, and that is exactly what the Oilers need. I think it would be a match made in heaven, even if my Oilers friends are pessimistic and cynical at any kind of “quick… fix.
Florida Panthers
The Panthers have more prospects than…well most people. They have been fairly garbage for a long time which helps in that regard. Yet they need to get better and if they keep this pick they just need to keep plucking away and adding to their young core of the fabulous Barkov and Huberdeau. Therefore…
4th Overall Pick : Centre/Left Wing Sam Bennett of the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL
40 Games 26 Goals 40 Assists 66 Points
Rated number one by Central Scouting, Bennett has really seen his draft stock rise while out of the WJC’s. While players ahead of him were being eviscerated by criticism under the microscope, he continued to massacre the competition in the OHL and start to pull away from several players. The 6’0 power centre is a guy who plays with an edge, yet brings the skill to the game too. He generates chances with his will and quickness and never quits on a play. Honestly I don’t think he goes first overall and I’m not sure about why CS put him there other than their usual controversial picks they love to throw around every now and then (Grigorenko at 2 comes to mind). I think he would be a great fit for Florida as they look for more intensity and scoring.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings again are a team not really needing anything, but could always use more depth. At this late in the draft you pick the guy you think is the best and simply ignore positional need. That said, I think there is one guy around here that exemplifies Kings hockey and would be a perfect fit.
24th Overall Pick : Right Wing Alex Tuch from the USNTDP Juniors in the USHL
12 Games 9 Goals 9 Assists 18 Points
The 6’3 218 Tuch is a possession power forward who plays a meat and potatoes game. He is excellent on the forecheck and is continuously hounding for the puck. His speed is excellent and helps him be dangerous on the penalty kill. He’s a very good complimentary piece and a guy who plays the Kings style of hardnosed forechecking and tight defense. He will play for Boston College next season and is about 2-3 years away from an NHL impact; though at 24 it would be a solid value pickup.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have a lot of good young players on their team, as well as an established core locked up. Despite their semi-mediocre performance, the future is bright in the US hockey mecca. I feel like on forward they are pretty well stocked and like other teams, while another goaltending prospect would be nice, there is nobody even close to being worth it at 19 (Nedeljkovic and Demko keeping the fine tradition of USA goalie elitism yet not enough for a first rounder)…so we fall to defense. The 2014 draft is really hit/miss with defense and they fluctuate around the rankings outside of the “big 3… of Ekblad, McKeown and Fleury.
19th Overall Pick : Defenseman Brycen Martin of the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL
48 Games 4 Goals 22 Assists 26 Points
The offensive minded Martin is a very smooth skater who brings a lot of comparisons to Jay Bouwmeester in that he has the size (6’2) yet has the elite skating to go with it…and he’s a bit of a pushover physically. He carries the puck with confidence and is excellent at timing his rushes and making plays. He doesn’t have a great shot and prefers the pass. With Suter and Brodin locked in for a long time, the Wild still need defenders, and Dumba might not be the answer, but with his skating you know Martin will have an NHL future. He can still improve defensively like most young blueliners, but it isn’t a weakness for him either. Could be a solid fit for the Wild.
Montréal Canadiens
The Canadiens love to pick USHL players. Of their past 8 first round selections, 6 were from the USHL or USHS…basically America (McCarron, Tinordi, Leblanc, McDonaugh, Pacioretty and Fischer). I have looked for the higher rated guys to pick one for them…there are none around that are left as I write this other than maybe Tuch who they could theoretically pick. Oh…never mind I found one.
21st Overall Pick : Centre/Right Wing Nick Schmaltz of the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL
26 Games 8 Goals 21 Assists 29 Points
Schmaltz has lost a lot of hype that he had despite an excellent season thus far for no discernable reason. Now I don’t see a lot and often zero USHL games, but people who do and write about it say he has been excellent…so why has this expected top-10 pick dropped to the 20’s and even second round? I have no idea, he was sick at the Ivan Hlinka (Hell he was the only American who showed up) and he has been an offensive force for Green Bay on what is a terrible offensive squad. While he isn’t the big centre the team and fans continually want, he does bring a lot of skill and can play in his own end…plus 6’0 isn’t really that small anyways. Seems like the kind of guy who is underrated because he doesn’t have the privilege of playing on the US Development Team…but he’s better than everybody on it outside of Eichel right now.
Thanks for reading. Next up, N-P? Sorry New Jersey…and potential New York Islanders oh and Ottawa…ya N-P!